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!

     

Humbling Hudson’s Heritage Awards second

Humbling Hudson’s Heritage Awards second

Hudson's Heritage Awards 2016PRESS RELEASE:  The Judge’s Lodging awarded Second Place at the  Hudson’s Heritage Awards 2016

The Judge’s Lodging in Presteigne had a rather special start to its season this year. Whilst staff were busy lighting their period lights and opening the doors to welcome the first visitors of 2016, their curator, Gaby Rivers, was down in London accepting an award. The museum has won one of the prestigious 2016 Hudson’s Heritage Awards which were announced on Tuesday 1 March. The Judge’s Lodging picked up the Highly Commended second place in the category of Best New Discovery, behind winner Bletchley Park Trust. The Hudson’s Heritage Awards have several categories and The Judge’s Lodging has twice before been honoured in them, being heralded as the Britain’s Best Hidden Gem there in 2014.

This category of Best New Discovery refers to ‘Something newly found, uncovered, researched or restored’ and was given for The Judge’s Lodging’s project working with young student conservator Gemma McBader last year on an Ethiopian Emperor’s shield. The shield lay forgotten in the local history collection until Gemma chose it to work on for her Masters Degree at Cardiff University, and her work helped to identify that not only is it unique in design in shields held throughout large &UK collections. but turned out to have been a gift to Lord Rennell Rodd of Presteigne from the Emperor Menelik II on the signing of the Anglo-Ethiopian Treaty of 1897. An item from a small town museum which turned out to have real international significance.

Norman Hudson, the founder of Hudson’s Historic House Guide, the UK’s leading publication on historic properties open to the public, said of this project that it showed that it must not be forgotten what amazing treasures can be found within collections in small museums throughout the country. The Judge’s Lodging was by far the smallest historic property honoured at  the awards, but this time, there was good reason to be truly amazed by their accolade.

When it was revealed at the ceremony, the details of winning project from Bletchley Park Trust, it caused Gaby Rivers to put  the museum’s feelings immediately onto social media, for people eagerly awaiting the outcome of the awards:

When can we be truly humbled by taking second place at an award ceremony? When the winner is Bletchley Park discovering some of Alan Turing’s notes that had been screwed up and used to stop up a draft – wow’

Established in 2011, the awards are an independently judged, annual, national scheme open to historic houses, gardens, museums and heritage sites and celebrate the very best visitor experiences.

Dan Cruickshank, distinguished architectural historian, presented the awards at Goldsmiths Hall in London with invited guests including owners and managers of the winning entries, representatives of the heritage tourist industry and the media.

The lunch was hosted by an independent judging panel of heritage experts including Chairman Norman Hudson OBE, heritage consultant; Lucinda Lambton, writer and broadcaster; Jeremy Musson, architectural writer; Simon Foster, consultant to Channel 4’s Country House Rescue and Ken Robinson, CBE, tourism business consultant.

Sarah Greenwood, publisher of Huson’s Historic Houses & Gardens said “We are thrilled to reveal the winners of Hudson’s Heritage Awards today. The judges have been impressed by the standards of innovation and the range of visitor experiences this year. From great food to original loos, visitors to today’s heritage sites can expect more than just history and beauty on a day out, though there is always plenty of both!

 

 

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