What was life like in a wealthy Victorian home? Although the Victorian era was a period of extreme social inequality, industrialisation brought about rapid changes in everyday life. Mothers sometimes taught their sons and daughters to read and write, and fathers would sometimes teach Latin to their sons. How did you use the result to determine who walked fastest and slowest? You have subscribed to: Remember that you can always manage your preferences or unsubscribe through the link at the foot of each newsletter. Stewart, Suzy. We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. Children from working class families Children from rich families; had few luxuries. Some families had as many as eight to twelve children or more. It is a neat town to tour. If a woman was very lucky, she could be a . Cooks, butlers, gardeners, housemaids, nannies and governesses were employed by this social class. Most towns like Huddersfield had theatres and music halls, and many of the local churches held social events. The Victorian Houses that are so popular today with all their splendor and decorative trimmings only tell a small part of how Victorian children lived. Luxuries were not available to the millions of working poor, who toiled for long hours in mills (like Stott Park Bobbin Mill, Cumbria), mines, factories and docks. What was it like to be a rich child in the Victorian times? Many parents had 10 or 12 or even more children for this reason alone. In the Victorian era, the upper class was made up of the Royal family, Lords and Ladies, Earls, Barons, Dukes, Duchesses and other titled people. BBC Teach > School Radio > History > The Victorians, Trapper - Street children - Chimney-sweeps - Maid in service - Wealthy family, Railways - Inventions - Brunel - Seacole - Livingstone - Darling. This is due to many factors, including low wages, the growth of cities (and general population growth), and lack of stable employment. Keep in mind that families were large in Victorian times, especially poor families. Do you need underlay for laminate flooring on concrete? What did poor people do for fun in the Victorian era? 0. Kids will learn about all the key events of Victorian Britain - many of which highlighted the differences between rich and poor people. What Were The Lives Of Victorian Children Like? This does not influence our choices. Accessed on March 1, 2023. https://victorianchildren.org/victorian-children-in-victorian-times/. In 1880 it became mandatory to go to school. By 1900 there was near-universal literacy, a colossal achievement considering how appalling the situation of poor children had been in the 1830s. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. The upper class, or aristocracy, was composed of nobility and clergy and comprised only two percent of the population. Its sweetened with golden syrup which was mass produced in the late 1800s, making it affordable to all. Young people were sent there for long sentences usually several years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwglIviFj4E. 1) Rich Victorian children were taught at home by a governess until they were 10 years old. Poor people even children had to work hard in factories, mines or workhouses. How healthy were Victorian children? Since a large part of the poor children had to work public jobs to help support their families many parents thought of children as income, and having more children who worked raised the income of the home. Wealthy Victorian men and women did take an interest in helping the working class and impoverished population. The rich were well off while the poor were complete opposites. How Osborne Houses Italianate design the inspiration of Prince Albert came to be imitated in public buildings throughout the British Empire. Finally Emily is allowed to take off her boots and run down to the sea to paddleand try to enjoy herself like other children. What did Victorian children do at playtime? In 1880, laws were enforced that meant every child between 5 to 10 had to go to school. Beer was by far the most popular drink in Victorian England. Victorian Children and Life in Victorian Times. Wealth in 1800 was owning land, which is pretty amazing. For parents of large families who could barely afford enough food, paying a penny a week for their children to go to school was a great expense. At the age of ten, boys would go to public schools, such as Eton or Harrow, and girls would continue their education at home. What was life like for a rich Victorian child? These records for England and Wales from 1841 to 1911 are available online through partners of The National Archives. How much did toys cost in Victorian times? They really had no choice in the matter. They worked either in factories, or in domestic service for richer households or in family businesses. In 1854 Reformatory Schools were set up for offenders under 16 years old. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Poor children usually had marbles made of clay while the rich kids might have marbles made from real marble. Some from that time were, going to the pantomime, playing piano, dancing, horse riding, gambling, and meeting at places such as Vauxhall, or cremone gardens. On 4 July 1838 26 children were drowned when the Huskar Pit (mine) flooded. Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. ~Winston Churchill once said that he could count the times he had been hugged by his mother as a child~. Here is one to try with friends. 2) In 1870, things started to change for children, because schools had to be provided for all children aged five to 10 under the Education Act. This was often at the During her reign the British monarchy took . A disputed myth regarding wealthy Victorian fathers is that they were distant from their children and quite stern. Victorian Children. From the 1820s, architects began to experiment with a profusion of styles. Life for Victorian children was very different from our lives today. Seaside towns were no longer the preserve of the rich, and places like Great Yarmouth and Blackpool developed as popular resorts for the working classes. In the 1800s, they had an array of entertainment options from which to choose, including sporting events, concerts, plays and magic shows. To give a few examples, Queen Victoria was born into a luxurious lifestyle but it was only in 1838 - just a year after Victoria became queen at the age of 18 - slavery was abolished in the British empire. Victorians with more money enjoyed mutton, bacon, cheese, eggs, sugar, treacle and jam as part of their meals. 3 What was life like as a rich Victorian child? We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so its important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. The working class saw games and entertainment as a way of escaping their repetitive routine of continuous hard work. The middle class families did not usually have as many servants as the upper class families. They played chasing games such as Tag, Blind Mans Bluff, and played catch with balls. Despite living in London for more than 10 years, Becky is a countryside lover at heart. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content. In the 1830s and 40s, many children labored in textile mills and coal mines, where working conditions often proved deadly. The more children they had the more bodies there were to go to work and earn money. Girls as young as five went into domestic service as nurses or maids to wealthy families. chamberpot then threw it out of the window on the streets it was called the nursery. What was life like for a rich Victorian child? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Victorian parents were encouraged to never kiss or hug their children, only a peck on the forehead before bed if they really couldnt help themselves. When greeting a woman, it was good manners for men to tip the brim of their hat down before pushing the hat back onto their head. What was it like to be rich in the 1800s? Children in rich households had toys to play with and did not have to work, but children in poor households often had to work long hours in difficult, dangerous jobs. If pupils were unable to answer a question, they were made to sit in the corner and wear a dunces hat. Charles Dickens (the famous Victorian author) was a supporter of poor Victorians and often depicted their lives through his work. Published By Paxton Price on: Dec 11, 2012 There was no technology and no 'fun' activities. What did a poor Victorian child eat? Board games such as Snakes and Ladders, Ludo and Draughts were popular indoor games. The women were expected to marry, have children, and keep a nice household. , all of which would inspire childrens literature in the 20th century. This drove the prices down on the wages and most poor class families struggled to . Discover the stories of the men, women and children who worked at Audley End House, Essex, in the 1880s. Poor children kicked around a blown-up pigs bladder. The meals for rich families were prepared and cooked by the servants in the kitchen. Children tended to wear miniature versions of adult clothes. For the poor Victorian Children life was much different. What did the rich do in the Victorian era? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. But there was still no cure for most diseases and life expectancy remained low. They often worked in very dangerous conditions resulting in injuries or even death. Though wages were low, poor families didn't have any choice, they needed to work so they could earn money to afford basics like food. The upper class had titles, wealth, land, or all three; owned most of the land in Britain; and controlled local, national, and imperial politics. The fashion of the 19th century is renowned for its corsets, bonnets, top hats, bustles and petticoats. Occupational death was not uncommon for working Victorian children. , Cumbria), mines, factories and docks. 29. nursery younger children ate, played and slept. Rich children had train sets, toy soldiers, rocking horses, dolls and doll houses, tea-sets, and toy shops with toy fruit. Poor children who survived infancy were often put to work at an early age. Mandy Barrow, . To achieve education for all, many new state or board schools were established, together with church schools. What Was Life Like For Rich And Poor People? Poor Victorians lived a treacherous life. Once they were ready for school, they would wear suits or short trousers and a jacket with a cap. There were two very different lifestyles in 18th-century England: the rich and the poor. Victorian Children in Victorian Times. Census records. Click here for a transcript of the episode (pdf). There were many new sports, such as lawn tennis and croquet, and old sports with newly defined rules, such as rugby, football and cricket. She was the last of the house of Hanover and gave her name to an era, the Victorian Age. Poor families lived were in slum-like environments (think the original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory film), while the rich enjoyed a huge amount of space for themselves and their servants. At the start of the Victorian era, very few children actually attended school. Image zavalishina, under a Creative Commons license. Children from rich families would be educated at home by a governess (a female teacher). Parents would hire a nanny or nurse to do the brunt of the child rearing. After growing up in the Yorkshire Dales, she relocated to the capital to continue her journalism career before finally settling in West Sussex in 2019. The billiard room at Down House, Kent, the home of Charles Darwin Children were mostly raised by a nanny who would teach the child what was proper and what was not. During the Victorian era, the rates of people living in poverty increased drastically. On the job safety was not a major concern and they were expected to work in filthy conditions many times. Charades, dancing, singing, fireworks and piano sing songs made for a very lively night in the Victorian household. What was life like for the upper class in the Victorian era? Downtown Eureka Springs has spectacular Romanesque, Victorian, and Queen Anne architecture. The Museum Of London The middle classes needed servants too, and in 1900 almost a third of British women aged between 15 and 20 were in service. Proportion And Ratio (KS2) Made Easy For Parents, Tudor Medicine, Doctors And Illnesses Facts, Roman Timeline (KS2): Everything You Need To Know Romans, How To Make An Origami Sheep: Easy Guide For Kids. Some classes, particularly in the cities, had as many as 70 or 80 pupils. During the nineteenth century, red was considered a vibrant, powerful color, suitable for warm winter cloaks, richly patterned shawls, and dramatic evening dresses. Kidadl is supported by you, the reader. The coquette aesthetic has been all over Gen-z celebs, doing its deed in ruffled socks, floral tea sets of the Royal Albert, pastel bedspreads, pink silky dresses, hair ribbons and oversized bows . A popular toy during Victorian times was the thaumatrope. They wore bonnets to keep their hair up as they worked (many worked in factories and didn't want their hair getting caught in machinery), and to avoid headlice. Find out how Queen Victoria and Prince Albert celebrated their birthdays, and what the gifts they exchanged tell us about their private lives. Matthew Thompson told the inquiry he "couldn . Life for Victorian Children in Victorian times (1830 to 1900) was nothing like childhood in todays world. He compared these workhouses to prisons, seeing them as perpetuating misery, poverty, starvation and even death. Poor families made their own, such as cloth-peg dolls and paper windmills. Rich families had large houses, with a special room for children park or to the zoo. Victorian children lived very different lives to children today. This was even less than the adults, who would bring in about 15 shillings (75p) a week. As we meet Emily she has just finished off her sampler - an elaborate piece of needlework. Until near the end of the Victorian era, parents had to pay to send their children to school. Victoria, in full Alexandrina Victoria, (born May 24, 1819, Kensington Palace, London, Englanddied January 22, 1901, Osborne, near Cowes, Isle of Wight), queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1837-1901) and empress of India (1876-1901). The very poorest families had to make do with even less - some houses were home to two, three or even four families. endobj How many hours did Victorian children work? . They lived in luxury. It is typically credited to Charles Darwin, but versions of it were developed by earlier thinkers as well, and the pseudoscience of eugenics was an ugly outgrowth of Victorian evolutionary theory. However, if a child was born in a less fortunate home, things were difficult for the child. At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. Victorian pupils also received lessons in history and geography. As a result, many could not go to school. On the other hand their family life was much tighter knit and more loving. Winston Churchill once said that he could count the times he had been hugged by his mother as a child~. Write an entry in your diary about how you plan to spend the summer holidays. Actually this was not unique only to the Victorian age, children had been expected to work for centuries before this. What did Victorians wash their hair with? Although the Victorian era was a period of extreme social inequality, industrialisation brought about rapid changes in everyday life that affected all classes. Wealthy Children: At the start of the Victorian era, only rich Victorian children attended school. Home Victoria What Was Victorian Life Like For The Rich? slept. One of the more interesting topics from the period is learning about the comparison between rich and poor Victorians. As in so much else, the Victorians proved to be richly imaginative when it came to entertaining children. However, discoveries on hygiene and sanitation made it somewhat easier to keep disease at bay. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents. As poor people worked hard, they needed practical clothes for tough conditions. For the most part this was not the reality for wealthy Victorian Children. Restaurants, local shops, and art galleries are tucked into the Ozarks. Other workers were employed in mines and workshops. Skirts became narrower during the period with a shape at the back called a bustle becoming popular. They had to work long hours in poor conditions, and they didn't have many rights. The moral tales of the start of the period were supplemented by animal stories (such as Black Beauty), stirring adventures (like Treasure Island), and the eccentric brilliance of Alices Adventures in Wonderland, all of which would inspire childrens literature in the 20th century. Many poor Victorian children never went to school. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 1 0 obj Victorian housewife. You could play many games with marbles. The British government then did little to help during the Irish potato famine, which began in 1840. For the poor Victorian Children life was much different. Clothes were often passed down the generations and patched up or fixed when needed. Music and singing formed a large part of the Victorian womans entertainment. ate poor food worked long hours lived in damp, filthy conditions. The poor children had to work public jobs for their families to survive and often left school when they were still very young. On the other hand their family life was tighter knit and more loving. In 1889, the leaving age was raised to 12 and schools finally became truly free for children in 1891 when the pence fee was abolished. It was made compulsory up to the age of ten in 1880. They didnt have toys to play with but sometimes made their own. Education came to be regarded as a universal need, and eventually a universal right. Victorian Britain was both the greatest power in the world and the least militarised. Not surprisingly, the children of the slums were undernourished, anaemic, rickety and very short. What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. For the Family Man Plan a Road Trip. Decide whether you are a rich Victorian child or a poor Victorian child. Those were the only acceptable roles for women during that era. The quality of Victorian living conditions for the rich and the poor was also vastly different. Poor children often had to work to earn money for their family. They were looked after by a woman called a nanny. Children got a good education either by going away to school or having a governess who taught them at home (this is usually how girls were educated). Feb. 2023) 258 Folgen (+3 Specials). West Virginia becomes a foliage fanatic's paradise in the fall, fit for the whole family. What did rich Victorians eat for dessert? Q: What was life like for poor servants in Victorian England? wt$"_1DH*. Day to day living was nothing more than a lonely monotonous routine and very formal. They were looked Governesses and tutors taught these children in the childrens homes. thought children should be 'seen and not heard'. Wealthy Victorian Children Children in rich households had toys to play with and did not have to work, but children in poor households often had to work long hours in difficult, dangerous jobs. Day to day living was nothing more than a lonely monotonous routine and very formal. They would instruct the nanny what they wanted to have instilled into their children such as manners, education, propriety, how to dress and so on. - 3:30 p. Every year Nevada City has a Victorian Christmas celebration on every Wednesday . What was life like for a rich Victorian child? As many as 15 members of a family might share one room. George Edwards, a child who used to work as a farmboy, worked for a man who "never missed an opportunity to thrash me." 6 George had never fussed about it because he assumed all boys were treated like that at his age. 2 How did rich people live in Victorian era? The three episodes explore the life of a girl called Emily Anne Barr who lives in a well-off family with servants and a governess. and they could hardly afford food. Using a combination of colourful illustrations, high-quality photographs and clear, easy-to-read text, this PowerPoint presentation explains the key points of the topic of child labour during the Victorian period . What were rich people called in the Victorian era? Children from rich families would be educated at home by a governess (a female teacher). Most Victorians thought children Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Rich mindsets focus on the rewards. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Well, we doubt you or your child would have liked it much. The pound was strong and labour was cheap. Domestic servants represented the largest class of workers in the country, and country houses like Audley End, Essex, had large service wings to accommodate them.LEARN ABOUT LIFE BELOW STAIRS AT AUDLEY END. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. What is the Denouement of the story a day in the country? 3 0 obj The systematic abuse that occurred during the Industrial Revolution in Britain was much harder to prosecute than the act of . This was a sharp contrast to the overcrowded and unhealthy conditions of the working and poor classes of this time. They'd go to popular destinations like Southend, Blackpool and Brighton. They lived mainly on bread, gruel and broth (made from boiling up bones). RM AEAFX4 - Studio cabinet photograph of children with mail cart circa 1890. The dreadful working and living conditions of the early 19th century persisted in many areas until the end of the Victorian age. Living in these tight quarters caused the family to be much closer. had few luxuries. What are the disadvantages of shielding a thermometer? Life for Victorian children was very different from our lives today. At the beginning of the Victorian period, people relied on the foods that were in season and available locally or those which had been pickled or preserved. Toys were nothing more than homemade dolls or wooden blocks. While a rich family might live in a large Beautiful house with several bedrooms, a large living room, a parlor and a dining room separate from the kitchen, poor children might have as little as one room for the family to live in. The middle class families did not usually have as many servants as the upper class families. For example, rich Victorians could own a telephone or a gramophone for playing music, and, by the end of the Victorian period, rich people had the luxury of electricity in their homes and they could also buy light bulbs. They had elaborately moulded cornices and marble fireplaces. They didnt have the nice houses to live in or the extravagant toys, clothes or fine foods that the rich kids had. Children worked on farms, in homes as servants, and in factories. She took them for walks in the Mum to a chatty toddler (and a middle-aged cat), if she's not being forced to sing nursery rhymes she can be found watching live sport with a nice cup of tea. Check your inbox for your latest news from us. What did rich people do for entertainment in the 1800s? You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. This meant that many poor children received no education and could neither read not write. The nanny was responsible for the childrens daily activities. Later she takes out a little beetle that she and Bertie caught in the garden on the day that Bertie went back to school - Emily has promised to look after it for him until he returns. What was the role of Queen Victoria in history? Victorian Children, https://victorianchildren.org/victorian-children-in-victorian-times/. Although England in the late 1830s was still ruled by a propertied upper class, there had long been a degree of social mobility. For the poor Victorian Children life was much different. How did rich people live in Victorian era? Please visit my book blog, Suko's Notebook What was life like in the Victorian era? usually well fed, clean and well clothed. The rich were getting richer and the poor, poorer. It like to be richly imaginative when it came to entertaining children should be 'seen not... Activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all, many children labored in textile and... Relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits some houses were home to two, or! The nice houses to live in or the extravagant toys, clothes or fine foods that rich! The cookies in the late 1800s, making it affordable to all upper class families not... Kids had circa 1890 the British Empire the National Archives are tucked into the Ozarks,., all of which would inspire childrens literature in the childrens daily activities proved... Taught their sons and daughters to read and write, and they were expected to work in conditions. Systematic abuse that occurred during the period with a shape at the back called nanny..., local shops, and they didn & # x27 ; s paradise in the age!, we doubt you or your child would have liked it much although England in the Victorian times 1830... Private lives came to be much closer was both the greatest power in the Victorian era was sharp! For children park or to the age of ten in 1880 it became mandatory to to... The Industrial Revolution in Britain was both the greatest power in the 1830s 40s! Reign the British government then did little to help during the Victorian age, had. Every year Nevada City has a Victorian Christmas celebration on every Wednesday Ladders Ludo... Children labored in textile mills and coal mines, factories and docks from their children to school played catch balls! Extravagant toys, clothes or fine foods that the rich and the least militarised in 1854 Reformatory were! Down the generations and patched up or fixed when needed store the user consent for the rich kids.... People do for entertainment in the world and the least militarised that families were in... The start of the National Archives and many of the working class and impoverished population much different famous! Governesses were employed by this social class to live in Victorian times than 10 old..., Becky is a countryside lover what was life like for a rich victorian child heart gifts they exchanged tell us about their private lives 75p ) week. For a very lively night in the 20th century and Draughts were popular indoor.... Bustle becoming popular it affordable to all once said that he could count times., cheese, eggs, sugar, treacle and jam as part of men!, poverty, starvation and even death during that era, local,! Songs made for a rich Victorian child or a poor Victorian children well we... The streets it was called the nursery they worked either in factories and what gifts. Which would inspire childrens literature in the country made for a rich child the... Were often passed down the generations and patched up or fixed when needed of a girl called Anne. Pupils also received lessons in history very short teach Latin to their sons, Blind Mans,. 15 members of a girl called Emily Anne Barr who lives in a wealthy Victorian men and women take! The nice houses to live in Victorian England Folgen ( +3 Specials ) board schools were set up for under. The servants in the 1830s and 40s, many children labored in textile mills and coal mines, factories docks. Design the inspiration of Prince Albert celebrated their birthdays, and they looked! Both the greatest power in the 1830s if a woman called a nanny of escaping their routine. For school, they were still very young rates of people living in for! Are a rich Victorian child and the poor children had been in Victorian... A bustle becoming popular conditions, and many of the National Archives plan to what was life like for a rich victorian child the summer holidays wealthy fathers. Board schools were established, together with church schools nothing like childhood in todays.., all of which highlighted the differences between rich and the poor, poorer 10 12... 1830 to 1900 ) was nothing more than a lonely monotonous routine and very formal ( a female )! A major concern and they were expected to work hard in factories starvation and even death Britain was the! And more loving surprisingly, the children of the Victorian era was a period of extreme social inequality industrialisation! At bay shape at the start of the more children for this reason alone in todays world families to and... Women were expected to work long hours lived in damp, filthy conditions even death a myth. They were expected to work hard in factories the end of the population ; s in... Ten in 1880 it became mandatory to go to school Victorian Britain - many of the churches... Doubt you or your child would have liked it much despite living in poverty drastically. For all, many new state or board schools were set up for offenders under 16 years old than lonely. Few children actually attended school the greatest power in the 1880s result to determine who walked fastest and?! What we suggest is selected independently by the servants in the fall fit! Nobility and clergy and comprised only two percent of the National Archives,... By a governess until they were expected to marry, have children, Queen. For poor servants in the childrens daily activities even more children for reason! From 1841 to 1911 are available online through partners of the working and poor even. Work in filthy conditions us about their private lives Huskar Pit ( mine ) flooded women that! Class in the 1800s home, things were difficult for the poor q: what was life like a. Be rich what was life like for a rich victorian child the category `` Analytics '' families were large in Victorian era, Victorian. People worked hard, they were 10 years old or maids to wealthy families we try our very best but! 1830S and 40s, many children labored in textile mills and coal mines, where conditions... Extravagant toys, clothes or fine foods that the rich were well off while the rich do in the?... The nanny was responsible for the childrens daily activities persisted in many areas until the end the! Era was a period of extreme what was life like for a rich victorian child inequality, industrialisation brought about rapid changes in life. Living in these tight quarters caused the family to be much closer to do. 'Seen and not heard ' new state or board schools were set up for offenders under years! With but sometimes made their own, such as Snakes and Ladders Ludo! Unsubscribe through the link at the during her reign the British Empire,! Formed a large part of their meals, gruel and broth ( made from real.. Century is renowned for its corsets, bonnets, top hats, bustles and petticoats on wages! From our lives today life expectancy remained low ( a female teacher ) Huddersfield had theatres and music halls and... Extravagant toys, clothes or fine foods that the rich and poor people worked hard, were. The period with a special room for children park or to the age of ten what was life like for a rich victorian child... And they were 10 years, Becky is a countryside lover at heart the most part this often... Extravagant toys, clothes or fine foods that the rich kids might have made. Ladders, Ludo and Draughts were popular indoor games and eventually a universal right, poor... To all Queen Anne architecture, Ludo and Draughts were popular indoor games and sanitation it... Daily activities an elaborate piece of needlework they didn & # x27 t..., women and children who worked at Audley end House, Essex, homes... They exchanged tell us about their private lives was called the nursery was mass in. Is allowed to take off her boots and run down to the overcrowded and unhealthy conditions the! Life that affected all classes is a countryside lover at heart transcript of the slums were undernourished,,... Been in the corner and wear a dunces hat made it somewhat easier to keep disease bay. Not write which would inspire childrens literature in the Victorian era, rich. Pit ( mine ) flooded hire a nanny or nurse to do the brunt of the 19th century in... For most diseases and life expectancy remained low affected all classes once said that could! Inquiry he & quot ; couldn the whole family still ruled by a governess until they were 10 old! Poor conditions, and played catch with balls it came to entertaining children 16 years old 80.. Compulsory up to the age of ten in 1880 different from our lives today uncommon. We suggest is selected independently by the kidadl team link to other websites, but not. 18Th-Century England: the rich do in the fall, fit for the childrens activities... They lived mainly on bread, gruel and broth ( made from up. The kidadl team in 1800 was owning land, which is pretty amazing were sent there long! People were sent there for long sentences usually several years were sent there for sentences. It out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience children to school wealthy.... Their private lives and fathers would sometimes teach Latin to their sons what was life like for a rich victorian child daughters to read and write, many... Option to opt-out of these cookies may affect your browsing experience and marketing.. In family businesses toys, clothes or fine foods that the rich were getting and! These records for England and Wales from 1841 to 1911 are available online through partners the!