• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
    • First Time Here?
    • Royal Oak
    • Our App
    • Contact
    • Free Anglotopia Mobile and Tablet App
    • Advertise
    • History of Anglotopia
    • Newsletters
    • Disclaimer
    • Press Room
  • Blog
    • Podcast
  • Sections
    • Anglophilia
      • Anglophile 101
      • Anglotopia Long Reads
      • Desktop Wallpapers
      • Anglophile Alerts
      • Anglophile Deals
      • Anglophile Gear
      • Anglophile Zen
      • British Food
    • British TV
      • BBC
      • Downton Abbey
      • Doctor Who News
      • British TV Videos
      • Top Gear
    • British History
      • Great Britons
      • Winston Churchill
      • British Literature
      • British Empire
      • British Military
      • English Language
      • Royal History
      • Shakespeare
    • Royal Family
      • Queen Elizabeth
      • Prince Harry
      • Prince George
      • Royal Couple – Will & Kate
      • Royal Family
      • Royal History
      • Royal Traditions
    • Reviews
      • Brit DVD Reviews
      • Brit Book Reviews
      • Brit Movie Reviews
      • Brit TV Reviews
      • Brit Music Reviews
      • Attraction Reviews
  • Top British Slang
    • British Slang Archives
    • British Slang Dictionary
    • British English: The Top 50 Most Beautiful British Insults
    • British Slang: Your Guide to British Police Slang for the Telly Watcher
    • British Slang: Tea Time – British Words for Tea and Tea Related Culture
    • British Slang: British Railway Terms
    • ltimate List of Funny British Place Names
  • London
  • Tours
    • Top UK Tour Operators
    • Top London Tours
    • Top Day Trips from London
    • Anglophile Recommendations
    • UK Lodging Recommendations
  • British Forum
  • Our Books
    • Adventures in Anglotopia
    • British Slang Dictionary
    • 101 London Travel Tips
    • 101 Budget Britain Travel Tips – 2nd Edition
    • Anglophile Vignettes
    • Great Britons Book: Top 50 Greatest Brits Who Ever Lived
    • Great Events in British History
  • Royaltopia
  • British Store
    • New Arrivals
    • British Products On Sale
    • British Imports
    • Coronation Products
    • Union Jack Faerie Lights
    • Anglotopia Gear
    • British Tea in the USA

Anglotopia.net

The Website for People Who Love Britain - Anglophiles

  • Royaltopia
    • The King
    • The Coronation
    • Prince of Wales
    • Royal History
    • The Monarchs
    • Royal Traditions
    • Royal Couple – Will & Kate
    • Queen Elizabeth
  • British News
  • History
    • Prehistoric Britain
    • British Legends
    • Roman Britain
    • Anglo-Saxon
    • Norman Britain
    • Medieval Era
    • Plantagenet Era
    • Tudor Era
    • Elizabethan Era
    • Carolinean Era
    • Interregnum Era
    • Jacobean Era
    • Stuart Era
    • Restoration Era
    • Georgian Era
    • Colonial America
    • Edwardian Era
    • Regency Era
    • British Empire
    • Victorian Era
    • Interwar Period
    • Winston Churchill
    • Modern Britain
    • Royal History
    • Through the Library
    • Transport History
    • The Monarchs
    • World War I Era
    • World War II
  • Entertainment
    • British TV
      • Doctor Who
      • BBC
      • Downton Abbey
      • Top Gear
      • Brit TV Reviews
      • Acorn Media
      • Britbox
    • British Movies
    • British Music
  • Columns
    • Long Reads
      • Magazine
      • Dreams of Britain
      • Inspiration
      • Great British Art
      • Inspiration Videos
      • Inspirational Places
    • Eating British in America
    • An American Student Abroad
    • A Brit Back Home
    • A Day In the Life…
    • A Church in Wales
    • Through the Lens
    • Through the Library
    • Anglophile Life
    • Laura’s Britain
    • Lost in the Pond
  • Anglophilia
    • Anglophile 101
    • Anglophile Alerts
    • Anglophile Problems
    • Anglophile Gear
    • English Language
    • Anglophile Zen
    • Pictures of England
  • British Heritage
  • Britishness
    • Art
    • British Architecture
    • British Aristocracy
    • British Weather
    • British Cars
    • British Products
    • Brit Knits
    • Brit Crafts
    • Brit Recipes
    • British Food
    • British Christmas
    • Our Trips
      • Anglotopia’s Grand Adventure – Land’s End to John O’Groats
      • Rural Writers Institute Trip
      • Harry’s Wedding
      • Anglotopia Goes to Oxford
      • England Spring 2017 Trip
      • February 2017
      • Spring 2016 Trip
      • London 2016
      • An English Christmas Trip – 2013
      • Training for Hadrian’s Wall – 2014
      • Jubilee 2012 Trip
      • Royal Wedding Trip Diaries
      • Trip to England – July 2010
      • Trip to England 2009
  • British Forum
You are here: Home / Archives for British History / Victorian Era

Victorian Era History Articles

Sledge flag used during 19th-century polar search saved for nation

May 22, 2023 By Jonathan Leave a Comment

A rare flag flown from a polar sledge used to hunt for survivors of Captain Sir John Franklin’s doomed expedition has been saved for the nation thanks to a campaign backed by Michael Palin and Dan Snow. The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) launched a last-ditch campaign to raise the £120,000 needed to stop the Kellet sledge flag from passing into the hands of an … [Read more...] about Sledge flag used during 19th-century polar search saved for nation

First direct evidence of harrowing lives of ‘pauper apprentices’ uncovered

May 19, 2023 By Anglotopia Staff Leave a Comment

Scientists have uncovered the first direct evidence of the harrowing lives of children known as “pauper apprentices” who were forced into labour during industrialisation in England. A team of experts analysed the skeletal remains of more than 150 individuals from a rural churchyard cemetery in the village of Fewston, North Yorkshire. Most of the remains belonged to young … [Read more...] about First direct evidence of harrowing lives of ‘pauper apprentices’ uncovered

New research into clothing patents reveals hidden history of women’s sport

March 8, 2023 By Jonathan Leave a Comment

A hidden history of women’s sports has been uncovered by new research into thousands of historic clothing patents stretching back over 200 years. The research shines a light on innovators and inventive clothing that helped women defy political and societal restrictions barring their access to living active and sporting lives. As part of the project, a selection of active … [Read more...] about New research into clothing patents reveals hidden history of women’s sport

Victorian era love letters sent by former PM’s parents published online

February 14, 2023 By Anglotopia Staff Leave a Comment

A selection of Victorian love letters written by the parents of a former prime minister are being published online for Valentine’s Day. The letters were written in 1843 by James Maitland Balfour, then MP for Haddington, and his bride-to-be, Lady Blanche Cecil, the daughter of a prominent nobleman, the Marquess of Salisbury. Their eldest son, Arthur, would go on to be … [Read more...] about Victorian era love letters sent by former PM’s parents published online

Two paintings by Queen Victoria to go under hammer

January 18, 2023 By Anglotopia Staff 2 Comments

Two original paintings by Queen Victoria found in a Surrey cottage are set to go under the hammer. The pieces, which both depict colorful flowers, are believed to date back to the second half of the 19th century and were bought by a private collector in 1945, when items from Osborne House, the monarch’s holiday home in the Isle of Wight, were auctioned. They were found in … [Read more...] about Two paintings by Queen Victoria to go under hammer

Skeleton found on north Cornish coast may be 18th century shipwrecked sailor

November 29, 2022 By Jonathan Leave a Comment

The remains of a human skeleton discovered on a footpath on the north Cornish coast may have belonged to a shipwrecked sailor from the 18th or 19th centuries. The discovery at Trevone and overlooking Newtrain Bay, near Padstow, was made by a member of the public following erosion. Police and forensic experts attended the scene and established the remains were historic, … [Read more...] about Skeleton found on north Cornish coast may be 18th century shipwrecked sailor

Whitby Abbey illuminated with bats to mark 125 years of Dracula novel

October 25, 2022 By Anglotopia Staff Leave a Comment

A British landmark is being illuminated with a projection of bats to mark the 125th anniversary of Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula. English Heritage is lighting up Whitby Abbey, associated with the gothic horror, as it hosts Halloween events across the country. The abbey is also home to bats, a protected species which English Heritage works to preserve at its sites. Irish … [Read more...] about Whitby Abbey illuminated with bats to mark 125 years of Dracula novel

Ten Interest Facts about King William IV

August 1, 2022 By John Rabon 2 Comments

The last of the Hanoverian monarchs, King William IV, not only marked the end of one dynasty but he helped to pave the way for the next.  Taking over from his brother, King George IV, his reign oversaw a number of great reforms that helped lift up the impoverished.  He had a number of interesting facts to come out of his life and his time on the throne that we will share with … [Read more...] about Ten Interest Facts about King William IV

Ten Interesting Facts about Queen Victoria

July 28, 2022 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

Until Queen Elizabeth II passed her in 2015, Queen Victoria had been the longest-reigning monarch in Britain’s history.  Much like her descendent, Victoria took the throne as a young woman and reigned into another century.  During her rule, Victoria oversaw Britain becoming a modern empire that stretched across the globe and cemented itself as a major world power.  Naturally, … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts about Queen Victoria

Victorian Britain: Ten Most Important Events in British History of the 1880s

July 25, 2022 By John Rabon 1 Comment

Moving towards the end of the 19th Century, the 1880s was a period of reform in the rights of people and local communities.  Politics and legislation certainly helped to shape the period from 1881 to 1890, but these were not the only important events.  New inventions helped to expand travel while the British Empire solidified itself prior to the oncoming century.  We have … [Read more...] about Victorian Britain: Ten Most Important Events in British History of the 1880s

Ten Interesting Facts about King George IV

May 23, 2022 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

The fourth of the Hanoverian kings and also the fourth George in the dynasty, George is known for his Regency Period (the era in history when he served as regent in place of his mentally-ill father) and for his extravagant lifestyle.  From Prince Regent to King of a growing British Empire, George IV’s reign generated pretty interesting facts, though mostly for scandalous … [Read more...] about Ten Interesting Facts about King George IV

‘Rare’ Joseph Wright of Derby self-portrait ‘saved for the nation’

May 16, 2022 By Anglotopia Staff Leave a Comment

A “remarkable” self-portrait by world-renowned artist Joseph Wright of Derby has been acquired in a “triumph” for the world’s largest collection of his work, having been privately owned for 250 years. The artwork, titled Self-Portrait At The Age of About Forty, has been acquired by Derby Museums and will go on public display in the Joseph Wright Gallery from May 17. It is … [Read more...] about ‘Rare’ Joseph Wright of Derby self-portrait ‘saved for the nation’

Florence Nightingale letter on display in Chichester after spending 140 years in scrapbook

May 11, 2022 By Anglotopia Staff 1 Comment

An original letter by Florence Nightingale in which she writes of her poor health following her return from the Crimean War has gone on display for the first time. The handwritten note by the nursing pioneer from 1872 is being put on show by the University of Chichester to mark International Nursing Day on Thursday, May 12. In the letter, which was found in near-pristine … [Read more...] about Florence Nightingale letter on display in Chichester after spending 140 years in scrapbook

Mystery solved: Victorian orphan who asked not to be forgotten was US hero

April 27, 2022 By Anglotopia Staff 2 Comments

A Victorian orphanage choirboy, who hid a letter in a church pew asking not to be forgotten, went on to become a US naval hero, it has been revealed. Written in 1897 by 13-year-old William Elliott, the note was recently found by workmen renovating Sunderland’s former Holy Trinity Church. The choirboy, whose time at the nearby Sunderland Orphanage Asylum was drawing to an end, … [Read more...] about Mystery solved: Victorian orphan who asked not to be forgotten was US hero

Victorian Britain: Ten Important Events of the 1890s

April 19, 2022 By John Rabon 1 Comment

As the Victorian period began to come to a close, the United Kingdom prepared itself for the 20th Century by becoming more progressive, increasing its influence, and seeing the publication of some of its greatest literary works.  It also celebrated a milestone for the first time in its history when Queen Victoria reached the 60th year of her reign.  Britain was at the cusp of a … [Read more...] about Victorian Britain: Ten Important Events of the 1890s

Choirboy’s hidden note found in church pew 125 years on

March 29, 2022 By Anglotopia Staff 1 Comment

A hidden message from an orphanage choirboy pleading not to be forgotten has been found after it lay undisturbed in a church pew for 125 years. The letter by 13-year-old William Elliott was written on August 11 1897 on the back of a chorister’s order of service at Sunderland Parish Church. Work was carried out during lockdown to restore the Grade I Georgian listed … [Read more...] about Choirboy’s hidden note found in church pew 125 years on

Rescued Victorian-era rainfall data rewrites UK weather records

March 25, 2022 By Anglotopia Staff Leave a Comment

Millions of archived rainfall records dating back nearly 200 years which were digitized by volunteers during the pandemic have broken UK weather records and provided researchers with decades more data on weather trends. The University of Reading’s Rainfall Rescue project involved the transcription of 130 years worth of handwritten rainfall records – more than five million … [Read more...] about Rescued Victorian-era rainfall data rewrites UK weather records

Victorian Britain: Ten Most Important Events of the 1870s

March 14, 2022 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

The 1870s proved to be yet another transformational time for the United Kingdom.  Wars raged on nearly every continent, while at home, Britain experienced social and economic advancement.  From 1871 to 1880, the UK saw everything from new sports championships to an improvement in the quality of life for children.  To document the ten most important events of the decade, we have … [Read more...] about Victorian Britain: Ten Most Important Events of the 1870s

Queen Victoria’s lost Japanese screen paintings rediscovered in Royal Collection

March 8, 2022 By Anglotopia Staff Leave a Comment

A pair of lost Japanese folding screen paintings sent to Queen Victoria in 1860 as part of a lavish diplomatic gift have been rediscovered in the Royal Collection. The screens, which were thought not to have survived, will go on public display next month for the first time since they arrived more than a century and a half ago. Extensive conservation work since they were … [Read more...] about Queen Victoria’s lost Japanese screen paintings rediscovered in Royal Collection

Victorian Britain: Ten Important Events in British History of the 1860s

February 28, 2022 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

white bridge over river under cloudy sky

The 1860s moved the United Kingdom closer to the country that we recognize today.  From 1861 to 1870, organizations formed that are household names, wars were fought that became the basis of classic films, and engineering marvels became an indelible part of our modern world.  Each year of the decade saw a formative event in British history, and we have laid out each of them … [Read more...] about Victorian Britain: Ten Important Events in British History of the 1860s

Victorian Britain: Ten Most Important Events of the 1850s

February 21, 2022 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

As the British Empire continued to expand its power and influence over the globe, the greatness of Britain was on exhibit at home.  The decade from 1851 to 1860 saw exploration and war abroad while new publications, monuments, and institutions were established domestically.  It was a decade in which the United Kingdom came into its own as a world power and it let everyone else … [Read more...] about Victorian Britain: Ten Most Important Events of the 1850s

Victorian Britain: Ten Important Events of the 1840s

January 21, 2022 By John Rabon 1 Comment

The first full decade of the Victorian Era, the 1840s, saw a wave of changes that would shake the United Kingdom and the British Empire forever. From new governments at home to new territory abroad, Britain as we know it was fundamentally altered every year. New stories and doctrines found their ways to print, not only shaping the country but the rest of the world. Truly, 1841 … [Read more...] about Victorian Britain: Ten Important Events of the 1840s

Brit History: Ten Most Important Events in British History of the 1830s – Victorian Era Begins

January 7, 2022 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

The 1830s saw the beginning of one of the most important periods of British history—the Victorian era.  While the period of Queen Victoria’s reign would certainly see the greatest expansion of the British Empire since Queen Elizabeth I, there were also plenty of things that happened before Victoria came to power.  From election reform to the abolition of slavery, much progress … [Read more...] about Brit History: Ten Most Important Events in British History of the 1830s – Victorian Era Begins

19th Century Britain: Ten of the Most Important Events of the 1820s

November 23, 2021 By John Rabon Leave a Comment

New King, new decade.  With King George IV coming into power in 1820, 1821 saw the start of a new era for both the Crown and for the United Kingdom.  The period from 1821 to 1830 would see a number of great advances for Britain, including new knowledge of language and history, new sweets for the sweet, and new technology to help us capture those special moments.  With so many … [Read more...] about 19th Century Britain: Ten of the Most Important Events of the 1820s

Historic Birnbeck Pier in Somerset to be renovated and returned to use for the RNLI

November 10, 2021 By Anglotopia Staff Leave a Comment

After years of decline, a historic Victorian pier is to be renovated and will have a new owner. The RNLI is returning to Weston-super-Mare’s Birnbeck Pier as part of a deal with North Somerset Council to safeguard the landmark’s future. Owner CNM Estates has agreed to sell the derelict Grade II listed-pier to the council, and renovation work will be carried out to transform … [Read more...] about Historic Birnbeck Pier in Somerset to be renovated and returned to use for the RNLI

Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Search our Extensive Archive

Get the Free Anglotopia App

Our Fabulous Advertisers

Free British Weekly Newsletter

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up!

Recent Discussions on the Anglotopia Forum

  • British people of Anglotopia, what do you make of the whole anglophile thing ?
  • Are you traveling to Britain in 2023?
  • Let's talk about British Food! What's your favorite?
  • British Christmas Traditions?
  • Seventy Years of Dennis the Menace
  • Box of Delights, anyone?
  • Mudlarking
  • Homesickness strikes
  • Weill you be in London for the Coronation in 2023?
  • Please share your memories of the Queen?

Recent Posts

Robert Fripp and Toyah Wilcox announce “Sunday Lunch Rock Party” Tour

King and Queen complete two-day Northern Ireland trip in UK’s most westerly town

King and Queen’s coronation celebrated on visit to Northern Ireland

Poll reveals 100 greatest children’s books ever including Matilda and The Hobbit

Sledge flag used during 19th-century polar search saved for nation

Shortlist announced for Art Fund Museum Of The Year

In Pictures: Princess of Wales attends Chelsea Flower Show as history is made

Smiling Princess of Wales gets a buzz out of beekeeping

In Pictures: Gannets gather at Yorkshire cliffs for rituals of love and nestbuilding

First direct evidence of harrowing lives of ‘pauper apprentices’ uncovered

Best Posts on Anglotopia

  • Top 100 British Slang Words and Phrases
  • Top 50 Most Beautiful British Insults
  • Ultimate List of Funny British Place Names
  • Top 16 Best Castles in England
  • Our Love Affair with Shaftesbury Dorset Explained
  • British Stores in the USA
  • 101 Free Things to do in London
  • Top British Comedies of All Time
  • Top 11 Stately Homes in England
  • The Top 12 Castles in Scotland
  • Top Ten British Chick Flicks
  • Top 10 Anglophile Movies
  • Top 13 Best Castles in Wales
  • Brit Telly 101: Understanding British Police Ranks
  • Brit Slang: British Slang in the Bedroom
  • Finding Downton: Our Journey to Highclere Castle
  • Titanic: 10 Famous People Who Died On The Titanic
  • 33 British Slang Words and Phrases You’ll Want to Start Using Regularly Today Because They’re Awesome
  • Top 10 Classic British Motorcycles
  • Top Ten of the Best British Sweets

British Long Reads

I Was An Afternoon Tea Awards Judge

What’s On Around Britain in March 2023

A Very Winston Christmas: Chartwell at Christmas

Laura’s Britain: A Visit to Idyllic Ightham Mote National Trust in Kent

A Church in Wales: The Housesitting Edition – Update on Welsh Church Conversion

More From the Print Magazine

Anglotopia’s Top Categories

  • British Slang Archives
  • Royal Family
  • Great Events in British History
  • Great British Houses
  • Great British Icons
  • The Monarchs
  • British Slang
  • A Day In the Life…
  • Long-form British Articles
  • British TV
  • British Culture
  • Our Travels in Britain

Footer

About Us

Anglotopia was founded by Jonathan and Jackie Thomas in 2007 in a closet in Chicago. Anglotopia is for people who love Britain - whether it's British TV, Culture, History or Travel - we cover it all. Join us as we explore Britain and everything it has to offer!

Contact Us!

Interested in advertising on the world's largest website dedicated to all things Britain? Or maybe you have a story for us or would like to work together. We want to hear from you!

Reach Us At: E-mail: info@anglotopia.net

Free British Weekly Newsletter

Please enter a valid email address
That address is already in use
The security code entered was incorrect
Thanks for signing up!

As Seen On or In:

Link Partners

  • Gold Hill Shaftesbury Live HD Webcam
  • Irishtopia.net
  • SEO Backlinks
  • Travel Blog

Top Anglotopia Categories

  • British Slang Archives
  • Royal Family
  • Great Events in British History
  • Great British Houses
  • Great British Icons
  • The Monarchs
  • British Slang
  • A Day In the Life…
  • Long-form British Articles
  • British TV
  • British Culture
  • Our Travels in Britain

Copyright © 2023 Anglotopia, LLC · Website Developed by Anglotopia, LLC · Log in