Category Archives: buildings and structures

James Lackington: The Man Who Revolutionized Book Stores

In a time when we bemoan the loss of Borders, Waldenbooks, and fear the demise of Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million, it is hard for us to imagine what it must have been like for those who entered “The Dome … Continue reading

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Craigievar Castle, the Inspiration for Walt Disney’s Trademark Castle and a Ghostly Experience

  Are you still looking for the ghosts and goblins of Halloween? Permit me to introduce you to Craigievar Castle in Scotland, where you might hear ‘Red’ Sir John tell of ancient feuds between the clans and the murder of … Continue reading

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Balls in London During the Georgian Era

We often read in Regency romances of the hero and heroine meeting at a ball, but how often was that activity actually a reality? One thing we must keep in mind how large the actual house was depended upon the … Continue reading

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Almack’s, the Place to See and Be Seen During the Regency

Almack’s history is divided into two parts: one is from the inception to around 1815 and the other from 1815 on. First opening on 12 February 1765 on King Street, St. James’s, Almack’s Assembly Rooms were situated immediately to the east … Continue reading

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Rochester and Higham, Kent, UK and How They Are Used in “Losing Lizzy: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary”

When I write my Pride and Prejudice based vagaries, I tend to place Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s fictionalize Rosings Park in the Rochester/Higham area of Kent. I choose this area for two basic reasons: (1) Rochester is about 30 miles … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, book release, British history, British Navy, buildings and structures, Church of England, estates, Georgian England, Georgian Era, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, Regency era, research, Vagary, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Rochester and Higham, Kent, UK and How They Are Used in “Losing Lizzy: A Pride and Prejudice Vagary”

Caister Castle, Only English Example of a “Wasserburg-Style Moated Castle”

A 90-foot tower is all that remains of Caister Castle, which was originally commissioned in 1432 by Sir John Fastolf, who served bravely during the 100 Year War. However, from the tower, visitors can view the castle ruins and the … Continue reading

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Consecration of Westminster Abbey, 28 December 1065

The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster is a large Gothic abbey church in the City of Westminster, London, England, situated to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It was a Benedictine monastic church until the monastery was … Continue reading

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

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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Uffington Castle, Dragon Hill, and Wayland’s Smithy

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

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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