Title: Eighteenth Century London
Author: Nichola Johnson
Credits: London: Museum of London, 1991
Media: Book
House Notes:
Until the 18
th century, streets had no method to
naming. This is when the naming of streets and the numbering of houses came into
being. Sewage systems in London became what is now the norm because of an Act
of Parliament.
The 18
th century found people of all incomes
purchasing more. The
population of London rose to 87,000 in the middle of the century, and then
declined as the populace moved to the suburbs. The City of Westminster and the
Court of St. James were newly developed areas that became fashionable. Those
that remained in London were more than likely from other areas of the country,
about two thirds had not been born in the city.
While immigrants, in London, from other countries were
considered undesirable, Blacks from Africa were considered less threatening
than other peoples. One reason was that the “demand for black servants as
accessories to fashionable living” was insurmountable.
Less desirables, such as Irish and French Huguenots made their living in the
silk industry where they accepted lower pay. In fact, in the 1720’s “this whole
kingdom, as well as the people as the land… are employed to furnish something…to
support the City of London with provisions.”
18
th century London had its own type of fast food
vendors. Herrings came from Yarmouth, and the cheapest, fastest food was the
oysters that came from Essex. London had cows within the city to supply fresh
milk, but it was usually skimmed, watered down, and dirty by the time that it
got to the customer. However, in the wealthier part of town, milk venders
literally brought the cow down to the house and milked it there to deliver the
best milk and cream to the crème-de-la-crème.
Everyone knows that chocolate was incredibly fashionable
during the 18
th century, but what I didn’t know was that households
in the 1730’s could consume more than 1,000 lbs of it per year!
London was in perpetual motion by tearing down and
rebuilding. “in the space of seven years, eleven thousand new houses have been
built in one quarter of Westminster, exclusive of what is daily added to other
parts of this unwieldy metropolis…. If this infatuation continues for half a
century, I suppose the whole county of Middlesex will be covered with brick.”
“Some squares had a particular social identity. Hanover Square, developed on
the accession of the Elector of Hanover as George I in 1714, was occupied by
the Whig aristocracy and by military officers. Cavendish Square, developed
between 1717 and 1728, was home to Tory politicians, whilst Bedford Square
(1775-80) was close to the Inns of Court and provided convenient housing for
lawyers.”
There were some very fashionable areas that were constructed after current
trends, and even shells of houses that were built under speculative ventures to
sell to customers that would custom design their inside.
Yellow stone became fashionable in London due to the Palladian craze. These
were made of London clay mixed with chalk, with other trends of York, Portland
and Purbeck stone. Wood would be transported in from the colonies and
Scandinavia. Terracotta became fashionable because it could be cast into a
“wide range of ornamental and sculptural forms.”
Until the middle part of the century, poor and rich alike
lived together within the same areas of town. Segregation of the social classes
began to trend as the bourgeois and wealthy moved to the suburbs.
In 1761 the Westminster Paving Acts changed the paving and lighting of the
street lamps responsibility. Until then, it was the responsibility of the
homeowner to pave the street and light the lamps, which is why the streets were
uneven and mostly unkempt.
Water was brought into London homes by lead pipes into the kitchens or cellars
“three times a week for the trifling expense of three shillings per quarter.”
So much water was lost during transit, that it was estimated to be about a full
third the amount.
Some of England’s greatest country houses were built on
speculation and investment.
New
professions emerged in banking, insurance and stock dealership. Coffee houses
were usually the location of transactions, and many men became very wealthy
from these new forms of employment. That was, at least until the bursting of
the “South Sea Bubble.” This was very similar to the “Housing Market Bubble” of
today.
Manufactures within London’s city limits included clocks and
watches, porcelain and silk manufacturers. These were world famous and were
shipped to Turkey, China and the colonies.
Terms:
Coade Stone: A specific type of terracotta created by George
and Eleanor Coade who kept their composition a closely guarded secret that
became fashionable in the late 1760’s.
To purchase this book, kindly click here
Eighteenth Century London by Nichola Johnson.
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