Category Archives: Victorian era

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

Life Below Stairs: Compensation Beyond Salary for Work Done

Posted on August 26, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Despite the sometimes less than desirable conditions under which many of those below stairs endured in service, there were other compensations. Servants learned their deference. They were “invisible,” while remaining upon display throughout most of their work days. As such, … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, Georgian Era, history, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, servant life, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Life Below Stairs: Life as a Maid-of-all Work in Victorian England

Posted on August 21, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Maids-of-all-Work were the “general,” rather than the exception in Victorian England. Women employed in these positions were expected to be a combination of housemaid, nurse, parlourmaid, and even cook if something happened to incapacitate the cook. They were expected to … Continue reading →

Posted in Great Britain, servant life, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments

Life Below Stairs – The Footman

Posted on August 19, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

There are tales of footmen who experienced criticism and mild taunts when they went about their master’s business. Even so, the footman became a sort of symbol of the division in society. Reports abound of street urchins throwing mud on … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, estates, fashion, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, servant life, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Sterilization of a Wound During the Regency Era + PreOrder of “The Colonel’s Ungovernable Governess” + a Giveaway

Posted on May 1, 2024 by Regina Jeffers

Although I am aware that people of the Regency did not know much about the need for sterilization of a wound, I still often write Darcy, who I consider to be an intelligent and forward-looking man, as seeing a need … Continue reading →

Posted in book release, books, eBooks, Georgian England, Georgian Era, giveaway, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, medicine, Pride and Prejudice, publishing, reading, Regency era, Regency romance, research, Vagary, Victorian era, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

A Bit on Copperplate Handwriting . . .

Posted on September 18, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Reader’s Question: Could someone tell if the person was right-handed or left-handed by the slant of their letters on a page? First, let’s speak to what was known as Copperplate Handwriting, what we now call “calligraphy.” Copperplate script is the … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, books, British history, England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, reading, Regency era, research, terminology, Victorian era, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What is a “Letters Patent” and Why Is the Term Always Plural?

Posted on September 13, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Letters patent is defined as a “type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, president or other head of state, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title or status to a person or corporation. Letters patent can be used … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, American History, aristocracy, British history, commerce, England, George IV, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, kings and queens, laws of the land, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, peerage, real life tales, Regency era, Regency personalities, research, terminology, Victorian era, word play, world history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What is a “Letters Patent” and Why Is the Term Always Plural?

How Was It to Shop in Market Towns and Villages of Early 1800s England?

Posted on June 12, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Obviously, there would not be street vendors, but rather peddlers, who would travel from village to village, selling their ware. “A peddler, in British English pedlar, also known as a canvasser, cheapjack, monger, higler or solicitor (with negative connotations since the … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, Uncategorized, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Caroline Norton, a True Case of a Competency Hearing

Posted on March 31, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Caroline Norton, born Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Sheridan, on 22 March 1808, in London (died 15 June 1877, London), was an English poet and novelist whose matrimonial difficulties prompted successful efforts to secure legal protection for married women. Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, family, Georgian England, Georgian Era, history, Living in the UK, marriage, political stance, real life tales, research, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Caroline Norton, a True Case of a Competency Hearing