The Victorian city of London was a city of startling contrasts. New building and affluent development went hand in hand with horribly overcrowded slums where people lived in the worst conditions imaginable. The population surged during the 19th century, from about 1 million in 1800 to over 6 million a century later.
What was Victorian London known for?
The period saw the British Empire grow to become the first global industrial power, producing much of the world’s coal, iron, steel and textiles. The Victorian era saw revolutionary breakthroughs in the arts and sciences, which shaped the world as we know it today.
How would you describe a Victorian street?
“Through the dark, dangerous streets you could hardly see the flickering gas lamps; the street was as quiet as a deserted house. The ground was thick with mire, the lamps flickered in the moon light; the street was still and silent, there was rubbish everywhere the cobbles were as rough as a tree bark.
What were some characteristics of the Victorian era?
The Victorian Era was a time of vast political reform and social change, the Industrial Revolution, authors Charles Dickens and Charles Darwin, a railway and shipping boom, profound scientific discovery and the first telephone and telegraph.
What was London like in the 1800s?
London in the 1800s was a compact city where most people worked within walking distance of home. The narrow winding streets were often crowded with people, horses and carts,with only wealthy people able to travel by private carriage.
What are 5 interesting facts about the Victorian era?
10 Interesting facts about the Victorian Era
- Taxidermy was also huge in the Victorian Era.
- Victorians wore a lot of black.
- Freakshows were also big in the Victorian Era.
- When someone passed the family would often have a photograph taken of the body.
- Gothic novels were at their peak.
How would you describe old London?
In the 19th century, London was the capital of the largest empire the world had ever known — and it was infamously filthy. It had choking, sooty fogs; the Thames River was thick with human sewage; and the streets were covered with mud.
What makes Victorian style unique?
A Brief History of Victorian Architecture
This style was characterized by symmetry, Renaissance revival style interiors, many small windows, and limited ornamentation.
What did Victorian London smell like?
The smell of human waste and industrial effluent hung over Victorian London. For centuries the River Thames had been used as a dumping ground for the capital’s waste and as the population grew, so did the problem.
What was life like in Victorian London?
London’s population grew rapidly during the 19th century. This lead to major problems with overcrowding and poverty. Disease and early death were common for both rich and poor people. Victorian children did not have as many toys and clothes as children do today and many of them were homemade.
What is Victorian culture?
The cultural era of this period is known as “Victorianism,” the culture of the dominant bourgeoisie in the second half of the nineteenth century. That culture was named after the British Queen Victoria, who presided over the zenith of British power and the height of British imperialism.
What are the major themes of Victorian period?
While some of the poets of the Victorian era were interested in the social plight as well as the battles between religion and science, possibly brought on by the Theory of Evolution like writers such as Dickens, others focused on other themes such as criticism of war, adventures to the sea, medieval fables, and legends
What was Victorian London like facts?
Hot, overcrowded, with little running water or sanitation, the sheer stink of unwashed bodies, tobacco smoke, horses and garbage would have been horrendous. But worse still was the smell which came from the river Thames. There was no effective plumbing in London until the 1860s.
What did 18th century London look like?
Cities were dirty, noisy, and overcrowded. London had about 600,000 people around 1700 and almost a million residents in 1800. The rich, only a tiny minority of the population, lived luxuriously in lavish, elegant mansions and country houses, which they furnished with comfortable, upholstered furniture.
Does Victorian London still exist?
There aren’t many actual Victorian stores left in London, but the development of consumerism and shopping as a pastime in the latter half of the 19th century left an indelible mark on the city.
What is the Victorian ideal?
Providing for a woman and a family were the ideals of the Victorian society, and not only men compared each other to meet these ideals, but women dreamed of marrying these types of men as well.
What are some words to describe London?
Words which best describe London
- Diverse – 61%
- Creative – 31%
- Proud – 26%
- Resilient – 19%
- Tolerant – 18%
- Aggressive -16%
- Ambitious – 14%
- Freedom – 14%
How do people describe London?
This great world city is far more than just the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. London is bustling, vibrant, multicultural and cosmopolitan. London is both old and new, a place where traditional pubs rub shoulders with the newest cocktail bars.
What defines London style?
“London is where you see the purest form of how a modern man dresses. [Their suits have] an hourglass fit, it’s a nipped-in waist, it’s a strong shoulder. It’s got a double vent, ticket pocket, and strong patterns.
What are 3 characteristics of Victorian design?
Characteristics of Victorian Architecture
- Steeply pitched roofs.
- Plain or colorfully painted brick.
- Ornate gables.
- Painted iron railings.
- Churchlike rooftop finials.
- Sliding sash and canted bay windows.
- Octagonal or round towers and turrets to draw the eye upward.
- Two to three stories.
How would you describe Victorian fashion?
The fashion of the 19th century is renowned for its corsets, bonnets, top hats, bustles and petticoats. Women’s fashion during the Victorian period was largely dominated by full skirts, which gradually moved to the back of the silhouette.