Kristine Hughes's Blog, page 28

GEORGIAN CHRISTMAS PUDDING by Guest Blogger Gina Conkle

by Guest Blogger Gina Conkle Does pudding make you think sex? Probably not. When someone says “pudding” most people think of the dessert easily made from a box. Its popularity has fallen in favor of cakes, pies, and ice cream. But once upon a time, pudding was polarizing. Political factions rose up over the food. … Continue reading "GEORGIAN CHRISTMAS PUDDING by Guest Blogger Gina Conkle"

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"

ALL I WANT FOR XMAS IS A BIT OF OXFORD A CAPPELLA

Holiday Spirit?       Check! Christmas Carols?   Check! Gorgeous men?  Check! It must be a bit of Oxford A Cappella Out of the Blue, Oxford’s all-male a cappella group looked dapper while dancing and caroling along to the 1994 hit single, which turned 20 years old last month. Filmed entirely on the Oxford campus, Harry … Continue reading "ALL I WANT FOR XMAS IS A BIT OF OXFORD A CAPPELLA"

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"

A TOUR GUIDE IN ENGLAND – CAVERSHAM

Following the Number One London Georgian Tour, Vicky flew in and met me in London for a night before we headed off on our epic research journey, visiting three Archives that hold documents related to the Duke of Wellington. Our first stop was the Museum of English Rural Life in Reading. We had booked a … Continue reading "A TOUR GUIDE IN ENGLAND – CAVERSHAM"

FLORIZEL AND PERDITA MET ON 3 DECEMBER, 1779

by Victoria Hinshaw George Prince of Wales was only 17 years old when he attended a performance of Florizel and Perdita, a play adapted from Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale.  In the words of actress Mary Robinson’s biographer, Hester Davenport, the Prince “was looking for a woman to worship,” perhaps HAD been looking already, when he sat … Continue reading "FLORIZEL AND PERDITA MET ON 3 DECEMBER, 1779"

A TOUR GUIDE IN ENGLAND: THE FOOD

WHAT WE SAW AT THE V&A

  Following Number One London’s Georgian Tour, Louisa and I had a day to ourselves in London and decided to spend a good portion of it in the V&A. Following are  photos of just a few of the things we saw on display in their Fashion Collection. From the V&A website: French Doll. Fine bisque … Continue reading "WHAT WE SAW AT THE V&A"

THE TREASURE HOUSES OF ENGLAND – CASTLE HOWARD

There are ten stately homes that have been designated as “The Treasure Houses of England,” and three of them are included on our 2019 Country House Tour – Harewood House, Castle Howard and Chatsworth House. Castle Howard, above, is not a true castle, but this term is also used for English country houses erected on the site of … Continue reading "THE TREASURE HOUSES OF ENGLAND – CASTLE HOWARD"

WHY PERIOD DRAMAS LOVE LACOCK VILLAGE

While driving to Bowood House in April during Number One London’s Georgian Tour, I realized that we were very close to the historic village of Lacock, the time capsule village that has remained so historically correct, it’s become a favourite of film and television production companies. The village has been used as a location many … Continue reading "WHY PERIOD DRAMAS LOVE LACOCK VILLAGE"