Children’s Corner

What was it like to be living in Victorian times?

Life was very difficult for people, especially children. Some were homeless, wandering the streets and often living in the workhouse. Some had mental health problems and found life challenging.

Some joined gangs in London and some spent their days just trying to find their next meal. Others were more lucky and were given a chance of life, being schooled by the workhouse in the hope they might learn a trade.

Not everyone was poor. Some people just had illnesses which made their lives extra challenging. Nowadays we know how to help people who are ill but in the past it was not always like this.

All of our material links back to a REAL person who lived in Victorian times, and ended up living their final years in one of the Five Epsom Cluster Asylums. They died there, and are now buried in Horton Cemetery, Epsom.