Category Archives: real life tales

“First Footing” It Into the New Year

Posted on December 31, 2018 by

I come very proud Scots, and, in my family, New Year’s (or Hogmanay as it was once called) played a popular part of my childhood. Although I admit to overspending at Christmas, something psychological as being raised poor, I am … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, British history, Christmas, Church of England, Great Britain, history, Living in the UK, medieval, real life tales, religion, research, Scotland, tradtions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Consecration of Westminster Abbey, 28 December 1065

Posted on December 28, 2018 by

The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster is a large Gothic abbey church in the City of Westminster, London, England, situated to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It was a Benedictine monastic church until the monastery was … Continue reading →

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, architecture, British history, buildings and structures, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, Great Britain, history, legends and myths, Living in the UK, medieval, real life tales, religion, tradtions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Have You Ever Heard of a “Bachelor Tax”?

Posted on December 10, 2018 by

In British history, in 1695, the English parliament passed The Marriage Duty Act or Registration Tax, which imposed a tax on births, marriages, burials, childless widowers, and bachelors over the age of 25. It was primarily used as a revenue … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, business, history, Living in the UK, marriage, real life tales, war, world history | Tagged , , , , , , ,

Albert Young’s Threat Toward and Arthur O’Connor’s Attempt to Kill Queen Victoria

Posted on November 30, 2018 by

It was twenty-two years after Robert Pate’s ill-fated attempt to kill Queen Victoria before another attempt was made against her. According to Raymond Lamont-Brown in How Fat Was Henry VIII (The History Press, 2009, page 149) Albert Young’s threat against … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, England, Great Britain, history, real life tales, research, royalty, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Anna Larpent, 18th Century Diarist and Lover of Plays

Posted on November 28, 2018 by

An 18th Century diarist, Anna Larpent’s diary gives a look into Georgian life. She was the daughter of a diplomat. She served as the de facto assistant Examiner of Plays during her time. At age 18, Larpent pulished a 32-page … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, drama, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Jane Austen, playwrights, reading habits, real life tales, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Robert Pate Strikes Queen Victoria with His Cane, but Does Not Kill Her

Posted on November 23, 2018 by

A little over two years passed after William Hamilton’s attempt to assassinate Queen Victoria on 19 June 1849, before Robert Pate made his attempt on 27 June 1850. Born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, on Christmas Day 1819, Pate came from a … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, real life tales, research, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , ,

William Strickland, the Man Who Introduced Turkeys to England

Posted on November 21, 2018 by

Tomorrow in the U.S., we will be all about the turkey and fixings and football and preparing for Black Friday sales, but in the U.K., turkeys are a more traditional dish for Christmas. Why might you ask? We can blame … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, Christmas, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, England, history, holidays, kings and queens, legends, Living in the UK, real life tales, religion, Thanksgiving | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments