This chapter traces the decline in working hours. In 1830 adults spent about half their hours at work, in 1970 one-third. Children were the focus of early attempts to reduce hours by legislation, but trade union action was more important than parliamentary legislation in achieving significant reductions in daily hours for adults. Reductions were achieved in four distinct periods, the 1840s, the 1870s, 1918-9 and post Second World War. Weekly hours of work became more regular with a Saturday half-holiday slowly and partially replacing St Monday. Holidays only became a significant amount of time off work when they began to be paid in the twentieth century. Work time was further diminished by the prolongation of childhood, ideally without work, at one end of the life course, and by the development of retirement at the other.