Sheffield's Victorian Voices

Sheffield, an industrial scene on the river Don. 'Picture Sheffield' image s12209 © Sheffield Libraries, Archives & Information.

Sheffield Archives and the Local Studies Library have recently undertaken two projects funded by Museums, Libraries and Archives Yorkshire.

Victorian Voices on the My Learning web site is a learning resource for Key Stage 2 history about children's employment in Victorian Sheffield. It gives extracts from the 1862 Royal Commission report into working conditions which interviewed many child workers:

Went at 9 years old to hardening and tempering crinoline steel at Tower wheel. In winter the proper hours were from 7 a.m. till 7 p.m., but we had to work over a good deal, and I didn't like it at all. For many and many a month we worked till 9½ at night every day but Monday. [Of course Saturday is also excepted - J.E.W.] That reckoned a quarter over for each day. Many a time we used to work till twelve at night. Either once or twice - I cannot be sure which - I worked from 7 one morning all through the next night and day, and on till twelve the following night, and then was allowed to come in late the next day.

Another "learning journey" - Victorian Values, which explores more themes, is due to go live on the My Learning website early this year.