What would our ancestors have worn

[Rod In Sussex]

The men wore basically dark knee length trousers, socks and shoes (if they were lucky), a whiteish collarless shirts and a waistcoat and jacket. The sketches by Hogarth gives a very good idea.

As to washing, many Victorian houses had a "copper" in a shed in the yard. This was basically a big pan over an open fire that clothes were boiled in. Most people did not wash their clothes, many only did so a few times a year at most.

But they did not think they smelt as much as you might think! They were all the same, so no one noticed. It was just a natural background. But the smell of modern soap and chemical fresheners etc might be considered a smell by their standards!

The Hogarth link also implies what their world was like.

Rod

[Mobo]

 

Most ordinary folk back then, were forced to wear second hand clothes,which goes to show that re-cycling is not a modern idea. These wonderful images of a Salford Market in the 1880's, show the sellers and the buyers. 

   

[Mobo]

 

This time we see a solitary boot seller waiting for customers, and three other traders chating while they wait.

 

[ndedross]

I can say that my ancestors had no back yard, and if they had any copper they would of sold it.

I have seen sketches from the 1860s of Bethnal Green that show rubbish heaps up to 10 feet high in the streets. So how a person smelt would be immaterial compared to the background. I can't see any of my ancestors using any form of oral hygene, so their breath would add to the ambiance.

Nigel

[bigwood]

Thanks Mobo for posting the pictures of Salford markets.
My rels who are visiting from England have ancestors from Salford and appreciated looking at them.

meg 

[Rod In Sussex]

Nigel,

I think that even in the crowded back to back slums there would have been one per street/block, near the communal (overflowing) privies. I have seen a plan of such a set up from the 1800s, but cannot recall where. It was the equivalent of a modern laundrette in a tower block and was not personally owned.

Rod

[wellie]

When I was a young lad we lived in a back to back house in the middle of Birmingham.
In the yard at the back you had two toilets and a wash room for washing clothes. for about ten houses/families.and you could leave your door open with no fear of being killed or robbed

[DebbieDee]

Nigel,

Which all proves I come from a family of scrubbers!

Same here! 

My Dad told me his father's family had a laundry business in the Weston-super-Mare area.  In all the censuses most of the women describe themselves as 'laundress' so there must be some truth in it, but like you I think they probably took in washing at home. 

Debbie

[ndedross]

Thanks for the information on the communal laundries - I've added that to my contextual information. In the C19th my family only selected the very worst slums to live in, including The Nichol in Bethnal Green (15 people and 2 pigs sharing a room according to one report of the time).

Debbie - I know that my great grandma had a set of regular clients and had to work from home to look after the kids and grandkids. She took in laundry for over 30 years.

Nigel