Kristine Hughes's Blog, page 2

Have Yourself a Stately Home Christmas

Each year, at the beginning of November, I start checking the mailbox for my invitation to spend Christmas at Stratfield Saye. Each year, I’m disappointed in this hope. All is not lost, however, as I’ve still been fortunate enough to spend a few Christmas’s, and a New Year’s Eve or two, in England anyways. Recently, Victoria and I were mulling … Continue reading "Have Yourself a Stately Home Christmas"

THE ORIGINS OF THE CHRISTMAS CARD

From  Christmas Cards & Their Chief Designers By Gleeson White (1894) The origin of the Christmas card is, fortunately for its future historians, not lost in the mists of antiquity, that popular hiding place for all sorts of origins; but as clearly fixed as Archbishop Usher’s date of Creation – B.C. 4004 – with more trustworthy … Continue reading "THE ORIGINS OF THE CHRISTMAS CARD"

YOU MIGHT BE A REGENCY REDNECK IF…

 It is that time of year once more! We at Number One London are inordinately fond of Christmas. We kick off the month of December with a Christmas favorite! CHRISTMAS EDITION I write Regency historical romance because I fell in love with the era at the age of nine, and my love has only grown … Continue reading "YOU MIGHT BE A REGENCY REDNECK IF…"

THE FOODS OF LONDON CHRISTMAS MARKETS 1845

From The Book of Christmas: Descriptive Customs, Ceremonies, Traditions by Thomas Kibble Hervey (1845) Everywhere, throughout the British Isles, Christmas-eve is marked by an increased activity about the good things of this life. “Now,” says Stevenson, an old writer, “capons and hens, besides turkeys, geese, ducks, with beef and mutton, must all die; for in twelve … Continue reading "THE FOODS OF LONDON CHRISTMAS MARKETS 1845"

THEY DIDN’T BURN WITCHES, THEY BURNED WOMEN

BUT NOT IF THEY WERE WELSH!   Accusations of witchcraft across Europe for several centuries resulted in the persecutions, imprisonments, torture and executions of hundreds to thousands of people, most of them women. There were an estimated 1000 executions in England, and between 3,000 and 4,000 killings in Scotland.  However, oddly enough, only five people … Continue reading "THEY DIDN’T BURN WITCHES, THEY BURNED WOMEN"

GHOST STORIES – THE SMUGGLER’S BEST FRIEND

LOUISA CORNELL Ghost stories abound from one end of England to the other. Whether born of local legend or eyewitness accounts, a country with so long and an often violent history should not be looked at askance when the subject of ghost stories and other supernatural occurrences come up. However, there are some very specific … Continue reading "GHOST STORIES – THE SMUGGLER’S BEST FRIEND"

THE SKIRRID INN – The Seventh Most Haunted Place in the World

Louisa Cornell   A few miles from Abergavenny, in a town named Llanvihangel Crucorney, in the county of Monmouthshire, is the oldest inn of Wales. No one knows precisely how old it is, but its existence is recorded in documents from the year 1100. The inn is named The Skirrid Inn because of its view … Continue reading "THE SKIRRID INN – The Seventh Most Haunted Place in the World"

HAUNTED PUBS OF LONDON

LOUISA CORNELL The thing about taverns, also known as public houses and now known by the shortened PUB, is that much of a community’s life was lived there. Every aspect of life was celebrated at the local tavern. Every type of business, legal and illegal, was conducted there. And every sort of relationship, passionate or … Continue reading "HAUNTED PUBS OF LONDON"

GHOSTS OF WATERLOO

The Battle of Waterloo took place on June 18, 1815. The actual battle lasted about nine hours. There are varying estimates of the combined death toll of all of the soldiers lost that day, but the most often quoted number is 50,000 men. With so violent a battle and so high a cost, it is … Continue reading "GHOSTS OF WATERLOO"

HISTORIC PUB CRAWL – The Prospect of Whitby

ONE OF THE MOST HAUNTED PUBS IN LONDON WITH GOOD REASON!   THE PROSPECT OF WHITBY WAPPING / TOWER HAMLETS                                                                    57 Wapping Wall, London LOUISA CORNELL     The Prospect of Whitby is one of London’s oldest pubs and it is believed to be the oldest riverside pub on the Thames. There has been a … Continue reading "HISTORIC PUB CRAWL – The Prospect of Whitby"