Tag Archives: British history

Overview of the Elizabethan and Restoration Eras

This piece is not meant to be a deep look into the history of the Elizabethan and Restoration eras, but rather an overview of the periods to explain future pieces on the literature of the times. This is a continuation of … Continue reading

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Did Richard II “Invent” the Handkerchief?

Okay, I will admit up front the history of Richard II’s reign is NOT my area of expertise, and so I do NOT mean this piece as a “history” lesson. Rather it is meant to be an interesting historical “tidbit.” … Continue reading

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Princess Helena Escape Queen Victoria’s “Heavy Thumb”

 Princess Helena (Helena Augusta Victoria; Princess Christian of Schleswig-Holstein by marriage; 25 May 1846 – 9 June 1923) was the third daughter and fifth child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Like the queen’s other children, Helena was educated by private … Continue reading

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Pre-Elizabethan Drama: The Interlude

 Pre-Elizabethan drama moved from miracle plays to morality plays to folk plays to interludes. Interludes were the last to develop. Initially, “interludes” were closed identified with morality plays, especially in subject matter.  Precursors to Elizabethan Drama summarizes the development from … Continue reading

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Court of Star Chamber During Henry VII’s Reign

Court of Star Chamber is, in English law, the court made up of judges and privy councillors that grew from the medieval king’s council as a supplement to the regular justice of the common-law courts. The room was so named for stars were … Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, Church of England, history, kings and queens, religion, royalty, Tudor | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Reginald Christie, 10 Rilling Place Serial Killer

 John Reginald Halliday Christie, known to his family and friends as Reg Christie, was an English serial killer active during the 1940s and early 1950s and is the subject a new film based upon his life of crime. Personally, the … Continue reading

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Pre-Elizabethan Drama: Folk Plays

Folk drama is a remote form of oral literature. The early forms included dancers wearing masks portraying animal and human characters. Eventually, speeches and songs were added. The action and the dramatic imitation became the prominent part of these early … Continue reading

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Queen Victoria’s Grief at Losing Her Beloved Albert

On December 14, 1861, Prince Albert succumbed to what was believed to be typhoid fever, although a recent book Magnificent Obsession by historian Helen Rappenport suggest the prince suffered from Crohn’s disease. (The Daily Mail). Queen Victoria’s grief over the loss … Continue reading

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, history, kings and queens, Living in the UK, marriage, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Drambuie: Scotland’s First Commercially Produced Liqueur

To fully appreciate how Scotland claimed drambuie as its own, one must possess a general knowledge of what is known in Scottish/English history as the Rebellion of ’45. James II of England and Ireland (James VII of Scotland) converted to … Continue reading

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, commerce, Georgian Era, kings and queens, legends and myths, real life tales, Scotland | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Life Below Stairs: Increase in the White-Slave Traffic

Back in March, I spoke of the Fallen Female Servant, those young (often innocent) girls who were seduced or conquered by their masters. Today, I wish to speak of what the future held if the mistress of the house drove … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, servant life, Victorian era, William IV | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments