In Victorian cities like London, Liverpool, and Manchester, slums were densely packed with poor families. Despite abject conditions, these neighborhoods fostered unique communities with shared slang, songs, and traditions. Pub culture, street games, and communal events created bonds that differentiated residents from other classes. Historians have noted that slum children often displayed ingenuity and resilience in survival. Crime and charity were intertwined; residents navigated complex social networks to survive. This “sub-class culture” reflected adaptation to harsh economic realities. Slums were thus both oppressive and socially rich microcosms.
City slums created strong social identity among residents.
It illustrates that class is as much cultural and behavioral as economic.
Did you know slum children sometimes formed street clubs with their own rules, nicknames, and rituals?
[History Extra, historyextra.com]