Princess Mary of Great Britain

Mary of Great Britain was the second-youngest daughter of George II of Great Britain and his wife, Caroline of Ansbach, and Landgravine of Hesse-Kassel as the wife of Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel.

Maintaining two outfits for respectability

Ordinary people aimed to own at least two complete outfits, saving the better set for Sundays and holidays to demonstrate respectability.

Stays used for comfort, not restriction

While working women wore leather or canvas stays for comfort and practicality, they did not restrict their breathing or movement.

Cost of musical instruments for amateurs

While professional instruments like harpsichords were expensive, costing 35 to 50 guineas, amateur musicians could purchase violins for £2 to £3 or an oboe for less than £2.

Masked performers singing for eggs and beer

Groups known as pace-eggers would travel from house to house wearing masks and fantastic costumes, singing and dancing in exchange for rewards like eggs and strong beer.

Common travel by foot, horse, or wagon

Most ordinary travel was done on foot, by saddle horse, or via hired pack-horse carriages, with horse-drawn wagons serving as a slow but cheap option for poorer travelers. Passenger stagecoaches were also available, though they were often uncomfortable and suffered from poor road conditions.

Costs of pack horse transport

Transporting goods by pack horse cost about 5 shillings for 112 pounds of weight carried over 100 miles. Summer travel was generally cheaper and faster than in the winter months.

Cooking meat with animal power

To roast meat, some households relied on boys called 'Jacks' or even specially trained dogs to turn the heavy kitchen spits.

Lighting homes without modern matches

Candles were essential for light as there were no matches; people used flint and steel to strike a light, and brass candlesticks with snuffers were common household items.

Beer was common for all classes

Beer was a standard drink even for children, with working men often receiving an allowance of up to a gallon per day as part of their wages. Midday dinner for workers typically consisted of bread, beer, and cheese or fatty bacon.

Gin and beer replaced unsafe water

The London poor consumed over six million gallons of gin annually by 1730, as it was often cheaper and safer than water. Alcohol, including small beer, was a staple because brewing removed contaminants that made water unsafe to drink.

Daily wages for skilled building trades

In 1729, a carpenter earned 2s. 6d. per day, while a mason also received 2s. 6d. per day.

Costs of meat and bread provisions

Butcher's meat cost 1s. 10d. per stone in 1729. Bread prices fluctuated, but in 1745, one penny could purchase 15 ounces and 9/16 of bread.

Agricultural labor was the most common occupation

The most common job in the 18th century was agricultural labour, where workers, their wives, and children performed seasonal tasks like harvesting and weeding. Agricultural labourers often lived in tied cottages and were hired annually at Martinmas fairs.

Laborers earned extra pay as night watchmen

St. Paul’s Cathedral labourers could earn extra money by working as night watchmen, which paid 12d per shift after 1700, equivalent to more than half of their standard daily wage. A typical day for construction labourers involved physically demanding tasks like demolition or digging, often lasting until it was too dark to see.

Cost of sending a letter

Postal charges for a single-sheet letter were 3d for distances under eighty miles and 4d for distances over eighty miles.

Efficient London local mail service

The London penny post was so efficient that letters could be delivered across the city multiple times a day for a penny.