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!

The Judge’s Lodging versus Downton Abbey!

The Judge’s Lodging versus Downton Abbey!

We’d like you to meet one of our magistrates! (No, this is not a new star spot we are trying to instigate – we thought you might be interested in this one!)

This chap is John Percy Servern, Victorian resident of Penybont Hall, down the road from us, and one of the gentlemen who worked as a magistrate in the building during its heyday. We’ve got this picture of him, the only one we know of, up on our walls where he sits in a row of portraits of worthy gentlemen on the time. Apart from being a substantial landowner, he was a director of two railway companies, a Captain of the Knighton Volunteers, the local territorial army and was said to be stern but just as a magistrate.

So what does all this have to do with Downton Abbey? Well, the Daily Mail revealed last Saturday that this chap was in fact the inspiration for the Earl of Grantham! Writer Julian Fellowes’ great-grandfather worked on Severn’s Penybont estate, apparently inspiring the Downton creator. So all of you Downton fans better come on down and soak up the atmosphere of rural Victorian Radnorshire!

Read the full story here

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