We had a great time in Australia. Lots to share. Posts will begin on a regular basis on Thursday.
Holiday Traditions
On Pancake Day,
Pancake day in England is Shrove Tuesday. Was it celebrated in the Regency? Well...
Pancake races have been held in villages and towns across the United Kingdom for centuries. In 1634 William Fennor wrote in his Palinodia:
"And tosse their Pancakes up for feare they burne."
But the tradition of pancake racing had started long before that. The most famous pancake race, at Olney in Buckinghamshire, has been held since 1445. The contestants, traditionally women, carry a frying pan and race to the finishing line tossing the pancakes as they go. As the pancakes are thin, skill is required to toss them successfully while running. The winner is the first to cross the line having tossed the pancake a certain number of times.
The recipe is very similar to that for a crepe. It must be tossed to brown the other side in the pan, not turned, my dear, resulting in many sticky messes on the floor and the ceiling. It is then tipped onto a place, fresh lemon juice squeezed over it and sprinkled with sugar. it is then rolled up. And as fast as you can cook them, they will eat them. Guaranteed. Believe me I speak from experience.
The tradition is said to have originated when a housewife from Olney was so busy making pancakes, that she forgot the time until she heard the church bells ringing for the service. She raced out of the house to church while still carrying her frying pan and pancake.
Many towns throughout England also held traditional Shrove Tuesday football ('Mob football') games dating as far back as the 12th century. The practice mostly died out with the passing of the Highway Act 1835, which banned the playing of football on public highways. A number of towns have managed to maintain the tradition to the present day including Alnwick in Northumberland, Ashbourne in Derbyshire (called the Royal Shrovetide Football Match), Atherstone (called the Ball Game) in Warwickshire, Sedgefield (called the Ball Game) in County Durham, and St Columb Major (called Hurling the Silver Ball) in Cornwall.
So dear friends, one can certainly assume that Pancake Day was celebrated in the Regency.
Until next time Happy Rambles
Pancake day in England is Shrove Tuesday. Was it celebrated in the Regency? Well...
Pancake races have been held in villages and towns across the United Kingdom for centuries. In 1634 William Fennor wrote in his Palinodia:"And tosse their Pancakes up for feare they burne."
But the tradition of pancake racing had started long before that. The most famous pancake race, at Olney in Buckinghamshire, has been held since 1445. The contestants, traditionally women, carry a frying pan and race to the finishing line tossing the pancakes as they go. As the pancakes are thin, skill is required to toss them successfully while running. The winner is the first to cross the line having tossed the pancake a certain number of times.
The recipe is very similar to that for a crepe. It must be tossed to brown the other side in the pan, not turned, my dear, resulting in many sticky messes on the floor and the ceiling. It is then tipped onto a place, fresh lemon juice squeezed over it and sprinkled with sugar. it is then rolled up. And as fast as you can cook them, they will eat them. Guaranteed. Believe me I speak from experience.
The tradition is said to have originated when a housewife from Olney was so busy making pancakes, that she forgot the time until she heard the church bells ringing for the service. She raced out of the house to church while still carrying her frying pan and pancake.Many towns throughout England also held traditional Shrove Tuesday football ('Mob football') games dating as far back as the 12th century. The practice mostly died out with the passing of the Highway Act 1835, which banned the playing of football on public highways. A number of towns have managed to maintain the tradition to the present day including Alnwick in Northumberland, Ashbourne in Derbyshire (called the Royal Shrovetide Football Match), Atherstone (called the Ball Game) in Warwickshire, Sedgefield (called the Ball Game) in County Durham, and St Columb Major (called Hurling the Silver Ball) in Cornwall.
So dear friends, one can certainly assume that Pancake Day was celebrated in the Regency.
Until next time Happy Rambles
The London of the Ton - Part III
By Ann Lethbridge
A House in Town.
Townhouse were the elegant residences of Regency London and I think you will agree that this one, in Tavistock Square from 1809 pictured here epitomizes it all.
While the columns and other design features, give us a sense of a large home, if you look at the front doors and the areas (those little courtyards with windows below pavement level leading to the kitchens and servants quarters, you can see that each of the town houses in this row are two windows wide.
As always for house of this era, the ground, and the first floor were the public room, and hence the large windows, while the second floor and above would have been private chambers.
Don't forget, ground floor is always counted as floor one.
Above those, in the roof, behind the decorative railing it is likely there were attic rooms for servants.
This is a plan of the inside of a town house, ground and first floors only. This one was on Charles Street in 1820 and has a carriage house attached.
For comparison, here is an image of Buckingham House in the same year, 1809, before it became Buckingham Palace.
By now we will have arrived in Sydney. I wonder what it will be like?
Until next time, Happy Rambles
A House in Town.Townhouse were the elegant residences of Regency London and I think you will agree that this one, in Tavistock Square from 1809 pictured here epitomizes it all.
While the columns and other design features, give us a sense of a large home, if you look at the front doors and the areas (those little courtyards with windows below pavement level leading to the kitchens and servants quarters, you can see that each of the town houses in this row are two windows wide.
As always for house of this era, the ground, and the first floor were the public room, and hence the large windows, while the second floor and above would have been private chambers.
Don't forget, ground floor is always counted as floor one.
Above those, in the roof, behind the decorative railing it is likely there were attic rooms for servants.
This is a plan of the inside of a town house, ground and first floors only. This one was on Charles Street in 1820 and has a carriage house attached.
For comparison, here is an image of Buckingham House in the same year, 1809, before it became Buckingham Palace.
By now we will have arrived in Sydney. I wonder what it will be like?
Until next time, Happy Rambles
Folklore - Valentines' Day
By Michele Ann Young
Despite our association with this as a Victorian Celebration the day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished (and possibly before that).
Despite the holiday's mysterious and puzzling roots, it is obvious that people have observed St. Valentine’s Day for centuries. The famed London diarist Samuel Pepys mentioned observances of the day in the mid-1600s, complete with elaborate gift giving among the wealthier members of society.
It seems that the writing of special notes and letters for Valentine’s Day gained widespread popularity in the 1700s. At that time the romantic missives would have been handwritten, on ordinary writing paper.
Papers made especially for Valentine greetings did not appear until the 1820s.
Despite our association with this as a Victorian Celebration the day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished (and possibly before that). Despite the holiday's mysterious and puzzling roots, it is obvious that people have observed St. Valentine’s Day for centuries. The famed London diarist Samuel Pepys mentioned observances of the day in the mid-1600s, complete with elaborate gift giving among the wealthier members of society.
It seems that the writing of special notes and letters for Valentine’s Day gained widespread popularity in the 1700s. At that time the romantic missives would have been handwritten, on ordinary writing paper.
Papers made especially for Valentine greetings did not appear until the 1820s.
Flora and Fauna of Regency Britain - February
By Ann Lethbridge
A wee bit of news first my darlings:
Michele and I will be in Australia for the next three weeks. If we can post something interesting from there we will. But don't hold your breath. No turning blue and stamping your feet either. We will be back in time for March fashion.
I got a lovely review for my Undone, The Rake's Intimate Encounter. It's not too late to take a peek, by the way.
If readers are looking for a sexy short story to read on their lunch break, or before bed, this one does the trick! And for the record, it's hot, sexy and sensual enough to steam up your reading glasses. ~ Wendy, The Good the Bad and The Unread.
And a Lemonade Award for this blog from Lynn Reynolds. How about that!Now for our Regular Feature.
Michele's last post on February dealt with the weather, fluctuating temperatures, and with some of the fauna. Our naturist also has this to say.
The thermometer is often down below the freezing point, but is generally found at noon between 36 and 46 degrees; towards the end of the month it sometimes rises to 50 degrees or even 52 or 54 degrees. The severe weather, generally breaks up with a sudden thaw, accompanied by wind and rain; torrents of water pour from the hills, and the snow is completely dissolved. Rivers swell and inundate the surrounding country, often carrying away bridges, cattle, mills, gates &c., and causing great injury to the farmer. But so variable is the weather in this month, that frequently ‘frost again usurps the year.
Given the snow they had in England these past few days, I am sure they will welcome a bit of rain.
It is the beginning of Spring and the yellow hammer is heard. Country people used to call their song 'a-little-bit-of-bread-and-no-cheese' which requires more than a little imagination to make the words fit the song. The bird, by the way, sometimes omits the final 'cheese. I certainly recall my mother quoting those words when she heard them. Pretty aren't they.
Another bird who starts to sing in February is the chaffinch. Cowper in 1793 wrote a lovely poem about a pair who built a nest in the mast of a ship when it was in dock and then followed it around, bringing up their babies. here is a small part of it.
IN Scotland's realm, where trees are few,
Nor even shrubs abound ;
But where, however bleak the view,
Some better things are found !
For husband there and wife may boast
Their union undefiled,
And false ones are as rare almost,
As hedge-rows in the wild.
In Scotland's realm forlorn and bare,
The history chanced of late
This history of a wedded pair,
A chaffinch and his mate.
The spring drew near, each felt a breast
With genial instinct fill'd :
They paired and would have built a nest,
But found not where to build.
The heaths uncovered and the moors,
Except with snow and sleet,
Sea-beaten rocks and naked shores
Could yield them no retreat.
Long time a breeding-place they sought,
Till both grew vex'd and tired ;
At length a ship arriving, brought
The good so long desired.
A ship! could such a restless thing
Afford them place of rest ?
Or was the merchant charged to bring
The homeless birds a nest ?
Hush ! silent hearers profit most
This racer of the sea
Proved kinder to them than the coast,
It served them with a tree.
I thought this was too lovely to pass up. Until next time Happy Rambles.
Regency Fashion - February
Here we are in February, already, and it is time for our fashion feature. This plate is from the Cabinet of Fashion for February 1808
The first gown is described as -A straw coloured dress of sarsnet, with alternate stripes of lace; head-dress to correspond, with white ostrich feathers. Kid gloves.
I like "straw-coloured" rather than yellow, and the lacy stripes are certainly slimming. It is a simple gown, but very effective. Although it seems to me it would look best on a very slender lady.
The second gown is accorded the following description: -Hair fashionably dressed; pink crape dress, ornamented with white crape. White kid shoes.
Why the emphasis on the hair I am not sure. It seems to show the hair in a sort of roll or braid around the back of the head. And of course we can't see the front. The dress itself is accorded very little information. You can just see the little reticule the model is carrying.
Our third and last plate makes a nod to the weather: -Round cambric dress; bloom coloured mantle, trimmed with swansdown, but the same colour.
The length of the dress leads me to believe this is a walking gown. I think she should have had sturdier shoes, don't you? Swansdown always sounds soft and cuddly and light. Very appropriate for the winter. I understand that London is buried under snow today, so I am sure a bit of swansdown wouldn't go amiss. The wrap mantle is like a cloak, no sleeves. Not keen on the hat. Actually, this is not one of my favorite outfits at all, but it does look warm.
Well that's all for today. Until next time, Happy Rambles.
Games in the Regency ~ Cards Part 1
By Ann Lethbridge
Fun and games anyone? Without TV our Regency ancestors spent more time in activities that involved -- other people. I thought it might be good to look at pastimes in a little more detail. We did look at those specific to women, but I thought we might look at those which one might find at a party.
Card Games
There were lots of them. The best place to find out about the rules, if you want to play a la Regency, (hows that for a bit of French late on a Thursday night) is to look at Hoyles, on Google. This link is for one for 1823, there are probably others. In 1750, the first compendium of various games was published, as Mr. Hoyle's Games Complete.
Here are some of the more familiar card games we see in books:
I thought we could work through them from time to time. . lol
Whist
This is a whist marker from 1820. A way of keeping score. Each marker would have a number from 0 to 9 because in those days whist was played to 9 or 10 points, known as long whist.
This is a game played with partners and with trumps. It is similar to bridge but less complex. It does require keeping track of what cards have been played. The cards your partner plays will often reveal their cards in relation to yours.
There is some interesting terminology that goes along with a game.
Whist: According to Hoyle it is called this because you need to be quiet when you are playing.
Revoke: This means one of the players did not follow suit when he had a card of that suit in his hand. His partner is actually allowed to ask if he made a mistake, because the penalties are severe.
There are other interesting terms like, Quint, Tierce, Quart and Finessing and more.
Points are scored: one for each trick above six tricks between the partners. Thirteen tricks make a hand, because each player is dealt thirteen cards. However, in order to win the game, you have to make nine points, which would mean dealing more than one hand.
If you are playing a rubber of Whist, then you play the best of three, which means that one partnership must reach nine points twice.
Well I don't know about you, but that is more than enough for me. I am looking forward to looking at another game, next time we Ramble through the Regency.
Fun and games anyone? Without TV our Regency ancestors spent more time in activities that involved -- other people. I thought it might be good to look at pastimes in a little more detail. We did look at those specific to women, but I thought we might look at those which one might find at a party.
Card Games
There were lots of them. The best place to find out about the rules, if you want to play a la Regency, (hows that for a bit of French late on a Thursday night) is to look at Hoyles, on Google. This link is for one for 1823, there are probably others. In 1750, the first compendium of various games was published, as Mr. Hoyle's Games Complete. Here are some of the more familiar card games we see in books:
- Whist
- Ving-et-un
- Piquet
- Cribbage
- Pharo
I thought we could work through them from time to time. . lol
Whist
This is a whist marker from 1820. A way of keeping score. Each marker would have a number from 0 to 9 because in those days whist was played to 9 or 10 points, known as long whist.This is a game played with partners and with trumps. It is similar to bridge but less complex. It does require keeping track of what cards have been played. The cards your partner plays will often reveal their cards in relation to yours.
There is some interesting terminology that goes along with a game.
Whist: According to Hoyle it is called this because you need to be quiet when you are playing.
Revoke: This means one of the players did not follow suit when he had a card of that suit in his hand. His partner is actually allowed to ask if he made a mistake, because the penalties are severe.
There are other interesting terms like, Quint, Tierce, Quart and Finessing and more.
Points are scored: one for each trick above six tricks between the partners. Thirteen tricks make a hand, because each player is dealt thirteen cards. However, in order to win the game, you have to make nine points, which would mean dealing more than one hand.
If you are playing a rubber of Whist, then you play the best of three, which means that one partnership must reach nine points twice.
Well I don't know about you, but that is more than enough for me. I am looking forward to looking at another game, next time we Ramble through the Regency.
Family matters in the Regency
As writers we are always looking for the romantic lost heir or the kindly noble who adopts a child to inherit his title, but rules of inheritance both of titles and entails are quite strict.
Titles pass through the eldest son and if the family is unlucky and begets only daughters, the title will return to the crown, known as going into abeyance. As always there are exception to the rule, you only have to look at the Churchills to find one.
There was no such thing as adoption during the regency. A child could become a ward of court, or of a relative, but only the male of the blood line could inherit a man's title and entailed land. Money and items not deemed part of the entail could be left to anyone of course.
This is true for illegitimate children also. If the mother was not married to the father at the time of the birth, then the child cannot inherit. The obverse was true. No matter who sired the child, if the man was married to the woman at the time of the birth, and if it was a son, then the child would inherit. This is of course why men could be cavalier about their affairs, and their wives were held to a much higher standard of behavior at least until they had their heir and their spare.
There are of course some interesting examples of this latter scenario. Jane Elizabeth Harley, Countess of Oxford, pictured here by Hoppner, provided her husband five children who were mostly half-siblings, and resentfully acknowledged by the scandalous lady's husband. Byron was one of her lovers for a brief time, though there is no indication that he sired any of her children.The case of the Earl of Berkley is also fascinating. On his death, his former mistress who gave him four sons, who later married him and gave him another son, tried to have her older sons made heir by saying she and the earl had entered into a "secret" marriage. The Prince of Wales had the whole affair investigated and in the end it was the youngest son who inherited. A bit sad for the older boys, I think. And rather ironic when you remember Prinny's own secret marriage.
If they had been in Scotland it might have been another story for in that jurisdiction, provided the couple were not previously married to others when the children were born, and subsequently married, the children could be claimed legitimate.
Until next time, Happy Rambles.
Under the Weather
by Michele Ann Young
Today is my day to post, but, I can't think, my brain hurts. Or at least it would if I had a brain. I have one of the worst colds I've had in a long time. So dear readers, ramble by yourselves today, and I will return next week.
Today is my day to post, but, I can't think, my brain hurts. Or at least it would if I had a brain. I have one of the worst colds I've had in a long time. So dear readers, ramble by yourselves today, and I will return next week.
The London of the Ton - Part II
Continuing on with my topic from last time, here are a few more images you might enjoy.
This is a shop on Old Bond Street in 1817. It is the Western Exchange. It reminds me of the departments stores in London when I was a child, with the ladies waiting to serve behind large polished wood counters and the high ceilings and columns. There doesn't appear to be much in the way of goods on display, does there? No glass cases.
There is a great deal of information in this picture, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Sticking with the theme of shopping here is a view of Bond Street in 1823. A tad outside the Regency, but still close enough.
The name over the shop is Royal Sams Library as best as I can make out, but I haven't seen anything to say it is a real name. On the other hand, I do think that the image of the street, the books in the window, the shop owner at the door, is very typical of the time.
The dog interested me. It has that lion cut that is favored for poodles.
The last picture brings us back to the plight of the common man in the street, and the common boy. This is the infamous chimney sweep and his boys. I am sure they were a common and unremarked sight on the streets of London.If you look closely in the right hand corner you will see the tools of the trade of the street sweeper sitting on the cobbles, - a brush, shovel and hemp bag. In London during this period there were more young people trying to earn a living than there were any other age group.
On that happy note, I will wish you happy rambles until next time.
Regency Myth-takes
I thought this might be a fun feature from time to time. We all need a bit of fun in our lives. You may have seen the show mythbusters, where a couple of dudes test out urban myths, well there are lots of myths about the regency.
Fact or myth-take?
Marriage by the ship's captain
I thought we would look at one which comes up on the loops regularly. A young lord and his lady are escaping from their families by ship. They find that the attraction between them is more than they can handle. But our lord is an honourable man, and our lady is very prim and proper, so unless they get married—they are going to be in for a very frustrating few weeks of sailing.
So they ask the captain to marry them. And he does. Or does he?
Romantic as it might sound, captains of ships during the Regency did not have the authority to marry couples on board. Indeed, marriages were performed by ministers only, either by calling the bans, or by special licence or ordinary licence.
An ordinary licence could be issued by any bishop or archbishop which obviated the need for a two week waiting period while the banns were read. The wedding had to take place in a church or chapel.
A special licence was to be had at Doctor's Commons in London from the Archbishop of Canterbury and meant that the couple could marry anywhere. But they still had to be married by a clergyman.
Hope I didn't burst your bubble. Until next time, Happy Rambles.
The London of the Ton - Part II
By Ann Lethbridge.
News!
The Rake's Intimate Encounter at eharlequin.com is selling like hotcakes.It has hit the top ten several times over the past nine days. Can you tell I am thrilled. And while I realize the gown is not exactly right, I do love this cover. Thanks to all of you who have indulged in my first offering for Harlequin.
Now back to earth.
I promised some interesting views of London and dear reader, as always I will keep my promise.
This first picture is acutally a cartoon of the times entitled "Advantages of Oil Over Gas."
I think the title is a bit tongue in cheek because having oil tipped on your head is hardly an advantage. London was very advanced for its time, with its lamps throughout the better neighborhoods in the city. There was nothing even close in Paris at this time. And the new gas lamps were superior to the old oil lanterns. I will share the opposite = picture next time. But what I really like about this one is not just the commentary, reminding us that things were changing, but the scene itself. The flagstone walkway, the wrought iron railings around the town house, the knocker and the steps up to the front door.
There is also the difference in dress between the gentleman, who is very Regency looking in his pantaloons and the breechclad lamplighter. All great scene setters for writers.
Five o'clock was always the fashionable driving hour in Hyde Park, and this picture gives us a rare glimpse of what it was like.Three things occured to me as I looked at this picture. Firstly the dearth of women. I can see one clearly, though I believe there may be others in the back ground. Secondly, how crowded it is. Worse that a shopping mall on Christmas Ever. If they were riding or driving it was definitely going slowly. Lastly, how high those phaetons are. Terrifying. It is amazing to think that these were the sports cars of the day and driven with great skill by these young men.
Well, that is all for today. Hope you enjoyed rambling around London with me.
Flora and Fauna of Regency Britain - January
First I thought you might enjoy an extract from the naturists diary, remembering that during this period, it was gentlemen hobbyists who did most of the research.
The influence of snow on vegetation cannot be better summed up than by saying that, in the first place it protects the plant and its seeds from the violence of frost; in the second it furnishes them with a continual moisture; and in the third, makes a greater number of seeds to germinate. (See The Gentleman’s Magazine Vol. lxxxiv part 2 page 544.)
For January fauna I chose a couple of commonly seen creatures who might easily show up in a book set in this month.
"Come sweetest of the feather d throng
And soothe me with thy plaintive song
Come to my cot devoid of fear
No danger shall await thee here
No prowling cat with whisker d face
Approaches this sequester d place"
Edward Jenner, 1749 to 1823.
He is, as the picture indicates, speaking about the European robin. Or robin redbreast. A childhood favorite of mine.
The bird has become a symbol of Christmas, but this was not the case in the Regency. Our Naturist says January is when the robin begins to sing. Both the male and female sing during the winter, when they hold separate territories, the song then sounding more plaintive than the summer version. The robin song is quite lovely, very liquid, and sometimes mistaken for that of a nightingale.
Also to be seen in the winter is the weasel. The size of a large mouse, it remains brown through the winter months, i.e. does not turn white as it does in nore northern climes.
While its primary diet is rats and mice, it is not above trying to steal hens eggs.
They do not hibernate, and burrow under the snow looking for their prey during the worst weather.
That's all from me.
Until next time, Happy Rambles.
The influence of snow on vegetation cannot be better summed up than by saying that, in the first place it protects the plant and its seeds from the violence of frost; in the second it furnishes them with a continual moisture; and in the third, makes a greater number of seeds to germinate. (See The Gentleman’s Magazine Vol. lxxxiv part 2 page 544.)
For January fauna I chose a couple of commonly seen creatures who might easily show up in a book set in this month.
"Come sweetest of the feather d throng
And soothe me with thy plaintive song
Come to my cot devoid of fear
No danger shall await thee here
No prowling cat with whisker d face
Approaches this sequester d place"
Edward Jenner, 1749 to 1823.
He is, as the picture indicates, speaking about the European robin. Or robin redbreast. A childhood favorite of mine.
The bird has become a symbol of Christmas, but this was not the case in the Regency. Our Naturist says January is when the robin begins to sing. Both the male and female sing during the winter, when they hold separate territories, the song then sounding more plaintive than the summer version. The robin song is quite lovely, very liquid, and sometimes mistaken for that of a nightingale.
Also to be seen in the winter is the weasel. The size of a large mouse, it remains brown through the winter months, i.e. does not turn white as it does in nore northern climes.
While its primary diet is rats and mice, it is not above trying to steal hens eggs.
They do not hibernate, and burrow under the snow looking for their prey during the worst weather.
That's all from me.
Until next time, Happy Rambles.
Regency Fashion January
2009 already? Oh, my word, where did the time go. Please do download Ann's new e-book, The Rake's Intimate Encounter from eharlequin.com. It is very romantic and passionate and a tiny bit naughty.
As promised, we have now have our regular feature, January fashion.
This is one of those four for the price of one plates. The ladies look wonderful.
As you can see we are showing walking, morning and evening gowns. The plate is from 1804 The Lady's Monthly Museum.
First Walking gown:
A light blue Beaver Military Helmeted hat, covered with Light Blue Netting, ornamented with a White Feather. A short walking dress of White Muslin. A military spencer, trimmed with silver cord, and Epaulette. York Tan Gloves.
I love this style, and often have my heroines adopt the military style, particularly for riding habits. It seems dashing somehow. Notice how the sleeves are cut to come over the backs of the hands. It is repeated again in the the morning dress.
Second Walking dress:
A Scarlet Velvet Bonnet, with a White Ostrich Feather. A Pelice of Scarlet Kesimere, trimmed with Black Velvet. Brown Bear Muff. Also note the half boots she is wearing. We do not see any of the gown since the pelisse (sp) appears to be full length and very warm looking.
I love the color and it does seem that red or scarlet was the color of winter. (The spelling of Kerseymere is off and quite honestly I do not know if this is a transcription mistake or an accurate quote. Spelling in the Regency was not standardised at all.) I am not so keen on the idea of the bear muff, I have to say, though it is quite magnificent, I am glad we don't wear them any more.
Morning Dress:
A Dress of Cambric Muslin with long sleeves; Habit shirt. The Hair dressed with a golden Comb, and Silver Bear Tippet.
Sadly more bear fur, which we will do our best to ignore. This is a morning dress, which of course means it was intended for making morning calls in the afternoons and is therefore more formal than the walking gown. Cambric muslin seems to be a combination of two fabrics, my guess is that it is a very fine cambric, a little heavier than muslin as a nod to the time of year. The long sleeves also cover the backs of the hands. It must have been in. I had a dress like that in the ooops ... better not to say when. lol. The habit shirt is interesting. It covers the chest and ruffles at the throat, and this style would have been worn beneath a riding habit. It makes this gown more modest and therefore suitable for day wear, don't you think? I like the pretty ruffles around the neckline, down the front and around the hem.
Our final gown is a Full Dress or Evening Gown.
The Head fashionably dressed, with a Gold Comb, and Scarlet Wreath. A dress of Muslin, sloped in Front, with a long Train trimmed with Rose-coloured Ribbon, with a broad White Lace sewed to the Edge of the Ribbon; and York Tan Gloves.
Well apart from the scarlet wreath being green, which I assume was artistic license, given that these were coloured by hand, it is a very pretty dress. But I do hate those York tan gloves. They really should have been white kid. lol
So there we have it, January 1804 in all of its glory.
Next time we will have a bit of flora and fauna.
Until then, Happy rambles.
As promised, we have now have our regular feature, January fashion.
This is one of those four for the price of one plates. The ladies look wonderful.
As you can see we are showing walking, morning and evening gowns. The plate is from 1804 The Lady's Monthly Museum.
First Walking gown:
A light blue Beaver Military Helmeted hat, covered with Light Blue Netting, ornamented with a White Feather. A short walking dress of White Muslin. A military spencer, trimmed with silver cord, and Epaulette. York Tan Gloves.
I love this style, and often have my heroines adopt the military style, particularly for riding habits. It seems dashing somehow. Notice how the sleeves are cut to come over the backs of the hands. It is repeated again in the the morning dress.
Second Walking dress:
A Scarlet Velvet Bonnet, with a White Ostrich Feather. A Pelice of Scarlet Kesimere, trimmed with Black Velvet. Brown Bear Muff. Also note the half boots she is wearing. We do not see any of the gown since the pelisse (sp) appears to be full length and very warm looking.
I love the color and it does seem that red or scarlet was the color of winter. (The spelling of Kerseymere is off and quite honestly I do not know if this is a transcription mistake or an accurate quote. Spelling in the Regency was not standardised at all.) I am not so keen on the idea of the bear muff, I have to say, though it is quite magnificent, I am glad we don't wear them any more.
Morning Dress:
A Dress of Cambric Muslin with long sleeves; Habit shirt. The Hair dressed with a golden Comb, and Silver Bear Tippet.
Sadly more bear fur, which we will do our best to ignore. This is a morning dress, which of course means it was intended for making morning calls in the afternoons and is therefore more formal than the walking gown. Cambric muslin seems to be a combination of two fabrics, my guess is that it is a very fine cambric, a little heavier than muslin as a nod to the time of year. The long sleeves also cover the backs of the hands. It must have been in. I had a dress like that in the ooops ... better not to say when. lol. The habit shirt is interesting. It covers the chest and ruffles at the throat, and this style would have been worn beneath a riding habit. It makes this gown more modest and therefore suitable for day wear, don't you think? I like the pretty ruffles around the neckline, down the front and around the hem.
Our final gown is a Full Dress or Evening Gown.
The Head fashionably dressed, with a Gold Comb, and Scarlet Wreath. A dress of Muslin, sloped in Front, with a long Train trimmed with Rose-coloured Ribbon, with a broad White Lace sewed to the Edge of the Ribbon; and York Tan Gloves.
Well apart from the scarlet wreath being green, which I assume was artistic license, given that these were coloured by hand, it is a very pretty dress. But I do hate those York tan gloves. They really should have been white kid. lol
So there we have it, January 1804 in all of its glory.
Next time we will have a bit of flora and fauna.
Until then, Happy rambles.
Happy and Healthy New Year
Ann Lethbridge and Michele Ann Young wish you all of the very best for 2009.
Our usual posts will begin again on Monday with Fashions for January
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
The London of the Ton - Part I
This is my very first post as Ann Lethbridge on the Regency Ramble Blog, so first let me say good day and I hope you find my rambles as interesting as my bff.
I did promise some posts on the military scene, but I also want to share some interesting parts of London during the Regency. This first picture is of Charing Cross in June 1807 located at the junction of the Stand, Whitehall and Cockspur Street.
The statue is of of King Charles 1, which replaced the original Elleanor cross and was subsequently replaced by the current Elleanor Cross replica built in Victorian times..
To the north of Charing Cross in regency times was the King's Mews, a royal stable.
A famous inn called the "Golden Cross" - first mentioned in 1643 - was situated in the former village of Charing. From here, now called the Golden-cross Coffee House and Hotel in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, coaches departed by various routes to Dover, Brighton, Bath Bristol, Cambridge, Holyhead and York.
To me what is interesting is the amount of detail of daily life to be garnered from this picture.
There are several vehicles, carriages, coaches and carters. As well as a man on horseback and another on a donkey. I expecially like the way the coach is emerging from the hotel courtyard. Look how tight a fit that is.
The foot path with its curb is very clear. And there are ladies and gentlemen walking along.
Here is the same location during the same time period on quite a different sort of a day and from a quite different angle.
Here we have two men being pilloried. Pillories were apparently in use until 1816, the last being put to use in Yarmouth.
It is certainly a spectator sport. People crowd the streets, stand in the windows and upon the roof too.
This angle gives us a lot more information about the buildings in the era. What is interesting is the openness of this area, because of the several roads coming together at one junction.
This next picture caught my eye because of the woman and child coming from the side of the building. Their clothing is clearly regency.
I was also interested in the way the shop juts out from the building and the people peering out of the windows above. In this era shop-keepers tended to live above their establishments.
This last sketch reminds us, in additon to the pillory above, that it was not a golden age for all.
This is a sketch by Cruikshank, which i beleive to be the Fleet and which reminds those who pass by that debtors need help. Since once they were in prison, they were unable to support themselves.
The boy with the hoop reminds us of simpler days and simpler amusements for children, and look at the man with the bird in a cage. And the fruit or vegetables piled up for sale.
That is it for my ramble through the Regency. Looking forward to sharing more sights and sounds of London another time.
I did promise some posts on the military scene, but I also want to share some interesting parts of London during the Regency. This first picture is of Charing Cross in June 1807 located at the junction of the Stand, Whitehall and Cockspur Street.
The statue is of of King Charles 1, which replaced the original Elleanor cross and was subsequently replaced by the current Elleanor Cross replica built in Victorian times..
To the north of Charing Cross in regency times was the King's Mews, a royal stable.
A famous inn called the "Golden Cross" - first mentioned in 1643 - was situated in the former village of Charing. From here, now called the Golden-cross Coffee House and Hotel in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, coaches departed by various routes to Dover, Brighton, Bath Bristol, Cambridge, Holyhead and York.
To me what is interesting is the amount of detail of daily life to be garnered from this picture.
There are several vehicles, carriages, coaches and carters. As well as a man on horseback and another on a donkey. I expecially like the way the coach is emerging from the hotel courtyard. Look how tight a fit that is.
The foot path with its curb is very clear. And there are ladies and gentlemen walking along.
Here is the same location during the same time period on quite a different sort of a day and from a quite different angle.Here we have two men being pilloried. Pillories were apparently in use until 1816, the last being put to use in Yarmouth.
It is certainly a spectator sport. People crowd the streets, stand in the windows and upon the roof too.
This angle gives us a lot more information about the buildings in the era. What is interesting is the openness of this area, because of the several roads coming together at one junction.
This next picture caught my eye because of the woman and child coming from the side of the building. Their clothing is clearly regency.
I was also interested in the way the shop juts out from the building and the people peering out of the windows above. In this era shop-keepers tended to live above their establishments.
This last sketch reminds us, in additon to the pillory above, that it was not a golden age for all.This is a sketch by Cruikshank, which i beleive to be the Fleet and which reminds those who pass by that debtors need help. Since once they were in prison, they were unable to support themselves.
The boy with the hoop reminds us of simpler days and simpler amusements for children, and look at the man with the bird in a cage. And the fruit or vegetables piled up for sale.
That is it for my ramble through the Regency. Looking forward to sharing more sights and sounds of London another time.
Weddings in Regency England
by Michele Ann Young
Writing romance, as I do, the end goal is of course a wedding. We have all seen that wonderful scene in the Colin Firth Pride and Predjudice of the villagers throwing petals and the groom throwing coins, so I thought I would talk a little bit about weddings during the period.
Weddings did not tend to be the huge affairs that we think of today, or that became more prevalent during the Victorian era. St Georges was the fashionable church for the ton during this time pictured here. What a magnificent venue. St George's celebrated approximately a thousand weddings a year during the regency era. That would have kept the pastor on his toes, I am sure.
Of course the big question is, did they wear white?
In the various groups I belong to we hear over and over again that brides did not wear white. But I think what we really mean is that white was not considered "the right thing" or mandatory. A colored dress did not signify lack of chasteness, it was simply a personal preference. That said, it seems that white tended to be the color of choice for many.
This is a picture of Princess Charlotte returning from her marriage to Prince Leopold in 1816 -- the wedding of the regency era, For her wedding she chose to wear a silver lamé dress over white silk, trimmed with silver lace.
And this is a picture of the wedding dress itself from the London Museum. Rather different from the artists impression. he got the drapery at the front completely wrong. And it is definitely not white.
We know that Jane Austen's niece Anna who married Benjamin Lefroy on November 8, 1814 wore "a dress of fine white muslin, and over it a soft silk shawl, white shot with primrose, with embossed white-satin flowers, and very handsome fringe, and on her head a small cap to match, trimmed with lace.
When Jerome Bonaparte (Napoleon's brother) wed the fashionable American beauty Elizabeth Patterson on Christmas Eve 1803 the bride wore a dress of thin white muslin and lace
The English fashion journals are rather silent on wedding dresses during the Regency era, which likely means you wore a dress you owned or purchased for the occasion and probably wore again. There is a rare print in 'Ackermann's Repository'o for June 1816 of a wedding dress in white satin with an overdress in striped gauze and trimmed with Brussels lace. It was to be worn with pearl jewelry, white satin slippers and white kid gloves but notice, there is not veil. it wasn't until the 1820's that we begin to see all the hoopla about specially designed wedding dresses.
Well that is all I have room for today. Until next time Happy Rambles
Writing romance, as I do, the end goal is of course a wedding. We have all seen that wonderful scene in the Colin Firth Pride and Predjudice of the villagers throwing petals and the groom throwing coins, so I thought I would talk a little bit about weddings during the period.
Weddings did not tend to be the huge affairs that we think of today, or that became more prevalent during the Victorian era. St Georges was the fashionable church for the ton during this time pictured here. What a magnificent venue. St George's celebrated approximately a thousand weddings a year during the regency era. That would have kept the pastor on his toes, I am sure.
Of course the big question is, did they wear white? In the various groups I belong to we hear over and over again that brides did not wear white. But I think what we really mean is that white was not considered "the right thing" or mandatory. A colored dress did not signify lack of chasteness, it was simply a personal preference. That said, it seems that white tended to be the color of choice for many.
This is a picture of Princess Charlotte returning from her marriage to Prince Leopold in 1816 -- the wedding of the regency era, For her wedding she chose to wear a silver lamé dress over white silk, trimmed with silver lace.
And this is a picture of the wedding dress itself from the London Museum. Rather different from the artists impression. he got the drapery at the front completely wrong. And it is definitely not white.We know that Jane Austen's niece Anna who married Benjamin Lefroy on November 8, 1814 wore "a dress of fine white muslin, and over it a soft silk shawl, white shot with primrose, with embossed white-satin flowers, and very handsome fringe, and on her head a small cap to match, trimmed with lace.
When Jerome Bonaparte (Napoleon's brother) wed the fashionable American beauty Elizabeth Patterson on Christmas Eve 1803 the bride wore a dress of thin white muslin and lace
The English fashion journals are rather silent on wedding dresses during the Regency era, which likely means you wore a dress you owned or purchased for the occasion and probably wore again. There is a rare print in 'Ackermann's Repository'o for June 1816 of a wedding dress in white satin with an overdress in striped gauze and trimmed with Brussels lace. It was to be worn with pearl jewelry, white satin slippers and white kid gloves but notice, there is not veil. it wasn't until the 1820's that we begin to see all the hoopla about specially designed wedding dresses.Well that is all I have room for today. Until next time Happy Rambles
Ch a a a nges
First, in case you haven't noticed what's happening on the sidebar, I want to introduce a new contributor to Regency Ramble Blog. Ann Lethbridge.
Ann and I have coffee every morning and I have invited her to add her thoughts to the blog. Ann writes regencies for Harlequin Historicals. Pull a bit closer to the screen Ann and let's get started.
Ann: Ta Mich. I calls 'er Mich. And she always bashes me arm. (grin) My first story with Harlequin is out in January. It'll make you a bit 'ot under the collar, but it's a quick read. An e-book and a sneak peak for the book coming out April 2009. Don'cha just looove that cover. 'Course the old gown looks more Vicky than Prinny (in-crowd code for George IV and Queen Victoria in case you was wondering) but the bloke wielding the brush certainly the mood of the story and came pretty close to getting the geyser and his lady--
Michele: Yes, yes, that's all very well and I wish you luck with the book and all, but while you get the chance to toot your horn now and again, this blog is all about research. We talked about that and you agreed.
Ann: I don't see why I shouldn't start off with a bit of horn tooting, mate.
Michele: Consider it tooted. Now what are you going to bring to this blog.
Ann: (grumbling under breath about bossy bff's) Well, you've been doing a top 'ole job with this blog, I was wrackin' me brains to think wot I could put in, mate. So I comes up wi' this. You likes to write about all those nobs and fancy folks up at the big 'ouse, as it were. I thought I might pick up on the common folks and the army. I really like those military gents. It must be the tight pants. And the boots. This is a picture of the Duke of Wellington. Especially I like the swords. (sees a glaze look in bff's eyes and does a quick recovery) And also a word of the month, or something.Michele: A word of the month. That sounds educational.
Ann: Right. They'll be old words from the Regency. Ones don't see much any more.
Michele: We could start with that today.
Ann: All right. Wot about this one:
BAT. A low whore: so called from moving out like bats in the dusk of the evening.
Some people in England still say "the old bat", but I'm not sure they know what it means any more.
Michele: Sigh. I don't suppose it possible for you to get your mind out of the gutter?
Ann: 'Course it is. (wink) Wait till you see what's lined up on the military stuff.
Michele: Next week. Thursday. (mutter: I hope this is going to work)
Until next week - Happy rambles.
Hackney Carriages
We are always reading about people driving around London in a Hackney carriage so I thought it might be interesting to look at them a little more closely.
Of course we are all aware of the licences in taxis or cabs as we call them today. In the Regency they were hackney carriages or coaches. And they were equally rule-bound, believe it or not.
An Ordinance for the Regulation of Hackney-Coachmen in London and the places adjacent" was approved by Parliament in 1654, to remedy what it described as the "many Inconveniences [that] do daily arise by reason of the late increase and great irregularity of Hackney Coaches and Hackney Coachmen in London, Westminster and the places thereabouts". The first hackney-carriage licences date from 1662.
Over the years rules and regulations were added as were the number of licences. By my count there were 1000 licenced Hackney coaches and another 500 chariots supplemented by an unknown number of one-horse chaises. However I'm not known for my math, so if this number is important to you I suggest you go to original sources.
By the way, a London Hackney or Cab licence is a highly sought after item, even today.
Now where was I. Yes rules and Regs. They covered such things as the number of passengers according the the size of the hackney (always with the allowance of one servant riding outside), the size of the horses (not below 14 hands. There were fines for abusive language (I wouldn't mind seeing some of those dished out in shopping malls) and fines for extortion - as in extortionate fares.
I thought this rules rather interesting!
Obligation to go.
And they shall be compellable on every day, and at any hour of the night, although they may have been out twelve hours, to go with any person or persons desirous of hiring them, and no more than the regular fare allowed on such occasions.
It appears that our forefathers were just as careless with their umbrellas and other property as we are on trains today, for this following rule also appears.How Property Left in Coaches or Chariots is to be disposed of.
The drivers of hackney coaches, wherein any property is left, shalt carry each property, in the state in which it was found, within four days, to the Hackney-coach office, and deposit the same with one of the clerks, under a penalty not exceeding 20l.
I have not included all of the detail but you can find it in New Picture of London, Printed for Samuel Leigh, 18, Strand; by W. Clowes, Northumberland Court. 1819 along with a list of major Hackney Stands throughout London.
Until next time, Happy Rambles