Manor House
"If I'd been born 100 years ago a woman of my class would almost certainly have been in service. And I'd like to know what that meant." Antonia, kitchen maid
THE PROJECT|THE HOUSE|THE PEOPLE|EDWARDIAN LIFE|YOU IN 1905|TREATS|SNOB QUIZ
A collection of archived photographs

You are a Boilermaker!
- A Snapshot of your life as it might have been in 1905

Education
You leave school at 16 and go straight into the job which you'll do for the rest of your working life.

Career Prospects
You work as a boilermaker. With your fellow union members, you strike to campaign for better working conditions and better pay but are disappointed by the slow rate of change.

Leisure Time
You spend a lot of time in the local pub – ale and porter (heavy beer) are cheap. You read the newspaper as often as possible – you enjoy reading stories about upper class extravagance and waste, they only confirm your worst fears. You join a football team made up of other workers and play matches every weekend.

Living Conditions
Your wife and daughters look after the home and do much of the shopping at the back door. Meat is a special treat on Sundays but otherwise you'll have a diet of bread, with cheese or butter, margarine or jam, lard or beef dripping.

Marital Relations
You're unfaithful to your wife whenever you get the chance.

World War One
You join the Navy as a stoker in the boiler room and will be killed at sea at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.

Position in Society

Position in society
Further up Your life as it might have been further UP or DOWN society's ladder.
Further down
Position in society Position in society

Other Possible Occupations
Carpenter, Painter, Tailor, Plumber, Caretaker

General Statistics

  • In 1910, there were only 1000 divorces a year
  • A married couple would not normally share a bedroom
  • There was no National Health Service or social security service

Background to You in 1905