Evie Summers
In the 1890s, bedding was quite different from what we are used to today. Iron and brass bed frames became popular in the mid-19th century due to their cheapness, lovely designs, and health and cleanliness benefits over wooden beds. Mattresses were often made of feathers, wool, horsehair, or straw, and light covers were emphasised. While the average sleep duration in ancient times was 6.25 hours, with less sleep in the summer and more in the winter, the industrial revolution's long workdays and regimented factory schedules in the 19th century led to a shift towards a monophasic sleep schedule. As for sleepwear, men in the late 19th century wore nightshirts or a combination of shirts and pants, along with a cap to keep their heads warm and protect pillows from Macassar oil.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sleep patterns | People would divide their rest into periods, a practice known as biphasic or segmented sleep. |
| Sleep duration | On average, people went to sleep 3.5 hours after sunset and slept for 6.25 hours. |
| Sleep cycles | People would rarely wake up during the night. |
| Sleep remedies | Hydrotherapy in the form of continuous baths, showers, and wraps was used to treat insomnia. |
| Sleepwear | Nightshirts, nightcaps, and banyans (a type of dressing gown or housecoat) were commonly worn. |
| Sleep surfaces | Make-shift sleeping surfaces like piles of straw or primitive mattresses stuffed with fabric or down. |
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What You'll Learn
- Wealthy people slept in four-poster beds with heavy drapes
- Mattresses were made of woven mats, animal skins, corn husks or horsehair
- The rich wore nightshirts, dressing gowns, and nightcaps
- Biphasic sleep was common, with people sleeping soon after dusk
- Servants' sleep schedules depended on their employers' sleep patterns
Wealthy people slept in four-poster beds with heavy drapes
In the 1890s, wealthy people slept in four-poster beds with heavy drapes. The four-poster bed, with its elaborate canopy and hanging curtains, was a symbol of luxury and status. Often made from expensive woods like mahogany or walnut, these beds were intricately carved and adorned with intricate details.
The heavy drapes that characterised these beds served multiple purposes. Firstly, they provided privacy in an era where bedrooms were often shared or lacked doors. The drapes could be closed to create a sense of seclusion and intimacy within the space. Additionally, the drapes helped trap heat during cold nights, as central heating was not yet widely available.
Wealthy individuals in the 1890s also had access to more sophisticated bedding materials. Mattresses had evolved from makeshift straw piles to stuffed fabrics and down-filled mattresses, providing a softer and more comfortable sleeping surface.
The sleeping habits of the wealthy during this time were also influenced by the emerging field of sleep science. The concept of biphasic or segmented sleep, where individuals purposely divided their rest into two periods, was common. This practice allowed for a peaceful wake time in between sleep cycles, which was often used for prayer, reflection, or social activities.
To treat insomnia, hydrotherapy was a popular method. This involved continuous baths, showers, and wraps to induce relaxation and improve sleep. Additionally, treatments like warm douching of the head and neck were recommended by medical professionals of that time.
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Mattresses were made of woven mats, animal skins, corn husks or horsehair
In the 1890s, mattresses were a far cry from the memory foam and hybrid mattresses of today. The materials used for mattresses in the 19th century were often natural and sourced from the surrounding environment. These mattresses were typically handmade and filled with materials such as woven mats, animal skins, corn husks, or horsehair.
Woven mats, often made from straw or grass, provided a flat and slightly softer surface to sleep on compared to the ground. They could be easily rolled up and transported, making them ideal for nomadic or travelling lifestyles. Animal skins offered a more padded and insulated sleeping surface, providing warmth and comfort, especially in colder climates. Corn husks were also used as a natural filling material for mattresses, adding a layer of cushioning and texture.
Horsehair was another common material used for mattresses in the 1890s. It was known for its durability and springy texture, providing better support and comfort than some of the other options. Horsehair mattresses were often more expensive and considered a luxury item. They were also sometimes used as a filling material in combination with other natural fibres like straw or corn husks.
The use of these natural materials in mattress construction reflected the limited technology and resources available during the 19th century. People had to be creative and resourceful, utilising what they had access to in their local environments. While these mattresses may not have offered the same level of comfort and support as modern mattresses, they served the purpose of providing a designated sleeping surface, elevating people from the ground, and offering some level of cushioning and insulation.
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The rich wore nightshirts, dressing gowns, and nightcaps
In the 1890s, the rich wore nightshirts, dressing gowns, and nightcaps to bed. The nightshirt was a dedicated garment, cut like a normal shirt but longer, which covered the lower body. It was often worn with a "banyan", a type of dressing gown or housecoat. The nightcap served to keep the head warm and protect pillows from Macassar oil, a type of hair product.
The way humans sleep has evolved as civilizations have progressed. Before the advent of modern mattresses and bed frames, humans slept on makeshift surfaces like piles of straw or grass bedding with layers of ash to deter insects. With the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, long working days and factory schedules meant that people could no longer nap throughout the day. Instead, they compressed their sleep into a single cycle, similar to the modern approach.
The 19th century also saw the development of treatments for insomnia, including hydrotherapy in the form of continuous baths, showers, and wraps. This involved douching the head and neck with a gentle stream of warm water, followed by drying and a short period of rest in bed. It was believed that this method produced sleep within a short time. Additionally, people were advised to practice good sleep hygiene, such as going to bed and waking up at the same time every day and avoiding heavy meals before sleep.
During this time, it was also common for people to divide their rest into periods, known as biphasic or segmented sleep. Citizens used the wakeful periods in the middle of the night for activities like prayer, reflection, reading, and visiting friends. References to biphasic sleep began to decrease during the late 1600s, as publicly lit streets and electricity further shifted sleeping patterns.
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Biphasic sleep was common, with people sleeping soon after dusk
Sleep patterns have evolved as human civilisations have progressed. Before the advent of electricity, people would sleep soon after dusk and wake up in the middle of the night, a practice known as biphasic or segmented sleep. This sleep pattern was common during the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance, with people experiencing a peaceful wake time in between their two rest periods.
The Industrial Revolution in the 19th century brought about changes in sleep patterns. Long working days and strict factory schedules meant that people could no longer take naps whenever they wanted. Instead, they adapted to a single cycle of sleep, similar to the modern sleep pattern. The introduction of street lighting and electricity further contributed to the shift away from biphasic sleep.
In the late 19th century, various treatments for insomnia were recommended by medical professionals. These included hydrotherapy in the form of continuous baths, showers, and wraps, as well as warm douching of the head and neck. It was also suggested that a moderate amount of exercise before bedtime could aid sleep. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day was also advised.
During this time, people slept on various surfaces, including makeshift beds of straw and primitive mattresses stuffed with fabric or down. Bed frames became available later, with evidence of their use dating back to ancient Egypt.
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Servants' sleep schedules depended on their employers' sleep patterns
During the 1890s, servants' sleep schedules were often dictated by their employers' sleep patterns and whims. Live-in servants of this era had their basic needs covered, including accommodation, food, and clothing, but their leisure time was limited and often subject to their masters' or mistresses' rules and schedules.
Communal sleeping was common in medieval times, with servants sharing beds with their masters or with other staff members. This practice may have continued into the 19th century, especially in households with limited space. Servants' sleep could be interrupted at any time by the demands of their employers, as illustrated by the case of nine-year-old Jane Rowth in 1699, whose mother was summoned by visitors in the middle of the night, never to return.
In the 1890s, servants were typically given a half-day off on Sundays, starting after lunch, and one day off per month, beginning after breakfast. All time off was contingent on the completion of their chores. By 1900, an evening off per week was added for servants in larger households, where there were multiple servants to "cover" for each other. Servants also received one week of holiday per year in the 1890s, which later increased to two weeks annually.
The leisure time of servants was often cut short by the requirement to be back on duty by 9 or 10 p.m. Socialising and romantic relationships between servants were common, especially in larger households, but they were often conducted covertly due to strict rules against visitors and the "no followers" rule for female employees. Male servants might play cards or engage in "The High Life", which included drinking, music, dancing, and practical jokes. Female servants had to meet their boyfriends in secret to avoid dismissal if their relationships were discovered.
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Frequently asked questions
In the late 1880s and 1890s, men wore classic pyjamas to bed. Before that, they wore nightshirts, which were a lot like long shirts or nightgowns. They also wore a cap to keep their heads warm and to protect their pillows from Macassar oil.
By the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution was in full swing, and long working days meant that people had to compress their sleep into a single cycle. This marked a shift from the previously common biphasic sleep pattern, where people divided their sleep into two distinct chunks.
Yes, different cultures had different sleep patterns. Researchers have found that traditional hunter-gatherer groups in Tanzania, Bolivia, and Namibia slept about 3.5 hours after sunset and averaged 6.25 hours of sleep. They also rarely woke up during the night.
Sleep maintenance insomnia, where people wake up during the night and have trouble falling back asleep, first appeared in literature at the end of the 19th century. This condition may be rooted in the human body's natural preference for segmented sleep and the prevalence of artificial light.
