Victorian Social History Trivia

1. In many of the adverts you see references to a "Steam Packet". What would that be I wonder?

From Quiz Victorian Advertisements - 1851

Answer: A mail boat

Historically a "packet" boat was a vessel on a fairly regular schedule carrying mail, and usually passengers as well. Before the arrival of steam ships, timetables were often difficult to hold to, but when steam ships became available it was much easier to keep to a schedule, and routes proliferated. Southampton being a maritime hub, there were steam packets going to dozens of different places. At one end you had local services, for example, "Southampton Steam Packets" offered trips between Southampton and the Isle of Wight seven times a day, using a fleet of six ships. At the other extreme you had P & O packets going as far as India and China on a regular basis. These vessels would probably have been side-wheel paddle steamers, but not long after they were superseded by screw driven ships.

From Quiz Victorian Commercials (Advertisements)

Answer: A straw hat covering all the head except the face.

A bonnet was a kind of hat that was pulled round most of the head, leaving only the face open. A Tuscan bonnet was made of straw, and might be decorated for effect on social occasions. There is a famous poem by Elizabeth Cavazza Pullen called 'Alicia's Bonnet' that contains the often repeated couplet "Last night Alicia wore a Tuscan bonnet, And many humming-birds were fastened on it." Apparently they were real - but dead - birds, and the gist of the poem was regretting the fact that they had to be slain to create beauty. Colchester Museum has a costume department that recently reported "We are also able to reveal three recently conserved bonnets including a Quaker bonnet and an intricate Tuscan straw bonnet."

From Quiz Victorian Adverts (Commercials)

Answer: Sluggish livers

In this instance the advertiser said his compound was good for "sluggish livers", which probably meant constipation. For centuries dandelion has been known as a diuretic and has many other uses. The leaves may be used in salads, the roots may be roasted as a coffee substitute. You can even make dandelion wine, if you are adventurous - or desperate.

From Quiz The Man In The Black Suit

Answer: Widow's weeds

Weeds is an old English word meaning garment. Social conventions said that a widow, especially if a member of the middle or upper classes, had to wear a dress of heavy black material. To this was added a black cap if indoors, or a full, dense, heavy black veil if out in public. They were expected to wear these clothes for anything up to four years, although they could wear it indefinitely if they chose to. Society regarded a minimum of two years of full mourning clothes as a proper period of respect for the departed husband. A widow was expected to abstain from going out during the mourning period. To be seen, for example, at a ball whilst in mourning would have caused quite a scandal.

From Quiz Victorian Advertisements - 1851

Answer: A funeral

Funerals at that time were very significant social occasions, and it was conventional to show your social importance by the way the funeral was conducted. A well-to-do family would have a ceremony involving carriages drawn by black horses, and often these horses were decorated with black plumes worn on their heads. Incidentally, in Victorian times there did not seem to be specialist undertakers, but many stores, especially those selling special funeral clothing, would organise a funeral. You could buy black clothes for the occasion, or you might have some clothes dyed black. Whether you could have the original colour restored afterwards is dubious.

From Quiz Victorian Commercials (Advertisements)

Answer: Stockings, socks, etc.

Also called "legwear", hosiery comprises any item worn directly on the feet or legs. This would include stockings, socks; panty-hose had not yet been invented. In medieval times a doublet and hose was traditional wear for men, the doublet being a close fitting jacket, while hose was a bit like panty-hose, but for men and no doubt in stouter material.

From Quiz Victorian Adverts (Commercials)

Answer: Tools for tending an open fire

Used domestically, fireirons usually come as a set - poker, tongs and shovel, often with a stand on which they may be hung.

From Quiz Life in Victorian England

Answer: They could not be charged with rape

Aristocrats, comprised mainly of people who inherited their land and who did not work for a living, exercised a great deal of power and prestige in Victorian England. They enjoyed legal and constitutional benefits that were unique to their social class alone. Immunity from rape accusations, however, was not among their birth-right perks. (G. E. Mingay, "Victorian Countryside," 2000).

From Quiz Victorian Advertisements - 1851

Answer: On the bottom of a ship

The clue I guess is in the reference to Sargasso, the well-known sea of weed drifting in the Atlantic. The advertised composition was claimed to inhibit the growth of weed etc. and hence it helped to conserve the vessel on which it was applied. The ad explains why it works; "One of the peculiar qualities of this composition is, that shortly after immersion in salt water, decomposition takes place between the oxides forming its base, and the surface of the paint becomes slimy, like the back of a fish, although adhesive, adding considerably to the speed of the vessel."

From Quiz Victorian Commercials (Advertisements)

Answer: Burn it

This was a company that dealt in coal, which was available in various kinds, suited for a variety of purposes. Newbury Steam coal was obviously good for the kind of ovens used by bakers. etc, although the name suggests it was also suited for steam engines.

From Quiz Victorian Adverts (Commercials)

Answer: A smoker's pipe with a bowl made from a chalk-like material

Meerschaum is a German word meaning "sea foam" on account of the look of the mineral given that name. Technically called "sepiolite" it comes from the Black Sea region, occasionally found floating. It was the Germans who thought of using it as the bowl of a pipe - possibly because it has a beneficial effect on the burning tobacco, but more likely just because it looks good..

From Quiz The Man In The Black Suit

Answer: Jet

Jet is a naturally occurring material. It comes from rotting wood. It is easy to carve and to polish and became popular during Victorian times as mourning jewellery because of its deep black colour. In England the best jet was found in the Whitby area. Although often associated with mourning jewellery and the Victorian era, jewellery made from jet was very popular in Roman times. Hair pins, rings, bracelets, brooches and other trinkets have been found in many Roman sites. Much of this was produced in and around the York area.

From Quiz Victorian Advertisements - 1851

Answer: Cleaning your teeth

Hall's sold a range of materials for cleaning your teeth. The complete list was:: Aromatic Astringent Dentifrice Rose Dentifrice Pearl Dentifrice Camphorated Chalk

From Quiz Victorian Commercials (Advertisements)

Answer: Keyboard

A harmonium was an instrument also called a pump-organ, that was much smaller than a traditional organ, and for that reason often used in churches that could not afford the real thing. It was set in a frame similar to an upright piano, and it had a keyboard like a piano's. Sound was produced by air flowing over metal reeds, the air being supplied by bellows worked by pedals at the player's feet. The advertiser Mr G Hammond was a Professor of the Harp and Pianoforte, and was also Pianoforte Tuner to Her Majesty and HRH The late Duchess of Kent. (Who? You remember, she was the mother of Queen Victoria, who must have died shortly before the publication of this Directory.)

From Quiz Victorian Adverts (Commercials)

Answer: Vaults have entrances

A grave is simply a rectangular hole dug in the ground, into which a coffin is placed; it is then filled in with earth, and a memorial or gravestone may be placed over it. If a second burial is to be made in the same grave, the earth has to be dug out again. A vault on the other hand is intended from the start to hold a number of coffins, usually intended for one family. It is often a building, with prepared places for later coffins to be put, and with an entrance that may be a wooden door. Even if the vault is built below ground, it will have an entrance, usually a removable stone slab that covers a flight of steps.

From Quiz The Man In The Black Suit

Answer: Lock of hair

Rings and lockets containing a lock of the deceased's hair were very popular in Victorian times. In addition to this the item was often also engraved with the name of the deceased and the date of his/her death. It was a mark of status to give out these items to friends and relatives. Although this jewellery hit a height in popularity in Victorian times it was known well before that. Samuel Pepys, the diarist from the time of King Charles II, stipulated in his will that 129 mourning rings should be made and given to people who attended his funeral. Other types of memorial jewellery included cameos carved in the likeness of the deceased, rings decorated with a skull and lockets containing a miniature portrait of the deceased (usually worn by the widow). Sometimes rings, bracelets and necklaces woven out of the actual hair of the deceased were made, usually for the immediate family.

From Quiz Life in Victorian England

Answer: Calling an aristocrat by his first name

Among the myriad of social dictates to be followed, the proper usage of names and titles was one of high-priority. Members of the upper and middle classes proudly used titles, or at least surnames, when speaking of one another (e.g. Mr Darcy or Captain Wentworth). Noblemen would often go by their aristocratic titles (e.g., George Chandler, Marquis of Wyndham, would be called "Lord Wyndham"). Married women used their husbands' last names or corresponding titles, while single girls and women would be called "Miss." Even children, from a young age, were encouraged to partake in this social indoctrination. Boys would refer to one another by their family names only, and most children expected their servants to call them "miss" or "master" (Mitchell, "Daily Life in Victorian England," 1996).

From Quiz Victorian Etiquette

Answer: "I love another"

There were many signals that young ladies could give, allowing them to send the right message to a young man. Placing the handle on her lips meant "Kiss me," drawing it across her cheek meant "I love you", and touching tip witrh finger meant "I wish to speak with you."

From Quiz Victorian Advertisements - 1851

Answer: Textiles used for bathroom or bedroom items

Ticking was a strong material made of cotton, and ticks were items made from this material, such as pillow cases and mattress covers. Huckaback (sometimes Huggaback) was a material of cotton or linen, in a weave that made it particularly absorbent. It was therefore often used for towels.

From Quiz Victorian Commercials (Advertisements)

Answer: Chronometers

Southampton being a port, there were several shops that sold chronometers, whose accurate timekeeping was essential for precise navigation. The explanation of the transit method is beyond me, but this extract shows how important it is: "At Greenwich, time determinations were made from observations of the Sun until Edmond Halley obtained the Observatory's first transit telescope in 1721. After that date, all time determinations were made from observations of the stars."

From Quiz Victorian Adverts (Commercials)

Answer: Drink it for your health

At that time a naturally occurring mineral water containing lithium salts (called Lithia Water) was used in medicine as a diuretic, and as a treatment for gout and rheumatic conditions. Its benefits have been acclaimed by many users over the years, but although it is now thought to be fairly ineffective, bottled lithia water is still available from its original source at Lithia Springs, Georgia, and a few other places.

From Quiz The Man In The Black Suit

Answer: The military

For anyone serving in the military whose normal dress was uniform it was acceptable for just a black armband to be worn, as full mourning garb would not be allowed. This also applied to others who habitually wore a uniform for work such as the police. However, when not expected to be in uniform the social rules of mourning dress applied, and they would dress in black. Children were dressed in black mourning clothes, but never for more than a year, and girls' clothes did not include the black veil. Only girls over 17 years of age were expected to wear the full mourning outfit, under that age a simple black dress was sufficient. Mourning worn by servants depended to a great extent on how wealthy the household was. A wealthy one would supply the servants with full mourning clothes, a less wealthy one would supply black arm bands.

From Quiz Victorian Advertisements - 1851

Answer: In big houses.

Doorbells of course would be very common, but the installation of these was usually not very difficult. On the other hand, any middle class family would employ one or more servants, and these would often be summoned by ringing a bell. Bigger houses might have an intricate arrangement of bells which rang in the servants' quarters, and might indicate on a board in which room service was required.

From Quiz Victorian Commercials (Advertisements)

Answer: One penny

Actually a price of one penny was perhaps not particularly cheap. The advert claims "Advertisers secure all the advantages of a First-class and widely-circulating Journal." Sixpence would have been outrageously expensive, while giving it away would not be feasible in those days.

From Quiz Victorian Adverts (Commercials)

Answer: Sheepskin

The word 'roan' is generally used to describe a horse of a brownish colour mixed with white or gray. In bookbinding it refers to a soft leather made from sheepskin, coloured in the same way. Book collectors usually consider a roan binding as an inferior substitute for morocco leather, although in practice it is quite serviceable.

From Quiz The Man In The Black Suit

Answer: The Royal Standard

On the death of the sovereign the next in line to the throne automatically becomes King or Queen. As this means there is always a reigning monarch on the throne the Royal Standard, which is the Sovereign's personal flag, is never flown at half mast. Flags on public buildings or on private flagpoles are flown at half mast, and foreign embassies that fly their own flags would normally take these down to half mast as a mark of respect. Any flags flown on ships in port would also be at half mast.

From Quiz Life in Victorian England

Answer: Besides the landed nobility, few people owned houses

Aristocrats owned lands and houses, primarily through the passing on of estates between family members. The majority of British men and women in the Victorian era, however, did not have the means to buy their own house or land. Renting or leasing a house was the most common housing situation for the majority of people during this period.

From Quiz Victorian Commercials (Advertisements)

Answer: Make cold frames, etc.

Buchan's were dealers in all kinds of glass, and Hartley's Rough Plate was a type used for making greenhouses and cold frames. The business also offered this service: "Looking glasses re-silvered."

From Quiz Victorian Adverts (Commercials)

Answer: Go for a ride.

The clue is in the fact that the advertiser is a "posting master", that is he kept horses and carriages for hire. The spelling is misleading, as it is usually spelled "brake". Commonly called a shooting brake, it was a carriage used to carry shooting parties and their equipment. The term "brake" comes from the early use of a chassis to which unbroken horses were attached, in order to get them used to pulling carriages; in other words, to break them in.

From Quiz The Man In The Black Suit

Answer: One year

When Queen Victoria died in January 1901 the official court mourning period lasted until January 1902. Court mourning is observed by the Royal family, the overseas representatives of the monarch, and all their staff. Instructions on what to wear and what social engagements can and cannot be engaged in are issued. In the case of Victoria the general public were also instructed to wear full mourning until March 1901, and then half mourning until mid April 1901. It is a misapprehension that the coronation of the next monarch cannot take place until the official mourning period is over. Whilst there is always a delay of some months this is more down to the planning required and finding a suitable date for overseas heads of state to attend, than the actual mourning period.

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