Features of Victorian Homes
The 'beginning of the railways and new manufacturing process' enabled locally produced 'building materials' to become available all over the country. Prior to this, houses were all built from the same materials such as local stone, timber and straw.
The new bricks were mass produced, therefore cheaper and did not require as much preparation and maintenance. Chapels, cottages, mansions, barns and factories all over the country were made of the same materials despite their region.
The poor people in towns lived in terraced houses (back-to-back)
Rich Victorians lived in villas, which were not the same as the Roman villas, and the middle class lived in 'superior terraces' with gardens in the front and back and also a room in the attic for their servants.
Characteristics of Victorian houses:
- Cars were not invented until towards the end of the Victorian period, so houses had no garages.
- Chimneys
- Bay windows (sticking out)
- slated roofs
- decorative, fancy brickwork
- Flemish brick bond (header, stretcher)
- Decorative wooden panels and rooftops
- Fireplace
- Flowery wallpaper
- heavy curtains
- carpets and rugs
Taking care of Victorian houses was very hard work without the help of the cleaning appliances we have today such as vacuum cleaners and washing machines, so these houses weren't kept in the cleanest condition. Girls 'as young as twelve' years old worked as maids in return for a place to stay and a wage (as little as £7 per year)
Features of Victorian Houses and Homes. 2013. Features of Victorian Houses and Homes. [ONLINE] available at: http://www.chiddingstone.kent.sch.uk/homework/houses/victorian/Decorations.htm
