Basic facts are vital to the Victorians:

Now, what I want is, Facts. Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else!
Charles Dickens, Hard Times (1854)

Population In the British Isles 120,000 square miles live 20.88 million people (including 6.51 million in Ireland) in 1851, 26.16 million (5.40m) in 1871, 33.12 million (4.68m) in 1891, and 37.09 million (4.45m) in 1901.

In 1801 the first national census is held, and is repeated every tenth year.

The turning point is 1851, when – for the first time in history anywhere in the world – more people in Britain live in towns than in the countryside. By 1901, only one fifth of the British population remains rural.

By 1860, 12% of the population lives in Lancashire because of its cotton mills and factories.

Government Constitutional monarchy. After the death of Prince Albert in 1861, Parliament governs in Queen Victoria's name. In 1870, the army is 195,000 strong, the navy 60,000.

Dynasty House of Hanover.

Religion Protestant. The established Church is Anglican (Church of England, Church of Scotland, Church of Wales), but by 1851 there are almost as many Nonconformists as Anglicans. There are also large minorities of Roman Catholics and, by 1901, Jews.

Currency Pounds, shillings and pence, or £sd.

What is money worth?

• In 1873, four-fifths of the land is held by 7,000 individuals, mainly aristocrats.

• A four-wheel carriage with two horses costs £1,000 a year to run. A one-horse carriage costs £700. You should set aside 10% of your income to run your horse and carriage.

• When the earl of Yarborough dies in 1875, his stock of cigars is sold for £850, the equivalent of 18 years' pay for the impoverished agricultural labourers on his estate.

• The successful railway contractor Thomas Brassey leaves a fortune of £3.2 million on his death in 1870.

• In 1841, manufacturing workers made up 44% of the work force, agricultural workers 22% and domestic servants 18%.

• In 1860, the average income per head of the population is £44 a year.

• In 1880, the average income of a skilled worker is £62 per year.

• Between 1860 and 1914, real wages double. The boom years are 1868-74 and 1880-96, during which real wages go up by almost 45%.

• Between 1875 and 1900, prices fall by about 40%.

• By 1860, Britain has about 2,650 cotton factories operated by 440,000 workers who together earn about £11.5 million a year.

• In 1860, the total value of the current accounts in Britain's 650 banks is about £41.5 million.

• In the 1890s, there are 300,000 miners. The same number of people work in the retail sector.

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