The London Magazine

• Perhaps, if you are lucky enough, this might be a hike along ragged cliffs or trudge along a chilly beach with family.
• Many of us however, have to take to the pavements of Britain’s towns and cities for our post-lunch walks.
• As a researcher of pedestrianism, I am fascinated by the changing culture of how, where and why we walk.
• You might be surprised to hear that “going for a walk” wasn’t really a thing until the late 1700s.

Dirty rotten streets

• Much has been written of the religious zeal with which Dickens took to his daily “walking work”.
• In the 1800s, when pavements were in their infancy, taking a walk was a whole different experience.
• An estimated 300,000 horses traversed the London streets, depositing over 1,000 tonnes of manure every day.

• The sorry state of city streets created a demand for all sorts of workers, including “pure finders” who would have scooped up dog poo and sold it in bulk to local tanneries (places where leather skins were processed).
• Thankfully, social reform and urban planning has moved on dramatically, and going on an urban walk is a much more pleasant experience now.

Professional pedestrianism

• While the pavements have changed, many of the codes of conduct governing Victorian pedestrian etiquette remain relevant today.
• In 1780, an article tucked discretely among the news and advertisements of the popular London Magazine outlined “Rules of behaviour, of general use, though much disregarded in this populous city.” Among its 12 points, pedestrians were advised “to be cautious of staring in the faces of those that pass by […] for an over-bearing look has the air of a bully, and a prying one that of a bailiff.” So as you take your walks, do as Dickens did, and avoid committing these pedestrian faux pas:

  Inconsiderate whistling or humming
  Walking arm in arm
  Loitering in conversation
  Hindering all behind with a “sauntering gait”

While the bugbears and implicit rules may alter with the ages (distracted phone-users, I’m looking at you), there is much about the pavements that retain their Victorian decorum. They are a place of multiplicity and variety, culture and commerce – a strip of land to be celebrated all year round.
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Lauren Nichola Colley does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.