Living conditions in Britain, 1900s-1970s: What's on this site

The pages in this section are about what housing and household facilities were like for ordinary people in Britain from Victorian times to the 1970. They are based on the memories and experiences of people who actually lived through those years, with added background research by the webmaster. They consider the houses themselves, but also – in particular – the everyday realities of living in them: heating, lighting, washing, cooking, sanitation, furnishings and costs.

The pages range from Victorian and Edwardian terraced housing estates through to mid-20th century suburbia, together with sections on slums, workhouses, orphanages and student accommodation. There are descriptions of rooms, household equipment, outside lavatories, coal fires, gas lighting, public baths and many other features of everyday domestic life which are now forgotten or taken for granted.

The pages explain how homes functioned before modern conveniences became widespread, and how families adapted to very different standards of comfort and hygiene which either did not exist or became available only gradually– no indoor bathrooms, no constant hot water, electric appliances and or heating.

The pages are available under the following headings. Scroll down for clickable links to the individual pages.

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