Category Archives: British history

A Jane Austen Time Line

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

1764-The Reverend George Austen marries Cassandra Leigh. They take up residence at Deane Parsonage in Hampshire. 1765-Brother James was born. Like his sister, James had literary aspirations, but unlike Jane, he never knew success. 1766-George Austen was born. Mentally challenged, … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, Regency personalities, writing | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Victorian Happenings: The Bedchamber Crisis

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

The Bedchamber crisis occurred in May 1839 after Whig politician Lord Melbourne had resigned as Prime Minister. Queen Victoria invited Tory politician Robert Peel to form a new government. Peel realised that such a government would hold a minority in … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, political stance, real life tales, Victorian era | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Victorian Happenings: The Formation of the Anti-Corn Law League

Posted on January 14, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

The Anti-Corn Law League was in effect the resumption of the Anti-Corn Law Association, which had been created in London in 1836 but did not obtain widespread popularity. The Anti-Corn Law League was founded in Manchester in 1838. Richard Cobden … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, political stance, real life tales, Victorian era | Tagged , | Comments Off on Victorian Happenings: The Formation of the Anti-Corn Law League

Victorian Happenings: March 26, 1839 ~ The First Henley Royal Regatta Is Held

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

Henley Royal Regatta is a rowing event held annually on the River Thames by the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The Royal Regatta is sometimes referred to as Henley Regatta, its original name pre-dating Royal patronage. It should not be confused … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, Great Britain, real life tales, royalty, Victorian era | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Victorian Happenings: March 26, 1839 ~ The First Henley Royal Regatta Is Held

Jane Austen’s Lasting Influence on Writing and on Modern Perceptions

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

As we celebrate Jane Austen in modern settings this month, I thought it prudent to examine what makes “our” Jane so popular. Austen’s influence proves that the past is always in the process of being reinvented. There have been over … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Jane Austen, writing | Tagged | Comments Off on Jane Austen’s Lasting Influence on Writing and on Modern Perceptions

Regency Celebrity: The Decadent George IV

Posted on January 8, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

Those of us who regularly “study” the period know as the Regency are well aware of the hedonistic nature of George IV, but many are unaware of the extent of the Prince Regent’s decadent ways. In truth, George IV, the … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, George IV, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, Regency personalities | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Celebrating Twelfth Night

Posted on January 5, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

Defined by the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary as “the evening of the fifth of January, preceding Twelfth Day, the eve of the Epiphany, formerly the last day of the Christmas festivities,” Twelfth Night is a Christian-based holiday. However, there is currently some … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, holidays | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Life Below Stairs ~ Part One ~ Compensation and Obligations

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

With the popularity of Upstairs, Downstairs and Downtown Abbey, the populace has become more aware of the British servant class. So what do we know of those who lived “below stairs”? First, rank and precedence ruled those of the servant class as much … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, real life tales | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Regency Happenings: The Year Without Summer ~ 1816

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Regina Jeffers

The Year Without a Summer (also known as the Poverty Year, Year There Was No Summer, and Eighteen Hundred and Froze to Death) was 1816, in which severe summer climate abnormalities resulted in major food shortages. Much of the cause of this anomaly is blamed on the … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Border Wars Between England and Scotland

Posted on December 30, 2013 by Regina Jeffers

The political struggle that has dominated much of England/Scotland’s history was often a result of the border wars. In Elizabethan times the Anglo-Scottish border counties, especially Northumberland, were the home of lawless clans who spent their lives raiding and marauding. … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, castles, Great Britain, legends and myths, political stance, real life tales, religion, royalty, Scotland | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments