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!

     

National award headed our way!

National award headed our way!

Judge's Lodging staff & volunteers celebrateWe’ve done it again!  We’ve just received notice that a major new heritage award scheme, Hudson’s Heritage Awards, has given us the Highly Commended second place in their choice of the best heritage site in Britain for Education, Family and Community work. Scoring highly in all three aspects of this category, The Judge’s Lodging was only exceeded, in the judges’ estimation, by Burghley House, Lincolnshire, the largest and grandest Elizabethan house in the UK.  We do not feel in the slightest hard done by this! What an achievement for a museum from a tiny Welsh town to go up against the grandest historic houses in Britain and come out so well! We were the only historic property in Wales to achieve one of the top positions in any of the categories.

The awards were presented on 1st December at the Marriot Grovesnor Square, London, by celebrity hosts Lloyd Grossman and Lucinda Lambton. Unfortunately, the Judge’s Lodging staff were not there to receive their award in person at this prestigious event – they were too busy doing what the award was for – working with a school! ‘We knew that we had been shortlisted,’ says Curator Gaby Rivers, ‘and the award organisers were so taken aback when we said we could not go to the ceremony, but understood that we had to spend the day doing what we do!  It would have been funny to have met Loyd Grossman – he gave us another award in February this year for our education work!’

This award is not just for the museum’s education and family services. It also acknowledges the fantastic new Presteigne Community Collections project started this year, where a group of local volunteers have joined staff in working with the town’s collection of objects. In 2012 there will be new exhibition rooms on the town and a temporary gallery for a changing programme of exhibitions and events on topics of community interest. This community work is being supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Welsh Government.  Working more with local people is an exciting new challenge for us and we are loving every minute of it!

Hudsons Award 2011

December 2011

Photo from The Brecon & Radnor Express by Roger Bright

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