Category Archives: buildings and structures

Half-Timbered Architectural Elements, a Tudor Construction

One of the most prominent features of Tudor and medieval architecture is what is called “half-timbered houses.” The editors of the Encyclopedia Britannica describes “Half-timber work” as a, “…method of building in which external and internal walls are constructed of … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, British history, buildings and structures, Tudors, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Crafting a Thatched Roof

We all admire the idea of a cottage with a thatched roof, but what are the practicalities?  History: Thatching roofs can be traced to the Bronze Age. In Dorset, one can observe the remains of a round hut that displays … Continue reading

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Georgian Commerce: The London Docks, Part V

In Roman and medieval times, ships tended to dock at small quays in the present-day  city of London or Southwark an area known as the Pool of London. However, this gave no protection against the elements, was vulnerable to thieves and suffered from … Continue reading

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The Ceremony of Quit Rents

Have you ever heard of this tradition? The Ceremony of Quit Rents is the oldest legal ceremony in England (other than the coronation). It occurs between St Michael’s Day (October 11) and St Martin’s Day (November 11). On October 17, … Continue reading

Posted in Age of Chaucer, British history, buildings and structures, customs and tradiitons, kings and queens, Living in the UK | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Ceremony of Quit Rents

A Walk Through Green Park from Guest Author, Joana Starnes

 This is a repeat performance from the archives  from my dear friend, Joana Starnes, who gives us a brief look at London’s Green Park, which plays a pivotal role in Ms. Starnes’s Austen-inspired The Second Chance: A Pride and Prejudice/Sense and … Continue reading

Posted in book excerpts, British history, buildings and structures, giveaway, Jane Austen, Uncategorized, writing | Tagged , , , | 66 Comments

Is “Downton Abbey” a Copycat of “Pride & Prejudice”? from Guest Author, Ginger Monette

 Today, I welcome Ginger Monette to Every Woman Dreams. Ginger is a relative newcomer to JAFF (Jane Austen Fan Fiction) writing, as she promotes her latest book, Darcy’s Hope at Donwell Abbey. Unlike many Austen variations that remain in the Regency … Continue reading

Posted in book release, British history, buildings and structures, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, romance | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

The Places We Visit in Jane Austen’s Novels

Oh, the Places We Will Go…in Austen Novels Through Jane Austen’s novels, I was first introduced, at the age of 12, to beautiful English estates and a land beyond my imagination. I fell in love with the time, the homes, … Continue reading

Posted in Austen actors, books, buildings and structures, film adaptations, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

The Beginnings of the Greyhound Bus Company

In 1914, a young Swedish minor named Car Eric Wickman left his job as a diamond drill operator in the rugged Mesabi Iron Ore Range in Hibbing, Minnesota, to open a Hupmobile (Goodyear Tire) franchise. The venture cost him $3000. … Continue reading

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Celebrating the Launch of “The Renegade Wife” with Caroline Warfield + a Giveaway

Today, I welcome one of my author friends, Caroline Warfield. I love Caroline’s “Dangerous” series, and now she is back with a new series that brings the children from the “Dangerous” series to new lands.  One of the things I love … Continue reading

Posted in blog hop, book excerpts, book release, books, British history, buildings and structures, excerpt, giveaway, historical fiction, holidays, publishing, real life tales, romance | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

R. J. Reynolds’s Tobacco Connection to King Edward VII

I live in North Carolina where for many years tobacco was “King.” Tobacco Road was an historic tobacco-producing area of central North Carolina. Among the many who rode the “tobacco wagon” to riches (until the 1980s when the U. S. enacted anti-smoking … Continue reading

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