'Sewer Hunter' - Tosher (Worst Jobs in Victorian England)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2021
- Would you work in a stinking sewer to scavenge for money? The Toshers of Victorian England actually made a lot of money searching the fetid tunnels under 19th Century London. But there were all sorts of dangers awaiting these intrepid explorers - from collapsing ancient tunnels to water torrents and ferocious rats. It’s hard to think of a worse job in Victorian England - though if you've seen other videos in this series you will know there are strong contenders! See the playlist or channel page for more worst Victorian era jobs.
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Check out Worst Jobs in Victorian History (Playlist): • Worst Jobs in Victoria...
Check out Victorian Documentaries (Playlist):
• Victorians
Check out Edwardian Documentaries (Playlist): • Edwardians
Credits: Narration - markmanningmedia.com
CC BY - The Rat by Lily Green; Exploring the sewer by Matt Brown from London, England; Fleet sewer looking north by Matt Brown; Map of London sewers west by Matt Brown; Sewage pipes under London, 19th Century by Wellcome Collection; Sewer by Les Chatfield; Side sewer in River Fleet by Matt Brown; Victorian sewer hatch in River Fleet by Matt Brown
CC BY-SA - Effra ditch stream now combined sewer storm outlet, Vauxhall, London. 29 October 2005 and Effra former stream, since mid-19th century combined fully underground (culverted) sewer has a storm outlet by Fin Fahey
#VictorianLondon #VictorianDocumentary #VictorianLondonDocumentary #VictorianEraDocumentary #FactFeast #VictorianLife #Tosher #Victorian #SewerHunter #VictorianEraJobs #VictorianJobs
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@@frankfkling304 A rat bite can cause deadly meningitis and more.
😢
A lit candle and sewers full of robust methane gas. Gee , what could possibly go wrong?
That gas was hydrogen sulfide.
Thinking about it, I believe that toxic (or at least unbreathable) gases building up in the old, unventilated sewers were probably the source of rumors about "foul air" killing people.
I don't know how often that would have actually happened, but one person either dying or even just passing out (and being recovered by another shore worker) would be enough to start the story going. People in the Victorian era had a lot of ideas about miasma/"bad air", and didn't have much awareness about the sort of gases that would actually displace air in the confined, deep tunnels built centuries before.
@@cringefest8778 In high concentrations, it is flammable and it becomes odorless.
It’s what could go right, that kept these dudes taking L’s everyday.
Nothing at all....😮😮😮
You've just spent your last couple of pennies for a doss house for the night and then a couple of Toshers come in next to you
Haha….brilliant! ❤️
Yes, Toshers who ironically had found a handful of gold sovereigns earlier that same day but who just as quickly spent them on debauchery and now have just pennies left to their name and still stinking of sewage come to sleep near you.
Better than sleeping next to a pure finder.
@@alanjohnston1199😂😂😂😂😂
Am I the only one that thinks this particular part of history should be learned in school? I’m American but I think it would be a great idea to teach this in our world history classes or at least have this as an elective for kids. It’s interesting and it would be a great exercise in critical thinking.
We should go on field trips to the Hood.
Yeah bloody oath!
I've read Mayhew! It's a great book. London in the Victorian period was probably the greatest city ever to exist. I mean, imagine it. The financial powerhouse of the world on one side of the street and people starving to death on the other. An empire that spanned the globe yet inferior to Rome in basic civil services, two thousand years before. Ever since I read my first Sherlock Holmes story, I was hooked. Light, ambition, and power on one side, darkness, despair, and mind numbing poverty on the other. The juxtaposition is almost unimaginable.
Life for many was an everyday struggle and it's hard to imagine how difficult it really was were it not for the unvarnished reporting of journalists.
@@FactFeast I completely agree, I love that period in history, but I certainly wouldn't want to live there.
Sounds exactly like the United States today! The homeless population has been growing steadily the last 50 years.
@@FactFeastyeah totally. I love this era of history, that’s why I love your channel so much. I was hooked after reading the Sherlock Holmes books, watching old movies especially Hammer Horror type stuff. I also love the Victorian history of Australia, I was lucky I learnt it at school, the Bushrangers, Gold rush etc where my favourites. Sadly my kids weren’t taught hardly any of it. So I had to teach them, it’s lucky they loved history as much as me. The also grew up in a home built in 1875, which hadn’t been changed inside really at all! Its was so much fun for them too, except for the little “invisible friend” that all my children played with, her name was Ethel! Like HTF did my children learn that name? So many memories. Anyway thank you for all the time and effort you put into your channel to make all the mini Documentaries that we love and appreciate. I marvel at all the illustrations etc that you must hunt for to use? Do you find most on the net? Do you have a huge collection of books, pamphlets, paintings, illustrations yourself that you use.? Or do you find them in old book in libraries or museums etc? Photograph or scan them and use both? Anyway thanks once again. Cheers from Australia
What a life Getting lost in the sewers And perishing down there to be found later by others Such a sad life May God have marcy on them
Even though you are often describing horrors, I thoroughly enjoy listening to these accounts of real people. Thanks for sharing, you have a real talent for telling their stories!
My pleasure!
Im going to hire this guy to read bedtime stories to my kids, LOL.
I agree. These are the most honest accounts of that history in time.
He has a wonderful talent for telling their stories, but their stories make me very sad.
Victorian times are really interesting. In fact, I think it has a very important place in British history. Love from Istanbul / Turkey❤️
It was an era of incredible change. Thanks for watching!
In my opinion, it has a place in History, period. Not just British History. 🇬🇧
It was the time when Britain became most powerful globally and projected an image of wealth, strength and of being advanced, yet for the poor in Britain it was a horrendous time.
I love the Victorian Era. I know it was a very selfish era as there were many poor and the wealthy cared so little about them. Sounds a lot like the world today is some ways.
This is a GREAT series!! I love this kind of “unseen” history.
Thank you. I’m really glad you enjoy this. Lots more on the channel!
I’ve never been to the sewers, but right after lockdown 2020 the rats were ravenous and everywhere! No restaurants were open (where the rats were feeding on trash and leftovers) so they came out to the streets
My dad used to work on a cargo ship and he told me stories about the rats in England lol. He said you couldn’t go down certain alleys at night because the floor was just full of rats! It was so bad you couldn’t see the floor, just rats and you can hear them coming. The rats in Europe are much bigger and they have those water rats that I saw in Portugal. They would swim through the sewers and looked like something out of a movie!
Horror!
I can imagine that in cities.
This is absolutely fascinating, man the sewers have always been another world
Super! It's great that this one was compelling viewing. Thank you.
This actually seems like one of the more pleasant jobs of that time in London :)
If these guys had metal detectors they’d have been rich.
OMG I can't even begin to imagine the nastiness of it all😱Thanks FF!❤
This was a very filthy and dangerous job! Thanks for watching.
When you think what our great-great-great etc. relatives went through and here we are today!
I have only just came across this channel and I'm thoroughly enjoying the content. It fills a niche between a documentary film and book learning that an audio book doesn't quite manage. The images and especially the narration are perfect at bringing to life a dickensian world in your imagination as well as the real life stories of people of the time.
It’s really nice to know you think the presentation of images and narration works so well together. I try my best to create an atmosphere fitting for the subject matter. Thank you!
Is that where _"That's a load of old tosh"_ comes from?
Very informative, thank you. I have subscribed. :)
Welcome to the channel! I can find several etymologies online - one of them being this: 19th century slang for valuables (including money) found in the sewers of London. It seems the noun could have a much earlier origin though e.g. tush (nonsense) from tsk tsk!" - 15th Century.
Also 'a fair whack', from when they were dividing up the money?.... 🤔
I wonder if life in America was similar to life in England during the Victorian period.
I have a couple of videos on the channel about American slums and tenements. I will be doing more about 19th Century life in future.
I grew up just outside London in the 60's. As a child we often used greet our friends with " watcha tosh!" I assume the name is linked to tosher. Only took 55 years and a random TH-cam video to find out!😂
A voice simply perfect for narration. Great upload as always.
Thanks for your support!
I enjoy your stories. Great vernacular.
Glad you like them!
Thanks for the video! Made me feel better about making a living as a junk hauler
You’re welcome! Thanks for viewing.
Mem,, never be ashamed of your living,, good luck to you mate.
This channel sends shudders down my spine. Compare life then, to the last 12 years of Tory government. They are becoming increasingly indistinguishable.
I hope and pray that the current electorate make the connection between then and now, the stark similarities and the terrible privations of the most vulnerable members of UK society.
part of me wonders just why the heck these folks endured so much without just checking out of the system and revolting
My dad was born in 1914....he lived in London...and I heard him in the 60s calling people tosh...i haven't heard it recently tosh.it was a friendly name..
We are likely around the same sort of age then. My dad was born in 1920.
That must be where the saying, "What a load of old tosh" came from.
I fear we are now going back to those times!
I fear we are there already
Even our poor throw away what they would have treasured.
There wasn't much thrown away back then unless it couldn't be sold, re-used or recycled, though of course valuables still got lost such as were found by the sewer hunters.
I am homeless currently, living out of my car, and i make a decent amount of money thanks to a chunk of railroad, a torch, a ball-peen hammer, and random bits of steel people leave around. Some of it is quite good quality
@@NecrosAcolyte I admire you for that . You are having a real go ,and making the best out of your situation. I really hope things get better soon and you can get a comfortable roof over your head. Best wishes from Australia mate 😀
Your accents & narration is as always excellent...TY *Fact Feast* 👍👍👍👍👍
I'm glad you enjoyed this one. Thank you!
I recently discovered your channel, and I must say I like how you present history as it actually was in Britain. It’s honest and interesting and informative. The Victorian era is one of my favorites to study. Glad I found you!
Welcome to the channel! It’s great to know you find this type of history so interesting. I hope you enjoy the back catalogue and what’s to come this year.
Literally just finished a late night photographing for ebay and before I make something to eat or try and switch off I need my Victorians....
I hope you found this one interesting!
I don't understand why these poor people weren't allowed to keep what they found? They deserved to keep it after what they endured to find bits & bobs to survive - they should've been given assistance not punished for being poor - what a disgusting state of affairs.
You can’t have a shower after spending the day in the sewer !
I feel so sad about the state of these people, who had to break their bodies to get ahead.
No wonder Karl marxs found an audience with das capital.
A lot of people still need to break their bodies to get ahead.
@@scottessery100 yeah it is understable in such a brutal era of history
Disfigured in a frightful manner
Your delivery of words is superb
60-80 years old? Wow! Great art work!
Thank you! I think it looks good with the drips falling from the letters to match the environment.
@@FactFeast Most definitely!!
I love this seldom heard history. Love the way he speaks English. Broadens my vocabulary
Really cool it's like hobo lore. Really reminds me of some modern traditions like people having weird names and such.
They remind me of pirate names!
I’m not sure how I came across this awesome channel, but I’m so glad I did lol. Also, on a side note, you have a very soothing voice to me, and (I mean this as the highest, of all of the compliments) listening to his voice helps me to get to sleep and that’s *a lot* coming from an insomniac lol. New sub here!! Love from Tennessee ❤️❤️❤️
Welcome! It's great you found the channel and nice to hear that it helps you. Thank you for your kind words.
I may have said this before but your channel is absolutely Top Notch
I really appreciate you saying this. Support keeps me going!
@@FactFeast you're welcome
I made a comment earlier about your channel focusing on the negative; I was half joking. I haven't even seen all of your videos yet, so I wouldn't know either way
I absolutely love your channel! Not stopped watching for days, it’s fascinating. And you can see where sir terry pratchett got his ideas for the book ‘dodger’ the main character is a tosher and it’s a brilliant read :)
That’s great! It’s really nice to know you’re enjoying the content. Plenty more to come.
i do remember bits of that book and how much i enjoyed it, just like all of his books.
Agree this is a great channel. Just found it so looking forward to the informative and entertaining content.Thanks!
Another good vid. Thank you. I love this era and your videos. Thank you for bringing this time in history to life.
Lots more from the Victorian era to come! Thank you.
You have a brilliant way of saying things.
I'm really glad you enjoyed the narration. Thanks for your kind words!
You get hungry enough you will do anything.
Love the stories and the way they're presented!
Thanks! It's great to know you enjoyed the presentation.
Very interesting! Love the content. The narration is above and beyond a delight.
Fantastic! It’s great to know you find the content so enjoyable to watch. Thank you.
I've just discovered, and subsequently subscribed to, this channel 😁 You'd be an amazing audio books narrator!
Welcome to the channel! I’m glad you like the narration.
Found this channel today. I am loving your content and narration. Keep up the good work!!!
Welcome to the channel! I’m glad you are enjoying the content.
Mud Larking is still a thing. You need a licence these days and there's a lot of rules. Certain people can only pick up what they see with their eye on the surface, IE they can't dig, while someone trained/experienced/archaeological can use a metal detector.
I'd love to try it though
I love your content. Keep up the great work.
Much appreciated!
I'm loving this channel.. thank you sir.
That's great! Lots more content is coming.
Fascinating, that sounds like some preferred to be "freelance" toshers instead of slaving away for starvation wages every day. I can relate to that kind of thinking. Even though I prefer to do my freelance work without any rats. 🙂
Definitely not with the rats described here …or collapsing maze-like tunnels. Sounds like an Indiana Jones story!
This would make for an interesting lower end setting or scenario in TTRPGs.
_"You're not the hero of legend who rises from nothing to slay a dragon or thwart a nefarious Warlock._
_You're not the knight or wizard who protects a village from Orcs._
_You're not even a noted fighter at the local pugilist pit or a streetshow magician._
_Nay, you're a slum dweller who ventures into the great city's labyrinthine sewers to eke out your meager living, while hoping you don't run into anything too dangerous down there. And for you a trio of starving goblins with clubs can get too dangerous too fast..."_
🤔
Nice style! I’d play the game. Watch this video for more on the creatures living in the tunnels under Victorian London: The Dark, Mysterious and Terrifying World under Victorian London (A History of Filth and Fear)
th-cam.com/video/TMggCC71fOs/w-d-xo.html
TOTALLY AWESOME. THANK YOU FOR THE TOUR. Philadelphia USA
That’s great! I’m glad you enjoyed watching.
There's a terry Pratchett audiobook called "Dodger" it's all about toshers it's really good
That’s interesting to know, thank you! I see that Dodger was ‘king of the toshers.’
Now I know why Daniel Tosh is such a dirty comic. It's in his blood!
Now that's some real dungeon delving.
Always a good time watching your videos
Thanks very much. Glad you like them!
I could watch these all day long.
Nice to know you enjoy the content so much. Thank you!
Great video contents and superb narrator!
Thank you kindly! I'm glad you enjoyed this trip back in time with London's sewer hunters.
Amazing, that amount in todays money must run into millions, 20,000,wow .i can understand why they would use the money obtain from their work on drink , anything to anesthesia yourself to the life you found yourself in .as always most enjoyable and educational.
It seems odd that mudlarks didn't seek to plunder the 'riches' of the sewers too, though I assume to some extent this may have been a factor of age and physical ability. I imagine sewer hunters were protective of their domain - the 'informant' in this video having being invited and trained in the skills necessary to survive its dangers.
Well Thank You Very Much Excellent Video From Blue
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed the trip back in time to Victorian London’s underground.
Queen Vic certainly knew how to run a nation!!
The British government ran it .The class system was well entruly entrenched. Extreme poverty were vast amounts of the population lived from hand to mouth on a daily basis. Living and dying on the streets of the UK or dealing with the trauma of the workhouse. Sadly for some people risking their lives doing some of the filthiest jobs in order to survive.
I'll bet those rats were dangerous.
A 'mischief' of rats!
Still are. Can cause deadly meningitis and more from a bite.
14:35 I’m liking those double tined forks.
great post! subscribed
Welcome to the channel!
Wow they make a good living! Too bad they didn't save it! ❤️❤️❤️
Running through obstacles, traps and other navigational hazards while avoiding rodents of unusual size, all in order to collect coins. These guys essentially _lived_ their own platform game.
Great content
I'm really glad you enjoyed watching!
Just finished watching one of my favourite ,episodes👍
Fantastic! Thank you.
Give Steven fry a run for his money very enjoyable sub liked and shared 😀👍😊
Welcome! Thank you very much for your support.
9:23 “fly” at anyone who opposes their progress. Lol. They do seem to fly when they get excited. It’s a very scary notion. I once freaked out over a tiny mouse in my bathroom. I can only imagine that nightmarish mess! 🐀
In such frugal times I can't believe people would through away money down the drains.
It was lost.
Believe it or not, apparently people who had enough would throw away farthings. The small coins were a nuisance to handle.
No wonder disease was rife
Your channel is awesome you have a spooky voice
Thank you so much!
"Where there's muck there's brass"
If I woke up in Victorian London tomorrow I would definitely be a Tosher and save my money.
A Tosh favourite Elvis track is: "Are you pong some tonight'"
This still goes on in India today. There is even a doc about them.
Is a “Tosher” what James May calls Jeromy Clarkson?
He really is a tosher. I do like his TV shows though, even though I am a lefty libtard. His farm show was amazing.
thank you
You’re welcome and thank you for your support!
17:48 It must be quite a thing to have One’s profile with that Latin inscription around it, on one of the highest value coins of the Realm. I wonder if She’s still paying for it. She could’ve smiled, being, You know, an Empress of an Empire upon which the Sun never set. That’s kind of big.❤❤❤
Tosher = modern day metal detector aficionado lol
Robert Peel (1788-1850) the founder of the first new Metropolitan Police Force Service at Scotland Yard in 1829.
For 5 pounds in those days i would have grassed on myself
Sounds like a new series featuring Benedict Cumberbatch. Wow!!! Netflix here I come.
You sure it wasn't Ratmen, killing those Sewer Hunters?
Toshers where I come from are industrial painters.🌹
Amazing what was tossed away. I wonder how much was the haul or part haul from burglaries and muggings? Thrown rather than be caught with it when chased, maybe.
Here is a moot point. Pray why were the authorities so concerned about "toshers" working the sewers? As one tosher pointed out that the authorities wouldn't care if a poor person starved to death, but suddenly were concerned ostensibly about the "safety" of the tosher. Translated, it means that some people had found a lucrative trade, albeit a dangerous one, and were exempt from paying tax. Correct analysis? it was a pity they chose to subsequently drink themselves to death, else otherwise, their families could have extricated themselves from such squalid living conditions. I don't blame them from not paying tax. Do you?
Imagine seeing a man eating rat… my stomp protocols would activate on 1000
This Job is Like HELL!!! I'd rather be Dead!!!
It was definitely one of the ‘worst’ Victorian jobs, though they could earn a lot of money compared to other horrendous work some did to survive. More videos like this on my channel.
Womb gestates, conceives and grows a child by her agency. Her body doing not something that got in and did to her
Ahhh...Daniel Tosh....makes sense now....lol...jkjk
Sewer mining pays obviously :D
It seems the more advanced society is so advanced is poverty.
Why do all these job titles sounds like species from All Tomorrows
Of all the scavangers toshers earned the most of them all on a good day 1£
They could find some valuable coins, metal and all sorts of things - if they could avoid the filth, gas and rats!
@@FactFeast can you make a video about the Victorian fire service?
Just look at the back lanes of the UK they are no different now.
"Sewer Hunter"? Sound like an enemy name or bos in Bloodborne game.
😀are they still taking applications