13. The Workers

The Working day - In the 1870s the working week was 56½ hours. Operatives started work each day at 6 o'clock. Work stopped for breakfast from 8.00 to 8.30 and for dinner from 12.30 to 1.30. The working day ended at 6.00 pm. On Saturdays, work stopped at dinner time. An extra hour was gained at the turn of the century when Saturday work ended at noon. This situation continued until 1919 when the 48-hour week was introduced. For the majority of operatives, it meant an end to beginning work before breakfast.

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