Tag Archives: history

Celebrating the Release of “Regency Summer Scandals” Anthology + a Giveaway

Posted on June 28, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

In my latest tale, Loving Lord Lindmore, my heroine has some hoydenish tendencies, for the stories in the A Regency Summer Scandal Anthology, are all about scandals and who commits them. Lady Cora has been taught to use a knife … Continue reading →

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Portland Place, London’s Widest Street and the Adam Brothers’ Legacy

Posted on June 9, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Portland Place was designed by Robert and James Adam in 1767. Originally, Robert Adam had thought to make this area a veritable street of palaces. Unfortunately for Adam, all attempts to do so failed, and rows of townhouses, though spacious and more than a bit intimidating at times, was settled upon. A “close” of great houses it has been called. The width of the thoroughfare/street was determined by the 3rd Duke of Portland’s obligations to his tenant, Lord Thomas Foley, whose northward view from Foley House could not be interfered with: Therefore, the width of Portland Place is the width of Foley House. At around 125 feet wide, the street is commonly referred to as the widest street in London. The agreement was signed in January 1767 and confirmed by an Act of Parliament in April of that year. James Adam negotiated the understanding for the development, which, initially, only covered the southern half of Portland Place, as well as the streets leading off it to either side, going as far north as Weymouth Street. The agreement for the northern half was negotiated in April 1776. Continue reading →

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Architectural Genius: Robert Adam vs. Sir William Chambers

Posted on June 7, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Adelphi is a district in the City of Westminster. The Adelphi Buildings, a block of 24 unified neoclassical terrace houses, between The Strand and the River Thames in the parish of St Martin in the Fields, was named “Adelphi,” for it the Greek word meaning “brothers.” The Adam brothers (John, Robert, James, and William Adam) were the masterminds of this development in the late 1700s. They were built between 1768 and 1772. The ruins of Durham House on the site were demolished for the construction.

The Adelphi forms one of the most notable works of the brothers Adam. The design of the buildings was, for the most part, the work of Robert Adam, though his brothers, James and William, were also concerned with the scheme. Continue reading →

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The Privilege of Peerage in Avoiding Punishment

Posted on May 31, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Not all crimes allowed a use of privilege, which was close to the Benefit of clergy that everyone else could use without the farce of the neck verse. The woman’s father or guardian would generally have to bring the suit–unless she was of age. The charge would be abduction. Continue reading →

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Rotten Row: How This Fashionable Place Earned Such an Unusual Name?

Posted on May 12, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

During the Regency Era one of the places to see and be seen was a broad stretch of track running along the south side of Hyde Park in London. It was known as Rotten Row, not a very enticing name … Continue reading →

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The Post Office Annual Directory of 1814, Great Resource Find

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Earlier in March, my sweet granddaughter (the youngest, who is barely age 6) decided she wanted to mail me a picture she had colored. First, please understand, we live a little over 6 miles apart. Anyway, without the knowledge of … Continue reading →

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A Young Lady’s “Come Out” in Regency Society

Posted on February 27, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

Recently, I received this question from an author/reader: Can you tell me if a young lady could have her debut ball at age 17 or 18, instead of the age 16 we customary read in Regency romance? Would a death … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, family, Georgian England, Georgian Era, heroines, historical fiction, history, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, marriage, marriage customs, Pride and Prejudice, reading, Regency era, Regency romance, research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on A Young Lady’s “Come Out” in Regency Society

Color My World With . . .

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

I received another question recently from a follower of this blog regarding the use of color in the Regency era. The question dealt with the idea of young women in the Regency making their society debuts in white gowns and … Continue reading →

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The Cotton or Cottonian Library

Posted on January 6, 2023 by Regina Jeffers

A bust of Robert Cotton by Louis-François Roubiliac ~ Public Domain ~ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Robert_Cotton,_1st_Baronet,_of_Connington#/media/File:Robert_Bruce_Cotton_bust_BM_1924_0412_1.jpg Keeping with Wednesday’s post on Circulating Libraries, I thought I might mention a library some, especially in the U.S. have not considered. The Cotton Library was founded by … Continue reading →

Posted in Age of Chaucer, architecture, books, British history, Chaucer, Church of England, England, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, literature, medieval, publishing, real life tales, Regency era, religion, research, war | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Cotton or Cottonian Library

An Old-Fashioned Holiday Season. Perhaps Not! Be Careful for What You Wish!

Posted on December 2, 2022 by Regina Jeffers

Have we lost the meaning of the holidays? As many of us have already run through our budget for gifts, others are wondering how we lost the true meaning of the Christmas season. Christians bemoaned the lost of the story … Continue reading →

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