I feel incredibly privileged to have heard these women's stories straight from their mouths.

“Mud everywhere. Of course hansom cabs slurring through the mud... and where there wasn’t mud, there was fog... and in between was us... enjoying ourselves.” That’s amazing!

How brilliant are these women. Very progressive for the times. I’m glad her father actually supported her drawing and desire to study art.

I was born in the early 1990's. Seems strange that one day, many decades from now, when I'm required to give my date of birth there will be a raised eyebrow when I mention '19..', With the person expecting me to say '20..something'

"Where there wasn't mud, there was fog, and inbetween was us, enjoying ourselves."
That's a great opening line.

I did some research on the clip. It was filmed in 1969 for the BBC Program, Yesterday's Witness:Two Victorian Girls and was released in 1970. Berta Ruck went on to become a successful writer who authored some 90 romance novels and died in Northern Wales a few weeks after her hundredth birthday. Effie's full name was Frances E. Jones and was born in August of 1875 and according to the England and Wales death registry died in Hillingdon, London between January and March of 1975 at the age of 99.
Berta Ruck (1878-1978)
Frances "Effie" Jones (1875-1975)

This is what Youtube was invented for! Fantastic stuff!

I love hearing older men and women talk about their lives.

Wow. She was asked what we are put into this world for. And her answer was i dont think any of us really know...what a wise woman

This is every historian's dream!!😍 I feel so privileged watching this.

Mt Victorian grandmother was born in 1890. My father had me rather late in his life.  I asked her all about Titanic and history from that time. I have photos from her side of the family that date back to the mid 1840s.  Tintypes. She was so, so elegant!

A story I can recall was when my French grandmother would casually stroll with her umbrella near the railroad tracks as the buggies would often pass.  She would purposely twirl her parasol to catch the eye of one particular gentleman who was quite dashing and owned not one but three buggies quite a tidy sum of money in those days.  Fast forward .... they were married six months later and lived in a lavish mansion with 11 servants, a butler and  a footman.  During the Depression era when money was scarce she went shopping for food and came home with not one bit of morsel just a large, solid statue of a peacock spreading its wings.  I still have the statue which weighs about 30 pounds and truly it was her prized possession.  She was unpredictable, vivacious and full of life and loved beautiful things especially peacocks!

1890s slang - Ripping, Foul & Rotten....

Well, they were pretty girls back then, full of life and fun! We think we know it all today but they saw and experienced the same thoughts and emotions, just the things were different.

I love these Victorian ladies! There were so many Victorians still alive when I was young – a poignant interesting connection with the past. It's a sad thought that they're now all gone.

Imagine what they might make of being seen and heard on the internet !

its wonderful to watch this, a time we will never see again, just so good that you can hear the voice of these ladys and it brings you right back to other world, very special indeed. Bless them.

Effie looks like queen victoria in her later years

I knew a lady many years ago born 1898. I used to love talking to her about her
youth when l was young back in the mid 1960s.Now l feel old thinking that she
was a Victorian.She was originally from Peckham and was working class.

I wish there were more videos talking to women who were born in the late 1800s. Everything has changed and it would be interesting to hear their perspective on some of those changes.