19 th Century London

By Heather C-E
19th Century London
• Between 1800-1900 the population in London grew from 950,000 to 6
million.
• In the early 19th century, the growing towns of Britain were
characterised by overcrowding, poor housing, bad water and
disease.
• In 1842, Edwin Chadwick argued that disease was the main reason for
poverty, and that preventing disease would reduce the poor rates.
• In 1848, a cholera epidemic terrified the government into doing
something about prevention of disease - through both public and
individual health measures.
•
19th Century London
• London tried dealing with these problems by:
• In 1848 the first Public Health Act caused the setting up of a Board of
Health, and gave towns the right to appoint a Medical Officer of
Health.
• In 1853 vaccination against smallpox was made compulsory.
• In 1854 improvements in hospital hygiene were introduced (thanks in
large part to Florence Nightingale).
• In 1875 a Public Health Act enforced laws about slum clearance,
provision of sewers and clean water, and the removal of nuisances.
•
19 Century London (and a bit into
th

20th)
• Children were viewed as little adults.
• They could smoke and drink but they could also be sent to adult
prisons.
• In poorer families, they were often obliged to work.
• A 1900 survey into child labour in London showed 25% of all children
aged 5-13 had part time jobs or worked at home making goods like
brushes or paper flowers.
• Children from poorer families often missed days from school to work.
• Girls in particular, were needed at home to care for younger siblings.
• It was legal for children to start full time work at just 12.
19 th Century London(and a bit into
20
•
th)
1908 Children's Charter enshrined childhood to the age of 14;
children under this age were legally minors.
• However, many children still finished their education aged 11.
• After school, poorer children worked in semi- or unskilled jobs. For
boys, factory work was common, for girls it was domestic service.
• This was particularly hard as they would live away from home and not
see their families for months at a time.
• Programmes of social reform after the First World War and a trend for
smaller families improved life for poorer children.
• There was more time for play and in some neighbourhoods the
streets were filled with children.
19th Century London
• So there is a small insight into what life was like in London in the
Victorian Era.
 Thank
you for
listening!
XD