Category Archives: castles

The Headless Horseman and the House of Dun

Posted on October 29, 2018 by

 We have all heard of the Headless Horseman. Surely, you know something of the tale written by Washington Irving in 1820: “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” However, did you realize that the Headless Horseman had been a much used motif … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, castles, Georgian Era, legends, legends and myths, Scotland, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Did Queen Victoria Marry John Brown?

Posted on November 8, 2017 by

  I recently saw the film Victoria and Abdul, and it started me thinking more on the “supposed” relationship between Queen Victoria and her Scottish servant John Brown. (By the way, this relationship has also been explored in film. Again … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, castles, film, film adaptations, Great Britain, history, Living in the UK, research, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

Statute of Wills, Henry VIII’s Answer to Primogeniture

Posted on September 5, 2016 by

The Statute of Wills (32 Hen. 8, c. 1 – enacted in 1540) was an English Act of Parliament, which created a mechanism for landowners to name who would inherit their landed property. A written will was required. It permitted a … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, Anglo-Normans, castles, Living in the UK, primogenture | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Meet Author Barbara Gaskell Denvil, Parachuting into Escapism with the Release of “Fair Weather”

Posted on June 3, 2016 by

Today I welcome one of dear “internet” friends, Barbara Gaskell Denvil, who has an exciting new release. Barbara agree to a short interview so we could all learn more of her and LEARN you will. She is absolutely fascinating.  First, … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglo-Normans, book release, books, British history, castles, Guest Blog, Guest Post, historical fiction, history, interview, legacy, legends, mystery, reading habits, suspense, witchcraft acts | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Excerpt from “The Earl Finds His Comfort”

Posted on January 28, 2016 by

On Tuesday, I shared an excerpt from my upcoming release of “Angel Comes to the Devil’s Keep.” Today I have an excerpt from “The Earl Finds His Comfort,” which is the sequel to “Angel.” In the previous book, Levison Davids, … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Opal Books, book excerpts, book release, books, British history, castles, estates, family, Georgian Era, Great Britain, historical fiction, Living in the Regency, marriage customs, medicine, mystery, primogenture, Regency era, Regency romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Northanger Horrid Novels ~ Are They Real?

Posted on October 14, 2015 by

Northanger Horrid Novels thoughts from Regina Jeffers… I have highlighted these books previously, but at a recent event, I was again asked if Austen made up the names of the books in Northanger Abbey. So, I will again  introduce our … Continue reading →

Posted in book excerpts, British history, castles, gothic and paranormal, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Regency era, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Getting Ready for October: The Screaming Skull of Bettiscombe Manor

Posted on September 30, 2015 by

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 →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, castles, customs and tradiitons, gothic and paranormal, Great Britain, legends and myths, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, real life tales, Regency personalities | Tagged , , , , ,