Regency Ramble

Regency Fashion

2012-01-26T01:00:00.001-05:00

January 1812. We are still in the first year of the Regency and here is what the ladies were wearing in January.

Lady’s Monthly Museum
Cabinet of Fashion

A plain muslin dress, made high to fit the bosom with a plaited ruff; the front of the dress confined with coral clasps; earrings and necklace to correspond. Hungarian mantle, with double capes, trimmed with white swansdown, and fixed at the throat with cord and tassels. A small eastern turban, the same colour as the mantle, with white feathers; buff gloves and shoes.

I really like the modesty of this first gown. It has an elegance about it that appeals to me. And the ruff is very Elizabethan/Tudor. Note the hairstyle. She is sporting one, which always appeals to me, the long tress or curl coming over one shoulder.

The second figure is:

A riding dress of fine Georgian cloth, of a green colour, ornamented with frogs militarie in front and finished at the pocket holes with the same. Hat of green velvet, trimmed with white fur. Buff boots and gloves.

Pocket holes, an interesting way to describe them. I always like the idea of military styled riding dresses for ladies, but this view shows the train to perfection. This would ensure the lady's legs are well covered once she is sideways on the horse. I don't know what Georgian cloth is, do you?

So here we see what the ladies were wearing as we approach the end of the first year of the Regency.

Until next time, Happy Rambles

What did Happen During the Regency?

2012-01-23T01:00:00.001-05:00

Continuing snippets of the news two hundred years ago to celebrate and 200th anniversary of the beginning of the Regency era.

1811

May 22: - several peoplewere killed by a house falling at Seven Dials.

This was in one of the poorest and most notorious regions of London in the Parish of St Giles where one also found the worst of the rookeries. A dangerous place for any Regency buck or miss to wander at any time of the day, but even worse for those that lived there.
Near to Covent Garden, it was called Seven Dials because of the way the streets and alleys come together in one intersection which originally had a sundial in the centre. The first plan in 1690 was for six streets, but the developer Thomas Neale who planned this to be a smart end of town with large fronted shops, added a seventh in the final plans in order to increase his income from rents. It never achieved its potential. After his death, the houses were subdivided and quickly became slums, renowned for gin shops. At times, the area threatened to descend into the undesirable depravity of the St Giles "Rookery" to the north, but it was predominantly a working neighbourhood, with woodcarvers, straw-hat manufacturers, pork butchers, watch repairers, booksellers, pubs and breweries.
At one point each of the seven apexes facing the Monument housed a pub, their cellars and vaults connected in the basement providing handy escape routes should the need arise.These days it is very different. It has boutique style shops and a new sense of community. Over 25% of its buildings are "listed" (protected) and many date back to the 1690's. Clearly not the one that fell on these poor people.

June14: -The proceedings of the House of Commons state the number of French prisoners in England to be near 50,000.
Aug. 21: - A comet made its appearance above the horizon. The Great Comet of 1811. It is estimated that this comet comes around once every three thousand plus years, so I won't be around to see it the next time. The drawing is by William Henry Smyth in 1811.
Sep.11: - Discovery made at the Queen's house that her majesty's court dress had been stolen. Really, how bad is that?
November unrest: -- Bands of men appear wearing masks and armed with muskets, pistols and hatchets and break into the small hosiery workshops scattered thoughout country villages. Hammermen carrying hung heavy iron sledgehammers smashed open the doors of the workshops and beat at the wide stocking frames until they are destroyed. E.g. Nov 4 6 frames broken at the village of Bulwell on November 4, a dozen at Kimberley a few nights later. November 13 70 frames smashed in a single attack at Sutton-in-Ashfield. Claimed allegiance to “General Ludd”. Magistrates cannot police the rural jurisdictions. A military force, a squadron of dragoons, the Mansfield Volunteers, two troops of Yeomanry were ineffective.

That is it for now, I hope you enjoyed this peek of life in the first year of the Regency. Until next time Happy Rambles.

What No Pirates?

2012-01-11T23:52:00.000-05:00

Apparently there are, since they stole my blog post before it was done. Apologies for the double post.
Behind the Book

Let me start by saying, I've always had a soft spot for pirates. I know lots of people don't and that's fine. But I loved Treasure Island as a child. Definitely had a soft spot for Long John Silver, such a great villain. And what's not to love about Johnny Depp. Oh there were others before him too, including a moving with Gina Davis that I really liked.
HMS Kent battles a French Privateer c. 1800 (from Wikipedia)

Anyway, you can imagine my disappointment when research revealed that by the Regency, the Golden Age of pirating was done. I mean there were pirates, in the China sea and off North Africa, but they weren't quite right dashing around off the coast of Britain and popping up in the English countryside. But I wanted to write a pirate story, I whined.

But there were privateers.

Privateers were men who owned and or captained ships and fought for their country, but not in uniform. Needless to say it was a profitable if dangerous occupation, since they got to keep their prize as long as it was deemed legitimate under their Leter of Marque. Privateering had gone on since at least the 16th century, inded it had been greatly encouraged before their were navies as we know them today, and was still legal up until around 1856.

So how did privateering work? Governments would issue A Letter of Marque to a ship owner. They were given permission to capture ships of the enemy, usually within a certain area, if they had reason to suspect the ship was aiding the enemy's war effort, such as carrying arms or soldiers, or supplies. Which pretty well seems to cover all possibilities.

They were a bit like sea going mercenaries I supposed and were originally called Private Men of War (shortened to privateer). They had to be careful, because governments could revoke the licence just as quickly as it was handed out, or make unexpected peace with the enemy, which left the privateer left footed if they didn't know. If they operated without their license, they were considered pirates. Quite often an enemy would consider them a pirate, even if they did have their government's license.

If a privateer was caught by the enemies navy, the seamen were usually given the option of join the opposing navy as a sailor or be treated as a prisoner of war. A rather horrid fate.

Privateers did a great deal of damage to the opposing side and many of them came home rich. Their pay was based on the prize system.

What sounds like a pirate, acts like a pirate, but isn't a pirate? Why, a Regency Privateer. So I got to write my pirate story after all. and Captured for the Captain's Pleasure is it. This book is set right at the end of the war of 1812-1814 and my hero has actually been working under an American licence.

One of these day I might get to write one about a real pirate. It just won't be a Regency story.

Until Next Time, Happy Rambles

Happy New Year

2012-01-10T14:22:00.001-05:00

I had planned to write long before this, but after New Year I came down with a horrible cold that seized my brain. But I am back now and raring to go.

Captured for the Captain's Pleasure is in stores now and to celebrate I am going to give you a little excerpt that you won't find elsewhere. Enjoy with my compliments.

“Drink your wine, Miss Fulton.” He gestured at her glass. “Come a toast.”
To humour him, she picked up her glass.
“To success,” he said.
“Yours or mine?”
“Mine.” He drank deeply. He seemed lost in his thoughts.
The skin on her scalp tightened the way it did before a lightning storm. Somehow she had to end this tête-a-tête on a friendly note.
She picked up her glass and carried it to the window. Her legs felt rubbery, like the first moments on land after a long voyage. Unfortunately, this voyage would continue and a storm loomed on the horizon.
She gazed out into the dark, breathing in the warm salt air. “Thank you for a pleasant evening.”
As quiet as a cat he appeared behind her, his face reflected in the glass over her shoulder, his lips curved in a sweet almost boyish smile. A trick of the light, no doubt, but the memory of those firm demanding lips on hers, his hard body pressed against her, fired off a storm of heat. A demented blush from head to toe. Thankfully, hidden in the dark reflection.
“You were right about me,” he said, his voice low, his body warm at her back. “Once, I also had all the advantages of wealth and position.”
She resisted the urge to sympathize despite the sorrow in his voice. “Did you lose your money in one of London’s hells? Is that why you prey on ships? Stealing what you lost?”
His reflected gaze skewered her like a blade. “I will never replace what I lost.”
The depth of pain in those words swept across her skin like the sand of a desert storm. “You lost the family estate? It happens all the time. Fortunes won and lost in a night.” Men who committed suicide in the cold light of the following day.
At least Father preferred the comfort of brandy. She shuddered.
The silence stretched taut and painful. The urge to fill it, to pretend thing were normal brought words to her lips. “What will you do when the war is over? When there are no more letters marque? No more ships to be taken. What are your plans for peace?”
The long exhale of breath, a sigh of longing he probably wasn’t aware of. “I plan to return to England. I have unfinished business there.”
“You think you will be welcome?”
“I think you have lied to me all evening, Miss Fulton.

Amazon.com

From Barnes and Noble

Until Next Time, Happy Rambles

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T12:33:00.001-05:00

Have a Wonderful Holiday and I will be back in the New Year

Longleat

2011-12-14T23:01:00.000-05:00

Don't forget to enter the Harlequin Holiday Give Away. Go to my website to find all the authors participating and all the wonderful Prizes.

Perhaps one of the most beautiful houses I have visited, though each has its own charm, is Longleat. Now I have to say, I did not visit the zoo or the safari or any of that stuff. As always my interest is the house and the grounds and any interesting tidbits of family history.

It was quite misty as we drove in and I loved this view of the house from high on the hill. I could almost imagine myself in a coach and four to attend a house party given by the second Marquess of Bath. More likely I'd been lighting the fires, but ah well, it is fun to dream.

It is not possible to take pictures inside the house, since it is still the property of the Marquess of Bath, unlike so many other of the great homes which their noble owners could no long afford to keep. I for one am glad that some have managed to find ways to retain their ancestral homes.

Longleat has seven libraries with over 40,000 books some of which go back five centuries to when the family first built the house. I can pretty well guarantee that they don't own one of my books. No hard feelings though.

The wall covering in the dining room was particularly interesting, because it was so unusual, tooled Spanish leather made in Cordoba around 1620. Furniture and paintings fill magnificent rooms and it was a pleasure to walk through them.

This is a picture of the wisteria which climbs the orangery wall and the next view is of the orrangery itself. We have seen several of these in various blogs, but this is a very large and beautiful one at the back of a formal garden.

It was the second Marquess of Bath who spanned the Regency era and into the Victorian age, he brought much of the house up to date at that time and of course it has been renovated since.

New Book Out

2011-12-05T08:33:00.000-05:00

A Rake for Christmas

It is always special when a book comes out. This one is a short story, my very first Christmas themed book. I got the idea for the setting when I visited Keates's house on Hampstead Heath one summer. Not that my rakish hero is a poet. Far from. He's a very bad boy.

But like Keates he does share his house with a very lovely lady. The house is divided into two apartments, not up and down, but side by side. He has been watching her chase her cat in the garden, and calls her the cat lady, and she has been listening to his shenanigans through the walls of her house.
Their meeting is explosive, to say the least:

One more try and then she’d go home. She knocked harder and longer.
    The door flew open as if blown back by the wind. “I knew you’d be back,” a deep mocking voice said.
    He stepped into the lamplight.
    Mouth open she stared at the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. A blond blue-eyed archangel. Elegant of stature, he looked thoroughly masculine in his shirtsleeves and open collar. Perfection in a state of disreputable undress. Not the raddled roué she’d expected, but a Greek god and a dangerous pirate all rolled into one.
    A gust of wind drove snow in through his door and flakes clung to his long golden lashes. So pretty. So enticing. Heat rushed through her body. Like a bolt of hot lightning, longing trembled in her bones.
    Yearning for something she could not have.
    “Only one of you?” Summer-sky eyes tracked down her length from head to toe.
    Oh how she wished she’d worn something less shabby than her old cat-catching shawl. “I—”
    A smile of appreciation curved his sensual mouth. “Well, since Heaven sent you, I’m sure you’ll make up for the lack. Come on in before you freeze.” He grabbed her by the hand and pulled her over the threshold and closed the door.
    Astonished she gazed up at him. Before she could utter a protest, his hands went to her waist and he brushed his warm dry lips across her mouth. A sigh of appreciation forced its way up her throat. She barely managed to contain it.
    Instinctively, she placed her free hand on his shoulder, intending to push him away, parting her lips to to tell him to stand back. She was sure that was what she meant to do, but when his tongue swept her mouth, warm and silky and tasting of brandy, the spicy scent of his cologne filling her nostrils, instead of pushing, her fingers curled into the soft cambric of his shirt and pulled him closer. Memories of the pleasure of kisses and caresses melting any thought of resistance.
    Slowly, lingeringly, he kissed her, exploring her mouth with the leisurely strokes of a master seducer. Finally he broke the kiss and she stood breathless, dizzy, held up only by the strong hands in the indentation beneath her ribs. It was all she could do to keep her feet, to not collapse from the delicious assault on her senses.
    His kiss had set free all the pent up desires of the past few weeks. Her insides ached and fluttered.
    He looked down at her, a lock of unruly tawny hair falling over his brow, a wicked smile curving his sensually carved mouth. “I just had to see if you tasted as good as you looked.” His smile broadened. “You do. Lucky me.”

Not that the path to true love is ever that smooth as he is about to find out.

Well that's all from me, until next time happy rambles.

Will I ever finish?

2011-11-28T00:37:00.000-05:00

I have had this project ongoing for some time now. Years in fact. And I am beginning to wonder if I will ever finish. I never have that problem with finishing my stories, but this, well it would be a great shame not to finish it now and have it framed, don't you think? (And I have a few more that I would like to tackle too.)

Seeing the NaNoWriMo excitement, I thought I would try to give myself a bit of encouragement. I am going to post my progress from time to time. Once a month. Here is a picture of where I am at the moment.

The thing is, it is dreadfully fiddly counted cross stitch and its hard to see if you are making any progress at all. This is only the top one third of the whole piece.

All of the cross stitch is done, now we are embellishing.

Next, I have to finish the outside border, there is some outlining to be done around the very edge and then that criss cross stuff you can see that stops before it reaches the top, and then there are beads to add. Anyway, by this time next month, I hope to have the outside border completely finished and then I can start on outlining the greenery and finishing off the peacock inside the large picture panel.

It will be interesting to see if this helps motivate me to get this done. One year. That is what I am aiming for.

More about the Regency next time.

Daphne Du Maurier

2011-11-23T23:22:00.000-05:00

You may recall that my first book with Harlequin, The Rake's Inherited Courtesan, won the 2010 Daphne, or as the full title explains, the Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense, Historical Category (Awarded by RWA's Kiss of Death Chapter.)

Daphne Du Maurier, pictured left as a teen, wrote suspense novels. Several of her novels have been made into films, including The Birds and Rebecca. The story that interested me most was Jamaica Inn.

Jamaica Inn, was almost set in the Regency, 1820 in fact, and it is a romance. The story is classified as a gothic romance and tells the tale of a young woman who gets tangled up with a gang of wreckers. (Men who used lanterns to misdirect ships on to the rocks of the Cornish coast, kill the crew and steal the cargo.) The heroine encounters many harrowing adventures.

Jamaica Inn, where she set her story exists today, and is still a pub, but is also a museum to both the author and the smuggling history of Cornwall.

Last summer we visited Cornwall, and naturally Jamaica Inn was a must see.

As you can imagine, while I was interested in the author and her life, I was more taken with the artifacts and information relating to smuggling which I am going to share with you. here.

The picture on the left known as landing the goods and there is little more to be said. On the right are tools and weapons used on both sides of the law. For example the pig sticking knife and the wooden farm flail were used by smugglers, since they were not army or navy weapons a man could carry them with impunity. The swords and cutlasses were carried by excisemen or naval officers.

Here is an assortment of lanterns, handy for smugglers to carry or signal with.

Down in the right hand corner is something really interesting. It is called a scuffling iron. Now this is the technical term for what the last man of the train of smugglers used to hide their tracks. It was a reverse horse shoe, and with one hand he would sweep away the track of the horsed with a tree branch and with the other would stamp the scuffling iron (which was attached to something like a broom handle) into the ground, thereby confusing anyone trying to follow.

Not exactly high tech, and not likely to fool too many people either I think, but who knows?

The Jamaica Inn is on Bodmin Moor, not that close to the sea, so it would have been used as a place to hide contraband, I would think. And a very lonely place it is too, even today, as you can see from the pictures I took from the parking lot.

There will be more on smuggling another time, but for now, Happy Rambles.

The Bankes's of Kingston Lacy (Continued)

2011-11-21T08:44:00.000-05:00

Holiday Contest Reminder

Just a reminder to check back for details, either here or on my website on November 29 when the annual Harlequin Historical Contest begins. There are all kinds of prizes from each author every day, plus a grand prize of a Kindle Fire (where available) and an equivalent where it is not.
I will also be posting on twitter and facebook too.

Back to William Bankes

The Philae obelisk.

Made of pink granite, the obelisk was first seen by William Bankes in 1815. It arrived in England in 1821, after almost sinking to the bottom of a river in Egypt, and was transported overland to Kingston Lacy on a gun carriage offered by the Duke of Wellington. The foundation stone was laid by the Duke in April 1827.

Can you imagine what your family would say if you brought this sort of souvenir home from your holiday?

As mentioned earlier. William Bankes's travels came to an end in 1820. He did not inherit Kingston Lacy from his brother Henry until December 1834 and spent the next few years embellishing Soughton in Flintshire, instead writing up the details of his travels, sadly for us, I think.

Once he inherited, he began the task of altering Kingston Lady to suit his own tastes. Personally, I wish he might have left it as it was but that is purely selfish. I would not expect anyone to tell me I couldn't update my house.

Unfortunately, William was forced to leave England in 1841 after a second charge of "indecently exposing himself with a soldier of the Foot Guards in Green Park". The possible punishments were dreadful at the time and his reputation in society would have been ruined. He jumped bail and fled to Italy. The rest of his life he continued to fit out the interiors of Kingston Lacy with the help of his sister Lady Falmouth. There is some evidence that he did pay secret visits to the house on which he lavished so much care, but as a fugitive from the law, the family could never openly admit it. I certainly hope he did get to see his home from time to time.

There is more to know about the family and the house, and it is well worth a visit, for the grounds are simply spectacular, but for my purposes, all things 'regency', it is done.

Until next time, Happy Rambles.

The Bankes's of Kingston Lacy (Continued)

2011-11-17T13:05:00.000-05:00

William Bankes traveled the east en grand seigneur in a noble barge with a cabin, not because he wanted to, but because it was expected. He also visited Lady Hester Stanhope, a fascinating lady who lived on Mount Lebanon.

After his travels he returned to Syria where he carried out clandestine nocturnal excavations with other English gentlemen who were also in the area at the time. He was one of the first Europeans to reach Petra famous for its rock cut architecture and water conduits system. Imagine being among the first to see a sight like that pictured to the left.

Established sometime around the 6th century BC Petra was the capital city of the Nabataeans and is to be found east of the Dead Sea. I must say I am greatly resisting the temptation to delve deeper, but no. This is about William, not Arabia. He really did have adventures. William went to Petra dressed as a Bedouin Arab. He also went because he was so skilled in drawing and was to use his talent to capture the sights on paper, there not being any photographs at the time. But you knew that didn't you.

Next he went up the Nile, leading Henry Salt's flotilla in his fourteen-oared canja among whom were artists and Belzoni, a hydraulic engineer who had once been a strong man on the stage of Sadler's Wells. Williams plan of the temple at Luxor corrected that of the French antiquary Vivant Denon. He discovered the table of the kings now in the British Museum at Abydos. Amd at Abu Simbel William discovered a Greek inscription at the great temple of Rameses II which helped date the monument, while inside he and his companions copied all the wall paintings by the light of candles standing on ladders (and without their shirts because it was hot, so scandalous it deserves a mention).
After visiting Byron in Venice and then at Ravena where they "buffooned togther very merrily" he returned home in April 1820. He collected all kinds of things, but never did anything to organize them or document them, nor did he ever write the promised book about his travels. Too much like hard work, one wonders? He enjoyed the "doing" part.

This is such a brief summary, of his adventures, it merely give a flavour of what he was up to while he was gaining his reputation as "the Nubian explorer". My imagination is certainly taking flight.

Back at home he was lionised by society who gobbled up the stories of his travels. So much so that he had to be persuaded not to pursue his affair with Lady Buckinham, who wanted him to take her to Africa disguised as a boy, so they could search for the source of the Nile together. Instead he devoted himself to his British inheritance. Shades of a romance novel anyone?

We will finish up his story next time. In the meantime a reminder about the upcoming contest to win a Kindle or a Kindle Fire along with daily prizes, which will be posted here and on my website, so don't forget to check back for the rules of how to enter the contest.

Until next time, Happy Rambles

The Bankes's of Kingston Lacy

2011-11-01T23:01:00.000-04:00

The Bankes family owned Kingston Lacy from around 1636 (at first known as Kingston Hall, the King part relating to its one time ownership by the King and the Lacy part from its medieval ownership by the de Lacys).

The Bankes owned Corfe castle, not far away, which was eventually destroyed by Cromwellian forces and which was returned to the family in the restoration. They of course never lived there again and devoted all their attention to Kingston.

Since the period we are most interested in spans the long regency, I wanted to talk a bit about the two prime figures during that period. Sir Henry Banks, 1757 - 1834 and his son William Banks 1786-1855 who added many interesting artifacts to the house and whose travels and life were exceedingly interesting.

Sir Henry, having undertaken the grand tour, married a wealthy and beautiful woman, undertook major modernization of the house between 1784 and 1791. As mentioned in earlier posts, much of those changes were swept away in the 1830's by his son William, but we have looked at the parts that were in place during the regency. When the renovations were complete it was celebrated with a ball. Around 140 people danced from nine in the evening, sat down to supper at midnight and danced again until seven in the morning. Entertainment on the grand scale.

William was Sir Henry's second son. From Harrow, he went up to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1804 and became Lord Byron's (yes that Lord Byron) friend for life.

He was one of the leading lights of the 1812 London season, something I must put in a book one of these days. This miniature was completed in that year by George Sandars in this year. During this year, he proposed to Annabella Milbanke, the bluestocking heiress who later married Byron. It was William who gave her his copy of Childe Harold. She married Byron in 1815.

In the meantime, William followed in Byron and William Beckford's footsteps traveling to Portugal and Spain in 1812 and spending two years there acquiring paintings and living the Bohemian life. He also served as an Aide de Camp to Wellesley (Later the Duke of Wellington) during this time.

He went from there to Egypt and then to Italy in 1814 and back to Egypt in 1815. Kingston Lacy houses one of the sole surviving gentleman's collection from the early days of British Egyptology. More about this to come. Until then Happy Rambles.

Kingston Lacy

2011-10-06T00:04:00.000-04:00

What was it like for the servants in these great house. Kingston Lacy provides us with a very interesting view.

Those outbuildings in an earlier post and which I repeat here, the laundry and drying room to the south (right) were designed and built in 1775-76. While the the Kitchens, sculleries and store rooms to the north were enlarged in the 1780s. Interesting that the food was prepared outside the main house, and as was usual in these days, it was probably for fire prevention purposes.

In the basement of the house of course we find the cellars, in this picture you can see barrels and bottles. There is also a butler's silver cupboard and the family Muniment Room which housed the banks family archives.

Other servants rooms include a housekeeper's room which is now used to display the William Banks Egyptian collection. (More on William to come later) and leading off what is called the back hall is also the servants' hall pictured on the left. This lead out to the kitchen courtyard.

I thought you might enjoy this shot of a pheasant sitting on a tree branch in the grounds. Next time we will have some information about William Banks and his adventures.

Until next time, Happy Rambles.

Kingston Lacy

2011-10-02T13:41:00.000-04:00

There are any number of amazing pieced of furniture at Kingston Lacy. Here are a few pieces from the rooms we visited..

A great many renovations took place in the house after the Regency era and so as I pick and choose through my photographs I try to find things which come either during or before that era. However, the house is full of charm and interest so I err of including some things which come later.

This ceiling in the upstairs hallway which leads to several bedrooms does date from the first renovation of the house in the 17 eighties. It is a barrel vault and coffered ceiling. The architect also made very clever use of natural light with his fan lights and cupola.

The bedrooms set aside for bachelor bedrooms on the south and east sides, the servants being on the north side, are dated from 1834-41, but continue the fashion of Empress Josephine's Malmaison near Paris and the Charlotenhof at Potsdam, in that they are Tent Rooms. They are fascinatingly whimsical.

One of my pictures of a portrait which was Regency also reflects back the room behind me giving a good idea of the style and design. I honestly think anyone staying in these rooms must have felt quite suffocated.


I do apologize for the darkness of these pictures, but flash is a no no, and who am I to disobey the rule.

Once more I find myself frustrated at the slowness of blogger's picture loading and while I do so hate to whine, I just can't take it anymore today.   I have stories to write and heaven help me, some laundry awaiting my attention too.

Hah, glad to get that off my chest.   lol    Before we leave Kingston Lacy entirely, we have the ever fascinating servants' quarters to visit. Much more fascinating to me, I might add, since I have taken on and Upstairs Downstairs themed novel about which you will be hearing more in due course. And I did want to talk a bit about William Banke's adventures during the Regency era.

Until next time, Happy Rambles.

Kingston Lacy

2011-09-26T03:00:00.004-04:00

Kingston Lacy was originally built in 1660, and remained in the Bankes family until 1981. Henry Bankes the Younger was the first of the Bankes's to transform the house. This was in the 1780s, so of interest to us. All that remains from that renovation are the Library and the saloon, with the chimney piece by Flaxman and the coved ceiling painted by Cornelius Dixon. He was the owner of the house during the Regency, but much of the changes he wrought were swept away by his second son William when he came into the title in 1834.

Here you have pictures of the library. Isn't that
a magnificent ceiling. I like the way the
portraits hang above the book shelves.

The furnishings are also beautiful and deserve a closer look.

And here is that deliciously coved Venetian Ceiling. There is much more to come about the house, but there is a person I wanted to tell you about also.

William Bankes (1786-1855) was fascinating to me, not because of what he did at the house, but because of what he was doing during the Regency. A friend of Byron and a disappointed suitor of Annabella Milbanke, this young man began traveling when he was 26 in 1812, remember the Peninsular war was still going on then. He traveled to Portugal and Spain where he spent his time acquiring paintings and visiting with gypsies. Though he did also visit Wellington's headquarters after the battle of Salamanca in July 1812.

He travelled in the east for eight years. We will talk about his travels there next time. And also continue our stroll around Kingston Lacy.

Until then Happy Rambles.

2011-09-22T22:21:00.000-04:00

Here is the cover for my next Mills and Boon novel, Lady Rosabella's Ruse.

This version comes out in the UK in November. It will also be out in North America at the end of December and is, I believe considered a January book. The thing is, will it be the same cover, or something completely different? It is nice to be surprised, but I must say I do like this cover.

Can you tell that we start off at a country house party?

For those of you who read the Rake's Inherited Courtesan and wrote to me about Garth, the brother of that book's hero, well here is the only woman who could possible bring that man to his knees.

If you are wondering what I have been up to recently, well the end of summer seemed to bring all kinds of busyness, and I have been working hard on a new project.

You will be hearing lots about it over the coming months, but it is an Upstairs Downstairs continuity series of 8 books written by eight different authors around the same family and --- naturally --- their servants. Lots of scandal and lots of fun.

And I still have lots of pictures to share and lots of fashion to talk about, so keep coming back!

Kingston Lacy

2011-09-05T23:06:00.000-04:00

It is always a pleasure to visit one of Britain's stately home. Kingston Lacy was a delight. You may recall me refering to it in a flora and fauna posting about the bustard a bird that was extinct in in Britain since 1832 but is now being reintroduced.

The first manor was granted to John de Lacy, 1st Earl of Lincoln in 1229. The current house was build in 1665, but6 the original brick was faced in stone and underwent significant remodeling in 1835, including the addition of a chimney in each corner of the house.

This was the stable block, now a restaurant but you can get an idea of what it would have been like when horses were the main mode of transport.

This is a pump and horse trough and in the background you can see the entrance to the stables.

And here are some of the working outbuildings, laundry etc.

The pattens on the flagstone floor are a nice touch, don't you think

Still lots more to see both of the house and the grounds. But until next time, Happy Rambles.

Regency Fashion 1811

2011-08-22T12:00:00.000-04:00

What were they wearing in the summer of the first year of the Regency?



Here we have three gowns from June and July 1811. The first two are walking dresses and the last an opera dress. All show the classic regency lines.

Here are the general observations for July 1811 printed in the June edition of La Belle Assemblee:

Muslin pelisses, lined with pink, blue, or yellow sarsnet, are still very prevailing, as are spensers of like colours; lace scarfs alone seem to have the preference, either in black or white lace; mantlets are by no means considered as inelegant. Satin tippets, trimmed with lace, are very becoming to a light figure. White satin spensers, mantles, and pelisses are in a high degree of estimation. Small caps formed of brocaded ribband, finished with a long rosette in front, edged with lace pearls; or in the long Mango shape, intersected with white gymp, with a cord and tassels suspended from one side; and caps in every fanciful intermixture of satin or ribband, ornamented with ostrich feathers; they are made flat on the head, raised from the forehead, and in the long Grecian shape.
    Flowers were not at all worn at the Prince’s Fete, cords and tassels terminated the draperies, and gave an air of graceful negligence to the figure; feathers were universal, much of the Spanish costume prevailed; the sleeves were worn very short, the bosoms very low, the backs rather high, trains of a moderate length. The tunic in crape or lace, embroidered in silver, was displayed upon almost every female of rank and taste; this form of dress will of course descend to the morning habit, and will doubtless relieve the stomacher of much of that formal appearance which at present distinguishes it, and the effect will be extremely graceful. All lace worn on this magnificent occasion was of the manufacture of this country, a noble example, which we hope will be universally followed in all ranks of life. Honiton lace, as most resembling Brussel’s point, held the preference.
    The ornaments in jewellry were either of diamonds, pearls, rubies, sapphires, or emeralds.
    The prevailing colours, pink, blue, yellow, and buff.

Until next time, Happy rambles

Milling

2011-08-18T05:00:00.001-04:00

How did they do that?

You will have seen my earlier post on milling grain at Sturminster Newton, but I thought you might be interested in some views inside the mill itself.

As I may have mentioned before There has been a mill on this site for centuries. A predecessor may even have appeared in the doomsday book. The building is actually two separate mills. The one on the bank for grain, built in 1650 and the wing jutting into the river originally about 1611 (demolished in the 18th c and rebuilt in brick) was used for fulling. This is a method of cleaning the cloth from natural oils and dirt from the local cloth known as swanskin.

This is a small video of the mechanism which raised sacks of grain to the bin loft, with water power, and put into, you guessed it, grain bins. The mill now has a 1904 turbine engine but originally the power would have been produced by the water wheel attached to the mill.

The sack of grain passes through the stone floor on its way to the bin loft above. Sacks were much larger than that used for the demonstration. These were west of England sacks weighing 18 stones (252 lbs) if it was wheat, 16 stones for barley and 12 stones for oats. Not easily carried up the very steep stairs.

You can see the bins in the picture on the right, just and note that some of those roof beams are in the order of 600 or 700 years old, reused time and again. The bins are deliberately low-lipped so it was easier to pour the grain in by hand.

The grain flowed down from the bins above via a chute, which was opened and closed by pushing wooden bats into a slot in the chute. The grain then passed through a winnower, a series of sieves to get rid of foreign materials. It went back down to the grainfloor (two stories down) where it was rebagged and hoisted up to the bins again where this time it would be directed to the mill stones.

The stone floor is between the ground floor or the grain floor and is where the grinding is done.

The grain falls into a hopper, supported by a horse, or wooden frame that is supported on a tun or vat, the tun being the large circular wooden box covering the stones. Grain from the hopper is fed into a wooden trough called a shoe, which vibrates and sends a steady stream of grain through a hole in the tun's surface into the millstones. A damsel, so called because of its chattering noise helps maintain the flow of grain.

The grain is ground to flour between two millstones. The lower stone is static and is known as the bedstone. The moving stone is the runner. The flour finds its way out from under the runner, into the vat and finally down a hole and back to the ground floor to be bagged off. Bear in mind that all stone ground flour contains a little powdered stone and therefore the millstone must be a hard, fine-textured stone which wears to a smooth powder undetectable in the flour. Derbyshire or Peak stone was a popular choice for millstones. The French Buhr stone quarried near Paris was the very best of all.

When a stone wore down it would be the millers responsibility to dress the stones. He would remove all the wooden accessories, use a stone crane or winch, levers, wooden blocks etc to lift. to turn over and place the running stone on the floor. He would then mark the stones for dressing using a swan's feather dipped in raddle - an earth colour obtained from Cornwall or the Forest of Dean - then chip out the grooves and flatten the high spots with a steel pick held in a wooden handle called a bill or a thrift. Then he had to put it all back together. This could happen fairly often too. But the stones themselves could last as long as 0 years.

Mill stones vary but can weight up to three quarters of a tone each. They must be artificially roughened with grooves in order to grind rather than slide over the round grains as if they were ball bearings. A miller had to be careful not to let the stones grind against each other (run out of grain) or they might create a spark. Flour catches alight very easily and many mills burned down.

This is the sound of the grain being turned into flour.

Hope you enjoyed our trip to the Mill at Stourbridge. Until next time, Happy Rambles

More Old Devon

2011-08-15T00:28:00.000-04:00

Since blogger seems to have fixed its picture facility I am going to try to post the rest of my Clovelly pictures.

As you saw from the pictures last time, a fisherman's life is dangerous and hard work. But perhaps this view, taken from upstairs would help ease the pain.

Clovelly has always been a tourist spot, and here you can see our Victorian visitors waiting to leave by paddle steamer. Do you see how much this picture resembles my pictures in the earlier blogs? It gives me the shivers a bit.

A famous inhabitant of Clovelly was Charles Kingsley. A writer who was born in South Devon in 1819. So not quite a product of the Regency, but born during the period. He lived at Clovelly with his family (he had five siblings), when his father was the Rector from 1832 to 1836.

Kingsley returned time and time again to Clovelly, as place he called "the dear old Paradise" and his "inspiration" before he met his wife. The following pictures may account for that letter. I leave it up to you to decide.

Until next time, happy rambles

RomCon 2011 and more

2011-08-10T22:54:00.000-04:00

If you are wondering what I have been up to. ie why I have been missing from here for a while, these are my excuses.

I had two stories to finish in the month of July. A Christmas Undone. Yep Christmas in July. I had to turn up the air conditioning to get in the mood.

I also had to hand in the follow up story to Captured for the Captain's Pleasure (Harlequin Historical) which came out in the UK in June 2010 and is coming out in North America in December 2011. (Yay) You know I only just found that out when I went on to Amazon. So fun.

Anyway, the follow up book is about Alice's best friend Selena and is set in Scotland.

Last weekend I attended Rom Con 2011 in Denver Colorado. This is a conference for readers and I was honoured to meet so many readers of romance, to spend time with them, and have fun playing some hilarious games and talking about, you guessed it. Books!

I really enjoyed the fashion show put on by Deanne Gist with a variety of authors modelling the costumes from the Victorian era. Here you can see me in my outfit a la Scarlett O'Hara. Lots of Fun

And here is myself and Mary Sullivan with reader Marelou, who so kindly sent me these pictures.

And for the final piece de resistance (the words in italics are to be read with a French accent, tho' the spelling might be off they will sound correct).

This is me at the build a hero workshop and contest. Our group cheated as you can see. Words failed us, so we brought in the real thing! Now our group/table did win the prize, but that was because everyone was tied so we did a lucky dip. Our luck was in, in more ways than one.

That is all from me this evening. The pictures seem to be going better so I will get back to posting the last bits about Devon, before we move on to a new locale.

Until next time -- Happy Rambles

Have your say!

2011-07-18T22:43:00.000-04:00

Every now and then I am asked to help a student studying some aspect of the romance genre. This time is a little different. Here is your chance to have input to a survey of romance readers on a variety of topics.

Help a student learn more about our genre and complete the survey. Here is the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/65TCL33

I'll be blogging again later in the week trying to finish off my trip to Clovelly, if blogger will cooperate on the uploading of the pictures, that is.

More Old Devon

2011-07-11T00:22:00.000-04:00

One of the most interesting spots we visited in Clovelly was the Fisherman's cottage in Providence Row.

Here we got to understand something of the life of the people who lived among the twisty narrow streets clinging to the hillside. And they are clinging by the way. Several have slipped down that hillside over the years.

The villagers used what they had to hand to build their houses. Stones from the beach, earth from their excavations, lime from the kiln after it was build in the 17th century. They created what are called cob and stone walls. The stones formed the foundations for the wall and the cob was a mixture of mud and straw and small stones formed into bricks.

Here is a picture of an exposed cob and stone wall. Plastering, the covering over the cob and stone was mud and hay and lime putty. Later more lime was added to the plastering mix.

This is the kitchen taken from two directions.

I love the way one cupboard is tucked into the corner and another let into the wall. You have the feeling that not an inch of space is wasted.

It was interesting to learn that they melted down fishbones to make a very good adhesive.

Up stairs, and very steep and narrow stairs there are there are three more rooms. Can you see how the nightgown hangs across the corner of the room. There is another corner hanger like this on the other side of the window.

This is what we would call the master bed room.

And this next one the children's room.

And according to the information provided, boys who worked on the farmland might occupy the attic. Or my guess is that it would also serve as an overflow for older children.

And below we have the tools of the owner's trade.

I have many more pictures of Clovelly to share, but once more Blogger has exhausted my patience with waiting for photos to upload, so until next time, Happy Rambles.

RWA 2011

2011-07-07T21:09:00.000-04:00

If you wondered where I have been, this may help. The Romance Writers of America conference was in New York this year and I combined it with a visit to nearby family. I had thought I would blog while I was away, but, hangs head in shame, was too busy having a good time! Here are some pictures of what authors get up to when they emerge from their caves.

This is a view of sunset taken from my hotel window the first night I arrived. This is looking west across the Hudson to New Jersey.

Who wouldn't be pleased with such a view, though the sunset was more impressive in real life, I must say.

Authors and editors Travelling in style

Th picture on the right is me with my editor.

Toes to match your shoes. How about that!

We had a fun afternoon with our editors visiting a house that used to be a Day Inn used by people in the city to get away, and is now surrounded by skyscrapers

The Harlequin Party was amazing. Held at the Waldorf Astoria, here are a few pictures to give you an idea of what a great time we had.

And here is me with my agent in my black and white dress, since, if you didn't already guess the party was a black and white ball and every one looked great.

Old Devon Continued

2011-06-10T13:10:00.000-04:00

Hah, did no one notice my silly mistake?

Another question. Are you ready for the big climb?

I'm diggin' the mac, by the way. I look a bit like an escapee from a detective show. This is only one of the many hills to climb in Clovelly. And maybe I'm looking for a lost boat. They do turn up in the oddest places.

<<-----Look up
Look down--->>

Look out!

No, I mean look out at the view!

How about seeing that from your window every morning. I can imagine how wild and bleak it is during a storm or during the winter. I will post a few more pictures for those of you who like this sort of stuff, without comment, since there really isn't much to add, then next time talk a little more about life in the village.

So blogger being blogger and time being time, I have stopped trying to move them and you have them in one long row. Hope you enjoyed. We have more to learn about the village, but this is all about how pretty it is.

More Old Devon

2011-05-30T06:39:00.002-04:00

But first a squee!

On Wednesday you will find my short story, Deliciously Debauched by the Rake on e-harlequin.com - follow the link to e-harlequin on the right. I think this cover is delicious all by itself!

Elizabeth Bentham has been John, Lord Radthorn's lover for five glorious years. But she wants him to have a chance to marry a respectable lady, not a woman with her tarnished reputation. Elizabeth thinks telling him their relationship has lost its spark will help him move on...but John isn't prepared to lose her, and sets out to prove their passion is as strong as ever....
I did have fun writing this story about minor characters who appear in The Gamekeeper's Lady. This is a fun and sexy read.

Clovelly Continued:

There is no mistaking what the inhabitants of this charming village do for a living, apart from tourists, with all the lobster pots attractively arranged at the entrance to the alleyway behind the cottages that face the harbour and the sea. Although Tourism is probably the prevalent business now.

In past days there was another important industry for the people along the coast. If you look closely, at the picture to the right you will see a rounded stone shape that looks a bit like a castle turret. This was a lime-kiln.

Lime was a very important product in the 18th and 19th century, used by farmers to counteract the acidity in their soil and for whitewash for cottage walls. The lime-kiln used a very cheap form of fuel, coal dust, called culm, brought by boat from South Wales.

Layers of lime and coal dust were put in the top of the kiln, called the pot, then set alight from the base. You can see the arched entrance, which is now covered by a wooden door. As the stone burned, it produced calcium oxide or the substance we know as quicklime which was drawn off through the draw hole loaded onto donkey and taken up the hill. Lime mortar was also used between the stones from which the cottages are built. This mortar allows the walls to "breathe" in the damp climate and is used today. This kiln ceased operation in 1911.

Steps up to the pier are not for the faint-hearted and flat shoes are recommended, but once up there the views are worth the effort.

That is all from me, today, but make sure you have your walking shoes handy next time because we will be climbing up the cobbled street to the top of the hill.

Until then, Happy Rambles

Rambling in Old Devon

2011-05-24T05:03:00.003-04:00

Did I ever tell you I consider myself a very fortunate person. I have a wonderful family, and lots of great friends.

This last week, I was once again reminded how fortunate I am, when my sister-in-law and brother-in-law surprised me by booking a room in a hotel in Clovelly. I knew we were going to visit Clovelly, but did not expect to be staying there, because it is very small and very difficult to access. You will see why I was so excited and pleased, when you see the pictures I am going to share with you over the next few posts.

This is the Red Lion hotel where we stayed and as you can see we were blessed with lovely weather. It was once several fishermen's cottages and was joined together to form an inn a great many years ago.

Early records of the village date back to Saxon times, but it has been around in something like its present form since the 16th century. If you haven't visited Clovelly, then hopefully you enjoy thes pictures as we rambled around the harbour and up through the village itself.

The populatin in the village in 1801 was 714 people and a great many of these would have been children, since families were large and the number of cottages is quite small.

The hillside is very steep so we have to go up very slowly and you will have to take lots of breaks, but first may I suggest a small libation at the bar in the Red Lion. We also had a crab sandwich for lunch, which was delicious.

To get down to the hotel by car (as only hotel guests are permitted to do), we used what is called The Turnpike road, which in the old days was very steep and very rough and it is this way that the supplies were delivered to the village at the very bottom of the hill, only to be have to then carried up to the houses. More about this later.

This is the cobbled alleyway that leads from Turnpike at the back of the Red Lion to the harbour side of the pier.

And here is the harbour as it appeared to us the day we arrived. You can see that the tide is out.

I have to say that we were enchanted with these first view of Clovelly, and there is so much more to come.

Until next time, Happy Rambles

Regency Fashion 1811

2011-05-23T04:59:00.000-04:00

We are still in the first year of the Regency, 1811, and what is everyone wearing?

May 1811 Evening Dress

Clearly this has all the Regency classic styling we have come to expect, with the romanesque draping to the gown and the tunic style overdress. Personally I am not keen on the turban, but the whole outfit is very nicely pulled together by the gold and green embroidery and the diamond shapes.

A robe and petticoat of white satin with short sleeves,trimmed with green or yellow chenille, over which is worn a light green drapery of crape, fastened on the left shoulder with an amber or cornelian brooch, folded over the left side of the figure in front , nearly concealing the waist on that side. The hind part of the drapery is simply bound in at the bottom of the waist, confined underneath the drapery in front, entirely ornamented round with yellow chenille. With this dress is worn a Turkish turban of green crape, with trimming to correspond with plume on the right side. Shoes of green kid or silk.

The gowns on the right are opera dresses for the same month.

Book Stuff

2011-05-14T09:25:00.000-04:00

Once in a while I like to post about writerly stuff which I hope you find of passing interest.

Last weekend I was invited to a bookfair in Selkirk, Ontario. A very small place in rural Ontario near Lake Erie. It had a Victorian Theme, so it was kind of them to invite me, though the Prince Regent was related to Queen Victoria, being one of her uncles so there was a tenuous connection.

The setting was great. All of the organizers and helpers were dressed in Victorian costume. If they do it again, I am going to be sure to wear my Regency Gown.

I met some really interesting writers while I was there, some published and some aspiring. I do love talking about writing with people who write. So I had a splendiferous time. We were making so much chit chat at one point, we got shushed, because there was a talk going on in another room and we were too noisy. Funny. After that we whispered like naughty school children.

Talking of dressing up, if any of you are going to Rom Con, I have agreed to participate in the costume workshop, so will be dressing up too. I'll post more information a bit later. I will do my best to get pictures from there and from RWA. I will be handing out the new Romance Trading Cards for these books at these events if anyone is interested.

On the book front, The Gamekeeper's Lady is in stores and receiving some nice reviews, which I have posted on the website http://www.annlethbridge.com where you will find lots of links of where you can buy. A new Undone is hovering in the wings. Called Deliciously Debauched by the Rake it is the story of two minor characters in The Gamekeeper's Lady. It will be out June 1, but I am not seeing a cover for it yet.

More Than a Mistress will be out soon. The second in the Rakes in Disgrace Series about Robert's twin brother Charlie.

And finally, I learned that the Brides of the West anthology is to be translated into Portuguese and come out in Brazil, so Michele Ann Young is going international again!

I am determined to get a fashion post done for you next, and then more sights and sounds from Britain. So until next time, Happy Rambles.

What I am reading:

Water for Elephants Water for Elephants

Note: some of the links on this blog go to Amazon and other sites, where I have affiliate accounts.

Regency Timelines

2011-05-05T23:41:00.000-04:00

What was happening in the Regency?
One major thing going on was the war with Napoleon, but there were lots of additional items in the newspapers two. Here is a selection.

Mar.1 A stone weighing fifteen pounds fell from the clouds in Russia.Oops. I bet that was a surprise.

Mar.5: The battle of Barossa gained by Gen. Graham, against the French under Marshal Victor. Sergeant Patrick Masterson captured the first French eagle to be taken in battle by th British from the French, in this case from the 8th of the Line

Mar.11: Badajos surrendered to the French.

Mar.11: The House of Commons voted a loan of six millions for the relief of merchants and manufacturers. You will see why, later.

Mar.12: Riots at Nottingham, in consequence of distress among workmen.

Mar.20: Birth of Bonaparte's son. The king of Rome. Pictured on the left as the Duke of Reichstadt, he became the Emperor of France for fifteen days, when his father abdicated in 1815, though it is doubtful he was aware of it, as he and his mother had fled to Austria.

Mar.23:A riot in Bristol caused by a rise in the price of butter,

Mar.26: Sequestrated English merchandise to the amount of £100,000 sterling, burned at Swinemunde.

Mar.31: Confiscated English manufacturer to the amount of £50,000 burned at Rugenwalde.

Apr. 1: Confiscated English manufactures to the amount of £60,000 burned at Memel.What a lot of waste and loss. This was part of the blockade.

Apr.3: At the late Duke Queensberry's sale, his Tokay wine sold at eighty four pounds per dozen. So to put that in perspective when you go to the liquor store, or wherever you buy your wine, that is about £2,852.64 for 12. Tokay is really Tokaji wine. It comes from Hungary and is a sweet wine and was the subject of the world's first appellation control, established several decades before Port wine and over 120 years before the classification of Bordeaux. Vineyard classification began in 1730 with vineyards being classified into 3 categories depending on the soil, sun exposure and potential to develop noble rot, botrytis cinerea, first class. A royal decree in 1757 established a closed production district in Tokaj. The classification system was completed by the national censuses of 1765 and 1772. Introduced to the French court, it was also a very popular wine during the regency in England, as indicated by the price.

Apr.4: A proclamation to the Berlin Court Gazette, forbidding any English man, or any other foreigner, to enter the Prussian territory without a passport.

Apr.8: several persons killed by the fall of two houses in Ironmonger Row, Old Street.

Apr.10: a riot at Brighton between a party of the South Gloucester militia, and a party of the inhabitants,

Apr.10: William Gibbs reprieved at the moment when about to be hanged for a robbery committed by his sweetheart of which he had taken upon himself the guilt in order to save her life. Talk about true love. And the save sounds a bit last minute too.

Apr,14: The French Garrison of Olivenza surrendered at discretion to the allied army.

Apr.20: Eight persons perished in the conflagration of a house in Half Moon Alley, Bishopsgate.

Apr.21: A Young nobleman lost £24,000 at one of the fashionable gambling houses. In today’s money, according to the British National Archives this would be worth in the order of £814,0000 or in US $1,337,238.10. Now I don’t know how you feel about that but my little flutters at the casino amount to $30 in a night.

Apr.24:Mackerel sold at Billingsgate, at eight shillings a piece by the hundred. Not so expensive, then.

Apr.24: A subscription set on foot at the London Tavern for the relief of the Portuguese.

Apr.25: Thirty five men killed, and eighteen wounded, by an explosion of inflammable air in a coal mine near Liege. Interesting how they call it air rather than gas.

Apr.29: The commissioners of Hyde Park turnpike let their tolls for £17,000 per annum. A profit of £580,000 in today's money. One can only imagine how much the person taking the tolls actually made.

That is all from me, until next time, Happy Rambles.

A Toast to the Royal Newlyweds

2011-05-02T09:41:00.001-04:00

It was a great day, wasn't it? Did you like me, get up at four in the morning to watch on tv here in North America? I think I have only just recovered from that early morning. Or were you one of the lucky ones in London standing on the Mall to watch the couple pass by? From what I heard you too rose at four, if you ever went to bed.

Perhaps you were in Britain and attended one of the many street parties that day?

The_happy couple_on_the_balcony.jpg: Magnus D

Something that was very clear to me was the happiness of this couple. And I wish them all the very best for their futures. I am sure it is not easy being in their position, but let us hope they are as happy as me and my husband are.

If you want to know more about Royal Weddings down the ages, might I suggest you check out the Harlequin Digital Royal Wedding Series? You can find my story at Amazon Princess Charlotte's Choice or at eHarlequin.com
.
Or go to my website at http://www.annlethbridge.com to find out more.

The next two months will be busy ones, since I have two books out, in addition to this digital short story, and there is another Undone due for release any day now, but I will try to get us back on track with our regular postings of all things Regency.

Until next time, Happy Rambles.

Where I am

2011-04-21T07:54:00.000-04:00

Royal Wedding fever is catching. Join me at the Harlequin blog where I am talking about Princess Charlotte's wedding dress. Leave a comment to win a prize.

Royal Wedding Celebration

2011-04-18T09:33:00.001-04:00

Yes, this is the week we celebrate the upcoming nuptials of the Royal couple.

If you want to meet the authors and hear about the stories for this unique one of a kind series from Harlequin, you can find us at the e-Harlequin blog all this week, starting with Henry and Eleanor of Aquitane's stormy relationship today.

I suppose I should mention that there are prizes to be won? Not that it is a bribe or anything, but you can win a prize if you follow the link and make a comment on the Harlequin Blog. The more you comment, the more chance you have of winning.

I will be getting up before the crack of dawn to join in the celebrations and I plan to have a little champagne on hand to drink their health and wish them well.

How will you be celebrating or marking this auspicious occasion? Or will you?

Regency Fashion 1811

2011-04-15T00:11:00.000-04:00

Portrait of the Mlles. Mollien by Rouget, 1811

Ah yes, it is fashion day.

A Ball Gown ~ April 1811

A white sarsenet or satin petticoat, with short sleeves, over which is worn a body and drapery of light-blue gauze, formed in three points, or vandykes over the petticoat, reaching nearly to the bottom, the ends finished with white silk tassels. It is crossed over the figure in fronts towards the left side, and fastened in tufts of bows of the same colour. A short sash tied in a bow on the left side. Sleeves looped up in front of the arm. The bottom of the petticoat is trimmed in vandykes to correspond. White silk stockings and blue kid shoes.The hair twisted up behind and redressed in full curls, ornamented with a bandeau of light blue twisted crape and roses. White kid gloves.

And in Paris they were wearing Cashmere Shawls

This one in pink has an amazingly low neck line and the lady carries another shawl in white.

Until next time, Happy Rambles.

Hay-on-Wye

2011-04-11T01:00:00.003-04:00

Also known as Y Gelli Gandryl in Welsh, since the town is indeed in Wales, was listed as a must see for me, by my family. It has over thirty bookshops and every year is the venue for a literary festival.

It is also a very old place with lots of interesting nooks and crannies and a couple of castles dating back to 1070. It was a pleasure to wander the streets of this old market town.

Needless to say I bought several books and found some fashion prints from La Belle Assemblee that I gleefully brought home with me and shared here.

Here are some views as we walked around

This is St John's Chapel originating in the 13th century
And the Butter Market in the centre of town dating from 1830. It replaced an old open air market. Market day is Thursday

And this is a rare picture of me, about to go for lunch in the pub. This is a 17th century inn call The Black Lion, Old has now been added to its name, and it stood near the Lion Gate when Hay was a walled town.

Some parts of the building are said to date back to the 1300's.

I finish up with a picture of the back of the castle, obviously turned into a mansion and a view back into the Brecon Beacons.

And that is all from me. For some reason Blogger was like molasses tonight, slow to move. But until next time, happy rambles.

Pre Party - Royal Weddings

2011-04-06T23:31:00.000-04:00

Join us at The Good the Bad and the Unread for a pre-royal wedding celebration just to get you in the mood.

The authors of the Harlequin Mills and Boon Royal Wedding stories would love to see you there.

You will find the stories behind the stories and some excerpts.

Wales

2011-03-31T11:02:00.001-04:00

During our visit last summer, we spent some time in Wales, you may even recall the snippet of video I recorded when walking in the woods. The next pictures are from the Brecon Beacons.

The Brecon Beacons are named after the ancient practice of lighting signal fires on mountains to warn of attacks by the English, or more recently to commemorate public and national events such as coronations or the Millennium.

The Brecon Beacons range
consists of the mountains to the south of Brecon. The highest of these is Pen y Fan (886 m). These summits form a long horseshoe ridge around the head of the Taf Fechan river to the south-east, with long parallel spurs extending to the north-east.

The mountains are known for swift changes in weather conditions, even in summer, although as you can see from my photos we had a perfect Spring day. In winter they can be dangerous.

These are some typical inhabitants of the Brecons. And if you are lucky you might even see a Welsh pony.

I took my photos on my way to Hay-on-Wye, a place where the book rules supreme and one of the most interesting bookstores I have ever visited is a Castle.

So let us visit Hay-on-Wye next time, and until then, Happy Rambles.

Regency Fashion 1811

2011-03-28T01:00:00.047-04:00

I didn't do a fashion post this month and we are celebrating 200 years since the Regency. Well, we can't have that can we. Here are some more 1811 Regency Fashions.

This is a Morning Carriage dress from La Belle Assemblee for March 1811

The description is as follows:

A bias corded muslin dress, a walking length, with long sleeves, made high in the neck, with collar; buttoned down the front of the waist with narrow lilac satin ribband. Sash tied in a bow in front; a border of plain muslin, or lace, round the bottom. A square of lilac satin, with richly embroidered border in white silk, and tassels to correspond, is thrown over the shoulders in the form of a shawl, and is cut down the back to give it a more easy and graceful appearance about the figure. A simple white chip hat, tied round the crown in a bow in front of lilac satin ribband. The hair in full curls over the forehead. Pearl earrings. Gloves and shoes of pale lemon, or lilac coloured kid.

It is interesting isn't it, that they not only describe the dress but that they specify the accessories right down to the hairstyles. The earrings look to be quite large.

Some General Observations:

For these you will have to use your imagination, but they offer a clue as to what was deemed in style by La Belle Assemblee for this particular month.

Pelisses and mantles have undergone no variation since our last communications. A mantle of very pale fawn colour Merino cloth, with large hood, lined with pink silk, worn with a Highland cap of the same material, ornamented with two small flat ostrich feathers of the same colour, is a most becoming dress to a fair complexion. We have observed several in very dark green, lined with pink or orange, with straw cottage bonnets trimmed with velvet flowers or shaded ostrich feathers. Pelisses are made to fit tight to the shape without a band, with a broad trimming of sable or of the Nootka Sound otter. They are mostly made in velvet of the colour of rubies, garnet, royal purple or puce; some are ornamented round the bottom with a very broad embossed figured ribband.

    Morning dresses are still made in plain cambric, with oblong spots or sprigs of lace let in on the bosom and sleeves. Small lace caps tied down with coloured silk or gause handkerchiefs, ornamented in front with a demi-tiara of fancy flowers, or a knot of pinks or ranunculus. Gloves and shoes of corresponding colours.

    Dinner, or home dresses, are mostly composed of stuff, cloth or velvet, embroidered or trimmed with gold, with long sleeves and moderate trains; either high in the neck with a falling collar of worked muslin, or full twill of lace, or just above the rise of the bosom with a white crape habit-shirt or standing frill of lace plain round the neck. Velvet Turkish caps, gold bands, and spangled nets, are much worn on the head.

    Bands in every species of jewelry are now the prevailing ornaments for the head; they are worn low over the face, with a diamond or other open work, clasp or loop in the center of the forehead. The hair curled on each side in ringlets, the hind hair brought forward, and disposed so as to fall over the left side of the face.

    No variety has taken place in shoes; they are still embroidered in gold or silver, in the device of a star.

    In respect to the jewelry, the greatest novelty is the band for the head; they are formed of two rows of coloured stones or pearls fastened to an ornament in the center. Girdles in coloured gems distinguish the women of fashion. Earrings are made in the top and drop fashion. Brooches in the form of sprigs or flowers, with gems of appropriate hues.

    The prevailing colours for the season are ruby, garnet, puce, purple, orange, grass-green, and coquelicot.

Nice range of colours there and some interesting headgear.

Until next time Happy Rambles through the Regency

News - Upcoming books

2011-03-24T09:31:00.000-04:00

Now is that cover provocative, or what? And.... it is a scene out of the book. Is he taking that garter off or putting it on - did you ask? Well.... I suppose you will need to read the story. Oh, that is teasing, but honestly, I hate spoilers.

It was quite a thrill to see that More than a Mistress is already up on Amazon for pre-order and we haven't yet got The Gamekeeper's Lady on shelves. It is due out at the end of April and they are calling it a May book. I must say it was a bit of a thrill. It was worth all the long hours trying to meet the deadlines.

If you are looking for more information and exclusive excerpts, by the way, or even links to the various places where these books can be purchased on line (so not a hint), you will find them at my website (which is newly revamped).

And while we are on the subject, it is not the only new offering from me for April. We also have the digital short story in the Royal Wedding series, Princess Charlotte's Choice is my offering there, but I will have more about that for you next month as the series authors are banding together to offer you some prizes to celebrate the upcoming marriage of William and Kate.

Will you be glued to your TV to watch the Royal couple tie the knot? I know I will even if it means getting up as some ridiculously early hour. Perhaps we should set up a twitter circle and chat about it in real time. Hmm might be fun.

Anyway, until next time, Happy Rambles.

Royal Wedding Celebration

2011-03-14T09:30:00.000-04:00

As the world gears up to celebrate the marriage of William and Kate, Harlequin is having its own celebration. Six Harlequin Historical authors have written digital short stories about the Royal Weddings of the past. Check them out today at http://harlequinblog.com/ Do leave a comment.

Needless to say yours truly has written one of those stories and watch this space for more information about the upcoming contest we plan to hold on April 1st for the launch of this series.

Until next time, Happy Rambles

Searching for Regency London

2011-03-10T10:32:00.000-05:00

Where did the week go!
My walk along the Thames is almost at an end, but there were a few stray pictures that I took that I thought would be nice to finish up with.

This is what would have been a typical width of an alley in this dockside area. I was fascinated by the double yellow lines which mean no parking. Duh! Do you see the other lines on the cobbled road, the white ones? They mean this is a two way street. I imagine there is a fair amount of sidewalk (called a path or a pavement in England) passing, or backing up.

Of course, I need to think about my hero or heroine leaving their vehicle out in the street in such circumstances, held of course by the handy snotty-nosed urchin who always happens to be standing by. He is so not leaving a curricle there.

This is the Angel, in Rotherhithe, a parish within the Borough of Southwark. A pub has stood on this spot since the seventeeth century and was in our time surrounded by tobacco warehouses.

The map shows this area in 1848.

Back on the Wapping side of the stream (just joking)

This is a school. St John of Wapping, a charity school founded in 1695 and this building erected by subscription in 1760. The statues show a boy and a girl and they stand over the separate entrances for each gender.

Not a great picture because the the parked vehicles. Where are the double yellow lines when you need them?

My final picture in this series is one of the warehouses still standing along the wapping side of the docks.

Built for the import of tea in 1869, it is well outside of our era, but not so far that it is not worthy of inclusion.

Well that's it. Lots more places to go and lots more to see, and a new book cover on the horizon for next time.

Until then, Happy Rambles.

Regency Timelines

2011-03-03T23:42:00.000-05:00

What did happen during the Regency? Apart from the fact that a regent ruled England that is. Give the 200th anniversary of our beloved period, I thought it might be interesting to tract some of the interesting historical events during this period in date order.

So we will start with the year 1811, the Regency having begun in February that year. George, the Prince Regent, was now heading for forty-nine and was no longer Prince Charming. Wellesley, who was eventually to become the Duke of Wellington, had been fighting the French on the Iberian Peninsular (Portugal and Spain) since May of 1809.

January 1811 saw a very cold winter.

Jan. 4: A heavy fall of snow rendered the northern roads almost
impassable. The river Severn froze. The River Thames froze
Jan. 5: Two outside passengers on the Carlisle coach frozen to death.
Jan. 10. A monster, or women hater, dangerously wounded a female in St. James's Park
Jan. 13: Gallant Action in which the merchant ship Cumberland, Capt. Barratt, beat off four French privateers.
Jan. 16: A chimney sweep's boy suffocated in a chimney in Orchard street, Westminister.
Jan. 22: The Cosgrove Aqueduct, an iron aqueduct bridge of the Grand Junction Canal over the river Ouse near Stratford (pictured here), opened for the passage of boats. This is a cast iron trough in which canal boats navigated from one side of the river to the other passing through several locks as it moves up hill. A tow path runs alongside the canal on one side, on the other it looks something like an infinity pool.
Jan. 31: there was an eruption of a volcano in 80 fathoms of water, near Azores.
Feb.6: His R.H. the Prince of Wales was sworn into office of Regent.
Feb.10: A conflagration near Limehouse hole stairs (on the river near the southwest India dock) destroyed four warehouses and twelve dwelling houses.
Feb.23: A decree of Bonaparte ordered prisoners of war to be employed as laborers.
Feb.26: John Liles sentenced to seven years transportation, for bigamy.
Feb.26: Hadje Hassan, ambassador from Algiers, had his first audience of the Prince Regent.
Feb.27: The House of representatives in the American congress passed a bill prohibiting intercourse with Great Britain and on Feb. 28 Mr. Pinkney, the American minister in this country, had his audience of leave.

So passes the beginning of the Regency. Until next time, Happy Rambles

Searching for Regency London

2011-02-28T08:52:00.000-05:00

The last day of February and I have to finish edits for a book due out in the Fall. If you like sneek peeks, how about this title. Lady Rosabella's Ruse.

Oh and I have my UK cover for More than a Mistress. Here it is here. It will be out in North America in May.

London

My next topic is something I have blogged about before. The Thames River Police I . Thames River Police II

I have linked to the earlier posts so you can take a look at them as an introduction. This time, I was able to visit the museum and can fill in a few more details. I must say I liked the idea of standing in a building that parts of it dated back to the Regency. And it is nice to know that the Force continues to this day, albeit in a very different form.

The pictures I am adding today were taken in the museum with the kind permission of the museum's curator Robert Jeffries, who was a member of that illustrious Police force.

This picture is from 1859, but still it gives the feel of our time, the spars and masts, the wooden boats beached on the side of the river, the building unchanged from that above.

The Museum contains many treasures and mementos from the work of the police, as you can see from this cabinet.

Of particular interest is the police boat gun from 1798.

You can make out the stock behind the glass and the thole, a wooden pin or one of a pair, set upright in the gunwales of a rowing boat to serve as a fulcrum in rowing (rowlock), only in this case it was used to support this very large weapon. It was too large to be held and fired.

Publicans at inn like the Town of Ramsgate, pictured in detail last time, and the Prospect of Whitby, pictured here, were owned by what were known in those days as Master Lumpers. They organized the Lumpers, the men who unloaded the ships. they were also the men who stole a great deal of the contents of those ships, seeing it as a gratuity for the work they did. Everything from sugar to coal.

Some of the terminology for the Thames River Police and those working on the river at the time:

Watermen   -     constables

Surveyors    -    warrant or customs warrant.

Lighters      - boats wich take the cargo off to unload it a the warehouses

Lumpers - the labourers who unloaded the cargo

Sweepings    - the first mate on a sugar carrying ship had the rights to "sweepings" what was left on the deck after unloading, and he would sell these rights to anyone who wanted to do the work to sweep them up. Interesting to think about what might have been in the resulting bag of sugar.   or not.

Spillage   - anything spilled was seen as a perk for various individuals and somehow there was a lot of spillage.

Tipstaff - a badge of office, like a warrant card today, and sometime used to carry a warrant for arrest in the handle. Also a weapon, a forerunner of the truncheon.

This is an inspectors tipstaff from 1827. And here are a couple of early handcuffs.

Note the policeman's rattle in the second picture. The l-shaped large wooden object.

Rattles came into use sometime in the late seventeenth or early eighteenth century when night watchmen and/or village constables used them to "raise the alarm". They proved an ideal method to summon aid, sound the fire alarm, or, just generally get folks attention. A traditional rattle was constructed of wood, usually oak, where one or two blades are held in a frame and a ratchet turned - by swinging - to make the blades `snap' thus creating a very loud noise.

Of course we have only touched on the surface of the river and its police force but I do hope you have enjoyed the visit.

Until next time, Happy Rambles

What I Did on my Holidays!

2011-02-17T08:13:00.000-05:00

Does the title remind you of those essays we had to write after the school summer holidays? I always hated them, because I never did anything, or at least not anything interesting. I used to make things up. I guess I'm still doing that. But this time I have pictures to prove I did do something

I thought it might make a change to share it on this blog, but be warned there is no regency or writing content.

We just got back from Costa Rica and I went zip lining. I loved it. I have to say that the helpful staff made it easy, but still, as a person who hates heights I had the feeling I might chicken out.

But I didn't. I can't wait to go again. The weather in Costa Rica is gorgeous, unlike here today, where we have freezing rain.

Here I am with the guys. This was the group that went around together. I was surprised at how safe it was, we were clipped on to a safety line at all times. Helmets were required, and then there were all the straps. And they provided water at intervals. It is very easy to dehydrate in the heat. So glad I wore that shirt; it shows up really well in the pictures, lol

Not once did I feel scared and as someone whose knees wobble every time I step one step up my kitchen ladder, that is saying something. Well, do I hear you say, it is all very well showing us a picture, but how do we know you actually did it? Aha, I cry. I have the video. This may take a bit of time to load on your computer, but if you have a minute, then give it a shot.

It's a bit jiggly, the guide taking it was on a platform at the top of a tree, and you can hear him shouting break at the end, telling me to pull down on the wire so I didn't slam into the tree. You can certainly see my big happy smile. Oh, I do want to have another turn.

So there we have it, what I did on my holidays. --There was lots more, we saw some of the countryside, and toured a national park, and of course went swimming in the ocean. The sand is black, or at least when it is on your feet it makes them look dirty, but the ocean was clear, and warm and we swam in it every day.

I haven't ever been anywhere more friendly or more interesting. So that's it for me, today.

Until next time, Happy Rambles.

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T16:44:00.000-05:00

Fall in Love Like a Romance Writer: Novelists Share Stories and Thoughts on Long and Lasting Love

67 of us, including me, indeed. What more could you ask for today of all days?!

Hope your day is filled with love.

Regency Fashion 1811

2011-02-10T23:34:00.054-05:00

Fashion like a good way to mark the beginning of the Regency. The first article talks about fashion in general, then we have some descriptions of specific plates.

General Observations on Fashion and Dress, March 1811 from the February 1811 La Belle Assemblee

The mourning for the late Princess Amelia expired on the 11th of last month, but though not general, the Court continued it in a slight degree for the deceased Queen of France. Sables are at length, however, entirely laid aside, and notwithstanding the season of Lent is not usually distinguished by much of variety, gloom seems to have subsided and gaiety and fashion fast entering on spring.

For the promenade, scarlet mantles have been so general during the mourning, that for mere variety they must now be laid aside, we think they are more frequently succeeded by the short pelisse of purple velvet, trimmed with broad black lace, or small cottage mantlet, lined with white sarsnet, ornamented with white chenille or gold. Purple sarsnet pelisses, or black velvet, lined with colours, are equally approved.

Cottage bonnets, cloth turbans, or small velvet caps, and one long dropping ostrich feather, or two small ones, are more prevailing; under the cottage bonnets, which are formed to set off from the face, small lace caps, rosettes of lace or ribband, or small flowers are much worn, with a deep blue French veil thrown over. Purple, black, or scarlet boots, are universal for walking.

For morning dress, short pelisses of cambric corded muslin, over a slip of the same, trimmed with edging, or made in poplin, bombazeen, or lustres, with ruffs and cuffs of fine clear muslin, with bands of the same, and clasps of lope de perle.

Dinner dresses are most worn in lustres, sarsnets, Opera nets, or cloth, made up to the throat with lace cuffs, collars, and small French aprons of lace or fine embroidered muslin; and lace or quilted satin tippets, trimmed with swansdown, or white chenille.

The full dress, black or white lace over coloured or white satin slips, ornamented with gold, still continue the most admired, with pearl necklaces, combs, and other ornaments blended with emeralds.—Small tippets in antique lace or satin trimmed with swansdown, are considered indispensable, and small aprons of rich antique embroidered muslin with full pockets drawn and ornamented with white satin ribband, have an exceedingly elegant, and novel effect, and are much to be preferred to the ridicule so long in vogue.

For the Opera, blue or white satin, short pelisses, trimmed with dead silver or gold, with massy gold chains and bracelets, brooched with emeralds or amethysts, and crosses to correspond; and gold or silver bands or nets for the hair, which is dressed in full, large, round curls over the face, and divided on one side by a diamond, pearl, or ornamented comb.

Hair knots are just introduced, in embroidered lace, with gold or silver thread, forming a light rosette, to be disposed among the hair according to fancy.

Fashion for February 1811 from January 1811 La Belle Assemblee

Walking Dress    A pelisse of scarlet Merino cloth, buttoned down the front and up the arm with small gold buttons; the collar and cuffs of purple velvet; but during the mourning, of black, striped with scarlet; an empire tippet pointed in the back, and muffs of the same. A bonnet of scarlet cloth, turned up with velvet and formed to come over the face; the veil passed through the front, and brought round the neck. Boots of scarlet cloth trimmed with velvet.
Evening Full Dress. A round dress of white satin, sloped up in front; with small train ornamented round the bottom with velvet in a scroll pattern, vandyked at the edges, and dotted with black chenille; the velvet during the mourning should be grey or scarlet; the bosom, girdle, and sleeves of this dress are ornamented to correspond, in the form exhibited in the plate. A turban cap of white satin, looped with pearls, and edged with velvet; the hair combed full over the face, curled in thick flat curls, divided on the forehead. Necklace, earrings, and bracelets of gold and pearls blended. White kid shoes and gloves; fan of white crape and gold.

These February 1811 gowns will be our bench mark for how the rest of the time period plays out in terms of fashion.

Until next time, Happy Rambles

The Regency

2011-02-06T01:00:00.047-05:00

February 6 - January 29, 1820

There is often confusion about the date the Regency begins, February 5 or February 6. Royal Assent to the Regency Act was given on February 5 1811. George, Prince of Wales was sworn in as Regent on February 6. He was in his forty-ninth year. He had been excluded from any form of meaningful participation in Government by his father until that date.

At Carlton House on February 6, the band of the Grenadiers in white gaiters played in the courtyard, while Privy Councillors and Peers entered the house for the swearing in.

To everyone's surprise, and the Whigs chagrin, he decided to keep his father's Tory Ministers. He kept those ministers waiting for two hours. Out of the windows they no doubt saw the Prince's daughter, Princess Charlot,te on horseback riding about the garden with two grooms. One can imagine how interested she must have been in the proceedings.

The Prince did not celebrate this great event until later that summer in June.

The Regency period, and the years that surround it mark a time of change. Real change from the earlier Georgian period with their powdered hair and wigs, to a period much more recognizable in our modern time. Many of the designs of that era are well thought of today. Medicine and mechanical transportation were in their infancy and knowledge increased exponentially. During the 200th Anniversary I hope to address events and of note during this period.

Today is the first day of the 200th Anniversary. Do you have any special plans? I will be reading all I can find on those very specific years, so I can share it with you.

Until Next time, Happy Rambles

Regency Fashion for January

2011-02-02T22:23:00.000-05:00

A bit late I know but I wanted to get this in before we started on our new Fashion format tied to the years of the Regency. Oh and the sneak peek we had yesterday, well the cover is now up on Amazon.

Looking back at previous posts for January, I see that last year's post on fashion showed England as snowbound, this year I would say it is North America that is showing a lot more white than usual.

The long Regency era covers from say the late 1780's to 1830. Since the rest of the posts this year will focus strictly on the years of the British Regency, when Britain had a Regent 1811 to 1820, in celebration of the 200th Anniversary. Today I am going 1807

I like this one because it it has a very elegant Gentleman walking with the lady.

It comes from Le Beaumonde for January 1807

A plain muslin dress, walking length, made high in front, and forms a shirt collar, richly embroidered; long sleeves, also embroidered round the wrists, and at the bottom of the dress; a pelisse opera coat, without any seam in the back, composed of orange-blossom tinged with brown, made of Angola cloth, or sarsnet, trimmed either with rich Chinchealley [sic] fur, or sable tipt with gold; white fur will also look extremely delicate. The pelisse sets close to the form on one side, and is fastened on the right shoulder with a broach; both sides may be worn close as a wrapping pelisse.

Indispensables are still much worn, and of the same colour as the dress. The Agrippina hat, made at Millard's, corner of Southampton-street, Strand, is truly elegant and quite new; the hair in loose curls, confined with a band of hair: ear-rings are quite out of fashion. Leather gloves, and high shoes or half-boots, or orange-blossom, brown velvet or kid.

Sadly no description for the gentleman. Of more intereste is the actual name and address of the make of the Hat. A nice little detail for a novel.

That's it for me, but I do hope those dealing with snow and others dealing with storms are managing as best they can. Until next time, Happy Rambles

Bragging

2011-01-28T08:26:00.000-05:00

New covers are always exciting and scary. I am sure I have said this before. On the left is the North American April Release for, The Gamekeeper's Lady, and on the right the same book issued in the UK in December. Both do justice to my heroine, so I can stop holding my breath. Oh, no! I can't, because there is a book out in May. More than a Mistress is a sequel to The Gamekeeper's Lady. Now I have to start holding my breath all over again.

The Gamekeeper's Lady

A most forbidden attraction! Frederica Bracewell grew up under a cloud of shame. As an illegitimate child, she was treated by her uncle like a servant. It isn't until she encounters the new gamekeeper that shy, innocent Frederica starts to feel like a true lady...Lord Robert Mountford has been banished by his family. After a debauched existence, he revels in the simplicity of a gamekeeper's lifestyle. Until temptation strikes! Frederica's plain appearance and stuttering speech are a far cry from the ladies of the ton, but she may just be his undoing...and unmasking!

If you fancy buying a copy use the links in the sidebar to order or pre-order depending on where you live or go to your local bookstore or library and enjoy!

Until next time, Happy Rambles.

Searching for Regency London

2011-01-24T22:39:00.000-05:00

This is my latest release in the UK and I am so happy to be sharing it with some other authors. I love the cover and the title. Just to be clear this is a Mills and Boon Anthology containing the Undone short stories by several authors which are all available in ebook format from Harlequin and Mills and Boon and in all kinds of other formats for ebooks as single stories.

If you prefer print books , then this will let you in on the action with these new stories for Harlequin and Mills. You will find it in the UK primarily, and you can Buy it from Amazon.co.UK

Returning to our topic, we are continuing our walk along the side of the Thames below London Bridge. This is of course the dock area. We are in Wapping. An area long known as being poor and crime ridden. This area is full of building used as warehouses for storing goods either to be shipped or coming into Britain. Many or most of them are now luxury dwelling.

These pictures are taken of Wapping Old Stairs. As you can see these stairs lead down into the Thames.

The Thames is tidal at this point and I think you can see quite clearly the high water mark on both the step and the concrete wall, which by the way supports the terrace where my guides and I had a very nice lunch and a cup of tea. There are older stairs on the right, but I was unable to access these, but here is a picture of them from Wikipedia that someone took without needing to get their feet wet.

These pictures looks down the narrow alleyway that gives access to the stairs between the pub and the building beside it. The left towards the street and the right, obviously towards the river.

In 1811, the horrific Ratcliff Highway murders took place at The Highway and Wapping Lane. I will post about this at some other time.

The Town of Ramsgate pub is the white building with red trim on wone side of the alley leading to the steps. While not the original pub, the name is as it was in the Regency and it was so named as a way of attracting the custom of Kentish fishermen who used to land their wares here.

Some where near here was located Execution Dock where pirates met their end. Several pubs claim the honour but a rather unscientific survey leads me to believe it lay closest to the Town of Ramsgate. The final hangings were George Davis and William Watts charged with piracy and hung December 1830.

And so we finish with a picture of the inn.

Until next time, Happy Rambles

2011-01-19T01:00:00.000-05:00

I can't remember how many times I have complained about Graffiti, but this past summer, I was enchanted to find some. Sounds very strange, I know, but to me this was special.

I visited Sturminster Newton Town Mill and was fascinated to find that the mill dated from the eleventh century. The current building has two wings one dating from c. 1650 and the later part, jutting out into the River Stour was built in the late eighteenth century, and was originally a fulling mill used for the finishing of locally woven material known as 'Swanskin', a coarse, white woollen cloth or flannel produced for soldiers, sailors and Newfoundland fisherman. Ah a Canadian connection. The mill was thatched until 1862 and now is roofed with stone tiles.

But to get to my topic. The south facing wall of the mill has some very nice graffiti, initials and dates from the late eighteenth and nineteens century. These initials are deeply carved in the south wall of the building on the bank. The first is S.N from 1874. He was in fact Samuel Newman, the miller at this time. The second is C.B from 1812.C.B also made an appearance in 1809 and he was Chas Baverstock, also a miller. A way to make sure you are remembered for a considerable period of time, even if it was for not having much work to do.

Not all graffiti is of the idle kind. If you can see on this next picture, there are deep grooves in this stone, which is situated in the doorway into the mill. These grooves represent the height of winter flooding. The highest was recorded in 1756, and the next highest in 1979. I was glad to see the tradition continued.l

I wonder if you can tell why no one wrote there name on this nearby bridge made of the same stone during a very similar time period.

It might have something to do with this little sign which I found on many of the bridges in this county. Good old George IV.

Searching for Regency London

2011-01-11T10:51:00.001-05:00

First I wanted to offer my sympathy to all those readers and authors in the Brisbane area. I visited Australia two years ago and have friends there. I am devastated watching those news reports and my thoughts are with you all.

London

The next part of my journey involved the River Thames. An important highway, the City grew up beside it and around it. We walked from the Tower of London towards the docks.

One of the first things my guide pointed out was a Thames Barge.

You can just see the red sails. Apparently they were not dyed red, but the preservative used on them turns them red.

Originally, Thames barges and lighters were rowed out from the docks from ships to large to tie up at the warves. They would bring the goods from ship to shore.

As time went on sails were added and their heyday was around 1900, there being about two thousand working on the river by that time.

This next picture is of Jacob's Island, which you may recall as the setting from Dicken's Oliver Twist

What you are looking at here is the point at which the River Neckinger meets the Thames at St. Saviour's Dock. While it is now a desirable area, it was once notoriously squalid.

The following pictures from earlier times will help set the picture I think.

This picture from wikipedia shows Neckinger River in 1813, which by the way my guide told me was the term for a noose for a river pirate. Further research revealed the river is believed to be named from the term "Devil's neckcloth. Until the eighteenth century Thames pirates were excuted at what was then called Neckinger Wharf near the mouth of the inlet. The corpses were displayed further downstream as a deterrent.

Particularly interesting is the attached map. Hard to read, but fascinating. If you look closely you can make out Mill Street running parallel and one block to the left from the dock. Which brings us to the next picture, circa1840.

Folly ditch. Man made tidal ditches had surrounded Jacobs Island in earlier centuries, a way of getting goods to wharehouses. Over the years they were filled in leaving them land locked with all the attendant evils of stagnant water.

If you want to know more about Jacob's Island, earlier and later than the Regency, I found this website to be fascinating.

Some books I found useful in preparing for my walks around London.

Secret London: Exploring the Hidden City, With Original Walks And Unusual Places to Visit

A. to Z. of Regency London At Amazon.com

Or Search for the A-Z of Regency London at Abebooks where you might well find a cheaper version

More to come on the River Thames and its History next time. Until then, Happy Rambles.

Happy New Year

2011-01-02T11:08:00.000-05:00

Wishing you all a safe happy and prosperous 2011

The Winner

2010-12-22T08:55:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays

of my portion of the Holiday Contest is Sheila Gallagher. She entered through my face book page. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-Lethbridge/74797436859 The number was drawn randomly from the full list of all the names, those who liked, those who commented on facebook and those who commented on the blog. I wanted each and everyone of you to win, but unfortunately only one person can.

Thank you for entering. It has been wonderful to meet so many readers of Historical and Regency fiction who are new to me. Some of you even signed up for my newsletter, so I am glad we will have an ongoing relationship. Isn't that the nicest thing about meeting new friends, knowing they will be part of your future, even if it is only on line?

Thank you all for making this contest such a pleasure. I had so much fun reading all the names and all the comments yesterday.
Have a safe and wonderful Holiday. Good luck on this the last day of the contest,

My next post will probably be next week, as I really must get some baking done and there is a little matter of a story awaiting my attention.

Until next time, Happy Rambles.

Holiday Contest

2010-12-21T00:01:00.000-05:00

Post your Contest answer here!

What is the first name of Alice's best friend? She will be appearing in the book I am working on now. You will need to go to my website to find the answer -- unless you read the book!
Post it sometime during December 21 to be included in my draw and the Grand Prize Draw. I will post the winner's names on Facebook and on this blog.

Good Luck

Regency Food

2010-12-16T01:00:00.001-05:00

It has been a while since we did anything on food so I thought you might like a change. It could be that will all the festivities planned for the next little while, I have food on my mind.

While I know lots about meat, I thought I might do something of vegetables. I found several recipes for a vegetable called a cardon in French, or in English a cardoon. It went "out of fashion" in the late 1800's.

It is new to me, but it is an artichoke thistle, related to the globe artichoke and has an artichoke like flavour. Since it has spines, care is needed.

The following recipe from 1822 would have been used as a second course dish.

Cardons a la Espagnole

This dish is the foremost of all the entremets of vegetables and requires great attention and no small share of skill. It is not much relished in England but in France it was held in the highest estimation.
In the first place you must select a few heads of cardons all very white. Cut each leaf into slices of six inches long with the exception however of those that are hollow which are tough and thready. Beard them of their prickles and blanch them by putting the thickest leaves into boiling water. When you have given these a few boils put in the leaves of the heart, turn the middle stalks into large olives and blanch them likewise.

Then try a piece in cold water to see whether the slime which is on the surface will come off by rubbing If so take them off the fire immediately and throw them into cold water as they are done enough or you may cool the boiling water by pouring cold into it till you are able to bear your hand in it to rub off all the slime.

This being done throw the cardons into a blanc, give them a single boil and leave them in the blanc. Whenever you wish to use them, drain a sufficient quantity. Pare both extremities and mark them in a stew pan with four spoonfuls of Espagnole and four spoonfuls of consomme a little salt and a little sugar. Let them boil over a sharp fire that they may not be done too much be sure to skim off all the fat.

Dish them nicely. Strain the sauce through a tammy before you mask (cover) them. Send them up to table quite hot with a cover over them to prevent their getting dry

Espagnole is a sauce, created this way. Besides some slices of ham put into a stew pan some slices of veal. Moisten the same as for the coulis sweat them in the like manner let all the glaze go to the bottom and when of a nice red colour moisten with a few spoonfuls of first consomme to detach the glaze then pour in the coulis. Let the whole boil for half an hour that you may be enabled to remove all the fat. Strain it through a clean tammy. Remember always to put into your sauces some mushrooms with a bunch of parsley and green onions.

Other suggested sauces were marrow (as in bone), veloute, and sauce blanche. Take your pick.

Interesting, but not something I plan to rush out and buy from the grocery store. Next time we will try something a little less exotic.

Until then Happy Rambles

Contest

2010-12-14T12:56:00.000-05:00

Now you have all heard about the hiding of gifts inside a Christmas pudding, right? No? In the early days it would be a silver threepence, or some other small silver coin. My Christmas pudding is a cyber one.

Enter the amazing contest we Harlequin Historical authors have going on at the moment and have a chance to win your choice of one of my books as well all kinds of other amazing prizes from twenty-tow historical authors You just need to go to my website and follow the instructions, as well as have fun.

Until next time, happy hunting!

Regency London ~ My search

2010-12-09T09:01:00.000-05:00

Contest:

Enter to win a Kindle 3G! your choice of one of my books and many other prize. Go to annlethbridge.com

Regency London

My next day in London was a biggie. Talk about ramble. I walked miles. Looking back at my notes and plans, I now remember how worried I was about the volcano in Iceland. Anyone remember that? I was on tenterhooks for weeks wondering if we would actually make it across the pond. Oh, now we have taken a side turn. Back onto the main path. That particular day, I took the underground to Tower station, where I met my fellow ramblers. Our first stop was a church

All Hallows by the Tower

London has many many churches, but this one calls itself the oldest one in the city of London. I am hedging my bets a bit here, because I did not do the research and merely accept what they say.

The Saxon Abbey of Barking founded the church of All Hallows by the Tower in 675 AD. An arch from the original Saxon church remains. Beneath the arch is a Roman pavement, discovered in 1926, evidence of city life on this site for the best part of two thousand years.

Following their execution on Tower Hill, numerous beheaded bodies were brought into the church including those of Thomas More, Bishop John Fisher and Archbishop Laud.

William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, was baptised in the church and educated in the schoolroom (now the Parish Room). In 1666 the Great Fire of London started in Pudding Lane, a few hundred yards from the church, and All Hallows survived through the efforts of Admiral Penn, William Penn's father. Apparently Samuel Pepys watched the fire from its tower.

John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the USA, was married in All Hallows in 1797.

After the bombings of World War II, only the tower remains of that old church. The church continues its old medieval custom of "beating the bounds" basically walking the boundaries of the parish and whacking the ground along the line at intervals with sticks. I guess this prevents some other church from claiming their parishioners? Since one of the boundaries actually runs down the center of the River Thames they all get on a boat to observe this part of the custom. Now I do not know if they did this during the Regency, or if this was revived more recently, but it is just interesting.

Certainly the Church was there, beside the Tower of London, during our time and during the centuries before.

This picture shows part of the Roman street found beneath the Church in the early 20th century.

Don't forget to look out for my new short story e-book Undone out this month.
Unmasking Lady Innocent

This day was a long one and there is much more to come. Until then, Happy Rambles.

Regency Fashion for December

2010-12-06T01:00:00.001-05:00

Just a quick reminder about the Holiday Contest on my website.

Our fashion article today is not what you would call cheerful but the description is so detailed I thought you would like it.

Princess Charlotte of Wales died November 6 1817 and Mourning Dress was still being worn in December as can be seen from this plate. The Princess was very popular and I think this would have been important to many people at this time

The Walking Dress
Plain round dress, composed of black bombazeen, the body is made up to the throat, and tight to the shape. Plain long sleeves with white crape weepers. The skirt is finished round the bottom by a number of black crape rouleaus. Over this dress is worn a pelisse of black Levantine, open in front, and wrapping a little to one side. The waist is very short, and the back is quite plain. There is a small square collar which supports a very full ruff composed of white crape. The collar, fronts, and bottom of the dress, ar finished by a broad trimming of black crape, which is laid on very full. Plain long sleeves, finished at the wrist with black crape to correspond: the upper part of the sleeve is full, but it is tight towards the wrist. Head-dress, a small French bonnet composed of black Leghorn. The edge of the front is ornamented by a rouleau of black crape; two rouleaus ornament the top of the crown; and one very broad one goes round the bottom of it. A black crape band ties it under the chin; and a full bunch of artificial flowers, composed also of black crape, ornaments it on one side. Black shamoy gloves and black shoes.
The Evening Dress
A black crape frock over a black sarsnet slip: the body is cut very low all round the bust, and very short in the waist. The sleeve is very short and full. A narrow white crape trimming, of a novel description goes round the bust, and both the body and sleeves are interspersed in a new style, with either black or white crape. The skirt is of easy fullness; it is finished round the bottom by a broad trimming of either black or white crape disposed in festoons, and interspersed with cypress leaves, composed of black crape. This is surmounted by a broad rouleau of either black or white crape, round which is twined a double row of polished jet beads. The hair is dressed high behind, and in light curls on the forehead; it is ornamented only be an elegant jet comb. Necklace and ear-rings of jet. Gloves of black shamoy leather; plain black silk shoes.

The use of jet for ornament is typical of this era for morning. I find the use of white as trim very interesting.

That is all from me on this occasion. In the new year, we will be looking at our fashions from a different angle.

Until next time, Happy Rambles.

Books Out

2010-12-02T08:26:00.005-05:00

Talk about exciting. I have two books out this month. One in the UK and an e-book Undone which you should be able to get anywhere.

The Gamekeeper's Lady

A most forbidden attraction! Frederica Bracewell grew up under a cloud of shame. As an illegitimate child, she was treated by her uncle like a servant. It isn’t until she encounters the new gamekeeper that shy, innocent Frederica starts to feel like a true lady…
Lord Robert Mountford has been banished by his family. After a debauched existence, he revels in the simplicity of a gamekeeper’s lifestyle. Until temptation strikes! Frederica’s plain appearance and stuttering speech are a far cry from the ladies of the ton, but she may just be his undoing… and unmasking!

Purchase in the UK from
Mills & Boon Amazon.co.uk Foyles for books

Not out in paperback in North America until May 2011, it looks as if readers can find it on-line at: Amazon.com for Kindle and perhaps Nook etc.

Unmasking Lady Innocent

Spinster Diana Buntin has accepted that handsome Lord James Grey will never look at her as more than a friend. Yet she is tired of waiting to experience passion. Armed with a list of rakes known to specialize in seduction, Diana arranges to meet her first lover at a masked ball—keeping their identities secret and her reputation intact.

But while Diana feels a powerful attraction to her mystery seducer, she also senses that he may not be a stranger after all....

This is an ebook only and can be found on-line at these and other stores:

e-Harlequin Undone Amazon.co.uk Kobobooks.com Amazon.com

And while we are going for all this excitement today don't forget our contest:

Today's Featured Author is:

Annie Burrows

Next week will will have December Fashions. Until then, Happy Rambles

Contest

2010-12-01T08:24:00.004-05:00

As our gift to you, The Harlequin Historical Authors Holiday contest starts today!
Lots of Prizes and lots of fun.

For the next 22 days, 22 authors will be giving away prizes, with the grand prize winner selected from all those who enter each day of the contest.

The grand prize is a Kindle!

The more times you enter, the more chances you have of winning the grand prize.

The picture leads to my website where you can find out all the rules and the links to each author's page and contest.

Good luck

Searching for Regency London

2010-11-24T22:16:00.004-05:00

Like most tourists, I found myself at St Paul's Cathedral, a well known sight in London now and certainly just as well known in Regency times.

Nearby and of interest to me as a writer is a medieval institution, the Guild of Stationers and their Hall. Stationers' Hall located in Ave Maria Lane, just off Ludgate Hill.

From the Middle Ages, no man was allowed to trade in the City of London unless he resided there and belonged to a Guild, later a livery company. One such was a fraternity or Guild of Stationers (booksellers who copied and sold manuscript books and writing materials and limners who decorated and illustrated them). Each appointed a warden to control and regulate them.

By the early 16th century printers had joined The Stationers' Company and by the mid century the printers had more or less ousted the manuscript trade. In 1557 the Guild received a Royal Charter of Incorporation and in 1559, the right to wear a distinctive livery. They became a livery company, numbered 47 in precedence.

The Stationers' Charter secured them from outside competition, but they had to settle their own internal disputes, which mostly concerned infringements of ownership of 'copies' or what we would now call copyright.

Until the early twentieth century the most usual way of joining the Company was by serving an apprenticeship to a freeman or liveryman. Although the system gradually declined, the Stationers' Company is unusual among livery companies in insisting that its members work in the book or allied trades.

The interior presents much the same appearance today as when it was built although the frontage was radically altered in 1800 to give it an early nineteenth century façade.

Hall Registry

By 1556 according to Guild rule it was an offence not to present to the Wardens every publication not protected by Royal Grant. A Register of copies became the written record to which claims could be referred and by which disputes as to ownership might be settled. Succeeding Copyright Acts confirmed the Company as the place where copies should be registered 'Entered at Stationers' Hall'.Registration under the Copyright Act of 1911 terminated in December 1923.

Fascinating. Until next time, happy rambles.

Being Scotch

2010-11-22T09:33:00.003-05:00

Did you think I had made a dreadful mistake? Or did you know I was talking about a drink, not a
person. I do of course mean Scotch whisky (and that too is the correct spelling).

My current work in progress is set in Scotland and part of my plot revolves around a whisky distillery. There are a number of discussions about the origins of uisge beatha, water of life (uisge sounds like usky anglicized to whisky).

Most experts believe the knowledge of distilling was brought from Ireland by the Scots in the fifth century A.D., along with the Gaelic language. Scotch whisky is made from barley malt and I will not delve into the actual process here.

Traditionally in the Highlands, whisky was provided before breakfast to sharpen the appetite, since it was seen as both a libation and as a health drink. It was given to infants and children too. It was offered to anyone who crossed a home’s threshold as a matter of courtesy at any time of day or night.

During the Regency there were huge numbers of illicit stills in the Highlands to avoid punishing excise taxes. Considerable quantities were smuggled across the border into England where ardent spirits were taxed at an even higher rate. Highland farmers used their sale of illicit whisky to pay the rents on their land, since often it was their only source of real cash income in addition to what was needed for their own consumption. The rugged Highlands provided great hiding places from the "gaugers" (Excise Officers). And the local populace delighted in the excise officers’ failures and mourned their successes.

When an illegal still was found, the equipment would be smashed and the owner of the still punished – if found.

An Act of Parliament passed in 1814 prohibited any still in the Highlands with a less than 500 gallon capacity. A fantastical size for that period of time. Moreover, thereafter all whisky produced in the Highlands could only be sold in the Highlands, effectively making the legal production and selling of whisky almost impossible. Needless to say it only served to encourage illicit stills
and an increase of smuggling. In 1823 14,000 illicit stills were discovered and smashed, but many more went undiscovered.

Scotsmen with vision knew this had to change and in this year a new act was passed making 40 gallons the minimum size for a still and setting the duty at a reasonable rate. Illicit production slowly dwindled away along with smuggling.

Of course how all this fits in my story has yet to be revealed to me, but I hope you enjoy reading a small snippet from my research. It is nice to know that this ancient Scottish skill has survived to produce one of the world's most popular drams. Slàinte

This post originally appeared on the blog at eHarlequin.com, but I wanted to record it here too, since I may have other posts on this topic.

Until next time, Happy Rambles

Searching for Regency London

2010-11-17T22:52:00.004-05:00

Soane's Museum

This is the house of Sir John Soane, one of England's greatest architects. He was the youngest son of a bricklayer, but at fifteen moved to London as a pupil of the architect George Dance and studied at the Royal Academy. He became a highly successful architect winning the important commission of architect to the Bank of England.

His house, which he deliberately intended as a museum, is on of those places all Regency-philes hanker to visit. It is also the sort of place one might want to visit over and over again, there is so much crammed into such a small space. Soane intended his collection to educate and inspire students and amateurs in painting, architecture and sculpture.

The house is in Lincoln's Inn Fields and he first bought number 12 in 1792 and then moved into number thirteen in 1813, and right from this time he planned it as a museum, finally purchasing number fourteen in 1823.

Visitors were allowed in during his lifetime, but only in good weather. The rooms contain all kinds of artifacts, including a collection of antique marble fragments assembled in and around Rome for Henry Holland, bought on his death by Soane in 1816.

In the picture room are the two original paintings of Hogarth's series A Rake's Progress and An Election. Engravings would be done from the paintings.

It is a very eccentric sort of a place, not at all the typical Regency home, but a fascinating look around a town house. The rooms I enjoyed most were the Library and the dining room and the Drawing Rooms. They held dances in these upstairs rooms when Mrs. Soanes was alive. The rooms were painted in 'Turner's Patent Yellow' a fashionable colour of the day, and had matching curtains and upholstery. The staircases are lovely and take up minimum space.

Personally, I think the man would have ended up on reality tv as a hoarder.

It is difficult to do justice to the house or the museum with only words, but I highly recommend a visit.

Until next time, Happy Rambles. Off to read Georgette Heyer's Reluctant Widow, since someone mentioned it the other day.

What are you reading?

Searching for Regency London

2010-11-14T22:59:00.005-05:00

by Ann Lethbridge
Stories are flying out thick and fast from yours truly. This short story, Unmasking Lady Innocent will be available on line on December 1. Another great cover, even if it is an on line one. Just in case you want to know what it is about:

But while Diana feels a powerful attraction to her mystery seducer, she also senses that he may not be a stranger after all....

The Foundling Hospital, Bloomsbury, London

Not all things Regency leave one with a happy feeling. Certainly my next stop did not. The Foundling Museum is interesting, but sad.

The Foundling Hospital (hospital meaning hospitality to those less fortunate rather than medical facility) was founded in the mid 1700’s and continued until the 1920’s. It was founded by Thomas Coram who was shocked by the number of dead and dying babies on the streets. Its mission was the education and care of abandoned children.

The children left here were not orphans; rather they were children of women who could not care for them because the fathers had abandoned them. Mothers were interviewed before they were allowed to leave their children who had to be under 1 year-old. The mothers had to be of good character, even if not married, and the child must be their first. Mothers would line up outside the high wrought iron gates for the chance to leave their “unwanted” children, because they knew they would receive better care than they could provide. Both Hogarth and Handel raised funds for the hospital by way of their art.

In 1801 the hero of the Nile and some of his friends the establishment with a visit and stood sponsors to several of the children The names given on this occasion were Baltic Nelson William and Emma Hamilton Hyde Parker &c Up to a very late period the Governors were sometimes in the habit of naming the children after themselves or their friends but it was found to be an inconvenient and objectionable course inasmuch as when they grew to man or womanhood they were apt to lay claim to some affinity of blood with their nomenclators The present practice therefore is for the Treasurer to prepare a list from which the children are named

A register on view at the Museum, records the names of the children admitted, the care they received, including if they were wet nursed or dry (fed bread and water) and their ultimate date of departure at age fourteen either to enter society as apprentices, or the date of their demise. In Georgian times, there were between 200 and 400 children under the care of the hospital.

Dec. 31, 1814,

Children remaining alive, and
on the hospital establishment...........................352

Received in the year ending Dec. 31, 1815...........58
Total....................................................................410

Apprenticed and sent to sea, within the said
year.............................................................26
Died.............................................................13
Children in the hospital, Dec. 31, 1815............192
Children at nurse in the country......................179
...............................................................-----
..................................................................410

Children at nurse in the country, meant children under five who were sent out of the city to be wet nursed and cared for, since the city air was thought to be bad for them

You can find a history of the Hospital in the following book as well as at Londonancestor.com.

The history and objects of the Foundling Hospital: with a memoir of the founder
By John Brownlow, Foundling Hospital (London, England)

Sometimes the mothers would come back for the child when their circumstances improved. Heartrendingly, many times they would discover their child had not survived. Among the artifacts left with the children were lockets and tiny rings, buttons and religious talismen, which were left as a way of identifying their child. They are still held in the Museum.

I found it hard not to feel sad as I walked around, even knowing that these children were better off than those left on the streets or in the workhouses. If you ever have a chance to visit, make sure you take a kleenex or two.

Until next time, Happy Rambles

Searching for Regency London

2010-11-09T09:13:00.005-05:00

by Ann Lethbridge

I just had to share this one, it comes out in January. This is a collection of HH Undones in Paperback including my first one - The Rakes Intimate Encounter. So if you are a person who prefers paper to e-book, here is your chance to try several Undones which to date were only available on line.

You will of course be hearing more about this one, but I just love the cover and had to share it.

I have been sacrificing chocolate bars to the cover god and she seems to appreciate the love, so here is the result. lol

This is the entrance to Russel Square, built by the Duke of Bedford in 1804 and named after his family's surname.

The square has been redesigned to go back to its original early nineteenth century layout. Next time I am in London I will spend a bit more time at the square. I was very taken with the Russell Hotel but it is Victorian and therefore unworthy of a picture on my blog.

The portrait painter Thomas Lawrence had a studio at number 65 (1805–1830) Russell Square. Or was it 67, there are some differences depending on which information you read. I am going with 65 since that is what is recorded in Old and New London 1878.

A note in the Gentleman's Magazine for January, 1818, by the Rev. John Mitford, says:—"We shall never forget the Cossacks, mounted on their small white horses, with their long spears grounded, standing as sentinels at the door of this great painter, whilst he was taking the portrait of their general, Platoff." [Platov]

A wonderful mental image. Somehow I have to find a way to put that in a story. Lawrence's house, (seen left) has since been demolished in favour of the Imperial Hotel.

It was also from Bolton House, on the corner of Guilford Street that, on the 21st of June, 1799, George III., with the Queen and several members of the Royal Family, assembled and after partaking of a cold collation, proceeded to view the nearby Foundling Hospital. I will be posting about the hospital next.

That is all for today, until next time, Happy Rambles.

Regency Fashion for November

2010-11-04T09:10:00.000-04:00

by Michele Ann Young
I can't quite believe how quickly things are rushing by. Almost time for another newsletter, so if you haven't signed up, do so waaay at the bottom of the blog.

From the November 1809Ladies Monthly Museum
Walking Dress
A short petticoat and vest of fine cambric of India muslin, made whole in front, and laced up behind; it is finished with a collar, edged with rich antique lace: the dress is bordered with a colored or worked border. A bonnet of amber velvet or satin, with a small front, and tassels on each side. Roman cloak of purple velvet, and with amber sarcenet: the cloak is ornamented with a gold trimming, and fastened on the right shoulder with a broach or clasp. Purple shoes or half boots.

Full Dress
A dress composed of lacenett, spotted or worked in stripes: --a white satin body and petticoat; the front made high and square, and worked in chenille; sleeves of entire lace. Headdress, a lace handkerchief or hood, ornamented in front with two ostrich feathers. Necklace of gold chain, with cornelian clasp: earings to correspond: white shoes and gloves.

I love the idea of the Roman cloak of purple and the amber bonnet.

Next week we will be back to our tour of Regency London. Until then Happy Rambles.

Winners

2010-10-28T09:18:00.003-04:00

Contest results. Thanks for playing my game, everyone. And sincere thanks to everyone for your amazing comments about the genre I love. It was wonderful to see so many different reasons for loving historicals. Without readers, where would writers be? --- Probably writing in a garrick somewhere, sigh, but that's a whole other story.

Without further ado....drum roll.

My random name generator picked the following names from the cyberspace hat.

Kitty and Johanna R Jochum.

I just wish I had enough books for everyone. If you two ladies would email me at ann @ annlethbridge dot com with your addresses I can have these books winging off to you.

Next week is the beginning of November and we will have our usual fashion show.

Until then, Happy Rambles

Contest - Win a book

2010-10-21T16:17:00.005-04:00

by Ann Lethbridge

I don't often do contests, this blog being more about Regency Research, but there is something special going on inside the book pictured here. Trial by Desire is by USA today best selling author Courtney Milan and is set in 1838. Don't you just love that cover. I swear sexy dude is looking right at me.

It's a great story. Well, that goes without saying. But also it contains a present from me and some of the other Harlequin Historical authors (or rather from our publisher). A choice of two free books!!

Including Wicked Rake, Defiant Mistress, by ---- Ann Lethbridge. If you haven't read it yet, here is your chance. And if you prefer to pick one of the other books, that's good too!

Here is the deal. You tell me why you like to read Historical Romance, no later than the end of Wednesday October 27, and I will draw from all the answers and send the two winners a copy of Courtney' delicious book. And then you can send off to Harlequin for two free books.

I will post the winners on Thursday October 28, and the winners can send me the necessary information to claim their prize.

Questions? No?

Step up, step up, folks, for a total a three free books. Not a lot of writing required, just a couple of lines.

Next time on Regency Ramble we resume our search for Regency London. Don't forget your walking shoes or better yet, half boots of yellow kid.

Until next time, Happy Rambles.

Regency Fashion for October

2010-10-18T22:28:00.004-04:00

by Ann Lethbridge

This summer I was fortunate to visit Hay-on-Wye or Croeso Y Gelli on the English/Welsh border, a town that specializes in book shops. Put historical authors and bookshops together and you may lose us for a few days.

The picture is of the largest bookshop in Hay. Yes, it is a castle. Not only are those books sitting outside in wooden bookcases, but the castle is filled with them, along with prints and maps. Heaven.

Since I especially enjoy looking at the fashions from the late Georgian era, particularly 1800 to 1830, so you can imagine my joy when I found fashion plates in one of the shops I visited that day. Since it is October, I thought I would share this one with you.

This is a fashion plate from La Belle Assemblee for October 1810. It is titled Pelisse Dress of Autumn. I imagine it as what we might call a coat dress these days. The description is as follows:

A pelisse dress of autumnal brown sarsnet, made low in the neck, trimmed down the front and round the bottom with a rich trimming of vandyked white satin, ornamented with silver frogs; the sleeves buttoned on the inside of the arm, to correspond with the front of the dress; over the bosom is tied a light white net mantle, scolloped, and ornamented with acorn tassels. White satin bonnet, with a bunch of wheat in front, and short lace veil. Brown sandals and gloves. Green parasol.

I notice they didn't say anything about the dog. I can't make up my mind if he is a friend or foe. He really looks like he wants to bite one of the many tassels hanging off that gown!

Until next time, happy rambles

Searching for Regency London

2010-10-14T09:03:00.009-04:00

by Ann Lethbridge

New Cover!

This is my December book The Gamekeeper's Lady out in the UK, isn't it gorgeous? Drooling here. I don't yet have a copy but I am very pleased with this new style and the cover itself. So like my heroine.

Regency London

You would think after a day of tramping around Hampstead, I would have had the sense to go home and have a nice cup of tea. Not.

That evening I took the underground to Southwark. This is Southwark Cathedral, at night of course. I must say blogger is being very slow with pictures today, which may limit the number I post this time, so please excused the short post.

This was originally a priory and was not a cathedral during the regency era, but it was one of England's first Gothic churches and stands at the entry to London Bridge, the only way into London for many centuries.

The real reason for my visit to Southwark is of course the coaching inn. One of the few remaining where one can still see the galleries.

This is the George Inn in Southwark. Only one of its sides - the south side now remains. I wanted to see it at night.

I also went there during daylight hours.

The George can be traced back to 1542 although it is likely that an inn existed here prior to this. Built around three sides of a courtyard - the style became known as an 'inn-yard'. The inn served as an Elizabethan inn-yard theatre. Its wide, double-tiered balconies were an excellent vantage point for the Elizabethan plays. William Shakespeare lived and worked in the area and there is no doubt that he would have frequented the Inn on a regular basis and even possibly have played there, though not in the building we see now, the original inn burned down in 1676, but was rebuilt the same as the old one.

Coaches would have left from here to go through Tunbridge Wells to Dover during the Regency.

Well that is all from me today, so until next time, Happy Rambles.

Searching for Regency London

2010-09-30T22:32:00.000-04:00

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Regency London

It is always fun to have something new to show and tell, but I did promise you a blog so staying with Hampstead Heath, I next walked to Keats House

Keats became much better known after his death and it makes me feel quite sad to know that such a talented young man died young, age 25, died almost alone, and was unrequited in love. The woman he loved lived in the same house in a separate apartment. He lived here from 1818 to 1820 and it was where he wrote his most intensely moving poems.

It is a small house and very peaceful, even though it is surrounded by a subdivision of houses.

It was not the happiest afternoon for me, I think I found it to affecting that someone so talented should have so little time.

There is lots to be read about Keats, his work, his life, but I don't think I wish to do more than show where he lived.

So that is all from me tonight.

Until next time, Happy Rambles.

Flora and Fauna of Regency England ~ September

2010-09-23T01:00:00.000-04:00

by Ann Lethbridge

Here are some of the not so favourite creatures you will find in the Regency at this time of year.

September is a time for wasps, August too. Never my favourite insect it becomes a real nuisance if you want to eat out of doors. They also eat any fruit that is ripe on the trees.

Another not favourite is the earwig. It is an old wives tale that earwigs go in ears, isn't it?

Earwigs are predisposed to hiding in warm humid crevices and may indeed occasionally crawl into the human ear canal (much like any other small organism). yuch.

I defy the Saint Helena earwig at three inches long to climb in anyone's ear. I only mention it because Saint Helena was Napoleon's home during the Regency.

And to creep myself out.

Oh now I'm itchy. But we can't have just all the pretty stuff, can we.

So one last creature in the ych category for September.

Snails. They breed in September and our Diarist says:

The gardener ought to consider that this and the succeeding month are the breeding months of earth-worms and snails, and, therefore, that one of those reptiles destroyed now, is as good as a dozen killed in spring.

Now if you can bear to walk amid the flora and fauna after that --- Happy Rambles.

Where am I?

2010-09-21T08:00:00.005-04:00

Today, I am blogging at http://community.eharlequin.com/content/being-there. Do pop in and answer my question.

Regency Fashion for September

2010-09-13T23:00:00.000-04:00

by Michele Ann Young

Sorry to be missing for a week, I have had family visiting. Now it is the end of the summer I hope I can get back into the swing of things.

September Fashion

I am sure you have no trouble recognizing this as a mourning gown. Interesting to me is that for once we have the front of one gown and the back another. They look almost the same.

This plate is from 1805 From the Ladies Museum

The first is a chemise dress of Italian gauze; full front, fastened in the centre with a jet broach, over a black sarcenet slip; sleeves and front trimmed with black net trimming, fastened with bugles. Leather gloves, and black jean shoes.

The second gown is made of of imperial lustre and has short sleeves. Gloves and shoes are the same as the first figure.

I couldn't resist this one, although it seems odd to me that this would be a fashion for September because it is.....

A Fashionable Sea-Side Walking Dress From La Belle Assemblee, 1810

It is described as follows:

A gown of white French cambric, or pale pink muslin, with long sleeves, and antique cuffs of thin white muslin, trimmed with Mechlen edging; made high in the neck, without a collar, and formed in points at the centre of the bosom, with three rows of letting-in lace; confined down the front of the dress with small buttons; and hemmed round the bottom with three rows of deep Mechlen lace; made rather short, and worn over trowsers of white French cambric, which are trimmed the same as the bottom of the dress.

A cap composed of lace and light green silk trimming, tied under the chin, with a bunch of natural flowers in front. Hair in full ringlet curls, divided in the front of the forehead. A figured short scarf of pale buff, with deep pale-green border, and rich silk tassels; worn according to fancy or convenience; with gloves of pale buff kid; and sandals of pale yellow, or white Morocco, complete this truly simple but becoming dress.

Isn't this interesting. She is wearing trowsers. And look at the strappy sandals. Don't they look like something we would wear today? It is very unusual to see a gown buttoned down the front I think. I am glad to see this as I am currently working on a seaside scene. Fortuitous is the word I am looking for, I think.

That is my fashion article for this month. Flora and Fauna up next. Then we return to London. Until next time, Happy rambles

Searching for Regency London

2010-09-01T12:32:00.004-04:00

Fenton House Continued
by Ann Lethbridge

Another view of the garden just to tempt you.

There are two more smaller rooms on the first floor, and their size make photographs less than satisfactory, so I can give you only a glimpse. Note that the first room also had a powder room and the second was originally linked to the master bed room.

Interestingly enough there were six more small rooms in the "attic". I assumed this was where the servants would sleep. But no. Although they could only be reached by the servants' staircase, these would have been family rooms too. Likely the younger children. Most of the families inhabiting this house had from seven to nine children. I was unable to visit these rooms on this occasion but it is on my list for another time.

The servants would have slept in the basement, not open to visitors.

Next time we have our fashion article, before we do more searching in London. Until then Happy Rambles.

Searching for Regency London

2010-08-28T12:12:00.008-04:00

Fenton House, Hampstead, Continued
by Michele Ann Young

How about that for a garden and a view from a window. So green and well organized. The weeds in my garden won the battle this year.

This is just a small sample of the lovely views. I took more but thought this was probably enough to "get the idea". I might add another one at the end.

So leaving the ground (first) floor we go up stairs. Here you can see down from the top and get a better sense of the twisted balusters and the large window.

On this floor there are four rooms set around a square landing. The servant's stairs also emerge on this landing, making the two north facing rooms quite small.

This bedroom is the largest. It once had a closet, now an alcove beside the fireplace for powdering ones wig (rather than one's nose).

The columns were thought to be added in 1810 replacing a wall which created the narrow access passage to the clock in the centre east front wall. Where the plates are was originally another concealed or jib door to the adjacent bedroom. The instrument shown in the alcove is a spinet.

This next room is a drawing room, and apparently was always a drawing room. So this house only had three bedrooms on this second floor. The decoration of this room, the dentil frieze and the arched alcoves are likely early nineteenth century.

We still have two more rooms on this floor, but the photos take forever to load and the sunny day is calling me outside. So until next time, Happy Rambles.

Searching for Regency London

2010-08-24T23:56:00.000-04:00

By Michele Ann Young

Fenton House continued

We saw the narrow servants' stairs in the previous set of pictures. Here are the stairs the family would have used. Not the impressive staircase of some of the houses we have seen, but clearly wide, with lighting from a large window on the first landing, which itself is wide enough for a chair. The window looks out over the walled garden.

This is the original seventeenth century staircase with twisted balusters. Now we go upstairs

This next room on the ground floor has been described as a small sitting room, or study and displays some of the finest figurines from England and the continent in the eighteenth century. Some of the English makers are Bristol, Bow, Chelsea and Derby.

The mirror between the windows is fine gilt gessor, or sconce, once equipped with branches for candles from 1715. The instrument is a 1612 harpsicord.

This is the last room on the ground floor, and its use in our time is not described. The alcove off to the right would have been a closet, not open as it is now.

It now displays early Chinese ceramics some of which were imported into England in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.

Next time we will climb the staircase and look around upstairs. Until then Happy Rambles.

Searching for Regency London

2010-08-17T21:48:00.009-04:00

by Ann Lethbridge

One of my most interesting visits this summer was to Fenton House in Hampstead.

Pictured first is the South Front, which faces down Holly Hill (a particularly steep hill I might add)

In the regency period, Hampstead was a small city separate from London and a place where the middle class professionals lived, rather than the fashionable, though the Heath itself drew many visitors. The village and the heath sits high on a hill overlooking London and at one time could be seen as wooded hills behind the city from the other side of the river.

Fenton House has remained remarkably untouched since it was built in 1756, being a substantial brick house with extensive gardens of fruit trees and kitchen gardens enclosed in a brick wall.

Today much of the house is given over to collections of pictures and musical instruments which are interesting. My main interest however was with the house itself. The way it would have been lived in.

Various parts of the house has been altered over the years, but still it retains much of its original structure.

The entrance hall shown here, with the service stairs behind which can be shut off by a door is a far more modest area that we see in the grand houses we have visited. The frieze around the ceiling dates from about 1810.

The long case clock you can see dates from 1700.

Here is a closer look at the frieze:

Moving into the dining room we can see that it was once divided into two rooms, a dining room and a drawing room.

The chairs at the table are 18th century mahogany. The harpsicord off in what was a drawing room is a Shudi and Broadwood from 1770. One of the earliest with the Broadwood name.

These lyre back chair are Regency and there is also a winecooler in the shape of a classical sarcophagus tucked under the sideboard which is also Regency.

The alcove, part of what was the drawing room which clearly goes into one of the protrusions you can see on the outside of the house contains one of the very popular Broadwood Square pianos, this one from 1774

Sadly this is all we have time for today. But lots more next time. Until then, happy rambles.