What was Dickensian London like???

Question

What was Dickensian London like???

Answer 1

  First. Crowded. As the center of an ever expanding empire, London saw a constant influx of people from all parts of the Empire, as well as a steady drift from the country to the city as part of the industrial revolution. This led to cramped living conditions for most people.

   Second, the smells. While by the time of Dickens progress was being made on sanitation, there were still issues on waste disposal. Add to that the urine and fecal matter of the tens of thousands (if not more) horses that provided transport for people and goods through the city, layer it with unwashed people, and stray "fragrences" from various industries, and you really wouldn't like to breath deeply.

   Third, grimy. People were burning wood, chargoal, and eventually gas heating was moving in. There was a lot of smoke from chimneys that spread and settled over the town, like a slow motion snowfall. The air quality would be considered appalling by today's standards.

   Fourth. Busy. This is the time period when you are seeing the beginning of the underground system, as well as the rail system leading to all parts of England. Streets were constantly being dug up, or blocked off. Buildings were being thrown up to keep pace with all of the people and goods coming in.

   Fifth. Vibrant. Whatever the public morality espouced by the Victorian era, people are people. Entertainments benign and lavasious were available for anyone willing to seek them out. You had people from all over the world flocking to London, bringing with them their culture, their languages, their foods, clothing....for all that the Londoners felt superior in their European culture, they would still adopt many words and foods into their own lifestyles. Walking  a few blocks would expose a person to all sorts of dialects, languages, and products from around the world.

Sixth. Dangerous.This was the age of child labor, and the Metropolitan police force had not yet adopted professional standards of training and along with immigration came crime. Where there are people with money, there will be others ready to take it, even if the money were only a few farthings. This is a place and time where inability to pay debts got one sent to workhouses/poorhouses.  So one took one's chances.