Kristine Hughes's Blog, page 22

HAPPY 153rd BIRTHDAY TO BEATRIX POTTER

July 28, 2019, is the 153rd birthday of Beatrix Potter, an extraordinary woman we remember with great affection and appreciation.  Victoria here, a lifelong fan of Peter Rabbit and the other familiar characters she wrote about. Born in 1866, Helen Beatrix Potter (died 1943) lived in London and vacationed in the Lake District and Scotland. … Continue reading "HAPPY 153rd BIRTHDAY TO BEATRIX POTTER"

The Darker Side of London History

From The Horse-World of London by William John Gordon (1893) Very few horses are allowed to end their days in peace, after long and faithful service, like the Duke of Wellington’s old charger Copenhagen, in the paddocks at Strathfieldsaye. London horses, in particular, rarely die natural deaths. Many of them are sent back into the … Continue reading "The Darker Side of London History"

THE SALE YARD

From The Horse-World of London by William John Gordon (1893) Tattersall’s is usually looked upon as the headquarters of horsey London. It is certainly the headquarters of the horse of pleasure, but, as has been made clear enough in these pages, that sort of horse is simply lost in the thousands that throng our streets. … Continue reading "THE SALE YARD"

ON THE SHELF: IN PRAISE OF OLD BOOKS

by Louisa Cornell – originally published June 26, 2017 Regular visitors to Number One London have read of my obsession with research books written on the Regency era. I collect them with a fervor just short of that of the Regency’s most avaricious bibliomaniac. As a subdivision of my obsession, I want to tell you … Continue reading "ON THE SHELF: IN PRAISE OF OLD BOOKS"

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"

THE PASSING OF THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE

From The Letters of Queen Victoria Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. Buckingham Palace, 9th July 1850. My Dearest Uncle,—We live in the midst of sorrow and death! My poor good Uncle Cambridge breathed his last, without a struggle, at a few minutes before ten last night. I still saw him yesterday morning … Continue reading "THE PASSING OF THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE"

A VISIT TO DOWNTON ABBEY

Back in March, Victoria and I traveled to see the Downton Abbey Exhibition in West Palm Beach, Florida. It was a multi-media extravaganza, using film, projection, interactive displays, props, sets and costumes from the original to bring the series to life. Right off the bat, we were greeted by two familiar faces.   Do take … Continue reading "A VISIT TO DOWNTON ABBEY"

SIR WALTER SCOTT AT WATERLOO

This post was originally posted here on June 15, 2011   Sir Walter Scott Sir Walter Scott visited the field of Waterloo in July, 1815 and what follows are his impressions of the battlefield, and Brussels, during that visit – From Memoirs of the Life of Sir Walter Scott by John Gibson Lockhart (1838) I … Continue reading "SIR WALTER SCOTT AT WATERLOO"

A DAY AT OSTERLEY PARK

Victoria, here, reporting on the day Kristine and I spent at this jewel in Robert Adam’s architectural crown. Osterley Park is managed by the National Trust and a very good job they do! I had visited the estate several years ago, and this time I was excited to learn that we could take pictures INSIDE.  … Continue reading "A DAY AT OSTERLEY PARK"

THE DEATH OF WILLIAM IV

William IV, the Sailor King, died on 20 June 1837. He was the third son of George III and younger brother and successor to George IV and was the last king and penultimate monarch of the House of Hanover. While William’s reign was much more sedate than that of his brother, George IV, with less … Continue reading "THE DEATH OF WILLIAM IV"