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!

     

Upstairs Downstairs

Filter By

Crime and PunishmentUpstairs DownstairsUsing the PastVictorian Children
Upstairs Downstairs

The Judges Christmas Dinner

A Dinner for 12 Persons First CourseGame soup – Carrot soupCodfish au gratin – Soles a la creme– – – – – – – – – –EntreesCurried rabbit – Pigeon…

More

Upstairs Downstairs

Times when things are in season

Taken from Mrs Beeton’s ‘Book of Household Management’, 1861JANUARYFish – Barbel, brill, carp, cod, crabs, crayfish, dace, eels, flounders, haddocks, herrings, lampreys, lobsters, mussels, oysters, perch, pike, plaice, prawns, shrimps,…

More

Upstairs Downstairs

Soup for the Poor

2 oz dripping4 oz meat cut into 1 inch dice4 oz onions, thinly sliced4 oz turnips, cut into small dice (‘the peel will do’)2 oz leeks, thinly sliced (‘the green…

More

Upstairs Downstairs

Extras

Lemonade 3 large lemons & sugarRemove the peel very thinly from the lemons (with a potato peeler or a zester). Put them into a 7″ heavy pan and cover with…

More

Upstairs Downstairs

Puddings

Orange Cream Heat 1 pint of orange juice and 1/2 pint water with sugar to taste and the juice of one lemon. When boiling, add sufficient gelatine to set two…

More

Upstairs Downstairs

Cakes and Fancies

Pound Cake 1 lb of butter, 1 lb of flour, 1 lb of sugar, 8 eggs, 1 wineglass of brandy (not if you are making this for children!), a little…

More

Upstairs Downstairs

Sandwiches

Victoria Sandwiches Cut thin brown bread and butter, and between two slices place alternate layers of thinly sliced hard boiled eggs, small salad or American cress, the cleansed fillets of…

More

Upstairs Downstairs

Savouries

Potted Salmon When you have any cold salmon left, take the skin off, and bone it, then put it in a marble mortar, with a good deal of clarified butter,…

More

Upstairs Downstairs

what shall the judge eat today

CymraegCreating a menu for a Victorian Dinner was a complicated issue. Thinking about what they ate brings up many questions about their way of life, their wealth, their location and…

More

Upstairs Downstairs

the great Victorian picnic

CymraegWhy not have a go at some Victorian dishes? Each recipe in this section has been tried by The Judge’s Lodging and has been chosen either for ease to make,…

More

Education

Subscribe to our
newsletter Subscribe