Table of Contents
What were Victorian factories like?
Factories were often large and could employ over 500 people. Life as a Victorian factory worker was hard and dangerous. The workers had to work nonstop and could be fined or even sacked if they fell behind. Many workers became ill from breathing in fumes or injured by dangerous machinery.
What was life like in a Victorian factory?
Children were apprenticed at nine and were given lodgings, food and an hour of schooling a week. Hours were long and the mills were noisy, hot, dusty and dangerous places to work. Medical records reveal that accidents and disease were common.
What were factories like?
Factories in the Industrial Revolution were cramped and contained spaces. Often times, they were built without windows or proper ventilation and as a result the machines would quickly cause the inside temperature of the factory to increase dramatically.
What were the working conditions like during the Victorian era?
Work given to Victorian children was usually menial and boring, and the conditions in which work was completed were often cramped, dark, and dangerous. Of course, one’s home environment would not be all that different- rooms were crowded, conditions were unsanitary, and the food was awful!
How did factories work in the Victorian era?
The factories in Victorian times were set up in towns which have augmented into modern day cities. The use of steam-powered machinery further led to the expansion of factories. With a number of factories coming up, people migrated from the countryside to these towns in hope of finding a job in these factories.
Why did children work in the Victorian era?
In the Victorian era new factories sprung up, thanks to innovations in technology such as steam power. These new factories needed lots of workers – and children were cheap to employ. Very few laws protected workers, least of all children.
What was life like for children in factories?
Children in factories were often beaten when they made mistakes or worked too slowly. Many workers were killed or injured by the machines they worked with. The didn’t have any safety features and they were slow to stop if a worker got caught up in them. Many factory workers lived in overcrowded, poor quality housing.
What kind of jobs did people have in Victorian times?
Other jobs included working down coal mines. Coal was the main source of power in Victorian times. It was used for cooking and heating, and for driving machinery, trains and steam ships.