Category Archives: British history

“God Save the Queen,” British National Anthem

Posted on February 13, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

“God Save the Queen,” also called (during a kingship) God Save the King, British royal and national anthem. The origin of both the words and the music is obscure. The many candidates for authorship include John Bull (c. 1562–1628), Thomas Ravenscroft (c. … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Georgian England, royalty | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Did Richard II “Invent” the Handkerchief?

Posted on February 9, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

Okay, I will admit up front the history of Richard II’s reign is NOT my area of expertise, and so I do NOT mean this piece as a “history” lesson. Rather it is meant to be an interesting historical “tidbit.” … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, fashion, history, legends, medieval | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Did Richard II “Invent” the Handkerchief?

Princess Helena Escape Queen Victoria’s “Heavy Thumb”

Posted on February 8, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

 Princess Helena (Helena Augusta Victoria; Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein by marriage; 25 May 1846 – 9 June 1923) was the third daughter and fifth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Like the queen’s other children, Helena was educated by private … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, marriage, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Roger Ascham, Serving Four Monarchs

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

 Born in Kirby Wiske (a village in the North Riding), Yorkshire, in 1515, Roger Ascham was the third son of John and Margaret Ascham. Ascham was the steward to Baron Scrope of Bolton. Roger Ascham was a scholar and didactic … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, drama, Elizabethan drama, history, legacy, literature, Tudors | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Learning to Be the “Lady of the Manor”

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

 Ladies in a country house were expected to practice the “correct” moral, social, and religious customs of the day. Not only were them women judged by these standards, but so were the rest of their family, especially if they acted … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, Regency era, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Happy Book Birthday to Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”

Posted on January 28, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

  Today marks the 204th Anniversary of the release of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and in my humble opinion, the world is a better place for having read Austen’s most popular work.  Publisher T. Egerton, Whitehall Publication date 28 January 1813 … Continue reading →

Posted in book release, books, British history, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Pre-Elizabethan Drama: The Interlude

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

 Pre-Elizabethan drama moved from miracle plays to morality plays to folk plays to interludes. Interludes were the last to develop. Initially, “interludes” were closed identified with morality plays, especially in subject matter.  Precursors to Elizabethan Drama summarizes the development from … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Chaucer, drama, Elizabethan drama, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

John Spilsbury and the First Jigsaw Puzzle

Posted on January 17, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

 Okay, over Christmas I gave and received several jigsaw puzzles. I do puzzles on my Kindle Fire every evening. The presents I gave were those personalized puzzles where a person receives a puzzle of his or her hometown or community … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, British history, family, Great Britain, toys and games, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Ever Been on a “Cook’s Tour”?

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

Most of you are likely to think a “cook’s tour” has something to do with a chef’s culinary excellence, but the phrase actually has its roots in the world’s oldest and largest travel organization.   Thomas Cook was a 32-year old … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, commerce, Great Britain, Industrial Revolution, Living in the UK, real life tales, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, a Disappointment to Queen Victoria

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

Given Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s physical infatuation with each other, their first child, Princess Victoria, called Vicky, was born nine months after their wedding. The queen was busy with her duties as monarch and could spare little time for … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Church of England, family, Great Britain, marriage, royalty, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments