Strange But True

Strange But True

  • Inexpressibles

    The name given to the tight trousers worn by some Regency gentlemen, such as the notorious Beau Brummell and his ‘dandy’ followers,  as they showed off their leg muscles.

  • What did Victoria do first

    after her coronation in 1837?  Have a parliamentary meeting?  Have tea with all the royal dignitaries?  No – she gave her dog, Dash, a bath.

     

  • Now that’s what we call a cake!

    Victoria and Albert’s wedding cake was a colossal 9 feet wide and weighed 300 pounds.

     

  • Victorian ladies’ knickers had no middle

    Once they got all those big dresses on, they couldn’t reach their knickers to pull them down, so they could stand over a potty to wee with these on instead.

     

  • Would you wee in your dining room?

    Victorian gentlemen did! Some dining rooms (like ours) had a special cupboard to house a chamber pot so all the gentlemen could go for a wee without leaving the table (once the ladies had left the room, of course!).

     

  • The last ducking stool to be used in England

    (in 1809) can still be seen not far from us in the Priory Church, Leominster, Herefordshire. It’s huge.

     

Handy Hints

Handy Hints

  • An insect trap

    Scoop out the inside of a turnip, scallop the edges, and place it downward in the earth. The insects will pass into it as a place of retreat through the holes, and the cucumbers, squashes, melons etc., may soon be clear of them.  1852

     

    As with all our historical handy hints, this is a real tip from a Victorian book. We cannot say that it’ll work and it’s up to you if you want to try!

     

  • Anti-magnetic properties of the onion

    The magnetic power of a compass needle, will be entirely discharged or changed by being touched with the juice of an onion.

     

    As with all our historical handy hints, this is a real tip from a Victorian book. We cannot say that it’ll work and it’s up to you if you want to try!

     

  • To clean gilt buckles, chains &c.

    Dip a soft brush in water, rub a little soap on it, and brush the article for a minute or two, then wash it clean, wipe it, and place it near the fire till dry, then brush it with burnt bread finely powdered. 1823

     

    As with all our historical handy hints, this is a real tip from a Victorian book. We cannot say that it’ll work and it’s up to you if you want to try!

     

  • To remove grease from books

    Lay upon the spoon a little magnesium or powdered chalk, and under it the same; set on it a warm flat iron, and as soon as the grease is melted, it will be all absorbed, and leave the paper clean. 1852

     

    As with all our historical handy hints, this is a real tip from a Victorian book. We cannot say that it’ll work and it’s up to you if you want to try!

     

  • Antidote against mice

    Gather wild mint, put it where you wish to keep them out, and they will not trouble you. 1852

     

    As with all our historical handy hints, this is a real tip from a Victorian book. We cannot say that it’ll work and it’s up to you if you want to try!

     

  • Keeping your kettle clean

    To prevent teakettles coating with lime – put the shell of an oyster in the teakettle and the lime will adhere to it, instead of coating the sides. 1852

    As with all our historical handy hints, this is a real tip from a Victorian book. We cannot say that it’ll work and it’s up to you if you want to try!

     

Community Ownership Fund success!

Community Ownership Fund success!

On Thursday  26th September 2023, we were host to a visit from Secretary of State for Wales, David TC Davies, with Fay Jones, MP for Brecon & Radnorshire.  This celebrated us becoming one of only three places in Wales to receive funding under the third round of the UK Government’s Community Owndership Fund, part of their Levelling Up support.

We will receive £187,000 from the grant, which matches the monies altready pledged to us by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, both of which are towards a project we have been working on for several years in hope of such support. We will now be turning the former Caretaker’s flat on our first floor into two holiday lets.

This is a truly transformational moment for us.  Income from these flats will support the museum,  and help it attain a sustainable future.  We receive no regular funding for external bodies and rely on our own ability to raise funds through admissions, our shop and tearoom, school visits, events and private hire.  It is just not enough alone to support this wonderful building, but now we can see a much safer future for us and one where we can then focus on developing our offer to visitors even further.

Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged us whilst we’ve been going through the last few years, working to get to this point – we couldn’t have done it without you.  We love our building and we know many others do too.  In the Uk Govt’s press video from their visit, the quote that rather gets us is Fay Jones MP’s ‘it really is an absolutely mind-blowing thing to come and see’. Take a look below…

Watch highlights from the Secretary of State for Wales’ visit to us here (Facebook video)

Read the BBC News article on the Community Ownership Fund’s recipients in Wales (including us!)

Top L to R:  Diane Gwilt, Chair of The Judge’s Lodging Trust; Tim Hodgetts, Trustee, Beverley Baynham, Chair of Powys County Council, Councillor and Mayor of Presteigne & Norton; Gaby Rivers, Museum Development Manager of The Judge’s Lodging, Fay Jones, MP for Brecon & Radnorshire

Bottom:  Fay Jones, MP; Diane Gwilt and Secretary of State for Wales David TC Davies

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