Strange But True

Strange But True

  • 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.

     

  • Lazy Keufs

    These were special dog tongs used for removing badly behaved dogs from church during services.  There is still a pair in St Beuno’s Church, Clynnog Fawr, North Wales

     

Handy Hints

Handy Hints

  • 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!

     

  • To take mildew out of linen

    Take soap and rub it well, then scrape on some fine chalk, rub that also into the linen, lay it on the grass, as it dries, wet it a little, it will come out at twice doing. 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!

     

  • 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!

     

  • 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!

     

  • 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!

     

Events

November 28th 2025

Sherlock Holmes’ Christmas Casebook Presented in the Judge’s Dining Room Friday 28th November 2025  7.30pm (doors open 7.00pm) A welcome return of Don’t Go Into the Cellar Theatre for a…

More

Summer Holiday Fun

19th July – 31st August 2025 Summer Holiday Fun 2025 The Judge is desperate for his favourite pudding (we’ve all been there!). Can you find the ingredients hidden around the…

More

Half Term Farming Fun!

24th May – 1st June 2025 Help Farmer Jim find his lost flock. Hunt the period rooms to track down his sheep and if you find a Rainbow Sheep you…

More

Lines from Dunkirk

June 4th 2025

Lines from Dunkirk is an original, illustrated presentation researched and written by Roger W G Curtis. Roger and a cast of local voice actors will tell, on the 85th Anniversary,…

More

Folk Horror

March 28th 2025

Welcoming back our favourite theatre company, Don’t Go into the Cellar, this time Jonathan Goodwin writes and performs this original theatre show. An eerie and unsettling anthology of tales that…

More

Christmas Open Day

December 7th 2024

Join us for our annual festive open day, with a chance to wander the house, discover more about Victorian Christmas, and marvel at our huge tree, then warm yourself in…

More

Charity Shop Sale

November 23rd 2024

We will be at the charity shop in Middleton Street, Llandrindod Wells from Mon 25th – Friday 29th November.  Do pop in to see us and grab yourself a bargain…

More

Half-Term Haunted Halloween!

As the Autumn nights draw in and the house takes on a darker gloom, search the rooms by the light of flickering gas and oil to find spooky objects and…

More

Summer Holiday Fun!

20th July – 1st September 2024 Someone’s been at it again – sneaking into the Judge’s rooms and putting down all sorts of things that shouldn’t be there. The Judge…

More

Half Term Police Fun!

25th May – Sun 2nd June 2024. Help Policeman Bill find his uniform badge!

More

Easter Fun: Bertie Bunny’s Carrots!

More

The Hound of the Baskervilles

May 17th 2024

Mr Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound! Don’t Go Into The Cellar Theare return for a night of Holmes suspense in the atmospheric Judge’s Dining Room. In this…

More

The Pumpkin Patch Mystery

Half term fun – find the pumpkins so the Judge can have his favourite soup!  

More

If you come my way…

September 20th 2023

In Summer 2023, pupils from our two local schools – Presteigne Primary School and John Beddoes High School – joined museum staff on a creative journey through some of the…

More

A Christmas Carol

December 2nd 2023

Don’t go Into The Cellar theatre company return to the atmospheric Judge’s Dining Room for a festive treat. Join the great Victorian novelist Charles Dickens as he brings to life…

More

Queen Victoria’s Lost Her Crowns!

More

Raffles: The Gentleman Thief

March 25th 2023

Written by E.W. Hornung (Arthur Conan Doyle’s brother-in-law), A.J. Raffles was the Edwardian era’s most celebrated gentleman thief. In a series of highly entertaining tales, the suave cat-burglar thrilled and charmed readers…

More

February Half Term Fun

We’re excited to be open this February Half Term. Come and joni us for fun with toys. Games and toys all over the house and a special area where you…

More

Next Page

News & Events

Subscribe to our
newsletter Subscribe