The Victorians
Life for children changed dramatically during the reign of Queen Victoria. These documents give a glimpse of life, work and play for children during the nineteenth century.
Below are a series of learning resources created from documents held at Northumberland Archives. They include suggested activities from a range of subjects including STEM, arts and humanities.
Resources are available to download in Word and PDF format.
Documents
Plan of Berwick Workhouse, 1852
Suggested age groups: KS2, KS3, KS4, Lifelong Learners
Plan showing the Workhouse buildings in Berwick.
Subject areas: History, Literacy, Art
Transcript of report of children’s employment commissioner (mines), 1842
Suggested age groups: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, Lifelong Learners
Children’s accounts of their work as reported to the Commission.
Subject areas: History, Literacy, Science, Music
Children’s employment commission:
return of children and young people, Wylam Colliery, 1841
Suggested age groups: KS3, KS4, Lifelong Learners
Form with details of children working at mine.
Subject areas: History, Literacy, Maths, Art
Photographs of children on Newcastle’s streets, 1890s
Suggested age groups: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, Lifelong Learners
Pictures of Victorian children playing. Most look very poor.
Subject areas: History, Literacy, Art, Technology
Printed notice about meeting to discuss factory bill, 1843
Suggested age groups: KS3, KS4, Lifelong Learners
Poster asking people to attend a meeting to sign a petition against the Factory Bill.
Subject areas: History, Literacy, Politics, Technology
Hartley Bottle Works: Transcript of second report of children’s employment commissioners, 1842
Suggested age groups: KS1, KS2, KS3, KS4, Lifelong Learners
Children’s accounts of their work as reported to the Commission.
Subject areas: History, Literacy, Art, Citizenship, Science, Geography