Victorian London: Not so different

~ beetleypete

Less than 100 years before I was born, the London I grew up in was not so very different. Although I can still recognise most of the locations, the living conditions are nothing like those we know today.

Whitechapel, around 1888. In the same area and at the same time where the Jack The Ripper murders happened.

Kensington is now one of the most affluent and expensive areas of London.
It was actually very different, in 1860.

Still recognisable, The Strand had no motor vehicles at the time. Now the traffic is bumper to bumper.

In the 1890s, London’s River Police were still using rowing boats. Here they are close to Tower Bridge. I lived nearby, 60 years after this was taken.

Slum living conditions in East London, around 1865. Ninety years later, little had changed during my childhood.

A street parade in East London, during the 1880s. This is what passed for entertainment back then, with crowds turning out to watch.

It always strikes me that most men still wore suits and ties, even the poorest. And almost everyone never went out without wearing a hat, including children.
During the 1950s, that was still much the same where I lived.

52 thoughts on “Victorian London: Not so different”

  1. I often think about the clothing and hats, too. I remember hat stores, and especially hat boxes. Wearing full, heavy clothing in the heat must have been awful. I so enjoyed this post and especially the photos. Best to you, Pete.

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    1. Thanks, Jennie. It seemed that they were impervious to heat, in their woolen suits, or heavy dresses. With baths a rarity, and no deodorant, I think it is just as well we don’t have ‘smell-o-vision’. 🙂
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  2. Always remembering having to wear a school cap, stand to attention take hat off when a funeral procession passed by. Times do change

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  6. I absolutely love these pictures. I do wonder how on earth they crossed the roads such as The Strand in those days! And how on earth did they all stay clean? I think I have a somewhat romantic view on life in times gone by which is probably so very different as to how it really was. Was it better or worse, or just different with different problems? They must have been much tougher than us that’s for sure. These are wonderful, please post more! Katie

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    1. Thanks, Katie. They didn’t stay clean! By our standards now, they were dirty. Even when I was a child, we only had one bath a week!
      Tomorrow, I am doing ‘Bridges’.
      Best wishes, Pete. 🙂

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      1. I remember at school having hair-washing night on a Friday before we were due to see our parents, and having three to a bath in four inches of water! My children would never cope with this! Perhaps this is why I now love a long soak in a very full bath with bubbles! Lovely post – thanks

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  10. It’s crazy how much things change. The appartmentflat where I live at, had farmlands in front of it about 30 years ago. Now it’s all houses and infrastructure. I love this pictures by the way Pete, they really look amazing 😊

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    1. Thanks, Michel. I suppose the point of this was that other than in Kensington, little has changed in the places shown in the old photos. When I was a child, it looked just the same, and even now, many of those buildings still exist, albeit ‘gentrified’.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  13. I always remember the men of the East End always took their hats off as a mark of respect when any funeral procession passed by, regardless of whether they knew the deceased or not. Great photos Pete!

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  14. Another great look at your history…..I have been watching Reilly–Ace of Spies…it is about the world around the turn of the 20th century and onto the Great War…….love the history…..thanx for the look back….chuq

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  20. You’ve done it again! As always, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed looking at the photos. It is a shame people don’t seem to take the pride in their appearance that they used too. I know many men a couple of generations above me who still make sure they are in pressed trousers and shirts, ties before leaving the house, some still wearing suit jackets or waistcoats. We used to be so proud…

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