london: class and consumerism

LondonClass and Consumerism

Social class at the beginning of the 19th century• Hereditary: people generally expected to continue in the social class

of their parents. One usually married someone from the same social class.• Fixed: people did not often change their social class, and if they did,

this was not often considered a good thing.• Providential: Social class was commonly seen as part of the natural

order, and an essential part of a functional society.

THE UPPER CLASS• Royalty• Nobility • Gentry

Royalty

Nobility• Are landed proprietors – do not work• Have a noble title: Duke, Marquess, Earl, Viscount, or Baron.• Are generally addressed as ‘Lord’ or ‘Lady’.• Highly educated and often widely travelled.• Have an automatic seat in the House of Lords.• Noble houses usually had dozens of servants

House of Lords

Noble country residence

Noble City Residence

Gentry• Landed Proprietors – do not work• Usually much less wealthy than the nobility, but much more

numerous• Do not have noble titles, are referred to as ‘Mr’ and ‘Mrs’.• Sometimes given a non-noble knighthood title by royal decree (Sir or

Baronet). These titles are not hereditary and do not confer political privilege.• Are represented in the House of Commons• Employ several servants

A country residence of the Gentry

London residences of the Gentry

The Middle Classes• Upper Middle Class • Middle Middle Class• Lower Middle Class

Upper middle class• Including ‘Captains of industry’ and Imperial ‘nabobs’• Usually do not have a landed estate, though may buy one• Have made a great deal of money in commerce or trade• often mix with the gentry and nobility• Are often even wealthier than the upper classes, but are still

considered socially inferior• Like the gentry and nobility, the upper middle classes employ several

servants

Upper middle class homes in London

Upper middle class family

Middle Middle Classes• Professionals, such as doctors, lawyers and bankers• Do not have a landed estate• Have a university education• Live a comfortable lifestyle, though not necessarily in a fashionable

area (Many preferred to live near their businesses in the unfashionable east of London).• Much of the London Jewish community belonged to this class.• Keep a handful of servants (2-5)

‘Middle’ middle class home near Brick Lane, London

Lower Middle classes• Generally well educated, though not necessarily at university• Include clerks, teachers, shopkeepers, merchants, and governesses.• Often live over shops or in smaller apartments (as opposed to houses)• Are often financially precarious, and run the risk of falling into the

lower classes.• Generally keep at least one servant

Lower middle class homes

Lower Class• The Working Class• The Poor

The Working Class• Have only basic or no education (can possibly read and write).• Include factory workers, shop workers, and servants.• Often had a skill: carpentry, metal work, cobbling etc. • Do not have servants

Working class home

The Poor• Often could not read or write• Unskilled workers• Worked when work was available, in ‘sweatshop’ factories or on

farms.• Often turned to criminal activity

Slums in London’s Seven Dials district

‘The City’

Boundaries of Londinium

Medieval London

West End London

18th century developments around Westminster

19th c. Wealth map

Knightsbridge

East End London

London Docks

Limehouse

The Rookeries