The Workers’ Home shows how a family could live in just one room in a city in the late 1800s. There was no separate kitchen. The room was heated by a tiled stove, which was also used for cooking. Water and firewood had to be carried up the long, steep stairs, and the privy (outdoor toilet) was outside in the courtyard.
The parents and one of the youngest children slept in the pull-out bed. Several children slept on the sofa, while those who did not fit slept on straw mattresses on the floor. Rag rugs covered the floor and, during cold winters, they could be spread across the entire room for warmth. Despite the cramped conditions, many families took in lodgers who shared a mattress on the floor – a way to help pay the rent.
Work, competition and protest
Working days could last 10–12 hours. In 1890, Sweden’s first May Day demonstration was held, with demands for an eight-hour working day. Other important demands included universal suffrage and a ban on child labour.
Competition for jobs was fierce, and many workers accepted lower wages to increase their chances of being hired. Work was often seasonal, and many people did not have employment all year round.
Women’s extra labour
Inside the Worker’s Home is a treadle sewing machine. In addition to caring for the home and children, many women took on sewing work. A home seamstress might work for a tailor’s workshop, sewing coats or suits. The work took many hours and the pay was low. Sitting bent over the sewing was physically demanding, and the poor lighting strained the eyes.
Childhood in the city
Children often had to look after themselves. Streets and backyards became their playgrounds. Toys were few, so children played together, with older children teaching the younger ones. Common games included hide-and-seek, tag, and cat and mouse.
