Category Archives: Living in the UK

The Knight Family Estate at Chawton, a Guest Post from Antoine Vanner

Posted on June 21, 2017 by

This guest post from Antoine Vanner in April 2017 on Austen Authors was a huge success. I though perhaps others might wish to view the wonderful pictures of Jane Austen’s “home” that Vanner shared.  The “Jane Austen House” in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Austen Authors, British history, buildings and structures, Guest Blog, Guest Post, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, primogenture, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Effects of Primogeniture on Family Dynamics

Posted on June 15, 2017 by

 As a writer of historical fiction set in England during the Regency era, I am constantly dealing with the ramifications of the practice and the law of primogeniture. In primogeniture, the first born legitimate son is the sole inheritor of … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, eBooks, Great Britain, history, Living in the UK, primogenture | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Yorkshire’s Legendary “Blind Jack” Metcalf, Extraordinary Road Builder

Posted on June 9, 2017 by

What do you know of  Yorkshire’s legendary hero, “Blind Jack (John Metcalf)”? JOHN METCALF was born at Knaresborough, on the 15 August, 1717 in a thatched cottage opposite Knaresborough Castle. Metcalf was considered a a pioneer in road construction. Between … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, history, Living in the UK | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Exercise Tiger, a Tragic Rehearsal for D-Day

Posted on June 6, 2017 by

Most of us know something of D-Day. On June 6, 1944, more than 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline, to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower called the … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, British history, Great Britain, history, Living in the UK, military, war | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Testing the Money: The Trial of Pyx

Posted on May 22, 2017 by

The Trial of Pyx is a near-800 year old ceremony to test Britain’s coinage. The Trial of the Pyx dates as far back as 1249. The Queen’s Remembrancer oversees the ceremony. Until the 19th century this duty was undertaken at the … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, commerce, customs and tradiitons, Living in the UK | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Ceremony of Quit Rents

Posted on May 11, 2017 by

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 , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Life Below Stairs: English Servants Emigrating to Australia, the U. S., and Canada

Posted on April 7, 2017 by

Young girls who set out for Australia to earn a living as a domestic servant, opportunities to marry were not out of the question. In England, seduction ruled, but these young girls entered a different world, where they could consider … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, Living in the UK, real life tales, servant life | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment