In the news1870
1870 Education Act mandate school for everyone
The Education Act of 1870 mandated that school became accessible for everyone in Britain.
Mar 1873 – 20 Nov 1939
6 facts1 source
Mar 1873
Born
2 Aug 1906
A daughter is born
20 Nov 1939
Dies
She lived through 7 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1870
The Education Act of 1870 mandated that school became accessible for everyone in Britain.
What people wore
Steel Crinolines Reduced Skirt Weight
The steel-framed cage crinoline, introduced in 1856, allowed women to achieve voluminous skirt shapes without the heavy burden of multiple petticoats.
Getting around
Mixing modern rail and traditional transport methods
By the late 19th century, railways were the preferred mode for longer distances, while people still routinely used horses, carriages, and walking for short trips or to reach stations. This mixture of old and new technologies meant that even as trains became standard for intercity travel, older methods persisted for everyday urban and rural transport.
In Europe · 1859–1871Italy is unified. Garibaldi, Cavour and Victor Emmanuel joined the Italian states into one kingdom, with Rome its capital from 1871.
In the news1879
In 1879, the two-mile Tay Bridge collapsed during a storm, killing 75 passengers in Britain's largest engineering disaster.
Music
Street Performers and Murder Ballads
Street musicians often survived by singing sensational ballads about local murders, such as the killing of Jael Denny in Essex. A popular sentimental song like Bayley's Isle of Beauty could be performed to earn a quick meal from passersby.
Daily life
Shared water and toilets were common
Many working-class homes lacked indoor plumbing, requiring families to share an outdoor tap and toilet with several neighboring households.