Looking at an old photograph is like looking through a window into the past. We look at the people and we wonder, ‘Who are they?’ Unfortunately, photographs by themselves cannot answer this question. We have to use other sources to figure out as much as you can about the people in this photograph and their lives. For example, find out who they are, what their names are, where they live, what they do, are they rich or poor? Do not guess. The evidence is in the sources.

Step One

1. Look at the photograph. What can you see?

a) hats?
b) a woman?
c) a cricket bat?

The photograph can tell us a lot about Victorian Britain - such as what the fashions at the time were, and the size of families. We can also get an idea about how wealthy these people were.

2. In what ways are the children's clothes different to those worn today?

3. What things give the impression that these were wealthy people?

4. Do you think all the children belong to this one family?

Step Two

To find out more we can look at a census return. Every ten years a national census is taken. Everyone in Great Britain is counted on the same night. We fill in our own census forms today, but in Victorian times a census enumerator called at every house and filled in the census forms for them.

Source 2 is the actual census form which was filled in for James Lillywhite on census night 1891. Study the heading for each column carefully.

5. What did James Lillywhite do for a living?

6. What was the name of his wife?

7. How many children did he have? Does this number match up with the photograph?

8. Put names to the faces.

9. Write down their ages in 1887 (not 1891)

10. Why is there a cricket bat in the photograph?

11. Did they have servants?

12. Which source would be more valuable for finding out about this family?

For more Snapshots on Victorian Britain try:

Homes for the Rich and Poor