What, when and who was the Victorian Era?

Question:

What, when and who was the Victorian Era?

Think design and interesting personalities/bits of history associated with era.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Time Line (Detailed)
http://www.victorianstation.com/timeline...

Interesting People:

Queen Victoria 1837-1901

When 18 year old Princess Victoria became Queen in 1837 no one dreamed she would reign for the rest of the century for another 64 years. The name Victorian to describe the whole period is a misnomer as for some years at the beginning of the era, Regency attitudes prevailed.

After 1840 when Victoria married Albert we see the heyday of Victorian attitudes of prudery and a strict outwardly moral code that lasted until about 1890 when Prince Edward the Prince Of Wales and his more spirited lifestyle was echoed in society.

Bits Of History:

Victorian prosperity for an elite was built on the development of new machinery, new work methods and an underpaid workforce consisting of adults and children living in wretched poverty. Many people previously rural became urbanised by the new rail transport. Country families often drifted into towns to stay with other relatives whilst seeking work.

Railways:
The railways moved goods, foods and people faster than canals or horse drawn wagons. They were the greatest factor in transforming Britain into an industrial nation. They were a huge employer of people either on the railways, building new tracks or being a goods delivery service.

Fashion:
Women had many layers of clothing (See Link for Pictures).
Men Dressed as Gentleman

Entertainment:

The Victorians were particularly good at being entertained and at entertaining others or themselves. Their performances at home were amateur, but they entered the spirit of do it yourself family parties with elaborately organised entertainments. The hosts and guests joined in charades, dancing, games, fireworks, magic lantern shows and piano sing songs making their own lively entertainment.

Homes:
Home interiors were quite dark with busily patterned wallpaper. From a picture rail hung oil paintings, etchings, engravings, silhouettes, water colours, stitched needlework samplers and hand embroidered reproductions of famous paintings.

Sunlight was kept out of the already dark room by layers of blinds, lace curtains, velvet drapes, and side curtains in dark colours.The brass ringed curtains hung on great poles, but often remained drawn on bright days.

Furniture and shelves were covered with fringed, beaded cloths and runners.

The more a home could be over filled with china, domed wax flowers, stuffed birds, trinket boxes, the more homelife could be reflected in mirrors, the more it showed its owner had arrived to the full Victorian lifestyle.

House Style:
Please See Link because there were many types of Styles for Victorian Houses