Victorian

Homes for the not so rich

Huge industrial cities like Birmingham had grown up by Victorian times. Houses for the workers were often squashed together around courtyards, and became blackened by coal smuts from the tall factory chimneys.

Several homes shared a privy (toilet), a pump or well and wash-house. The privies were emptied by the night soil cart, but they often overflowed and contaminated the water supply.

Diseases like cholera and typhoid were very common.

Efforts were made to improve these conditions towards the end of Victorian times, and factory owners like the Cadburys made a point of building decent homes for their workers.

What had to be done to wash clothes in Victorian times?

Click the picture for an answer.