Introduction

In my exploration of the family tree, a significant revelation emerged in that my ancestors predominantly resided in the less affluent districts of Birmingham. My first book (written entirely for myself and my family) was a focus on the factual aspects, tracing one's family via the internet can be achieved fairly easily, and, without too much difficulty you can trace family lineage back centuries. Yet, completing the book left me with a sense that understanding my ancestors required more than mere facts about their existence.

​Motivated by a desire to delve deeper, my second book aimed not only to identify where they lived but also to comprehend how they lived—the nuances of their daily lives. Contrary to the often sensationalised portrayals in shows like "Who Do You Think You Are," my findings revealed that most individuals led seemingly ordinary lives. However, beneath this surface lies a richness of history that sometimes is not so apparent without the intensive research conducted by television programs

Undoubtedly, genealogical research demands considerable time and effort. Starting my second book, I recognized the value of analysing the areas where my ancestors resided before delving into individual family members. This approach laid the groundwork for a comprehensive understanding. The period spanning the mid-19th century to the early 20th century captivated me the most.

While photographs undoubtedly provide an image of ‘poverty’ and offer a glimpse into their standard of life, reading the books from the era, however, provides a more realistic sense of the times. The words penned a century ago resonate as powerfully as visual images. While finding photographs of individuals from 130 years ago may be nearly impossible, the wealth of information found in books written during that time offers valuable insights into the past.

​Charles Booth (1840-1916), B Seebohm Rowntree (1871-1954), and Arthur L Bowley made significant contributions to the study of poverty and the working class during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their books, based on meticulous research conducted by recruited investigators, aimed to correlate household income with the basic needs required for a family's sustenance. Central to their definition of poverty was the role of food as the overriding factor.

Booth, Rowntree, and Bowley shared a common perspective, defining the poor as those enduring extreme hardship. During their era, a prevailing belief existed that poverty was often self-imposed through idleness and excessive drinking—a notion that echoes in contemporary society. The issue of alcohol consumption was particularly prominent among the poor, evident in the numerous pubs surrounding each street. Glancing at the map easily suggests that the temptation for the working class was to spend their wages on alcohol rather than towards the family's well-being.