Kristine Hughes's Blog, page 12

2022 TOURS TO BE ANNOUNCED

  We’re looking forward to traveling again and we hope you are, too! The next issue of our newsletter will be out soon, with complete details about our 2022 tours. Not yet subscribed?  Sign up here for our quarterly Newsletter containing all the latest news, upcoming events and updates regarding future tours.

HISTORIC PUB CRAWL – The Spaniards Inn

THE SPANIARDS INN HAMPSTEAD HEATH                               Spaniards Road – London Louisa Cornell       The Spaniards Inn was built around 1585. The tavern formed the entrance to the Bishop of London’s estate and there is even a boundary stone from 1755 that can still be seen in the pub’s garden. The toll house opposite the … Continue reading "HISTORIC PUB CRAWL – The Spaniards Inn"

HISTORIC PUB CRAWL – The Golden Lion

                  THE GOLDEN LION ST. JAMES 23 King Street – London Louisa Cornell     There has been a tavern on this site since “God was a lad,” to quote one patron. The current establishment was originally built in 1762, but there was a tavern there even before the current incarnation. Records show a tavern … Continue reading "HISTORIC PUB CRAWL – The Golden Lion"

HISTORIC PUB CRAWL – The Coal Hole

THE COAL HOLE THE STRAND 15 and 16 Fountain Court – London Louisa Cornell   Originally established in 1815, The Coal Hole was a tavern that had formerly been known as The Unicorn. It was located in a corner of an alley called Fountain Court, just off The Strand. Fountain Court received its name from … Continue reading "HISTORIC PUB CRAWL – The Coal Hole"

HISTORIC PUB CRAWL – The Bunch of Grapes

THE BUNCH OF GRAPES LIMEHOUSE REACH 76, Narrow Street – London Louisa Cornell This post is the first in what I intend to be a series of posts on some of the historic pubs in London and throughout the UK. I realize that the phrase “Historic Pub Crawl” could actually have two meanings. I intend … Continue reading "HISTORIC PUB CRAWL – The Bunch of Grapes"

THE VERY PINEAPPLE OF POLITENESS

This is an oil painting of a pineapple grown in Sir Matthew Decker’s garden in Richmond, Surrey. The painting by Theodorus Netscher, made in 1720, is a celebration of the successful cultivation in England of a pineapple plant that actually produced fruit. During the 18th century, a pineapple cost the equivalent of £5,000 today. They … Continue reading "THE VERY PINEAPPLE OF POLITENESS"

PRIDE OF DUTY (Book 2 in the Men of the Squadron Series) More Regency Navy Seals!

Napoleon After Waterloo Andrea K. Stein Bellerophon was a famous Greek hero, mostly known for defeating Chimera, a fire-breathing, mythical monster. By some quirk of fate and history, the H.M.S. Bellerophon was also the name of the ship where the monster Napoleon, who bloodied two continents in his obsession to rule the world, turned himself … Continue reading "PRIDE OF DUTY (Book 2 in the Men of the Squadron Series) More Regency Navy Seals!"

John Singer Sargent – The British Portraits

  John Singer Sargent, the son of an American doctor, was born in Florence in 1856. He studied painting in Italy and France and in 1884 caused a sensation at the Paris Salon with his painting of Madame Gautreau. Exhibited as Madame X, people complained that the painting was provocatively erotic. The scandal persuaded Sargent … Continue reading "John Singer Sargent – The British Portraits"

London’s Notable Black Citizens by Guest Blogger Nina Davis

In light of the pop cultural phenomenon of Netflix’s Bridgerton series and its multicultural alternative reality take on the books, Kristine has graciously allowed me to revisit and update this article, originally published in 2011. I once had a dream, as I devoured Regency romance after Regency romance in my college years. Or more accurately … Continue reading "London’s Notable Black Citizens by Guest Blogger Nina Davis"

HELLO, HANDSOME – COURTESY OF SIR THOMAS LAWRENCE

by Kristine Hughes Patrone Recently, I was Googling portraits of the Duke of Wellington by Sir Thomas Lawrence (as one does) and the search returned images that were decidedly not Wellington. And I must say, some of the sitters were exceedingly handsome, and some of them were portraits I hadn’t seen before. So I Googled … Continue reading "HELLO, HANDSOME – COURTESY OF SIR THOMAS LAWRENCE"