Pamela Horn – författare

This short book provides a succinct account of changes in children's work and welfare in Britain between 1780 and 1890. It examines both the scale and the nature of child employment and the changing attitude of society towards it at a time when Britain was becoming the 'workshop of the world'. The further development of industry in the second half of the nineteenth century meant that the need for juvenile workers declined. At the same time the efforts of philanthropists and the State led to legal curbs on the kinds of jobs children could perform and the minimum age at which they could commence them. The author concludes that the century after 1780 saw a progressive lengthening of childhood as a stage of life, and that by 1890 children had been recognised as 'special cases' in need of protective legislation. However, for the poorest and most disadvantaged families life remained a struggle, and children continued to pick up a living where they could.

This short book provides a succinct account of changes in children's work and welfare in Britain between 1780 and 1890. It examines both the scale and the nature of child employment and the changing attitude of society towards it at a time when Britain was becoming the 'workshop of the world'. The further development of industry in the second half of the nineteenth century meant that the need for juvenile workers declined. At the same time the efforts of philanthropists and the State led to legal curbs on the kinds of jobs children could perform and the minimum age at which they could commence them. The author concludes that the century after 1780 saw a progressive lengthening of childhood as a stage of life, and that by 1890 children had been recognised as 'special cases' in need of protective legislation. However, for the poorest and most disadvantaged families life remained a struggle, and children continued to pick up a living where they could.

A highly illustrated exploration of the country house and the way it worked in the nineteenth century written by one of Britain's foremost social historians.Country houses formed a distinct community and power base within the broader Victorian countryside. This book shows how landed families' day-to-day existence depended on the skills of the indoor servants who provided their meals and ministered to their general comfort, and the outdoor staff who contributed to their leisure and sporting pursuits.It considers the relationship and the divisions between those living 'above stairs' and and the carefully considered hierarchy of domestics who met their needs 'below stairs'. Also considered are the wider social activities of the two groups who, while living under the same roof, experienced a very different daily round. That applied to preparations for the holding of house parties and the running of sporting events, as well as the important social influence exerted by the London 'Season'.

In 1931 domestic service remained the largest female occupation in Britain. It is frowned upon these days, owing to the class divide it has come to represent, which is reflected in the portrayals of masters and servants in books and on the screen. In actual fact, it was seen as the perfect way to equip young women with the skills necessary to become good wives and mothers, and continues to be a career taken up by many people today. But what do we know about how these girls felt when taking up these positions in other people's houses, or how they were treated? Using first-hand accounts and reminiscences by former servants from Lancashire, Liverpool, Manchester, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Scotland and Wales, as well as official records and newspaper reports, this is a study of "Life Below Stairs" from 1900 to the new millennium. Many of the country's major stately homes are featured in the book, including Chatsworth in Derbyshire, Cliveden in Buckinghamshire, Petworth in Sussex and Shugborough in Staffordshire.

As nineteenth-century Britain became increasingly urbanized and industrialized, the number of children living in towns grew rapidly. At the same time, Horn considers the increasing divisions within urban society, not only between market towns and major manufacturing and trading centers, but within individual towns, as rich and poor became more segregated. During the Victorian period, public attitudes toward children and childhood shifted dramatically, often to the detriment of those at the lower end of the social scale--including paupers and juvenile delinquents. Drawing on original research, including anecdotes, first-hand accounts, and a wealth of photographs, The Victorian Town Child describes in detail the changing lives of all classes of Victorian town children, from those of prosperous business and professional families to working-class families, where unemployment and overcrowding were particular problems. Horn also examines the issues of juvenile labor and exploitation, how factory work and education were combined, how crime and punishment were dealt with among children, and the changes in health and infant death rates over the period.

In this book, first published in 1980, the author draws a vivid picture of what country life was like for the vast majority of English villagers – agricultural labourers, craftsmen and small farmers – during a period of rapid agricultural development. This study analyses the influence of the enclosure movement on farming methods and on the structure of village life, and examines the devastating effects of the Napoleonic wars on English society. The Rural World is based on a wide range of sources, including parliamentary papers, contemporary letters, diaries and account books, and official records such as those relating to the Poor Law and the courts. It provides a fascinating overview of all aspects of rural life – from employment to home conditions, education, charity, crime, the role of religion and the influence of politics – during a critical period in English history.

In this book, first published in 1980, the author draws a vivid picture of what country life was like for the vast majority of English villagers – agricultural labourers, craftsmen and small farmers – during a period of rapid agricultural development. This study analyses the influence of the enclosure movement on farming methods and on the structure of village life, and examines the devastating effects of the Napoleonic wars on English society. The Rural World is based on a wide range of sources, including parliamentary papers, contemporary letters, diaries and account books, and official records such as those relating to the Poor Law and the courts. It provides a fascinating overview of all aspects of rural life – from employment to home conditions, education, charity, crime, the role of religion and the influence of politics – during a critical period in English history.

By the end of the 1920s domestic service remained the largest female occupation in Britain. We view it today as an undesirable job, owing to the class divide it has come to represent, and this is reflected in the portrayals of mistresses and servants in books and on the screen in such dramas as Upstairs Downstairs and Downton Abbey. But what do we really know about how girls felt when taking up these positions in other people's houses, or how they were treated? Pamela Horn uses first-hand accounts and reminiscences, as well as official records and newspaper reports, to extract the truth about the lives and status of men and women in domestic service from 1900 to 1939.

For many women the 1920s was a time of change after the pressures - and opportunities - of the First World War. For a number, war casualties meant a life of spinsterhood, which some turned to good account by enjoying their new independence. The current fashions, with their close-fitting dresses, cloche hats and cropped hair, emphasised this spirit of female emancipation, but it was 1918 before the vote was granted to women - and then only to those aged thirty or more. This book examines how women responded to the new challenges and the difficulties of those years, from the revival of the round of high society by the social elite, to the lives of the new middle-class professionals, and working-class women employed in the still-traditional milieu of factory and domestic service. Home life, the bringing up of children, and attitudes to family planning are investigated as are the widening leisure and political activities which some women could now afford. Drawing on family papers, contemporary publications and archive research, this book, complemented by a wealth of photographs, cartoons and other illustrations, presents a vivid picture of what women's lives were like during the period.

We view domestic service today as an undesirable job, owing to the class divide it has come to represent, and this is reflected in the portrayals of mistresses and servants in books and on the screen. But what do we really know about how girls felt when taking up these positions in other people's houses, or how they were treated? Pamela Horn uses first-hand accounts and reminiscences, as well as official records and newspaper reports, to extract the truth about the lives and status of men and women in domestic service from 1939 to the present.

In the world of the late-Victorian and Edwardian country house the mistress and her daughters had many social duties and responsibilities to carry out both in their home community and in London, where they spent the Season and where the girls officially entered Society by being presented at Court. Pamela Horn’s book examines the lives of these ladies from their childhood and marriage to their role as a ‘Lady Bountiful’. It covers their leisure pursuits, sporting activities, country house weekends, and much more besides, up to the life-transforming years of the First World War.

Abingdon History Tour is a unique insight into the illustrious history of this Oxfordshire town. This is an exciting guided walk around Abingdon, its well-known streets and striking buildings, and explains what they meant to the people of this town throughout the nineteenth and into the twentieth century. Readers are invited to follow a timeline of events and watch the changing face of Abingdon as Pamela Horn guides us through the local streets.

We remember the Victorians as relentless, nose-to-the-grindstone workers: at one end of the scale they were making great scientific discoveries, at the other were child chimney sweeps and the workhouse. But how did the people of the Industrial Revolution amuse themselves in their spare time? What weird and wonderful activities were invented solely for the pursuit of pleasure? The years between 1837 and 1901 saw the greatest upsurge in leisure pursuits hitherto witnessed in Britain. Parks, libraries, art galleries and museums were created. Pamela Horn explores the various activities enjoyed by the Victorians, including sport, the music hall, fashion, fairs, drink and travel.The Victorians had a wonderful capacity for humour, turning the woes of rent day and domestic disputes into sources of laughter at the theatre. During this period the concept of spare time itself became much valued. If you have ever wondered how that most serious society had fun and idled away those precious non-working hours, this is the book for you.

The First World War particularly affected the landed classes with their long military tradition; country houses were turned into military hospitals and convalescent homes, while many of the menfolk were killed or badly injured in the hostilities.When the war ended efforts were made to return to the pre-war world. Pleasure-seeking in night-clubs, sporting events and country-house weekends became the order of the day. Many of the former rituals, such as presentation at Court for debutantes, were revived.Yet, overshadowing all were the economic pressures of the decade as increased taxation, death duties and declining farm rentals reduced landed incomes. Some owners sold their mansions or land to newly enriched businessmen. Others turned to city directorships to make ends meet or, in the case of the women, ran dress shops and other small businesses.The 1920s proved a decade of flux for High Society, with the lighthearted antics of the ‘Bright Young People’ contrasting with the financial anxieties and problems faced by their parents’ generation. Pamela Horn draws on the letters and diaries of iconic figures of the period, such as Nancy Mitford and Barbara Cartland, to give an insight into this new post-war era.

Abingdon Through Time is a unique insight into the illustrious history of this part of Oxfordshire. Reproduced in full colour, this is an exciting examination of its well-known streets and famous faces, and what they meant to the people of this area throughout the 19th and into the 20th Century. Looking beyond the exquisite exterior of these well-kept photos, readers can see the historical context in which they are set, and through the author's factual captions for every picture, and carefully-selected choice of images, the reader can achieve a reliable view of the local history. There is something for everyone here, whether they have lived in the area all their lives, or whether they are just visiting Abingdon for the first time. Abingdon Through Time also shows how photography has continually evolved to keep up with an ever changing society.

'What is our purpose in this Bill? Briefly this, to bring elementary education within the reach of every English home, aye, and within the reach of those children who have no homes.' So said W. E. Forster when introducing the Elementary Education Bill in the House of Commons in 1870. The Victorian and Edwardian Schoolchild describes the effect of this Bill on the lives of the vast majority of English and Welsh children, the offspring of the working and lower middle classes, who attended elementary school during that period. Improvements in the welfare and health of the pupils, in the form of open-air schools and the provision of school meals, the dilemma of the 'half-timers' and the out-of-school activities in which the children engaged, such as the Boys' Brigade and Sunday School, are all examined; as is the training of the teachers, who often worked under extreme pressures, and their relations with the pupils in their charge. Pamela Horn, the author of a number of books on life in Victorian Britain, has gathered together over 130 photographs to complement the text. Of great interest to students and social and educational historians, this book will also prove engrossing to the general reader.

In 1931 domestic service remained the largest female occupation in Britain. We view it today as an undesirable job, owing to the class divide it has come to represent, and this is reflected in the portrayals of mistresses and servants in books and on the screen. However, it was seen as the perfect way to equip young women with the skills necessary to become good wives and mothers, and continues to be a career taken up by many today. But what do we really know about how girls felt when taking up these positions in other people A|s houses, or how they were treated? Indeed, how has the domestic role changed over the years to incorporate nannies, au pairs and domestic staff in hotels, hospitals and other institutions? This first major study of domestic workers in the twentieth century includes first-hand accounts and reminiscences from men and women working in this sphere. Pamela Horn uses these sources, as well as official records and newspaper reports, to extract the truth about the lives and status of men and women in domestic service from A Ai900 to the new millennium. The reluctance of many women to return to service after the two world wars is discussed, together with government efforts to persuade them otherwise. Overseas recruitment is not forgotten, as a number of young women were trained in government centres for employment in the colonies, and many also came from other countries looking for work. Written with authority and from a national perspective, this well-researched study is essential reading for social historians and anyone with an interest in modern history.

It was a paradox of nineteenth-century Britain that while work was the bedrock upon which the Victorian vision of progress was constructed, the years between 1837 and 1901 also saw the greatest upsurge in leisure pursuits hitherto witnessed. Pamela Horn sets the various activities enjoyed by the Victorians in the context of growing leisure time, the transformation of occupational structures, and the increasing concentration of people in urban society. She reveals how a more structured approach to leisure came about with the creation of parks, libraries, art galleries and museums. Greater literacy widened horizons, while technological change also had its effect in making available cheap books, newspapers and musical instruments. Among the aspects of leisure discussed are family amusements, sport, fashion, drink, fairs, travel, the music hall, literature, and activities that emphasised the patriotic spirit. Pleasures & Pastimes also explores regional differences and the divergence between urban and rural areas. Richly illustrated with photographs and contemporary cartoons, this is a fascinating and engaging account of Victorian life. A stimulating read for historians and students, the book will also appeal to those with a general interest in Victorian society.

'The world was at the beginning of a new era, the era of machinery and scientific discovery. Values and conditions of life were changing everywhere. Even to simple country people the change was apparent - But side by side with these changes, the old country civilization lingered. Traditions and customs which had lasted for centuries did not die out in a moment.' - Lark Rise to Candleford, Flora Thompson. The Real Lark Rise to Candleford demonstrates how deeply the labouring classes in rural areas were affected in their ordinary lives by the great changes taking place around them. Pamela Horn provides an insight into what life was really like for the rural community in the Victorian era, for the real inhabitants of places like Lark Rise: small dwellings crowded with mouths that needed feeding; long working days and low earnings; the trials and tribulations facing the young, the sick and the elderly. But they had open space and this was the life they knew. Includes 30 photographs

In the early twenty-first century, juvenile crime has become a matter of widespread social and political concern and debate. Young Offenders examines the way in which attitudes - and the law itself - have evolved in dealing with juvenile wrongdoing from the early eighteenth century to the end of the twentieth. By the use of court and prison records, parliamentary papers, newspapers, the writings of reformers and other records, such as those covering transportation and life in the overseas penal colonies, it considers the way in which the punishment of the young and the definition of delinquency itself have developed. The gender difference between boys' misdeeds, often involving theft and violence, and girls' offences, which frequently relate to sexual and moral matters, is also considered. The book shows how attempts at reforming offenders by the creation of purpose built institutions have met with disillusion and discouragement and have been followed by a reversion to harsher treatment. The reminiscences of youngsters who have passed through the criminal justice system over the years add a personal dimension to the debate. Juvenile delinquency became a subject of special interest and concern to the wider public from the late nineteenth century; in this connection, Young Offenders considers the validity of current claims that British society is 'broken' because of the activities of a few young thugs. As is pointed out, there has never been a 'golden age' of order and security of the kind some nostalgic commentators suggest.