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!

     

Stay with us

The Retiring Rooms @ The Judge’s Lodging

We are beyond delighted to offer The Retiring Rooms @ The Judge’s Lodging, two beautiful flats available for your holidays and short breaks.They are furnished with all of the humour and attention to detail we have become known for, down to bespoke cosy reading areas stocked with fascinating books, crime-related games selection and artworks reflecting the building’s history. You’ll even be able to  enjoy some of the building’s original furnishings, not used since its closure as an Assize court and now lovingly restored.

Contact us directly if you have any questions about The Retiring Rooms: retiringrooms@judgeslodging.org.uk or call 01544 260650. For bookings, follow the links below.

1, The Retiring Rooms is a one bedroom apartment, with a spacious en-suite bedroom and living room, dining and kitchen space that paying homage in its colour scheme to the Radnorshire Constabulary who once inhabited the building.  Special features to look out for include the quirky door to the bedroom, making use of the original structural beams of  the building, and artwork by Cecily Sash, the eminent South African artist who made our town her home in her later years.

Full details, photographs and booking for 1, Retiring Rooms

 

2, The Retiring Rooms has two large bedrooms (one en-suite), an amazing living room, featuring some of the judges’ original furnishings, a bespoke reading nook and an incredible view from the kitchen, where you can look out into the hills beyond the town to the ruins of Stapleton Castle.

Full details, photographs and booking for 2, Retiring Rooms

 

Why & How

The project’s core aim is to bring to life an underused part of the building as a way of generating income to support the museum in the future.  The Judge’s Lodging is a totally independent museum, run by its own charity and this will help us hugely in providing a stable and fruitful future for it.

We’ve been led through this project by the wonderful builders at Reynolds Conservation and the design of Candida Pino of Lupiae Architecture & Conservation

Funding for the project has been supported by:

  • UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund
  • National Lottery Heritage Fund
  • Architectural Heritage Fund
  • Welsh Government

We are hugely grateful to them all for having the faith in us to do this and believing that our lovely building is worth protecting

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