Now that we are quite familiar with 19th Century English society, we are going to talk about the type of occupations they would have had back in that era. Today we will be visiting many of my friends across the streets of London to discover a day in the life of each class of society, but let me first start by explaining the "ladder" of society.
If you will observe the table below for just a moment I will explain how the social classes look
(image taken from hierarchystructure.com/19th-century-england-social-hierarchy/ )
Starting with the highest class on the info-graph we have the Aristocrats, rich people who typically inherited their wealth from their family line, like the Royal Family, Knights, Country Gentlemen, bishops, and those in parliament. Aristocrats had no thought of money during their lifetime and many of them gave large amounts of money to the poor and needy. Today we'll be meeting my dear friend, Charlotte, who will give us a tour of a typical day in a rich home and give us a taste of Aristocratic life in general.
This is what a typical house may look like for the upper classes of England
(Image taken from http://www.anglotopia.net/anglophilia/top-11-stately-homes-in-england-best-english-manor-houses/)
Hello, my name is Charlotte Williamson and I am what you may call a gentleman's wife. We make enough per year to place us in the highest social, or aristocratic class. My husband inherited his fortune from his father and his father from his and so forth. We have three children, James, Hannah, and Mary. James, because he is the oldest and only son, will inherit the most of my husband's fortune for himself and continue the Williamson family line. My daughters on the other hand will only inherit a small portion of their father's money and will have to supplement their incomes by marrying well. In addition to James inheriting his father's fortune, he will also take the Estate we are now living in as his own after my husband and I have passed on. My daughters will marry and move to their husband's estates and raise families of their own. We have several servants, some who take care of the typical house hold duties and other who are personal servants for each member of the family. Trips into town are often, because we don't have very much to do around the house and we also don't want to be in the way of the servants as they are trying to do their work. When we are at home though, my daughters will practice their piano lessons, go out riding, painting, recite poems, and write letters to friends. My son spends many hours a day in our gardens studying plants and other living things while taking notes and drawing diagrams. I often find myself sitting in the drawing room writing letters, quilting, or simply listening to one of my daughters practice their music. My husband spends much of his time in town conducting business with his colleagues or purchasing items needed around his office. I typically do not arise early in the morning, around 8 o'clock in the am is my usually time to wake. My personal servant, Darcy, helps me dress and does my hair in the morning. Then I usually read or write until 9 o'clock and then go down for breakfast that servants have prepared. We usually have breakfast as a family and then don't typically see each other again until the evening meal. My daughters and I have tea at 4 o'clock in our personal tea garden, but my husband and son usually have their's, along with a possible alcoholic drink as well, in the library as they discuss politics or other such things which are of importance to them. Throughout the day you may find each of us in various areas of the house, but rarely in the same room together. At the evening meal we usually have little conversation, except for a review of the events of the day or looking on towards the following day, but not much is said. Occasionally we will have a guest for supper and thus more conversation is stirred but for the most part excessive talking is not considered appropriate behavior. After supper, I usually retire to my room where I will spend the remaining moments of my day reading or writing letters. Most days my schedule is thus, but at least once or twice a week we will go into town to watch a play or have supper, but for the most part I find my self living out my day in quite luxurious solitude.
So now that you have heard about how an aristocrat might have lived do you think you would still want to be one? I would honestly say for myself this social class seems like they live a rather plush and lonely life, but I don't want you to decide for yourself before you've had a chance to see all the social classes of this era that I am going to show you. For now though I think it is time to return to our rooms and have tea. Then this afternoon I will take you to see the upper and lower middle classes and their occupations as well as their daily life. Rest well my friends and I will see you later.
Your loyal and friendly guide,
Georgiana Pemberton
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