Living Conditions of different classes:

So many people moved to towns during the Industrial Revolution that there were not enough
houses. Builders and landlords, who were keen on making large profits, built thousands of new
houses but they crammed as many people in as possible and often used the cheapest building
materials. Rents were high so whole families had to live in a single room. Sometimes they even
took in lodgers to earn extra money. There was little privacy and infectious diseases spread easily.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, anyone who owned land could build whatever they wanted on it.
There were no laws governing the quality of building. Houses were built poorly and towns were
not looked after. People lived in horrible conditions. Water supply was a massive problem. Sewage
contaminated water as privies and rubbish were left to overflow and fester.
The problem of public The problem of public
health shown here is health shown here is
……. …….public lodging
Overcrowded buildings. houses. Here many
Many people often had people, often
to share the same strangers, would
small and dirty rooms share dirty and
and the same beds. cramped rooms. This
This meant diseases meant that diseases
would spread quickly could spread quickly
and easily. and as people moved
around the country
they would spread the
disease further.
The problem of public
health shown here is
……. Dirty streets with
rubbish heaps. A The problem of public
woman is dressed in health shown here is
ragged clothing and is ……. Death. A coffin
searching through a is being carried among
heap of rubbish in the the crowded streets.
street, you can also The problem of public health shown here is ……. This shows that
see a child playing in child poverty A young boy is holding a broom used people were around
the rubbish. The for cleaning chimneys which tells us he works. The dying or dead people
waste was not removed boy is dressed in rags which shows he is poor. Many which would have
from the streets which children did dangerous jobs and worked for long made it easier for
shows that people lived hours for little pay and could afford not much food them to catch
in filthy conditions and or clothing. This meant that they would be under- diseases.
this could have led to nourished and unhealthy, which made them more
diseases spreading. likely to die from diseases.
Source 1 comes from The Vile Victorians, written by Terry Deary and illustrated by Martin Brown.
It shows the first two foul facts.
Source 1
Town Planning: