Category Archives: customs and tradiitons

The Governess: Qualified to Teach the Usual Branches of a Good English Education

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

A governess’s job was to teach the children of middle and upper class households in 19th Century England. By 1850, there were 21,000 governesses registered in England. In Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, our heroine places the following advertisement, which eventually … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, Regency era, Victorian era | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Oh, Give Me Land, Lots of Land (or) the 19th Century Entail

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

Oh, Give Me Land Lots of Land (or) the 19th Century Entail As it had been for centuries, a man’s status in 19th Century British Society rested in the land he held. Land was a symbol of wealth and social … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, customs and tradiitons, Great Britain, Inheritance, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, political stance | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The 19th Century Educational System (or Lack Thereof)

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

The 19th Century Educational System (or Lack Thereof) “Public” schools were founded through generous donations for the male children of the towns of Eton and Harrow, and they were originally open to all. The concept of the “grammar” school came … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, real life tales, Regency era | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Living in Regency Era London ~ Lighting the House

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

Living in Regency London – Lighting the House Today, I have have dealt with three power outages in my area, and with each, I have privately cursed how dark is my home without the power of electricity. I have had … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, customs and tradiitons, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, Regency era | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

The “French” Influence on the Regency Period

Posted on August 8, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

With George III’s first bit of madness in 1788 to the death of George IV in 1830, the world experienced the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, the Congress of Vienna, and the Age of Reform. England found itself inundated with … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, fashion, George IV, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, Napoleonic Wars, political stance, Regency era, Regency personalities | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

What is the Difference Between Heir Apparent and Heir Presumptive?

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

In my latest WIP (Work in Progress), one of the important characters is the “heir presumptive” to his brother. What does that mean, and how does it differ from “heir apparent”? In my story, Horace Lovelace is the third son … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, Great Britain, Living in the UK, political stance, real life tales | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Ultimogeniture (or) Borough Inheritance ~ The Youngest “Keeps the Hearth”

Posted on July 25, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

Yesterday, we looked at Primogeniture, a procedure where the first born (usually the first born male) inherits everything, but what do you know of Ultimogeniture? Ultimogeniture, also known as postremogeniture or junior right, is the tradition of inheritance by the … Continue reading →

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Primogeniture? Collateral Relatives? The First Laws of Inheritance…

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

For those of us who read and write Regency romances or those who live in places such as the United Kingdom, the idea of “Primogeniture” is quite obvious, but to the majority of U.S. citizens, the concept is difficult to … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, Great Britain, Living in the UK, political stance | Tagged | 1 Comment

Appanage: The Custom for Royal Male Child Inheritance

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

An appanage or apanage is the grant of an estate, titles, offices, or other things of value to the younger male children of a sovereign, who would otherwise have no inheritance under the system of primogeniture. It was common in … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, Great Britain, Living in the UK, real life tales, royalty, Scotland | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Life of the Gentry During the Regency Period…

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

During the Regency Period, wealth and social class separated the English citizenry. Beginning with the Royals, citizens found their place based on birthright and wealth. The nobility stood above the gentry, who stood above the clergy, who stood above the … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, dancing, fashion, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Pride and Prejudice, Regency era, Regency personalities | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Life of the Gentry During the Regency Period…