History of Britain, Episode 2

Available as

Online

Summary

In this episode, Tony travels back to the 1800s, to Victorian times. In London's East End, Tony encounters thirteen-year-old Sarah Chapman, a 'Match Girl', who worked fourteen-hour shifts, six days...

In this episode, Tony travels back to the 1800s, to Victorian times. In London's East End, Tony encounters thirteen-year-old Sarah Chapman, a 'Match Girl', who worked fourteen-hour shifts, six days a week in the 'Bryant & May' factory. But the worst thing was constant exposure to the chemical phosphorous. So sarah took part in one of the first workers' marches to improve conditions.Angus Innes was a Scottish navvy who blasted tons of rock from the highlands to Glasgow, to construct an ambitious water channel. Tony discovers his secret: a hearty breakfast of six slices of bacon, a loaf of bread, a can of condensed milk and two pints of beer. The Victorian Age was powered by coal, but amongst its miners were 5,000 women and children. Betty Harris worked for her husband underground at Knowles Pitt near Bolton, pulling coal trucks. He'd regularly beat her for 'being too slow'. But Betty did have one person on her side: Queen Victoria!The increasing demand from busy Victorians to get around town faster led to the rise of the London cabby and the Hansom cab. Victorian cabbies were often drunk in the pub but some, like John Cockram, made use of new 'cab shelters' which served up tea, steak and the morning papers. Tony meets Esther Brown, one of the first employees of 'Michael Marks' Penny Bazaar', effectively the very first 'Marks & Spencer'. Esther tutored her customers in the modern art of 'browsing', although - as a woman - she may not have been trusted to handle their money. And finally, there's Edwin Waugh, a man, miserable with his job and his wife. His only therapy was drink until in the 1840s a new phenomenon appears: He takes the train on a day trip to Blackpool, along with 2000 others.

Show More