Category Archives: buildings and structures

Georgian Architecture: University of London, a Metropolitan, Nonsectarian University

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

  In 1820, the Scottish poet, Thomas Campbell, put forth the idea of a metropolitan, nonsectarian university. With others he launched a movement in 1825 to found the University of London, for students excluded from Oxford or Cambridge by religious tests … Continue reading →

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Life Below Stairs, Part 3 ~ The Male Servant

Posted on February 24, 2016 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 to … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, customs and tradiitons, estates, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, Regency era, tradtions, Victorian era | 2 Comments

Life Below Stairs, Part II – Rules of Engagement

Posted on February 17, 2016 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 →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, customs and tradiitons, estates, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, real life tales, Regency era, Victorian era | 9 Comments

Life Below Stairs, Part I: Obligations and Compensation

Posted on February 9, 2016 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, customs and tradiitons, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, legends, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, real life tales, Regency era, Victorian era | 9 Comments

Getting Ready for October: The Screaming Skull of Bettiscombe Manor

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Regina Jeffers

Bettiscombe is a small village and civil parish in west Dorset, England, situated in the Marshwood Vale 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Beaminster. Dorset County Council’s 2012 mid-year estimate of the population of the civil parish is 70. This … Continue reading →

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Being Punk’d Regency Style

Posted on November 28, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

Being Punk’d Regency Style This is a repeat post, back by popular demand. I was asked by several to add it again because their friends did not believe them. Theodore Hook In mid August I shared this information on my … Continue reading →

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Quenby Hall, “Home” to Stilton Cheese

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

Quenby Hall is a Jacobean house in parkland near the villages of Cold Newton and Hungarton, Leicestershire, England. It is described by Pevsner (Pevsner, Nikolaus; Williamson, E (revision) (1984). The Buildings of England – Leicestershire and Rutland. Penguin. pp. 351–3.) … Continue reading →

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The Hound of Hergest Court, Inspiration for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “Hound”

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

Hergest Court, found in Kington, Herefordshire, was once a fine home, but it is but a “shadow” of its former greatness. However, its decline appears appropriate when one considers the history of the building and of its owner. Many people … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, gothic and paranormal, Great Britain, legends and myths, Living in the UK, mystery | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

UK Mystery: Stanton Drew Stone Circles

Posted on October 21, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

Location: near Stanton Drew and Bristol Region: Somerset, England Coordinates: 51.367797°N 2.575257°WCoordinates: 51.367797°N 2.575257°W Type: Henge monument Condition: intact The Stanton Drew stone circles are just outside the village of Stanton Drew in the English county of Somerset. The largest … Continue reading →

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UK “Real” Estate: Wimborne Minster’s Grandeur

Posted on September 29, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

Wimborne Minster’s Grandeur Known locally as the Minster, Wimborne Minster is the parish church of Wimborne, Dorset, England. The Minster has existed for over 1300 years and is recognised for its unusual chained library (one of only four surviving chained … Continue reading →

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