Life in the Victorian Home - adult education class

Course overview

This course offers an immersive exploration into the domestic life of the Victorian era, examining how evolving social norms, technological advancements, and design movements influenced the structure and function of the home.

Each week focuses on a different room, providing insights into the daily lives, values, and aspirations of Victorian society. During the course we will engage with a variety of topics such as the significance of the hallway in reflecting respectability, the drawing room as an expression of aesthetic taste, and the impact of sanitation reforms on bathroom design. The course also delves into the roles of various household members, including servants and children, and considers how domestic spaces varied across different social classes.​

Topics range from the rituals of the dining room to the symbolism of the drawing room, and from sanitation in the bathroom to nature in the garden, building a full picture of the Victorian domestic experience.

Sessions are held at the historic Sambourne House and Leighton House in Kensington, offering a tangible connection to the period and enriching the learning experience through direct engagement with authentic Victorian interiors.

This course is open to everyone, with no previous experience necessary. All welcome!

Reading material or special equipment needed (if any)

None required.

Term dates

•  Autumn Term: week beginning 6 October 2025 until week ending 12 December 2025

Any questions?

If you have any questions about the content of this course please contact the tutor, Arthur Charlesworth at arthur.charlesworth@citystgeorges.ac.uk 

For general programme and enrolment questions please contact the Imperial after:hours Administrator, Christian Jacobi at c.jacobi@imperial.ac.uk

Class recordings

These classes are not recorded.

Imperial certificates

There are no examinations or assessments for this course. However, attendance can lead to the award of an Imperial attendance certificate (T&Cs apply).