Was three shillings quite a lot in the olden days?

Yes, three shillings was considered a significant amount of money in the past, particularly in the 19th century and earlier. It could cover the cost of basic necessities, such as food or a small meal. In some contexts, it might have represented a day's wages for a laborer, making it a valuable sum for everyday transactions. The value of money was quite different from today, so three shillings could stretch further than it does now.