The Victorian timeline
From Newcomen’s steam engine to the fire that destroyed the Crystal Palace. Every date comes from the source linked.
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 1712 | Thomas Newcomen unveils his steam engine British Library: The Industrial Revolution |
| 1780 | Robert Raikes starts a Sunday School in Gloucester British Library: Education in Victorian Britain |
| 24 May 1819 | Victoria is born at Kensington Palace Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom |
| 1825 | Work begins on the Thames Tunnel Encyclopaedia Britannica: Isambard Kingdom Brunel |
| 1832 | The Great Reform Act The National Archives: What was Chartism? |
| 1833 | Brunel becomes chief engineer of the Great Western Railway Encyclopaedia Britannica: Isambard Kingdom Brunel |
| 1834 | A new Poor Law is brought in The National Archives: Examine an anti-Poor Law poster |
| 20 June 1837 | Victoria becomes queen Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom |
| 28 June 1838 | Victoria’s coronation Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom |
| 10 February 1840 | Victoria and Albert marry Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom |
| 1843 | Brunel’s ship the Great Britain Encyclopaedia Britannica: Isambard Kingdom Brunel |
| 1844 | The Ragged School Union is formed British Library: Education in Victorian Britain |
| 1847 | The Juvenile Offences Act The National Archives: Victorian children in trouble with the law |
| 1848 | The Chartists’ rally on Kennington Common The National Archives: What was Chartism? |
| 1 May 1851 | The Great Exhibition opens V&A: The Great Exhibition of 1851 |
| 1852 | The museum that became the V&A is founded V&A: Building the Museum |
| 5 November 1854 | Florence Nightingale’s party reaches Scutari Encyclopaedia Britannica: Florence Nightingale |
| 30 March 1856 | The Treaty of Paris ends the Crimean War Encyclopaedia Britannica: Florence Nightingale |
| 1857 | The museum opens to the public with its founding collections V&A: The Great Exhibition of 1851 |
| 1860 | The Nightingale School of Nursing opens Encyclopaedia Britannica: Florence Nightingale |
| 14 December 1861 | Prince Albert dies Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, relations with Peel |
| 1865 | Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is published British Library: Perceptions of childhood |
| 1867 | Victoria supports Disraeli’s reform of the franchise Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, widowhood |
| 1870 | Elected school boards can build new schools British Library: Education in Victorian Britain |
| 1876 | “Empress of India” is added to Victoria’s title Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, widowhood |
| 1878 | London University accepts women students British Library: Education in Victorian Britain |
| 1880 | Elementary schooling becomes compulsory British Library: Education in Victorian Britain |
| 1886 | Charles Booth begins his study of London British Library: Charles Booth’s poverty map of London |
| 1897 | The National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies is founded British Library: Education in Victorian Britain |
| May 1899 | Victoria lays the foundation stone for the new V&A building V&A: Building the Museum |
| 22 January 1901 | Victoria dies at Osborne Encyclopaedia Britannica: Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom |
| 1 January 1909 | The first old age pensions are paid British Library: Charles Booth’s poverty map of London |
| 1930 | Workhouses are abolished British Library: Charles Booth’s poverty map of London |
| 1936 | The Crystal Palace is destroyed by fire V&A: The Great Exhibition of 1851 |
Before and after
In 1712 Thomas Newcomen unveiled a steam engine for pumping water out of deep mines. British Library: The Industrial Revolution By 1815 over 2,000 miles of canals were in use in Britain. British Library: The Industrial Revolution
Workhouses were not abolished until 1930. British Library: Charles Booth’s poverty map of London His work helped bring in the old age pension. The first pensions were paid on 1 January 1909. British Library: Charles Booth’s poverty map of London
Good sources don’t always give the same figure, and some numbers from the 1800s were estimates even then. Each fact here links to who said it, and things that can change, like what the curriculum says, show the date we checked them. See when sources disagree for every difference side by side.
Next: Queen Victoria →