Category Archives: Living in the UK

Drinking Champagne in the Regency Era (or NOT)

Posted on December 30, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

The drink, Champagne, received it name from the French region of Champagne and has been produced locally in France since the Gallo-Roman era. “Champenoise” vintners produced a pale, pink wine from Pinot Noir grapes. However, it was not always an … Continue reading →

Posted in aristocracy, British history, food and drink, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, historical fiction, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, publishing, Regency era, research | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Drinking Champagne in the Regency Era (or NOT)

Celebrating Holidays During the Regency Era

Posted on December 6, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Often, I am asked what might people of the Regency Era celebrate during the year. Now, these are some of the ones I know, though I cannot speak to the types of celebrations for all. Many were related to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, England, family, George IV, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, holidays, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, Pride and Prejudice, real life tales, Regency era, research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Do’s and Don’t’s of Writing of a Peer’s Time in the Houses of Parliament

Posted on November 6, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

When writing British Regencies and other historicals set in the 1700s and 1800s, one must know something of inheritance laws, as well as how Parliament operated during those times. Below, you will find a mishmash of facts I have learned, … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, aristocracy, British history, buildings and structures, England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, peerage, Regency era, research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Do’s and Don’t’s of Writing of a Peer’s Time in the Houses of Parliament

Life Below Stairs – The ‘Pugs’ Procession of Precedence

Posted on September 30, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

A sense of status above stairs was to be expected among the aristocracy, but it was no less observed below stairs. For example, the lower servants often spoke poorly of the “Pug’s” Procession, which happened after the first course of … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, estates, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, Regency era, servant life, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Life Below Stairs ~ Housing the Servants

Posted on September 27, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

It was not uncommon for an English aristocrat or a wealthy man of the gentry to own several properties: country estates and a London house in a fashionable area of London. In doing so, the owner employed a variety of … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, Georgian, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, real life tales, Regency era, Victorian era, William IV | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Life Below Stairs: Rising with the Sun in Victorian England ~ Part I

Posted on September 23, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Servants needed to be up and about their business long before the Master and the Mistress. For example, lower servants were up at 5 A.M. and at work minutes later. Most did not waste time in their rooms for they … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, history, Living in the UK, servant life, Victorian era | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Life Below Stairs – Snobbery and Rules of Engagement

Posted on September 20, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Previously, we looked at what a servant in an upper house, or even in a second-class household, of the late Regency Period or early Victorian times, might encounter. We spoke of wages, delineation of duties, and additional compensation. Today, we … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, food and drink, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Living in the UK, real life tales, Regency era, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Life Below Stairs – The Valet

Posted on September 13, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Footmen as we learned the last time often thought to join the upper servants in the role of valet or butler. (We saw the character of Thomas Barrow work in all three positions in Downton Abbey.) Today we have a … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, Regency era, servant life, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Life Below Stairs: Non-Existent Legal Redress

Posted on August 30, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Was there legal redress for the servants of Victorian households?  Although there was genuine concern for the conditions in which many of the servants operated, most claimed it was impossible to make laws to protect domestic servants. Those that were … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Living in the UK, servant life, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Life Below Stairs – The Expense of Keeping Servants

Posted on August 28, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

The landed aristocrats were VERY slow to give up the expenses of an extensive household staff. We saw that “plot” being used in the final season of Downton Abbey. It is said that the sixth Duke of Portland employed some … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, Napoleonic Wars, Regency era, servant life, Uncategorized, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment