Life in the Victorian Home

Programme*

Week 1: The Victorian Home – An Introduction

• Overview of Victorian society and domestic ideals
• The architecture of the Victorian home: urban and rural dwellings
• Influence of industrialization on home life

Week 2: The Hallway – First Impressions and Respectability

• Social etiquette and the role of the entrance hall
• Decorative elements: tiles, stained glass, and furniture
• The significance of calling cards and visitors

Week 3: The Drawing Room – A Showcase of Taste

• The drawing room as a symbol of social status
• Popular design styles: Gothic Revival, Aestheticism, and Eclecticism
• Leisure activities: music, reading, and parlour games

Week 4: The Dining Room – Rituals of Eating

• Dining etiquette and the role of formal meals
• Mass-produced ceramics, silverware, and decorative table settings
• Empire and food culture: tea, sugar, and exotic ingredients

Week 5: The Kitchen and Servants’ Quarters

• The role of domestic servants in Victorian households
• Innovations in kitchen technology: stoves, iceboxes, and food preservation
• The impact of household management books, including Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management

Week 6: The Bedroom – Sleep, Health, and Personal Spaces

• Bed design, textiles, and the role of personal hygiene
• Mourning culture and its presence in private life
• The importance of fashion, grooming, and dressing tables

Week 7: The Children’s Room and Victorian Childhood

• Changing attitudes towards childhood and education
• Toys, books, and the role of play
• Differences between working-class and middle-class childhood experiences

Week 8: The Garden – Nature and Domesticity

• The Victorian fascination with gardening and conservatories
• Botanical collecting and the influence of plant imports
• The impact of William Robinson and Gertrude Jekyll on garden design

Week 9: Innovations in Comfort and Convenience

• The rise of gas lighting, plumbing, and household technology
• The impact of the railway and postal service on domestic life
• Late Victorian changes in home design and function

Week 10: The Legacy of the Victorian Home

• The Arts and Crafts movement and reactions against Victorian design
• How Victorian homes have been preserved, altered, or demolished
• Enduring influences of Victorian design in contemporary interiors

* This is an indicative programme that may be subject to modification.

If you have any questions about the academic content or teaching of this course please contact the Course Tutor, Dr Jennifer Wallis, at j.wallis@imperial.ac.uk

If you have any questions about your enrolment or payment processes please contact the Programme Administrator, Christian Jacobi, eveningclass@imperial.ac.uk