Manor House. Edwardian Life | PBS (2024)

FAQs

What was life like during the Edwardian era? ›

Fresh technological innovations were transforming Edwardian life, from housing to travel and leisure. The middle classes in particular embraced gadgets like electric stoves, as they typically wouldn't have a host of servants to help cook and clean but wanted to emulate the lifestyles of the aristocracy.

Edwardian properties

So, unlike the smaller, darker Victorian homes, Edwardian houses were more squat, wider and roomy, with bigger hallways and more windows. It's common for an Edwardian property to have a front garden and be set back from the pavement, as there was an ever-increasing desire for privacy at that time.

A five-course dinner is to be served upstairs at 8 pm, so everyone is hard at work. Dinner is served upstairs. Five courses, with wine, and a footman or two and a butler in attendance. If there are guests, those servants will be expected to stay upstairs to wait on the family during the rest of the evening as well.

The Edwardian period was indeed a “Gilded Age,” both in England and America.

In Edwardian Britain, there was no more typical an event for the leisured classes to host than a house party. For two or three days, Sir John can treat his guests to the hunting, shooting and fishing on his estate. And in the evenings, they will be entertained with music, parlour games and elaborate banquets.

Compared to the more ornate Victorian architecture that preceded it, Edwardian architecture embraced a simpler and more elegant design approach. Clean lines and understated detailing characterise the exteriors. Edwardian houses tend to have a symmetrical facade, with balanced and evenly spaced windows and doors.

The Edwardian bathroom

Edwardian homes were perhaps the first to be routinely designed with dedicated space for a functioning indoor toilet and full washing facilities.

The Edwardian period marked a peak in British building standards and homes have a reputation for being well designed and constructed using high-quality materials. People buying an Edwardian home can have a period property without the worry and maintenance costs that older properties can sometimes bring.

Historically, Victorian and Edwardian homes feature high ceilings, often exceeding 3 meters, creating a sense of grandeur and openness. In contrast, post-war and modern buildings tend to have lower ceilings, around 2.4 meters, to maximize space efficiency and reduce heating costs.

An advised breakfast would include porridge, haddock, bacon and fried potatoes, brown loaf, toast, and honey; an omelet, crumpets, sardines, toast and preserves; cold tongue, apples; kippers, tongue toast, hot rolls; buttered eggs, potted meat, scones.

What was a typical Edwardian lunch? ›

A typical English breakfast consisted of haddock, kidneys, kedgeree, porridge, game pie, tongue, poached eggs, bacon, chicken and woodco*ck. Luncheon included hot and cold dishes: cold fowls, lamb, pigeon, cold pie and ptarmigan, puddings, cheeses, biscuits, jellies, and fruit.

For the poorest a sandwich of bread and watercress was the most common. At the start of the week, porridge made with water might be possible. Lunch involved bread, combined with cheese if possible or more watercress. At the start of the week, soup could occasionally be bought as cheap street food.

Marriage was the norm, and divorce was rare. In Britain in 1910, there were only 1000 divorces a year, compared with around 100,000 divorces a year in Britain today. Perhaps the Edwardians had "stronger" marriages than we have today.

Never lay your hand, or play with your fingers upon the table. Do not toy with your knife, fork or spoon, make crumbs of your bread, or draw imaginary lines upon the tablecloth." "It is not in good taste to urge guests to eat, nor to load their plates against their inclination."

Edwardian furniture refers to antique furniture made during the reign of King Edward who ruled between 1901 and 1910. Unlike Victorian furniture, Edwardian furniture is more delicate by design and features less heavy, ornate decoration.

The Edwardian period was known for elegance and luxury among the rich and powerful in Britain but also for moral looseness and for a general failure to prepare for some of the challenges of the twentieth century — particularly World War I , which broke out four years after the death of King Edward.

The Edwardian era in British history, spanning from 1901 to 1914, was a time of significant social and technological changes. It witnessed the continuation of the Industrial Revolution, urbanization, and shifts in class dynamics. The period was crucial for the growth of the suffragette movement and social reforms.

Introduction. Nowadays, childhood lasts a long time with children remaining dependant on their parents, sometimes into adulthood, as they take advantage of educational opportunities. But during the Edwardian era, most children left school much earlier and went into the world of work to earn their keep.