Category Archives: British history

Life Below Stairs – Snobbery and Rules of Engagement

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Previously, we looked at what a servant in an upper house, or even in a second-class household, of the late Regency Period or early Victorian times, might encounter. We spoke of wages, delineation of duties, and additional compensation. Today, we … Continue reading →

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Life Below Stairs ~ The Role of the Male Servant

Posted on September 18, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

  The English aristocrat often lived beyond his means. Maintaining country houses (often several of them) and a large Georgian town house in Mayfair took its toll on his purse strings. In addition to owning the property, Society forced him … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Life Below Stairs – The Valet

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Footmen as we learned the last time often thought to join the upper servants in the role of valet or butler. (We saw the character of Thomas Barrow work in all three positions in Downton Abbey.) Today we have a … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, Regency era, servant life, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Thames River Police + the Release of “Crime and Culpability”

Posted on September 11, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

When I was writing my short story “Order and Disorder” LOTS of research was required, especially information about the policing practices in Regency Era London. One of my discoveries was the River Thames Police…. In the 18th Century, importers docking … Continue reading →

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Celebrating the Release of “Crime and Culpability” + a Giveaway

Posted on September 9, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Tomorrow, September 10, marks the release of a new Jane Austen Mystery Anthology. Crime and Culpability features seven short story mysteries, including ones from Riana Everly, Jeanette Watts, Elizabeth Gilliland, Michael Rands, Linné Elizabeth, Emma Dalgety, and me. I also … Continue reading →

Posted in anthology, book release, British history, eBooks, George Wickham, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

King Henry and English Abbeys by a Partial, Prejudiced and Ignorant Historian and the Upcoming Release of “Crime and Culpability,” a Guest Post by Jeanette Watts

Posted on September 6, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Northanger Abbey, Donwell Abbey, and Downton Abbey may all be fictional locations, but homes titled an “abbey” are perfectly real, scattered across England: Forde Abbey in West Dorset. Anglesey Abbey in Cambridge. Woburn Abbey is the family seat of the … Continue reading →

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Life Below Stairs: Non-Existent Legal Redress

Posted on August 30, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Was there legal redress for the servants of Victorian households?  Although there was genuine concern for the conditions in which many of the servants operated, most claimed it was impossible to make laws to protect domestic servants. Those that were … Continue reading →

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Life Below Stairs – The Expense of Keeping Servants

Posted on August 28, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

The landed aristocrats were VERY slow to give up the expenses of an extensive household staff. We saw that “plot” being used in the final season of Downton Abbey. It is said that the sixth Duke of Portland employed some … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, Napoleonic Wars, Regency era, servant life, Uncategorized, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Life Below Stairs: Compensation Beyond Salary for Work Done

Posted on August 26, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Despite the sometimes less than desirable conditions under which many of those below stairs endured in service, there were other compensations. Servants learned their deference. They were “invisible,” while remaining upon display throughout most of their work days. As such, … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, Georgian Era, history, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, servant life, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Georgian Era Lexicon – We’re Coming to the End – X, Y, and Z

Posted on August 23, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

In the singular form the lexicon of a particular subject is all the terms associated with it. The lexicon of a person or group is all the words they commonly use. As a plural noun, a lexicon is an alphabetical … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, etymology, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Jane Austen, language choices, lexicon, real life tales, Regency era, research, terminology, Uncategorized, word choices, word origins, word play | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Georgian Era Lexicon – We’re Coming to the End – X, Y, and Z