The Victorian Era, an age of innovation and change, is full of surprises.
From bizarre medical practices to peculiar social customs, the era is dotted with fascinating facts that often escape popular narratives.
In this blog post, we delve into 12 shocking facts about the Victorian Era that are sure to catch you off guard.
Prepare to journey through a time of great contrasts and eccentricities that will challenge your perceptions of this well-known historical period.
1. Victorian Post-Mortem Photography
In an age where photography was a luxury, Victorian families often took post-mortem photographs of deceased loved ones.
This served as a memento mori, capturing one last image of the departed. These poignant photographs often featured the deceased posed as if alive, surrounded by grieving family members.
The practice reflected the era’s unique perception of death as a continuation of life, rather than an end.
Families would sometimes even paint open eyes on closed lids to create a more lifelike pose.
This intriguing yet eerie tradition highlights the Victorians’ deep connection with mortality and remembrance.
2. The Bizarre Beauty Standards
Victorian beauty standards were extreme, with women often resorting to tight corsets to achieve an impossibly small waist.
This pursuit of the ‘hourglass figure’ led to health issues like fainting and organ displacement.
Despite the risks, wearing these corsets was a societal expectation, reflecting the pressure on women to conform to beauty ideals.
The era’s obsession with pale skin also led women to use dangerous arsenic-laden cosmetics to achieve the desired look.
These beauty practices speak to the intense societal pressures Victorian women faced, often sacrificing health for the sake of appearance.
3. Child Labor in Factories
The industrial boom of the Victorian Era saw children as young as five years old working in factories.
These young laborers often spent long hours in dangerous conditions for meager wages. Despite the harsh environment, their income was essential for family survival.
Many children operated powerful machinery, resulting in frequent injuries and even fatalities. This grim reality eventually sparked reform movements, leading to child labor laws.
The exploitation of children during this time underscores the era’s stark socioeconomic contrasts, where industrial progress came at a human cost.
4. Victorian Seances and Spiritualism
The Victorian Era saw a surge in interest in spiritualism and seances, driven by a fascination with the afterlife.
Many Victorians attended séances, hoping to communicate with deceased loved ones. Mediums, claiming to channel spirits, became popular figures in society.
These gatherings often included dramatic phenomena like table tilting and eerie sounds, enhancing the mystical experience.
While some participated out of genuine belief, others saw it as a thrilling social event.
This fascination with the supernatural reflects the era’s curiosity about life beyond death and the blending of science and mysticism.
5. The Great Stink of 1858
In 1858, a heatwave exacerbated London’s sewage problem, leading to the infamous ‘Great Stink.’ The River Thames, overflowing with waste, emitted an unbearable stench that halted city life.
The situation became so dire that Parliament considered relocating.
This crisis highlighted the urgent need for a modern sewer system, spearheaded by engineer Joseph Bazalgette.
The Great Stink ultimately catalyzed significant public health reforms. This event underscores the challenges of rapid urbanization during the Victorian Era, where infrastructure struggled to keep pace with growth.
It also marks a turning point in environmental awareness.
6. Unusual Mourning Customs
Victorian mourning customs were elaborate and tightly regulated, with widows expected to wear black for up to two years.
Mourning attire symbolized respect and status, and strict rules governed behavior during this period.
Mourning wasn’t just personal; it permeated social life, influencing fashion, literature, and even home decor.
Mourning jewelry, often made from jet or hair of the deceased, became fashionable.
These customs reveal how deeply death and remembrance were woven into Victorian society, reflecting both the era’s reverence for tradition and its complex social hierarchies.
7. The Advent of Penny Dreadfuls
Penny Dreadfuls emerged as popular reading material in Victorian England, offering sensational and often gruesome stories for a penny.
These cheap publications captured the public’s imagination with tales of crime, adventure, and the supernatural.
Despite their lowbrow reputation, Penny Dreadfuls played a crucial role in the democratization of literature, making reading accessible to the masses.
They also reflected societal anxieties and fascinations, providing a glimpse into the fears and fantasies of the era.
This literary phenomenon highlights the Victorians’ appetite for thrilling narratives and the beginnings of modern popular culture.
8. Victorian Workhouses
Victorian workhouses were institutions meant to provide for the destitute, yet they were often harsh and dehumanizing.
Inmates performed labor in exchange for basic sustenance, enduring strict discipline and minimal comforts.
Families were frequently separated, and the stigma of entering a workhouse was severe. Despite their grim reality, workhouses were a vital part of the social welfare system.
They highlight the era’s struggles with poverty and the complex interplay between charity and social control.
Understanding workhouses offers insight into Victorian social policies and the challenges faced by the underprivileged.
9. The Oddity of Victorian Medicine
Victorian medicine was a curious mix of progress and quackery. While the era saw advances like anesthesia, it was also rife with bizarre treatments such as bloodletting and the use of leeches.
Doctors sometimes prescribed opium for ailments, unaware of its addictive properties.
Medical practices often lacked scientific basis, reflecting limited understanding of diseases. Yet, the period also laid the groundwork for modern medicine.
This duality illustrates the transitional nature of Victorian healthcare, where traditional methods clashed with emerging scientific discoveries, shaping the future of medical practice.
10. The Rise of the Middle Class
The Victorian Era witnessed the rise of a burgeoning middle class, altering the social landscape. This new class, comprising industrialists, merchants, and professionals, enjoyed increased wealth and influence.
They embraced values of hard work and respectability, aspiring to emulate the upper class.
The middle class played a crucial role in driving consumer culture, fueling demand for goods and services. Their emergence marked a shift in societal dynamics, contributing to social mobility and innovation.
This transformation illustrates the profound economic and cultural changes during the Victorian Era, echoing in today’s society.
11. Victorian Inventions and Innovations
The Victorian Era was a hotbed of inventions and innovations, many of which have shaped modern life.
Pioneering advancements in transportation, communication, and industry emerged, driven by inventors’ spirit and ingenuity.
Notable inventions include the telephone, steam engine, and electric light, each transforming daily life and expanding horizons.
This era of creativity exemplifies how technological progress can spur societal change. The inventors’ legacy endures, highlighting the importance of innovation in shaping the future.
These breakthroughs remind us of the era’s lasting impact, encouraging us to embrace our creative potential.
12. The Secret Language of Fans
Victorian women ingeniously used fans to communicate secret messages during social gatherings.
This ‘fan language’ allowed discreet exchanges about romance and social matters. By positioning and moving their fans in specific ways, women conveyed messages without uttering a word.
This silent communication method was not only clever but also necessary, given the era’s strict social codes.
The language of fans illustrates the resourcefulness of Victorian women, navigating societal constraints with subtlety and grace.
It serves as a reminder of the creativity that emerged under restrictive conditions, offering insight into the social intricacies of the time.