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!

     

Britain’s Best Hidden Gem – it’s official!

Britain’s Best Hidden Gem – it’s official!

The Judge’s Lodging in Presteigne has won the award for Best Hidden Gem in the UK’s Hudson’s Heritage Awards 2014.

The winners of the 2014 Hudson’s Heritage Awards were revealed at a lunch reception at Goldsmiths Hall in London, where television celebrity and champion of Britain’s heritage, Loyd Grossman, spoke about the winners and handed the awards out.  He spoke of the quirky ideas and innovative activities that often take place at The Judge’s Lodging, from napkin folding and jelly tasting to strange theatrical events, and the engaging audiotour, which helps visitors experience the atmosphere of the unusual lives of the people in this Victorian courthouse.

 What most impressed the judges is that this small charitable enterprise is independently attracting visitors into the area and the town, boosting the local economy and bringing its past back to life. One of the judges personally congratulated our curator Gaby Rivers after the ceremony, saying that we are one of their favourite places in Britain.

 The Husdon’s Heritage Awards were established in 2011, are an independently judged annual national awards scheme open to historic houses, gardens, museums and heritage sites, celebrating the best heritage experiences in the UK.  This is not the first time that we have been on their radar, for in the inaugural 2011 awards, the museum was the highly commended second place within the Education &  Family category.

 Although The Judge’s Lodging stands out grandly in the town of Presteigne, it was by far the smallest recipient at a ceremony, which saw other categories being won by the likes of Blenheim Palace, Leeds Castle, Chatsworth and Hatfield House.

Staff at the museum are so proud of their building and what it has achieved so far this year, especially as this award followed so soon after HRH Prince of Wales’ visit at the end of January, where he wrote a letter of thanks calling the museum a ‘truly inspirational place’.  Not bad for a small museum in a tiny border town!

 If you want to find out more about the Hudson’s Heritage Awards 2014 and the winners click here

The citation for The Judge’s Lodging is here

 

News & Events

Archive

Subscribe to our
newsletter Subscribe