What was life like for ordinary Victorians? Historian Ruth Goodman explains

Historian Ruth Goodman discusses the normal routines of life in Victorian Britain – from washing and dressing, to eating and sleeping – and how this differed for people from different walks of life.

How did the average Victorian wash themselves? And what did they eat?

#HistoryExtra #history #victorian

00:00 Intro
00:32 How did the Victorians wash?
03:26 What did people wear?
08:57 What did Victorians eat?
13:37 What did they cook?
15:29 Inside the Victorian home


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[CAM-fqlv]

Ruth is a wonderful presenter. Love the format with no music, just talking and relevant historical photos and drawings.

[kathhollandful]

Imagine if teachers at school had been as entertaining and enthusiastic as Ruth. Some of us may have done well and really enjoyed it! Ruth's a national treasure!

[monikamurawska]

This woman is 100% perfect storyteller.

[maggie]

A lot more Ruth please. More, more, more.

[DontCareBeare.]

5 layers of clothes?!? 😮. 6 people to a room?!?! I screech as I watch on my cellphone, in my warm bed, sipping on my coffee. Man, are we spoiled!

[honeygarden]

This woman is truly remarkable. As a historian with extraordinary storytelling skills, she weaves tales of humanity that are utterly captivating. I was utterly absorbed by her work in 'Tudor, Edwardian, Victorian, and Wartime Farm.' When she speaks, time seems to stand still; you find yourself drawn in, forgetting everything else around you. It's like settling down by the fire with a warm blanket and a steaming cup of tea, completely lost in her enchanting narratives. I do hope she graces us with more living history stories. I could listen to her for hours on end, wrapped in the comfort of her words.

[geoffdundee]

My great aunt lived her whole life with a stand up died in the same home she was born in 98 yrs running hot no electricity until also worked hard all her died in 1998 - i miss her so listening to her storys of the past.

[snowysnowyriver]

I'm 73 years old and can remember using a basin and ewer for washing. We had a tin bath and had one bath a week on a Sunday evening.

[zarak]

I’m off sick at home and this is the perfect thing to watch. Nestled in my blankets, hot tea, and realising I should be grateful for what I have instead of being grumpy that I’m ill.

[shortyblackwellll]

I love Ruth. She's like an old friend.

[FetidPhlesh]

I can't explain it but when Ruth talks, my ADHD goes away and I just listen. She really does have a gift for teaching.

[mrs.blennerhassit]

OMG!! RUTH!! Where have you BEEN, woman?!? Haven't seen you since the farm shows!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 So glad to see you again! Please do more farm shows, We here in the USA really need as much peaceful, enjoyable education as we can get, especially lately.

[MawganRogerson]

It’s so refreshing to see working class history like this. So often we focus on kings, queens, popes, emperors, commanders, and tyrants, when actually it’s far more interesting to see how most of us would’ve lived. The factory worker, the miner, the craftsman, the merchant, the farmer, the teacher. Fascinating.

[erickalear]

Every time I get sick, I watch Ruth on one of her farm shows. Idk what it is, but between the music and the material, I feel like it'll all be OK.

[ninaelsbethgustavsen]

When I was 10, we moved house.
Our new home had a proper bathroom !
Previously Dad had built a shower room in the root cellar, out the door, and round the corner, of our 360 year old timber (log cabin style) house.
Dad had also built a new outhouse. Inside his large carpenter's work shed.

The stand up baths were still mandatory, both in the morning, and before bedtime, even in our new place...
The big difference was the
loo/WC, and the wash basin, with both hot and cold water, and a plug.
I never tired of watching the used water just swirl and gurgle down that drain, and be gone !
No more stood shivering by the kitchen table, on a small stool, in a chill kitchen.
Our new bathroom also had a bath tub with shower, and underfloor heating....
What utter luxury !
Love from Norway 😊❤

[jeannamcgregor]

Yes, as much Ruth Goodman as possible please. And go back and watch the Farm series (Tudor Monastery Farm, Victorian Farm, Edwardian Farm, and my favorite, Wartime Farm.

[daveandgena]

Ruth Goodman quoting Sir Terry Pratchett is the best thing about my day today! PS Thrilled to see this is a series!

[amylmorton]

Love seeing Ruth again! We all need more Ruth in our life!

[seakr]

I love Ruths presentations. I am reminded of something I heard Dolly Parton say on an interview some years ago when asked about bathing in a small ( I believe one roomed =) house. She said " Wear a loose dress, wash down as far as possible and wash up as far as possible. When no one is in the house, wash the possible".

[HappyBerryCrochet]

Flannels and a sink full of water was my childhood, baths once a week and this was the 80s, it's fascinating to see it relate to the Victorian era. I love to sleep with a window open even in winter ❄️🥶😅