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In the news1840
Introduction of the Penny Post
The Uniform Penny Post was introduced in 1840, making mail affordable and leading to a five-fold increase in sent letters.
Alfonso Carlos de Borbón
London, 12 Sep 1849 – Vienna, 29 Sep 1936
8 facts3 sources
Facts and their sources
- Born12 Sep 1849, Londonnot verified1 source
- Died29 Sep 1936, Viennanot verified1 source
A life in time
12 Sep 1849
Born in London
29 Sep 1936
Dies in Vienna, aged 87
Family
See the treeDuring his lifetime
He lived through 10 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around London.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
The 1840s · Alfonso is born in London
What people wore
The Monthly Laundry Operation
Laundry was so time-consuming that large households might only wash once a month, performing a massive operation lasting up to a week that disrupted the entire house.
Daily life
Limited access to formal education
Formal schooling was not free or compulsory, so many children stayed home to help with domestic tasks or simple industrial work, often attending only Sunday School for structured education.
In the news1848
Abolition of serfdom in 1848
The law for the final abolition of serfdom was passed on September 7, 1848, ending a feudal system that had existed for over 1,000 years.
Music
Everyday singing and festival traditions
People sang at work and leisure, often drawing from well-known ballads or popular songs like The Mistletoe Bough. At festivals, groups such as mummers and pace-eggers performed dances and songs while wearing masks or fantastic costumes to request alms, often rewarded with eggs and strong beer.
In Europe1845–1852
The Great Famine in Ireland
Potato blight ruined harvests: a million Irish people died and a million more emigrated, many to America.
Getting around
Steam ships slashed river travel times
Before steam packets, a boat trip from Gainsborough to Hull could take four to seven days; by 1833, a steam packet could travel the 104-mile return journey in a single day.