|
We note a range of family outings. Some of the best known are outings to the local park. These commonly are simply short outings. City parks were a 19th century innivation, a development following the industrial revolution and the tremendous growth of cities with the expanding working class. Britain has some of the most famous city parks in the world. In addition to the famous parks there are large numbers of city parks which provide recreation for adults and children. Many of the resorts are quite famous. Many of them built peers with all kinds of amusements. Another development in the 19th century was excursions. An excursion is a short trip to an interesting or diverting place with the idea of returning the same day or within a few days. This was made possible at first by the railroads which appeared in the mid-19th century. This made it possible to travel to interesting places and return quickly at a very modest price. Here beach excursions as well as longer holidays were especially popular, particularly for families with children. There were all kinds of other excursions such as trips to the Lake Country or hiking trips. But these trips often did not interest children as much as beach excursions. And trains were not the only mode of transport. We note for example steam ship excuesions. Britain is an island and seaside resorts are close to every English town. The coming of the railroad in particular mean that beach resorts could be reached in only about 1-2 hours from any English towns.
The first references in modern Europe that I am aware of was in England. As an island people surrounded by the sea, the English have an historic fascination for the seaside. The English in the 18th century began taking the waters at Bath and then ventured to the coast for sea bathing. This began the modern trend for bathing and seaside outings. Few Englishmen now live more than two hours travel by road or rail. Of course the best known are those close to London like Brighton, but there are many more. The English have a varied coast. From the rocky, craggy Cornish coastline, to the fabeled limestone cliffs of the Channel coast, to the flatlands of East Anglia, and the wild North Sea cliffs of East Yorkshire.
The term circus was used in England well before the circus as we know it today existed. The term of course originated in Rome. John Wood was interested in Roman architecture and he knew that Bath had been founded by the Romans. He thus designed a number of Roman-style monuments to beautify Bath (18th century). The Circus Wood created was to be an area for sports, which were at the time developing in England. Wood's circus became a circle of town houses. The most famous circus in England is of course Piccadilly Circus. It is a famous London road junction and public space in the West End of the City of Westminster. Piccadilly Circus was built to connect Regent Street with the major shopping street of Piccadilly (1819). At the time a circus in England as derived from the Latin word meaning a circle, particularly an open space at a street junction. This meaning never was adopted in America. The circus in ancient Rome meant more than a circle. It was a structure designed for various kinds of exhibitions or shows involving shows, races, and other exhibitions involving horses and trained animasls. The connection with horses was particularly strong. This included horse, chariot races, and equestrian shows. Thus the term of circus was adopted for the shows becoming populsar at the time in England. And these shows initially had a very strong equestrian character. Philip Astley in London is commonly credited with founding the modern circus, although he never used the term. The first known performance was January 9, 1768. His show featured trick horse-riding into a ring which he called the Circle. Eventually the diuameter of the circle had to be sandardized so that the show could accomodate various acts. It was set at 42 feet (13 m), which was the size of a circle or ring needed for horses to circle at full gallop. It was a competitor, John Hughes, who adopted the term circus. He set up his Royal Circus near stley's 'Amphitheatre of Equestrian Arts' in Lambeth, London. The early English shows combined with developments on the continent and Amerca developed into the modern circus. From the very beginning the circus had a special appeal to children. An English reader writes, " I saw the interesting HBC page on Belgian circuses. It reminded me of out family outings to see the circus, Like the Belgians in the photigraph, we also dressed up when we went on outings like that. Now we dress down."
English country house are large stately buldings far beyond what we usually think of when we use the word house, but they were private residences. They are mansions built in the country side. We begin to see them as castles went out of style (16th centutry). While a French château or a German Schloss include both fortified and unfortified buildings, an English country house is almost always. In Britain if unfortified, it is called a castle, although not all buildings called castles are fortified. The expanding cities at the time were smelly and unhealthy places. So aristocrats and then other wealthy individuals began building these residences in the healthy green, pleasnat countryside. The rich individuls who built them would also own residences in London and other cities which were needed when ghey cane into the city--leading yo the term 'town and country'. Some were also the full-time residence for the landed gentry domimted Britain before the Reform Act 1832. The formal business of county government was often transacted in these houses which were functional manor houses. These houuses commonly had fascinating historioes. Cardinal Woolsey got into trouble when Hampton Court became more paltial than King Henry VIII's residence. So he wound up gifting it to the King. The various aristocratic and other fsmilies build magnificent structures and filled them with all kinds of fine art, scupltures and paingings. The homes were surrounded by stunning gaardens and grounds. Major social events that span British history were were held in these homes. The most magniicent of all is probanly Blenheim named after the Duke of Marlbourgh's glorious victory over Louis XIV's previously undefeated army. Winston Churchill was born here. During World War I and II, many of these houses were requisitioned by the military. One of the best known, but not particularly impressive is Bletchly Park where the British cracked the German Enigma Machine durlng World War II. After World War I, many of the owners could no longer afford the cost of maintaining a country home. Some were demolisdhed. After World War II, Britain elected the Labour Party whiuch went after inherited wealth. The owners of these homes were already having trouble supporting them, and could not afford the new taxes. Several have been turned over to the National Trust which operates them as popular tourist attractions. A good example is Woburn named after a medieval abbey that had been built there.
There were a range of special events that were fun to attend. Medival chiildren might enjoy fairs where there were enbttaiuners like tribadors and jugglers. And there were tournamenys like jouts which must have been exciting to watch. In motr modern times there were even more events anf greater public access to them in the groeing cities, riding incomes and improving transportation systems. There were races, at first horse races, but then all kind of new races: boats, cars, planes, and trains. A popular activity was boat races and regatas. There was the annual review of the fleet. This was a tradition actually invented by the Royal Navy (15th century). It was a gathering of naval ships to be observed by the reigning monarch. The British fleet reviews have usually been held in the Solent off Spithead, meaning in the protected Channel waters between the Islke of Wight and the mainland. One popular baoting event was the annual Cambridge and Oxford Boat Races.
Another development in the 19th century was excursions. An excursion is a short trip to an interesting or diverting place with the idea of returning the same day or within a few days. This was made possible at first by the railroads which appeared in the mid-19th century. This made it possible to travel to interesting places and return quickly at a very modest price. Here beach excursions as well as longer holidays were especially popular, particularly for families with children. There were all kinds of other excursions such as trips to the Lake Country or hiking trips. But these trips often did not interest children as much as beach excursions. Britain is an island and seaside resorts are close to every English town. The coming of the railroad in particular mean that beach resorts could be reached in only about 1-2 hours from any English towns. Many of the resorts are quite famous. Many of them built piers with all kinds of amusements. And trains were not the only mode of transport. We note for example steam ship excuesions. Ship excursions were not nearly as common as train excursions, but steam ship lines did operate several. Here is a Clyde Shipping Company excursion to Ireland in 1908. These were more expensive than rail excursions, but still within the reach of many families. The excursions were organised for recreational organisations such as the Mother's union, church groups and other organisations that wanted to book the boat for a sailing. Hense the excursions were family affairs.
We note a range of family outings. Some of the best known are outings to the local park. These commonly are simply short outings. City parks were a 19th century innivation, a development following the industrial revolution and the tremendous growth of cities with the expanding working class. There was a traditiion of village commons, but this did not have the same association with leisure time as the new irban parks. Britain has some of the most famous city parks in the world. In addition to the famous parks there are large numbers of city parks which provide recreation for adults and children. English boys might commonly have worn formal clothes like Fauntleroy suits to the park. Certainly sailor suits were very popular. After World war I (1914-18), park wear became more casual. We do not have much information on English parks. An English reader has provided us some information on the park he visited as a boy. He explains just how important these parks were to urban children, most of which did not have yards (back gardens) where they could play.
Most outings children go on are family affairs. An exception are parties. Perhaps the most common type of parties for children are birthday parties. They are not the only type of children's parties, bur are the most common for younger children. Younger children commonly invite motly friends of the sanme genfer. Parties used to be fairly simple affairs, although more formal than is now the case. Until after world War II, children often dressed up for parties. Activities included standards such as musical chairs and pin the tail on the donkey. Refreshments were ivecream and cake. Birthday parties have since become more casual. And are no longer restricted to the child's home. They are now held at various fun sites as well. Here seasinality is a factir. And the acgtivities more diverse. Theme parties are popular. Older children have more diverse parties and not just birthday parties. And like the parties for younger children, dress has become more casual. And we see coed parties beginning at an earlier age.
Picnics were aniother popular type of outung in England. Going on a picnic, however, was a bit more complicated because so few British families had private cars for an outuing into the country.
Children for the most part were involved in family outings and excursions. But there were also groups excursions. These of course were mostly for adult group, but we see some cvhildren on ecursion, but we are not sure just what the groups were omn some of the photographs we have found. School and church groups seem the most likely, especially in the 20th century. There were alsp social groups like coop societies and labor unions which may have organized excurios and various events. These were limited in the 19th century, but became more common in he 20th century,especially school excursions. We also begin to see youth group excursuion, primarily Boy Scouts and Girl Guides. We see countless school and youth through groips trapsing through museums that began to open in the mid-19th century.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main English activity page]
[Return to the Main country activities page]
[Introduction]
[Activities]
[Biographies]
[Chronology]
[Clothing styles]
[Countries]
[Essays]
[Bibliographies]
[Contributions]
[FAQs]
[Glossary]
[Images]
[Links]
[Registration]
[Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]
