Tag Archives: British history

Life Below Stairs: Servants as a Status Symbol

A trend we incur during the Victorian era was the obsession to have more servants than one’s neighbors or comparable members of one’s social circles. It was “Keeping up with the Joneses” with servants, rather than with expansive homes and … Continue reading

Posted in British history, family, fashion, Georgian Era, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, servant life, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Princess Helena Augustus Victoria of the United Kingdom

Queen Victoria gave birth to her third daughter, and fifth child, Princess Helena Augusta Victoria on 25, May 1846, one day after the queen’s twenty-seventh birthday. Named in honor of Princess Hélène of Orléans, Helena’s godmother. (Princess Hélène of Orléans was … Continue reading

Posted in British history, family, Great Britain, history, marriage, royalty, Victorian era | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Who Were The “Ton” and the “Beau Monde”?

Le bon ton is a French phrase meaning “the good style” or “good form.” One could be said to have good ton–meaning good style. So one could be part of the Ton, if one had the style for it–which is why … Continue reading

Posted in British history, customs and tradiitons, George IV, Georgian, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, political stance, Victorian era, William IV | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Has Lady Violet Crawley, Countess of Grantham, Made Being a “Dowager” Popular Again?

Of late, I am once again dealing with the term “dowager” in one of my works in progress (WIP). The Earl of Remmington’s mother resides at one of his smaller estates. As she is the widow of the late earl, … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Regency era | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

History of the Age of Chaucer and Life in England (1350 -1500): An Overview

Chivalry of the earlier Anglo-Norman period soon fell into disfavor, and the age of Chaucer was the earmark of society’s evolution from medievalism to modernism. During this period, we find religious heretics, Wycliffe, and the Lollards. The emphasis changed to … Continue reading

Posted in Anglo-Normans, British history, Chaucer, Edward III, Great Britain | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Celebrating the Feast of St Lewina

Mysterious Britain and Ireland explains the source of the St Lewina celebration as, “St Lewina was a young British virgin who was martyred by Saxons on 24 July 687 A.D. (whilst Theodore was 7th Archbishop of Canterbury). Following her death … Continue reading

Posted in Anglo-Saxons, British history, Great Britain, real life tales | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Georgian Celebrity: Captain James Cook, Part 2: Cook’s Voyages

This post continues the one from yesterday, which introduced Captain James Cook. Voyages of Exploration First Voyage (1768–71)                 In 1766 the Royal Society engaged Cook to travel to the Pacific Ocean to … Continue reading

Posted in British history, British Navy, exploration, Great Britain, real life tales, Seven Years War | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

John Ketch, Infamous Executioner

An infamous English executioner employed by King Charles II, John Ketch was an Irish immigrant who became famous through the way he performed his duties during the tumultuous 1680s. He was mentioned in the broadsheets of the time. Appointed in … Continue reading

Posted in British history, Great Britain, history, legends and myths, Living in the UK, political stance, real life tales | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on John Ketch, Infamous Executioner

British Thoroughbred Racing History

With the onset of the Triple Crown in America, I thought we might take a look at the British thoroughbred racing history. I have used “horses” and “racing” several times as part of story lines, most recently in the novellas … Continue reading

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Victorian Happenings: The Slavery Abolition Act 1833

The Slavery Abolition Act 1833 (citation 3 & 4 Will. IV c. 73) was an 1833 Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom abolishing slavery throughout the British Empire (with the exceptions “of the Territories in the Possession of … Continue reading

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