Many Victorians believed in the value of getting up early in the mornings to make the most of the day. They also placed great emphasis on hygiene and starting the day with an orderly household routine. If you were lucky enough to have maids at your beck and call, you would also be served tea in bed.
Morning ablutions
If you are staying in Hidden Ireland accommodation that dates from the Victorian era, or even earlier, you will find everything you need to emulate Victorian morning rituals – including tea-making facilities to enjoy a leisurely cuppa in bed and the prospect of a delicious breakfast awaiting you downstairs. While modern-day guests can enjoy state-of-the art bathrooms complete with showering and bathing facilities, Victorians tended to indulge in a stand-up wash with soap and water brought to the room in a basin and jug. Full baths tended to be less common.
The routine was then expanded to meticulous hair brushing and using cold cream on the face made from such ingredients as almond oil and white wax to protect the skin. Many upper-class ladies also applied make up made from natural substances such as red berry juice on the lips and soot to darken eye lashes. Higher-society Victorians favoured a more natural, pale and translucent look, as this suggested sufficient wealth to be able to stay indoors, away from manual labour and the effects or working in the sun.
Donning the right clothes for the day ahead was a complicated matter during Victorian times. For ladies, there were multiple layers to navigate, including drawers, stockings, corset petticoat and chemise. This is all before the main daywear was put on. The results of such a laborious dressing were a sleek, feminine figure, although how comfortable the clothes were that were put on in the name of beauty is perhaps less of a certainty.
Up and about
Once dressed, higher-society Victorians would often enjoy a breakfast of tea, eggs, bacon, fish or porridge. The mistress of the house would meet to plan meals and discuss household needs with her staff. Modern-day guests in Hidden Ireland accommodation often follow a similar routine, chatting over breakfast about places to see in the local area, restaurants to try and timings that ensure they make the most of each day spent in the Emerald Isle. Victorians enjoyed light exercise such as walks in the local countryside, which is yet another way in which today’s visitors can, quite literally, walk in their Victorian predecessors’ footsteps in the glorious surroundings in which many Hidden Ireland properties are located.
If you are interested in finding out more about experiencing life in a Victorian house, or other fascinating historical accommodation, take a look at the Hidden Ireland website to book your next stay.
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