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The Victorian Pub – The Modern Plague of London

The Victorians drank for many reasons other than just to be sociable. Water was unsafe and  ale was used as a thirst quencher. It was believed intoxicants imparted physical stamina and energy – also, its initial effect was that fatigue was temporarily dulled. Alcohol was used as a pain killer,in treatments by dentists and surgeons and as pain relief during childbirth. Excessive drinking was common and there were pubs to suit every taste: the inns with accommodation for travellers, were the most respectable – at the other end of the scale were the gin shops which served the very poor. Pubs were the only place many people could enjoy comforts not available in their own homes – newspapers, light and warmth and a chance to socialise with company. 

Health -  Dirt and Disease

Until the bacteriological causes of disease were understood in the late 19th century the connection between dirt and disease wasn’t understood. Overcrowded conditions, limited access to light and air, streets littered with refuge with cesspools being the normal sanitary arrangements, made sure Typhus and other diseases abounded amongst the poorest of London society. Around 1842, the average age of a man living in Whitechapel, London, was 45 for a professional man, 27 for a tradesmen and 22 for a labourer. Wealthy people were less affected by diseases such as typhus – associated with insanitary  housing – but the waterborne disease of cholera, spared no class. The River Thames was used as a main sewer but only when politicians were driven from the Houses of Parliament by the stench from the river in hot weather, was anything done to improve drainage.

London Markets in Victorian Times

Most of the commodity markets were built or rebuilt during Victorian times. Before the coming of the railways, Covent Garden wholesale market had to have its supplies delivered by barrow and cart through narrow streets and alleys, while, live animals were driven by often-drunken drovers, through respectable London streets on their way to Smithfield meat market. During the Mid-Victorian era, London had numerous daily street markets such as Leather Lane off Holborn and the Cut at Lambeth and areas where large numbers of poor people lived. The retail markets, such as Petticoat Lane and Berwick Market were essential to the working class who could not afford shop prices.

Victorian Children

In well-off families, daughters were taught at home by their mothers, governesses or in small private schools – while orphan and pauper children in 1833 were quite often enduring a working day of 14 hours, even at six years old. A big advance came in 1873 when the employment of children was only allowed if it could be shown the child had a record of school attendance but the abuse of boy chimney sweeps continued in spite of the law. Victorian families were large, with five or more children the norm until the late 1800’s.

The Victorian Woman

Pre- marital chastity was very important in Queen Victoria’s England, even though females from working class families were hardly innocent about sexual matters because of the cramped conditions they lived in. Even among the upper classes an ideal of the perfect lady, was somebody without any sexual desires – just strong feelings for family and a desire for motherhood. Sexuality represented the animal side of human nature and the Victorians believed that family relationships would not last when people put their own pleasures before duty. Prostitutes and adulteresses were disliked and feared because of the passions they aroused. Prostitution may have seemed the only option for many single women faced with a life of poverty.

The End of Victoria’s Reign

In the last part of Victoria’s reign, thousands of row houses were built for artisans- many were plain and cramped but at least they had water, drainage and gas. The working week was cut by a fifth and workers had more time for leisure but for poorest members of society in London, the Victorian era was time of great hardship and misery.

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