Princess Amelia of the United Kingdom

What people wore

Popular Bedgowns as Street Wear

Bedgowns, which were lightweight front-wrapping jackets, evolved into a staple garment for British working-class street wear.

Getting around

Slow coach travel speeds in mid-18th century

Coaching became more common after 1760, but travel remained slow; in 1755, average coach speeds to London were less than five miles per hour.

At the table

Tea becomes a common drink

By the middle of the 18th century, drinking tea had become common even among ordinary people, despite its cost.

Music

Music at a Black social club

At a 1773 dance in Southwark, a group of 59 Black servants entertained themselves with music played on violins and French horns. All the performers in this band were Black, and no White people were allowed to attend.

Daily life

Communal Baking for a Small Fee

In smaller communities, people often used a shared bakehouse where they paid a small fee to have their dough baked in a communal oven. Residents would carry their bread loaves to these ovens on boards resting on their shoulders.

What it cost

Worker daily wages in the 1770s

In the 1770s, many building laborers and skilled craftsmen in cities like London earned around 2s. 6d. per day.