Deborah Charlotte Dee

What people wore

Two Outfits for Respectability

Working-class individuals typically aimed to own two complete outfits, reserving their best clothing for Sundays and holidays.

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

Cost of a simple dinner

In 18th-century London, a simple dinner of cold meat, bread, and a pint of porter cost 6 1/4d.

Getting around

Walking and horseback were primary travel modes

Between 1750 and 1774, most people travelled on foot or on horseback, as walking remained the primary way to move locally and short distances.

At the table

Sixpenny dinner for craftsmen

For an average London craftsman, a typical dinner consisted of bread, beer, and cheese or fatty bacon, often costing sixpence.

Work

Notable work facts and extremes

Some people worked unusual hours, such as a publican who began mowing at 2:00 a.m. in 1756, and children were employed from a young age for tasks like bird-scaring and stone-picking.