Kristine Hughes's Blog, page 34

A SURPRISE VISIT TO DRUMLANRIG CASTLE

Number One London Tours loves surprises, whether it’s an impromptu stop at an 18th century village, a surprise run-in with Prince Charles or an unexpected stroll in the rain. Sometimes, we arrange the surprises, as we did by adding a three hour Land Rover tour of the Drumlanrig estate to our upcoming Scottish Writers Retreat … Continue reading "A SURPRISE VISIT TO DRUMLANRIG CASTLE"

ELIZABETH CRAVEN – LIFE, LOVE AND SCANDAL

By guest blogger Julia Gaspar In her own time, Elizabeth, Lady Craven was famed for two things  – for the private theatricals that she loved to put on in her own home, and for the series of scandalous love affairs that filled the gossip columns and often provided material for salacious satire. Younger daughter of … Continue reading "ELIZABETH CRAVEN – LIFE, LOVE AND SCANDAL"

THE TOUR GUIDE AS TOURIST

Last time across the Pond, my flight landed at 6:30 a.m. at Gatwick. Taking the Gatwick Express to Victoria, I jumped into a cab and headed to meet Sandra Mettler at our hotel in Sloane Square. We were stealing a few days for ourselves before the Georgian Tour began. Pulling into the Square, I spied … Continue reading "THE TOUR GUIDE AS TOURIST"

2020 TOURS JUST ADDED!

2019 Tours The Country House Tour   The Queen Victoria Tour   The Scottish Writer’s Retreat 2020 Tours The Regency Tour   The Town & Country House Tour

WATERLOO TEETH

Perhaps the most famous set of false teeth are the ivory set once worn by George Washington, pictured at left. Ivory dentures were popular into the 18th century, and were made from natural materials including walrus, elephant or hippopotamus ivory. These ill fitting and uncomfortable ivory dentures were replaced by porcelain dentures, introduced in the 1790’s, which weren’t … Continue reading "WATERLOO TEETH"

SIR FREDERICK CAVENDISH PONSONBY

This post was originally published on June 18, 2010. When one thinks of the great British soldiers at the Battle of Waterloo, one naturally conjures up visions of the Duke of Wellington, Alexander Gordon and, of course, the Marquess of Anglesey, but one rarely thinks of Sir Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby, whose Waterloo experience is, in … Continue reading "SIR FREDERICK CAVENDISH PONSONBY"

COUNTESS BROWNLOW’S WATERLOO RECOLLECTIONS

From Slight Reminiscences of a Septuagenarian From 1802 to 1815 By Emma Sophia Edgcumbe Cust Brownlow (Countess of) June.—My father went to Mount Edgcumbe, and I remained, as I frequently did, with Lord and Lady Castlereagh. As days passed on, news came of Bonaparte, at the head of a formidable army, being on his march to the Low Countries, where the Duke of Wellington, with the English, … Continue reading "COUNTESS BROWNLOW’S WATERLOO RECOLLECTIONS"

THE WELLINGTON CONNECTION: CREEVEY AND WATERLOO

The following is diarist Thomas Creevey’s account of his meeting with the Duke of Wellington after the Battle of Waterloo originally published in The Creevey Papers (1909): “About eleven o’clock, upon going out again, I heard a report that the Duke (of Wellington) was in Bruxelles; and I went from curiosity to see whether there … Continue reading "THE WELLINGTON CONNECTION: CREEVEY AND WATERLOO"

WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL COPENHAGEN . . . .Part Two

In retirement Copenhagen must have become somewhat mellowed because he was regularly ridden by friends and children at the Duke’s country estate of Stratfield Saye (above), although Lady Shelley said he was the most difficult to sit of any horse she had ever ridden. The Duchess (of Wellington) often fed him with bread and this … Continue reading "WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL COPENHAGEN . . . .Part Two"

WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL COPENHAGEN . . .

Copenhagen was the name of the horse the Duke of Wellington rode at the Battle of Waterloo. Born in 1808, Copenhagen was a chestnut stallion of 15 hands and was sired by Meteor, who was second in the Derby of 1786. Copenhagen was a failed race horse who’d won only one minor race at Newmarket in 13 outings. … Continue reading "WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL COPENHAGEN . . ."