Life In Victorian Britain

Many Victorian children were poor and worked to help their families. Few people thought this strange or cruel. Families got no money unless they worked, and most people thought work was good for children. The Industrial Revolution created new jobs, in factories and mines. Many of these jobs were at first done by children, because children were cheap - a child was paid less than adults (just a few pennies for a week's work).

The Potato FamineThe potato famine of 1846 to 1852 hit Ireland and Scotland. Many poor people grew potatoes for food. Potatoes grew on poor soil, even in wet and cold conditions.

Queen Victoria tried something new in 1847. She had her first bathe in the sea, while on holiday on the Isle of Wight with her husband Prince Albert and her children. She was 28!

Life in Victorian Britain

Biography

Victoria was born in 1819. She became Queen in 1837 when she was 18. Her reign lasted for more than 60 years. Queen Victoria was born early in the 19th century. She lived to see the start of the 20th century, dying in January 1901.

The Victorian age in British history is named after Queen Victoria, who was Britain's queen from 1837 until 1901.

Introduction

Children at work

Timeline

1837- Victoria becomes queen1838- the first photographs are taken1878- the first light bulb is invented

Girls and boys learned together in primary schools, but were separated in secondary schools. Both boys and girls learned reading, writing, arithmetic, spelling and drill (PE).Boys learned technology: woodwork, maths and technical drawing, to help with work in factories, workshops or the army when they grew up.Girls had lessons in cooking and sewing, to prepare them for housework and motherhood.

School