"The important thing is not what they think of me but what I think of them."

Queen Victoria

Queen Victoria with Alexandra as a child.

The Victorians, a new rule

Queen Victoria was the only British Monarch to have a period in history named after a single King or Queen, Queen Elizabeth I and the Elizabethans were still under the mantle of the Tudors. Queen Victoria would reign for longer than any monarch previously had and have established an Empire at its peak when she died. The British Empire was the largest Empire ever and one in four inhabitants would be her subjects. This was a period in history which would see much change including the full bloom of the industrial revolution.

Victorian wealth

The wealth was still within the hands of a limited few, although the 'merchant classes' were now establishing themselves as business people and becoming the new magnates.  The new barons, or what we might call the 'nouveau riche' were  joining the hereditary landowners and aristocracy. The Victorians had inherited a magnificent country from the Georgians. They would still leave the poor behind, with only the punitive Workhouse System to provide some form of shelter when in dire need. Equality and equal rights were still evading the common man, never mind woman. In a period of such progress and imperial expansion, almost unbelievable that there was no more social progress at the same time. There would be pockets of philanthropic kindness but British Society still had much to learn and improve upon as the Queen died.

Victorian industrial might

When Victoria came to the throne, Britain produced two thirds of the world's coal, half it's iron, two thirds of it's steel production and an enormous half of the world's entire output of cotton textile. A huge number of goods were traded in and out of British ports and over 40% of them were manufactured in Britain. The Victorians enforced open trade between nations, even using military force when it seemed such trade might be restricted, such as in China and Japan. From such a height there could only be one direction in which to move and by the end of Victoria's reign the downward slide had begun.

Victorian Age of Reform

The Victorian period is often called the 'Age of Reform'. Reform swept through many areas, there were social reform bills, political and constitutional reform as well as economic reform. In fact, life was changing so rapidly in Britain that it was difficult for government to keep apace with the acts that needed to be drawn. Many of these reform acts were associated with the growth of population and the growth of industry. Health and factory acts were needed to protect workers including the hours and condition of factory children and women. The repeal of the Corn Laws was probably the most far reaching of the reform acts and affected everyone.

Queen Victoria at Osborne House her favourite residence with the futre King George V and family

There are many strands to our Victorian Period, but we will link all the key elements for this period here as we progress. You might also like to take a look at our 19th Century and Agricultural and Industrial Revolution or Social Change and Reform collections as well.