Category Archives: Living in the UK

The Great Thunderstorm of Widecombe-in-the-Moor, an Early Incident of Ball Lightning

Posted on July 3, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

The Great Thunderstorm of Widecombe-in-the-Moor in Dartmoor, Kingdom of England, took place on Sunday, 21 October 1638, when the church of St Pancras was apparently struck by ball lightning during a severe thunderstorm. An afternoon service was taking place at … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, gothic and paranormal, Great Britain, Living in the UK, mystery | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Westminster Paving Act: Setting London’s Roads Aright

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

In doing research for a recent release, THE MYSTERIIOUS DEATH OF MR. DARCY, which is set in Dorset, I came across the Purbek marble, a fossiliferous limestone found on the Isle of Purbeck, a peninsula in southeast Dorset, England. That … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Living in the UK, real life tales | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Meet and Greet: Tudor-Based Author Judith Arnopp + an Excerpt from “Intractable Heart”

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

Today, I welcome the fabulous Judith Arnopp, a Tudor-based historical author, and her latest release, Intractable Heart: The Story of Katheryn Parr In 2007 Judith Arnopp graduated from the University of Wales, Lampeter with a BA in English Literature and … Continue reading →

Posted in book excerpts, British history, Great Britain, Industry News/Publishing, interview, Living in the UK, real life tales, Wales, writing | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Regency Happenings: The Year Without Summer

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

The Year Without a Summer (also known as the Poverty Year, Year There Was No Summer, and Eighteen Hundred and Froze to Death) was 1816, in which severe summer climate abnormalities resulted in major food shortages. Much of the cause … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, mystery, Napoleonic Wars, real life tales, Regency era | Tagged | 1 Comment

William Henry Fox Talbot, British Inventor and Photography Pioneer

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

William Henry Fox Talbot (11 February 1800 – 17 September 1877) was a British inventor and photography pioneer who invented the calotype process, a precursor to photographic processes of the 19th and 20th centuries. Talbot was also a noted photographer … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Living in the UK, real life tales, Victorian era | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

If the Shoe Fits… a Guest Post from Best-Selling Author, Lucinda Brant

Posted on May 6, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

Today I welcome LUCINDA BRANT, a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Georgian historical romances and mysteries. Her novels have been described as from ‘the Golden Age of romance with a modern voice’ and ‘heart wrenching drama with … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, fashion, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Living in the UK, royalty | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

British Thoroughbred Racing History

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

With the onset of the Triple Crown in America, I thought we might take a look at the British thoroughbred racing history. I have used “horses” and “racing” several times as part of story lines, most recently in the novellas … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Living in the UK, real life tales | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

UK Real Estate: Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire, Backdrop for Harry Potter, Pride and Prejudice, and Robin of Sherwood

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

Lacock Abbey in the village of Lacock, Wiltshire, England, was founded in the early 13th century by Ela, Countess of Salisbury, as a nunnery of the Augustinian order. History Lacock Abbey, dedicated to St Mary and St Bernard, was founded … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, Living in the UK, religion | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

During the Reign of George IV: The Metropolitan Police Act of 1829

Posted on April 25, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

In my current WIP (Work in Progress), I have spent countless hours in studying the working of the law in 1816 London. The difficulty is there was no Metropolitan Police Force to handle the investigations. The fragmented dealings have created … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, George IV, Great Britain, Living in the UK, political stance | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Victorian Astronomer, Francis Baily

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Regina Jeffers

Francis Baily (28 April 1774 – 30 August 1844) was an English astronomer, most famous for his observations of ‘Baily’s beads’ during an eclipse of the Sun. Life Baily was born at Newbury in Berkshire in 1774 to Richard Baily. … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Living in the UK, real life tales, science, Victorian era | Tagged , , | 2 Comments