Tag Archives: British history

Gentlemen’s Clubs, a Guest Post from Brenda J. Webb

This post appeared on Austen Authors in October 2015. However, I thought it worthy of a second look, especially for those of you who devour everything to do with the Regency Era.  Mention White’s, Boodle’s or Brooks’s in a story … Continue reading

Posted in architecture, British history, buildings and structures, Georgian England, Guest Post, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Infamous War of Jenkins’s Ear? Never Heard of It?

Have you ever heard of the War of Jenkins’s Ear? If not, you are not alone.  This particular war took place in colonial Georgia. It involved both Spain and England in a dispute over the land between South Carolina and … Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, American History, British history, British Navy, war | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Hanging a Monkey as a French Spy During the Napoleonic Wars

What do you know of the Hartlepool Monkey and the “Monkey Hangers”? I certainly knew nothing of the tale until I stumbled across it. Legend says that a shipwrecked monkey was hanged as a French spy during the Napoleonic Wars … Continue reading

Posted in ballads, British history, Georgian England, history, legends, Living in the Regency, Napoleonic Wars | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Oxfordshire St. George Play

Closely related to the Morris and Sword Dancers, the Oxfordshire St. George Play is considered a kind of Mummers Play. As well as possessing close elements of kinship, the characters in all these plays are largely interchangeable. That being said, … Continue reading

Posted in British history, drama, literature, medieval | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Princess Louise’s Early Years of Marriage

Last month, we looked at Princess Louise’s choosing to become the future Duchess of Argyll. View that post HERE. Today, we will take at look at the marriage itself.  Just because Princess Louise had finally emerged from the shadow cast … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Church of England, customs and tradiitons, family, history, marriage, royalty, Scotland, titles of aristocracy, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Roots of Primogeniture and Entailments

The concept of “love and romance” were never required in marriage among the English aristocracy. Certainly there were some who did marry for love, but early on, the idea of marriage became a “business transaction,” instead of a romantic joining … Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, estates, Living in the UK, political stance, primogenture, titles of aristocracy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What You Do Not Know About July 4

On 2 July 2014, The Washington Post shared a different perspective on July 4, rather than the tale of two countries finding their separate paths. So today, while I am off enjoying a family cookout (something a vegetarian avoids at … Continue reading

Posted in American History, Austen Authors, British Navy, Canterbury tales, Declaration of Independence, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on What You Do Not Know About July 4

Sir Walter Scott, the Historical Romance, and the Creation of a National Identity – Part II

Recently, we had our first look at how Sir Walter Scott perfected the “formula” for historical romance while creating a national identity. [June 8, Part I]  Sir Walter Scott’s fiction quite often uses the plot devices of inheritance and lineage. … Continue reading

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The Royal Exchange

The Royal Exchange, a trapezoid-shaped structure, was opened by Queen Elizabeth I in 1571. Cornhill and Threadneedle Streets flank the exchange. The original building was destroyed by the Great Fire in 1666. It was rebuilt in 1669 and again destroyed … Continue reading

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People with Disabilities in Jane Austen’s England, a Guest Post by Elaine Owen

York Vs York: Changing Attitudes in Regency England In April, Elaine Owen shared this piece on Austen Authors. I thought it worthy of a second look.  Jane Austen did not write about disabled people in any of her books, but … Continue reading

Posted in Austen Authors, British history, medicine, real life tales, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments