Category Archives: British history

Primogeniture and Inheritance and the Need for a Widow’s Pension in Jane Austen’s Novels

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Regina Jeffers

By Jane Austen’s time, primogeniture was no longer the law of the land, but it remained a strongly entrenched custom of inheritance proceedings. Breaking apart large landholdings were frowned upon. An impoverished aristocracy, whose wealth rested in the agricultural realm, … Continue reading →

Posted in Austen Authors, British history, customs and tradiitons, estates, family, Georgian England, Inheritance, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, primogenture, real life tales, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Primogeniture and Inheritance and the Need for a Widow’s Pension in Jane Austen’s Novels

“Lord Radcliffe’s Best Friend” Releasing This Friday, September 10 + a Giveaway

Posted on September 8, 2021 by Regina Jeffers

One of the plot points of my latest release, “Lord Radcliffe’s Best Friend” revolves around the Enclosure Acts. What were they?   In England and Wales from the 12th Century forward enclosure (or inclosure) was a common practice. Before enclosure, … Continue reading →

Posted in book excerpts, book release, British history, eBooks, estates, excerpt, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, history, publishing, reading, reading habits, Regency era, Regency romance, romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Provisions of Oxford

Posted on August 30, 2021 by Regina Jeffers

Most people know something of Oxford, England, through Oxford University, the home of England’s first university. However, Oxford is also known for the “Provisions of Oxford,” which in 1258 placed the king under a Council of Fifteen. All this began … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, England, Great Britain, history, kings and queens, medieval, political stance, real life tales, world history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Edward Jenner, Father of “Vaccination”

Posted on August 23, 2021 by Regina Jeffers

With all the debate still going on about whether to vaccinate or not for COVID-19 and all the variants in the news, I thought we might have look at the first vaccines. Born in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, in May 1749, the … Continue reading →

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Jodrell Bank Observatory, England’s First “Proper” Space Observatory

Posted on August 18, 2021 by Regina Jeffers

With all the recent news stories on UFOs and aliens, I thought it might be interesting to explore one of the early observatories. — that of Jodrell Bank. The observatory was originally called the Jodrell Bank Experimental Station. It is … Continue reading →

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The Yorkshire Giant

Posted on August 16, 2021 by Regina Jeffers

William Bradley (1787 – 1820) was commonly known as “The Yorkshire Giant” He was born on 10 February 1787 in Market Weighton in Yorkshire’s East Riding. He was the fourth of thirteen children. Weighing in at 14 pounds (6.35 kg) … Continue reading →

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Appleby-in-Westmorland, a Market Town and Home of the Biggest Horse Fair in the World

Posted on August 11, 2021 by Regina Jeffers

Appleby-in-Westmorland, the smallest county town in England with a population of 2600, lies to the east of what is referred to as “the Lake District.” Its history goes back to the 9th Century when the Vikings settled in the area. … Continue reading →

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Uffington Castle, Dragon Hill, and Wayland’s Smithy

Posted on August 9, 2021 by Regina Jeffers

To go along with my post on Friday on the preservation efforts of the White Horse, I thought I might mention other sites along the way in the Berkshire Downs. First and foremost, one must address the road that traverses … Continue reading →

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The Uffington White Horse

Posted on August 6, 2021 by Regina Jeffers

Near the village of Uffington in Oxfordshire, England, one can find a most miraculous symbol, the oldest of the English hill figures. Some 3000 years old, the Uffington White Horse is a stick figure-style horse nearly the size of a … Continue reading →

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What Exactly Did It Mean for A Clergyman to Have a “Living” Bestowed Upon Him During the Regency Period?

Posted on August 2, 2021 by Regina Jeffers

We often read in a Regency era book something to the effect of the master of the estate bestowing a “living” upon a clergyman. Exactly, what did that entail? Once the living was bestowed, could the owner of the estate … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Church of England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Mansfield Park, Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, Regency era, religion, research | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments