© Colton History Society
2004 - 2008

Victorian Health

By the mid 1800’s the life expectancy in cities averaged between 25 and 30 years, but in rural areas like Colton it was higher at 41 years. The influencing factors for better health were money, environment (air, water, sanitation) and diet. Although people in Colton would not have been a wealthy, as the majority were agricultural labourers and servants, they would have had access to more fresh fruit and vegetables and the low population in Colton would have meant less problems with sanitation. (Link to chart)

Although the average life expectancy was 41 years many people in Colton lived beyond the age of 70. (Link to graph). In 1891 Catherine Deakin was recorded as dying at the age of 94 years

Nationally over three quarters of deaths occurred in children under the age of 5. The average infant mortality in the mid 1800’s was one child in every three. Colton’s infant mortality was much lower at an average of one child in every six. (Link to chart)

As expected the occurrence of death in Colton was higher in winter, however during July the death rate always increased, (Link to Graph). This could have been due to an increase in disease from inadequate food and water storage during the hotter months. These factors combined with possible malnutrition from reduced food availability in the winter and spring and fresh fruit and vegetables not yet in season would have resulted in a lower resistance to disease which would have led to an increase in the number of deaths. Yet compared with towns Colton was a much healthier place to live.

1. Life Expectancy

Based on Chadwicks survey of 1842.
National average = 41; Male 40, Female 42.

2. Age of Death

3. Infant Mortality

Based on Chadwicks survey of 1842.

4. Month of Death