4. Deadly Urban Slums
Overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions in Victorian city slums exposed children to filth, disease, and violence. Many families lived in cramped, dilapidated housing lacking proper ventilation and sanitation facilities. The streets were often filled with garbage and human waste, leading to frequent outbreaks of diseases like cholera, typhoid, and tuberculosis. Infant mortality rates were alarmingly high, with many children not surviving past their first year due to these harsh conditions (birmingham.gov.uk).
