Where is the
Victorian?
We are
going to
look more
closely at
some of the
people in
this
photograph
Are these boys
rich, middle class,
working class or
poor?
What sort of jobs
might they have?
Can you
find
them?
The boy on the left is quite smartly
dressed, but not too fancy, so he’s
probably not rich. He may be middle
class, perhaps his father owns a
business. He may be already working in
the business.
The other two are more scruffily dressed
– they may well be working in a mill.
They probably went to school for a little
while.
Is this lady rich, middle
class, working class or
poor?
Why is she dressed in
black?
Can you
find
her?
It’s hard to tell if she is rich or middle
class as older ladies in both classes
may have dressed in black.
It was common for ladies whose
husband had died to dress in black
for the rest of their lives. After Queen
Victoria’s husband died the Queen
dressed in black and so it became
fashionable for all older ladies.
Are these ladies rich,
middle class, working
class or poor?
What sort of jobs might
they have?
What might they do for
entertainment?
Can you
find
them?
The lady on the left has a fancy hat and a
fine dress. She might be quite rich. The
others are well dressed, perhaps they are
upper middle class. Their fathers might be
solicitors or mill owners.
These ladies probably don’t have jobs. They
may be in charge of running their house,
although their servants will do a lot of the
work.
Young ladies were encouraged to do things
like crochet and embroidery. They might have
learned to play the piano or violin. There are
some sports, such as croquet, which ladies
would be allowed to play.
Is this man rich, middle class,
working class or poor?
What sort of jobs might he
have?
What might he do for
entertainment?
Can you
find
him?
This gentleman is quite smart and
fashionable. He might be quite rich.
He might own a mill or an estate.
Perhaps he has business interests in
other countries such as India or
Africa. He might spend a lot of time
abroad.
Victorian gentlemen loved hunting,
shooting and fishing. This man might
also play sports such as rugby or
rowing.
Let’s look
at another
photograph
Are these men rich,
middle class, working
class or poor?
What sort of jobs might
they have?
What might they do for
entertainment?
Can you
find
them?
The man on the left wears a cap,
he may be quite poor. Perhaps he
works in a mill.
The others have bowler hats, they
are probably middle class.
Perhaps they are managers in a
mill or own a shop.
They might play sports like rugby
or rowing.
Are these ladies rich,
middle class, working class
or poor?
What sort of jobs might
they have?
What do you think of their
dresses?
6
Can you
find
them?
These ladies are quite well
dressed. They are probably upper
middle class.
Their husbands might own a
business. Many ladies did not
have to work.
Ladies’ dresses had hoops
underneath to make them stick
out. They also had a “bustle” to
make their bums look big.
Who can we
find in this
photograph?
Is this girl rich, middle class,
working class or poor?
Do you think she goes to
school?
What do you think of her
dress?
7
Can you
find
her?
This girl is very well dressed,
she may be quite rich.
She may go to school, but rich
children often had their own
private teacher, called a
governess, who taught them in
their own homes.
Victorian boys also wore
dresses when they were small.
7
Are these girls rich,
middle class, working
class or poor?
Do you think they go to
school?
What do you think of their
dresses?
8
Can you
find
them?
These girls might be in school
uniform. They are probably middle
class.
They go to school to learn how to be
ladies.
8
Here is
another
photograph.
Let’s look
more closely.
Is this couple rich, poor,
working class or middle
class?
What work do you think
they do?
What do you think of
their clothes?
Can you
find
them?
This couple are quite smartly
dressed.
Perhaps the gentleman is the
manager of a mill or has his own
shop in the town.
Is this man rich, poor,
working class or
middle class?
What work do you
think he does?
9
Can you
find
him?
This man looks as if he might
work in the country.
The wealthy employed lots of
people to run their estates. As
well as having servants in the
house, there were people like
gardeners and gamekeepers to
take care of their land and
estates.
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