Kristine Hughes's Blog, page 31

OSBORNE HOUSE – Part Three

One of the most charming areas of Osborne House is the nursery, occupied by the  nine Royal children when staying on the Isle of Wight. The rooms have been preserved and offer a glimpse into the privileged world of Victoria and Albert’s children.   The Royal children may have had the benefit of wealth of … Continue reading "OSBORNE HOUSE – Part Three"

REMEMBERING HESTER DAVENPORT

How many times has Hester Davenport’s name passed my lips since we lost her on  September 23rd, 2013 – five years ago? Too many to count, as we at Number One London have so many memories of our beloved friend, sharing them often. If we’re not speaking of Hester amongst ourselves – Kristine, Victoria and … Continue reading "REMEMBERING HESTER DAVENPORT"

A TOUR GUIDE AT BLENHEIM PALACE

You may recall that in my last post about my recent trip to England, Sandra Mettler and I spent my first day in London touring the City on the Hop On, Hop Off bus. It was a glorious day, and the summer weather continued, as you’ll see by the headline above. Having spent the past … Continue reading "A TOUR GUIDE AT BLENHEIM PALACE"

THE DEATH OF WELLINGTON AT WALMER

The Duke of Wellington died at Walmer Castle on September 14, 1852  From The History of Walmer and Walmer Castle by Charles Robert Stebbing Elvin (1894) “The Duke of Wellington was Lord Warden (of the Cinque Ports) for nearly four and twenty years, and during all that time rarely missed coming to Walmer after the … Continue reading "THE DEATH OF WELLINGTON AT WALMER"

OSBORNE HOUSE – Part Two

by Victoria Hinshaw, with Kristine Hughes Patrone After a break we eagerly went upstairs to see the personal rooms of the royal couple and their children. Victoria and Albert had adjacent suites of rooms on the first floor. after Albert’s death in 1861, the Queen kept his rooms just as he had left them. The … Continue reading "OSBORNE HOUSE – Part Two"

THE QUEEN VICTORIA TOUR – SEPTEMBER 2019

THE CARRIAGE HORSE – Part Two

From The Horse-World of London by William John Gordon (1893) Thousands of horses are imported and exported annually. So great is the Continental trade, that at Harwich, for instance, the Great Eastern Railway Company have provided stabling for eighty horses, which is frequently full. As many as 120 have been sent across the sea in … Continue reading "THE CARRIAGE HORSE – Part Two"

VISITING OSBORNE HOUSE – May 2018

by Victoria Hinshaw, with Kristine Hughes Patrone In 1845, Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert bought property on the Isle of Wight. The Prince designed the house, in coordination with architect Thomas Cubitt, to reflect his taste for Italian-style villas; Albert was known to compare the view of the Solent with the Bay of Naples, … Continue reading "VISITING OSBORNE HOUSE – May 2018"

THE CARRIAGE HORSE

From The Horse-World of London by William John Gordon (1893) Four-horse coach weighs a ton; a single brougham, the lightest close carriage built, weighs about seven hundredweight: the carriage horse has thus not much of a weight to pull, but he has to pull it at a good pace, and it is the pace that … Continue reading "THE CARRIAGE HORSE"

AN INVITATION TO THE ROYAL PAVILION

One of the most iconic buildings in England, Brighton’s Royal Pavilion has come to symbolize the decadence of the Regency Period. Built as George IV’s pleasure palace by the sea, the Pavilion continues to astonish visitors, just as it did in the 19th century. Even the typically unflappable Duke of Wellington was taken aback by … Continue reading "AN INVITATION TO THE ROYAL PAVILION"