Category: Victorian life
Christmas Eve
After labour’s long turmoil, Sorry fare and frequent fast, Two-and-fifty weeks of toil, Pudding-time is come at last… This post is set to appear on December 24. So, while it will remain ‘o... Read More
Coronation Day in Kendal
Coronation Day, Kendal ‘Coronation Day. Kendal, though somewhat tardy in its movements on public occasions, will not, we are glad to find, let the Coronation Day pass over unnoticed.’ No, not that... Read More
Coughs and sneezes and Victorian ‘cures’
Victorian cures for illness were an extremely serious matter for the sick. Reading contemporary newspaper adverts for pills and potions makes one very glad modern medicine (and Trading Standards) have... Read More
Christmas 1843 in Cumbria
Charles Dickens’ arguably most-popular work, A Christmas Carol, was published in 1843. It was also the year of the first Christmas card. So, how did folk in Westmorland celebrate Christmas 1843?’ ... Read More
The Popular Educator – and lessons for women
The Popular Educator was a series of heavyweight books published by the firm of Cassell, Petter and Gilpin, of the delightful address La Belle Sauvage Yard, London. Founded by John Cassell, the books... Read More
Carlisle Central School vs the Industrial Revolution
Carlisle Central School, in the early years of the 19th century, was set up to counter ‘the pernicious effects’ of the Industrial Revolution. A worthy (if perhaps self-interested) venture, it also... Read More
The telephone: ‘useless for postal purposes’
A 2016 survey by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) asked people what two possessions (non-living things) they’d save from a fire if they had three minutes to do safely. The results were Cr... Read More
Thomas Hetherington: A policeman’s lot
Thomas Hetherington gave at least 13 years of his life to the police service at a time when police forces in the UK were in their infancy. During that time he was attacked, praised, rewarded, risked h... Read More