Photos that capture what life was really like in Victorian times
The Victorian era was the period marked by Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 to 1901. During this time, the Industrial Revolution occurred, spawning a new wave of technology, fashion, hobbies, political ideas, and entertainment. Most of us think of the Victorian era as being quite rigid and well… boring. But despite the hardships of life during this time, people still found ways to learn, explore, and have fun.
Take a look at some of the more peculiar aspects of life during Victorian times below.
Would You Sleep In A Four Penny Coffin?
The four penny coffin or coffin houses were some of the first shelters for homeless people. They were run by the Salvation Army. For a few pennies, homeless men would get food and shelter for the night while sleeping in a coffin-shaped box. An oilcloth or tarpaulin was provided for warmth and to keep bugs away.
Visiting Crystal Palace Park In Sydenham
Crystal Palace Park was opened by Queen Victoria on June 10, 1854. One of the park’s most notable attractions was a series of large, realistic dinosaur statues. The sculptures were designed by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins under the scientific direction of Sir Richard Owen, and at the time, represented the most advanced knowledge about prehistoric times, even though they are considered inaccurate today.
Crystal Palace was lost in a fire in 1936, but the dinosaurs survived and were restored. They are still on display today.
A Common Way To Photograph Babies
Photography was a relatively new technology in the Victorian era, and sitting for a portrait was a special occasion that occurred a few times throughout a person’s life. Because subjects had to sit still for an extended period due to the camera’s long exposure time, creative methods were implemented.
When photographing babies and young children, it was common for children to sit on their mothers’ laps while the mothers covered their faces to “blend” into the background.
Marzella And Her Cockatoo Birds
This photograph from The National Archives UK shows a stage performer named Marzella posing with her numerous birds. This photo was taken in 1898, a few years after the first publicly projected film made by the Lumiere brothers was shown. Since movies were still in the early stages of being made, plays, stage productions, circuses, and vaudeville acts were popular sources of entertainment.
Victorian Fashion Was Something Else
One thing that comes to mind when they think of the Victorian era is the fashion. Upper-class women wore huge, heavy gowns supported by hoop skirts and layers of crinoline. These elaborate gowns signalled their wealth and showed off the era’s beauty standards of having a small waist and larger hips.
Getting into these outfits required numerous servants with the aid of step-stools and long poles.
Meet Charmion
Laverie Vallee, better known by her stage name, Charmion, was a trapeze artist and a strongwoman who began performing at the end of the 19th century. Her acts often began with her in full Victorian streetwear. She would disrobe on stage to reveal a leotard and begin performing acrobatic stunts. Her act was quite unconventional and controversial at the time.
Look, Mom! No Hands!
In this photo from 1897, a woman is sitting on a bike known as a “scorcher”. Victorian times saw a “cycling craze” as bicycles became popular forms of transportation and exercise. It is estimated that 1.5 million people in Britain had bicycles in the 1890s.
A Day At The Beach
It’s not surprising that Victorian swimsuits were much more modest compared to the ones we see on the beach today. Behind these two girls is a carriage known as a “bathing machine”. They were pulled to the edge of the sea by horses, and gave swimmers a place to change in privacy. Nowadays, most public beaches have bathrooms and changerooms, but those weren’t an option back then.
Mattress Delivery Vans
Most people today can order products online with the click of a button and see them on their doorstep in a matter of days. While it can be hard to compare it to modern practices, the Industrial Revolution during Victorian times changed manufacturing forever. Large quantities of goods, like these mattresses, could be made and sold to consumers in a rapid timeframe.
Taking The Time To Exercise
In a photo from New York in 1885, schoolgirls can be seen posing with their exercise and workout gear. During the 19th century, women began taking part in more physical activities. Not only were these activities fun, but we now know that offered numerous health benefits as well. As more women took part in sports, the fun and freedom they experienced became one of the pivotal foundations of the women’s rights movement of the time.
Showing The Less Serious Side Of The Era
In an advertisement for a London stage production from the late 19th century, actors make silly and happy faces. Most of us associate the Victorian era with strict rules and decorum, but a lot of that stems from the fact that few people smiled in photographed portraits due to their lengthy processing times. Victorian people laughed and told jokes just like us.
Victorian Portraits Had Interesting Props
You won’t find props like these in any modern photo studios. Here, a young boy is seen posing with stuffed alligators in a photo dating back to the late 1880s. Taxidermy and preserved animals were popular home decorations and photo props at the time.
Pictorialism Was Popular
Pictorialism, an art form where photographed subjects posed in elaborate scenes, became more popular as camera technology advanced. Instead of simply taking a photo, pictorialists tried to convey a deeper emotion and would use specific techniques to manipulate the image.
Victorian Skaters
Two skaters hold each other and dance in Central Park, New York City, in the late 1880s. Images like these contribute to people’s romantic ideals about the era. We can also thank Victorian times for transforming Christmas celebrations as we know them. Christmas trees and cards became popular during this time period and are still beloved today.
Queen Victoria Is The Reason Why We Have Christmas Trees
Christmas trees were a German tradition that had been around for centuries before the Victorian era. Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, was German-born and took charge during the holidays, decorating Windsor Castle as he had in his homeland. When a photo of the royal family posing around their Christmas tree was published, the trend caught on with the rest of society and remains an enduring Christmas tradition.
Clowning Around
In a rare candid photo, three young men are seen goofing around and acting silly on the streets at the turn of the 20th century. Images like those break the stereotype of the era’s dreary and serious reputation.
Even Pets Were Photographed
Here is another trend we can credit to Queen Victoria: the popularity of pets. Traditionally, animals were seen as possessions, tools, and food. Many farm animals were essential for survival, and there was little room to be sentimental about them. But, in Victorian times, fueled by Queen Victoria’s love for her dogs and other animals, people began seeing animals as companions. This led to the trend of including family pets in formal portraits.
Impressive Display!
A group of child acrobats is performing a balancing act in London in 1900. Since we know photography subjects had to hold their poses for a long time, we can only imagine how much stamina these young men must have had to capture this shot.
There Were Hardships, Too
The village pump was an essential feature of most communities. Since homes didn’t have running water or indoor plumbing, all water was collected from a shared pump. In this photo, a servant girl and two other small children are fetching water for their households. Getting water was a daily chore, and a challenging one at that.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert At Their Wedding (Sort Of)
In this photo, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are seen reenacting their wedding ceremony. Queen Victoria famously wore a white gown when she married Prince Albert. While she wasn’t the first bride to wear white, her dress created yet another trend that many brides continue to follow today.
A Victorian Clown
When it comes to clowns, people either love them or hate them. In Victorian times, they were popular entertainers, and not just for children. This photo shows the famous American clown George L. Fox, who was notable for his slapstick theatrics.
A Horse-Drawn Ambulance
Sometimes, living in the modern age means you take things for granted without even realizing it. Case in point: horse-drawn ambulances. While these are a far cry from what we see on the roads today, they were quite revolutionary for the time period. Horse-drawn ambulances were stocked with medical supplies and either a medical intern or a doctor-in-training. Their goal was to transport critical patients to hospitals, and the driver had access to bells to alert others on the road to ensure a quick passage.
Harry Houdini
During the later part of the Victorian era, a young illusionist and escape artist named Harry Houdini rose to fame. The height of his fame came later in his career, but in Victorian times, Houdini was perfecting his act with his brother, and later with his wife. We can thank Houdini for revolutionizing live magic shows and laying the groundwork for future illusionists who pushed this style of entertainment to new heights.
Participants At A Cat Show
Another example of the rising popularity of pets, yearly cat shows were held at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. These events allowed owners to show off their precious felines, which were then judged according to specific breed standards.
Mountain Climbing
In this photo from 1870, a group of men and women are mountain climbing on the Mer de Glace in France. The Victorian era saw a renewed interest in the natural world and exploration. Men and women participated in various activities that brought them closer to nature, challenging our notion of the time period’s stuffy parlours and limited pastimes.
A Literary Machine
There was no shortage of unique inventions during this time period. In this photograph, a woman is seen reclining in a “literary machine”, which had a reclining seat, lamp, and side table. It looks like it has all the comforts you could need to enjoy a good book!
A Pit Brow Lass
The idea that most women during this time period stayed home and didn’t work is a myth. Only upper-class women refrained from formal employment, as it was seen as improper for a woman with high status to work. But, for everyone else, working was expected and necessary to make ends meet.
In this photo, a pit brow lass is sorting coal and removing impurities from the substance.
Children Having Fun After School
Childhood was not always carefree or easy in Victorian times. Many children worked as soon as they were able to in order to support their families.
This picture captures a side of childhood that seems common now but wasn’t always back then. A group of children is smiling and having fun shortly after school lets out.
Visiting Egypt
An interest in ancient Egypt took over during the Victorian period. In fact, many people actually purchased artefacts and displayed them in their homes. Here, European tourists can be seen exploring ancient sites in Egypt as they pose for a photo underneath some hieroglyphs.
Shoeshiners Worked Hard For Little Pay
A young boy is seen shining an older man’s shoe in this photo from 1877, taken in London. Shoeshiners of the period were often young boys, and in many cases, they were orphans living on the streets. With the few pennies they got from their work, they could afford a bit of food to get by.
A Chimney Sweep
Chimney sweeps had one of the dirtiest lines of work during this time period as they cleaned out soot from people’s chimneys. The young barefooted boy in the background likely accompanied the chimney sweep to work in the small passages that were too narrow for adults to clean.
The Great Blizzard Of 1888
The winter of 1888 saw a great blizzard where 21 inches of snow fell on New York City. The storm caused major disruption all along the east coast of the United States and up into Canada. In this photo, children can be seen attempting to dig out pathways on the street.
Thai Royalty Pose For A Photo
Thai princesses and Sukhumala Marasri are photographed here, wearing “ham-sleeve” dresses. This style was a fusion of traditional Thai clothing and the Western influence of Victorian England. The influence of British society set trends all over the world for fashion and culture.
