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In 1837 Victoria became Queen at the age of eighteen. During her reign she survived 7 attempts to assassinate her before dying of natural causes in 1901 at the grand age of 81. |
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Queen Victorian and Prince Albert had 9 children. |
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The world’s first adhesive postage stamp - the Penny Black - went on sale in 1840. |
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Queen Victoria was less than 5 foot tall. |
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The phrase ‘Come a Cropper’ refers to losing your fingers in a cropper press. |
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‘Keen as Mustard’. Keen’s was a leading brand of mustard in Victorian England. |
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The phrase ‘Knocking Off’ comes from knocking the pulley belt off its driving wheel. |
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In 1891 education was made free for every child. |
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Green candles were specially ordered by the local mining company who provided candles for miners at work. Employees found with green candles at home had obviously stolen them and would be instantly dismissed. Hence the origin of the phrase ‘Worth a Candle’. |
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In Victorian England work in a bank was a trusted, respected and strictly male preserve. Women were admitted in World War I but were afterwards not much encouraged. |
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In 1802 / 2 Richard Trevithick built a steam railway locomotive at Coalbrookdale, which is now recognised as being the first in the world. |
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In 1876 Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. |
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Beer and Water
The public house (pub), has gone through many changes over the years, and there is a wealth of history and interesting stories connected with this journey. For example, did you know that in the Victorian era it was accepted that the water quality was so poor that it was safer for all men, women, young and old, to drink beer instead. |
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Fatal Beer Accident
Due to the high demand beer was brewed in large quantities, so large in fact that in London in 1814, a large storage vat containing 3,500 barrels of porter split open at Meux’s brewery. The resulting flood swept away three houses and drowned eight people! |
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Drunken Steeples
Ale was traditionally used for building. When strong ale was added to mortar it made a much more durable and fast setting bond. Many builders used it to erect church steeples, which was ironic as many vicars were denouncing the evils of drink from pulpits placed under these very steeples. |
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The Mayflower
It may surprise you to know that the Pilgrims, when packing the Mayflower, carried more beer, wine and spirits than they did water. |
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Ale Conners
Henry III in a desperate attempt to raise money to pay for his wars with Wales and France set a tax on many things, including beer. The tax was staggered according to how strong the ale was. However, as there was no scientific way of measuring the ales strength, ALE-CONNERS were sent out to inspect not only quality but determine strength.
The Ale Conner would turn up at a brewery or tavern wearing a pair of leather breeches and carrying a measure into which he would demand a quantity of ale to be poured. A little of this would then be poured on to a wooden bench and the Ale Conner would carefully sit in it, wiggle a little and then sit perfectly still for a short while, possibly finishing off the rest of the brew.
When enough time had elapsed he would stand. If the bench came up with him and remained stuck to his breeches he would declare the ale strong and pass the higher tax on it, if it stuck but then fell off it would be of medium strength, hence a lower tax and if he stood with no problem, the beer was obviously weak and not taxable. What a job! |
