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!

     

The Retiring Rooms @ The Judge’s Lodging

The Retiring Rooms @ The Judge’s Lodging

1st July 2025

If you have walked past our building in recent months, you may have heard strange banging noises, seen clouds of dust or even people in bright orange work-wear up against windows. So what’s all the commotion?  We are very excited to announce our major new project …

The Retiring Rooms @ The Judge’s Lodging will be two beautiful flats available to let for your holidays and short breaks from Spring 2026.

We have been preparing for this project for five years now, researching, fundraising and planning, until on January 6th this year, the wonderful builders at Reynolds Conservation arrived to lead us through the transformation of the former Housekeeper’s Flat.

After the last Housekeeper moved out, the space had become storage and workrooms behind the scenes.  It’s an area that has never before been seen by the general public, but now, there will be a chance to stay there and truly soak up the atmosphere that makes The Judge’s Lodging so special.  With stunning colour pallets for each flat and light fittings inspired by the museum’s period rooms, the furnishing plan even utilises some of the building’s original furnishings, not used since it’s closure as an Assize court and lodging in 1971! They will, of course, be furnished with all of the humour and attention to detail we have become known for, down to the information visitors will get about former inhabitants of the flat, bespoke cosy reading areas stocked with fascinating books, and a crime-related games selection.

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.

As part of the project, we’re also creating a fantastic new Collection workroom and large museum store in the attic, ensuring that our collections staff and volunteers have the facilities they need to care for the Presteigne Community Collection.

Follow progress on our social media and do let us know if you’d like to be included on our email list when more details become available by contacting office@judgeslodging.org.uk

 

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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