7 “Dangerous” Victorian Activities That Would Get You Arrested

The Victorian era was a time of rapid change and progress, but it was also a period marked by strict social norms and peculiar laws. Here are seven seemingly innocent activities that could have landed you in hot water with the authorities during the 19th century.

1. Speeding at a Whopping 8 mph

Believe it or not, driving at what we now consider a snail’s pace could get you in trouble with the law in Victorian England. The Locomotive Act of 1865, also known as the “Red Flag Act,” imposed a speed limit of 4 mph in the country and 2 mph in towns for self-propelled vehicles.

This law required a person carrying a red flag to walk 60 yards ahead of the vehicle to warn horse-drawn traffic. In 1896, the speed limit was raised to a “breakneck” 14 mph, but even driving at 8 mph could still result in a hefty fine or even arrest.

2. Buying Gas for Your Home Lighting

While gas lighting was a major improvement during Victorian times, it was also extremely hazardous. The use of coal gas for lighting contained highly flammable methane, hydrogen, toxic sulfur, and deadly carbon monoxide. 

Simply purchasing gas for your home lighting could be seen as a dangerous activity, especially since the addition of mercaptan to make gas leaks detectable by smell hadn’t been invented yet. A gas leak could lead to explosions or carbon monoxide poisoning, potentially resulting in legal consequences for the homeowner.

3. Taking a Hot Bath

After its invention, the gas bath became a prized possession in Victorian homes. However, these cast-iron tubs connected to gas lines were incredibly dangerous. Without thermostats to regulate temperature, people could literally boil themselves to death.

Newspapers frequently reported cases of individuals “dying by boiling” in their tubs. Using such a potentially lethal bathroom fixture could be seen as reckless endangerment.

4. Purchasing Certain Candies

In the 1880s, Victorian shoppers could unknowingly bring home deadly treats. Some candies were made with potassium chlorate, a highly volatile substance that could spontaneously combust. 

In 1858, a tragic mix-up in Bradford led to arsenic being used instead of sugar in a batch of humbugs, resulting in about 20 deaths and hundreds of cases of arsenic poisoning. Buying or selling such dangerous confections could lead to severe legal consequences.

5. Using Certain Beauty Products

Victorian vanity could be deadly. Many face powders contained arsenic, which could cause facial scars and even prove fatal with prolonged use. 

Hair restorers often contained poisonous lead and combustible kerosene. Using these toxic beauty products could be seen as self-harm or, if selling them, as endangering public health.

6. Decorating Your Home with Certain Wallpapers

The popular Scheele’s green wallpaper of the Victorian era contained arsenic. When heated, the wallpaper would release toxic arsenic vapors, and as it aged, poisonous flakes would fall off. 

Choosing to decorate your home with such hazardous materials could be considered a public health risk, potentially leading to legal trouble.

7. Joining a Youth Gang

While not inherently illegal, being part of a youth gang in Victorian London could quickly lead to arrest. Notorious groups like the Golden Lane Gang terrorized neighborhoods, carrying lead-loaded sticks and engaging in violent activities. 

Even if you weren’t directly involved in criminal acts, association with such groups could result in arrest on suspicion of criminal intent or disturbing the peace.