Kristine Hughes's Blog, page 15

Mr. Lee of Hammersmith

England has always been a land of gardens and gardeners and so we thought it appropriate to begin a few posts which deal with the subject. Of course, if you’re going to garden you are going to need plants. One of the most respected and most successful nursery gardens was that of Messrs. Lee, of Hammersmith, … Continue reading "Mr. Lee of Hammersmith"

Renovation in Brighton

by Victoria Hinshaw I was hoping to get to Brighton this year to see the restored Saloon in the Royal Pavilion, but I am not going anywhere for the time being. So I will pretend I’m going while I present a few pictures and on dits about the latest restoration of this absurdly appealing structure. … Continue reading "Renovation in Brighton"

The Sweet Things in Life

Oh, ice cream . . . one of the sweetest things in life. Now that the summer weather approaches, I thought it might be time for a blog on the history of the icy treat. The first recorded serving of ice cream in England was in 1672,  when King Charles II’s table at a banquet was served ‘one … Continue reading "The Sweet Things in Life"

HENRY CYRIL PAGET, 5TH MARQUESS OF ANGELSEY

Called The Mad Marquess or, less frequently, the Dancing Marquess, Henry Cyril Paget, 5th Marquess of Angelsey, could not have been more different from his illustrious ancestor, Henry William Paget, the 1st Marquess, if he’d tried. Whilst the 1st Marquess lost his leg at Waterloo, the 5th lost a fortune on a lavish, over-the-top lifestyle … Continue reading "HENRY CYRIL PAGET, 5TH MARQUESS OF ANGELSEY"

WALKING LONDON: A ST. JAMES’S STROLL

by Victoria Hinshaw Originally published after Number One London’s 2015 Duke of Wellington Tour, we’re re-running this post on our St. James’s Walk as we regularly include it on all our tours that begin or end in London. The St. James’s Walk will be a part of our 2020 Town and Country House Tour and … Continue reading "WALKING LONDON: A ST. JAMES’S STROLL"

Recreating Lady Curzon’s Fabulous Peacock Dress

In a glass display case at Kedleston Hall stands Lady Curzon’s famed Peacock dress. Her husband, George, Lord Curzon, was Viceroy of India and in 1903, they held a fabulous Coronation Ball, to which Lady Curzon wore the Peacock dress, above, which is entirely hand embroidered. The embroidery was done in workshops in India and then … Continue reading "Recreating Lady Curzon’s Fabulous Peacock Dress"

SYON HOUSE

by Victoria Hinshaw The Percy family, now dukes of Northumberland have lived at Syon House for many years. To follow the fortunes of the Percy family is to travel the twists and turns of British history.  From their arrival with William the Conqueror in the 11th century, they held a stronghold at Alnwick Castle in far … Continue reading "SYON HOUSE"

Give `Em The Wellie – An Introduction to Bootmaker George Hoby

George Hoby was not only the greatest and most fashionable bootmaker in London, but, in spite of the old adage, “ne sutor ultra crepidam,” he employed his spare time with considerable success as a Methodist preacher at Islington. He was said to have in his employment three hundred workmen; and he was so great a … Continue reading "Give `Em The Wellie – An Introduction to Bootmaker George Hoby"

The Guards Remember Waterloo

Many thanks to fellow Waterloo enthusiast Iain Wood for bringing this vintage British Pathe video to our attention. The film continues excellent views of what Hougoumont looked like before renovations and therefore closer to what it looked like in 1815.

What We Saw At Waterloo – June 19, 2010

In 2010, Victoria Hinshaw and I both crossed an item off our respective bucket lists by attending the re-enactment of the Battle of Waterloo. We began in Brussels, toured some of the ancillary battles sites, including the village of Waterloo and La Belle Alliance and then we visited the camps which the re-enactors had set … Continue reading "What We Saw At Waterloo – June 19, 2010"