Kristine Hughes's Blog, page 38

THE LONDON POST OFFICE 1850 – Part One

In this series, we turn to the words of Mr. Charles Dickens which appeared in the March 30, 1850 edition of the publication he edited, Household Words. The following article is chock full of details about how the Post Office operated in Victorian London and also about the mail and other items it processed on a daily … Continue reading "THE LONDON POST OFFICE 1850 – Part One"

ROYAL WEDDING UPDATE

Just a little over two months to go until this year’s most anticipated wedding day arrives, so here’s a round-up of some of the news and a bit of the speculation surrounding the royal nuptials – Here’s the lowdown on Harry’s childhood friend, Violet von Westenholz who, it’s finally been revealed, was the matchmaker who … Continue reading "ROYAL WEDDING UPDATE"

ON THE SHELF – PATRICK LEIGH FERMOR: A LIFE IN LETTERS

by Kristine Hughes Patrone Selected and edited by Adam Sisman, a New York Review Book, 2016 (available through Amazon) I have so much to thank James Lees Milne for, really. It was through reading his diaries and letters that I have found so many flamboyant, larger-than-life, madcap and  interesting people. He introduced me to a … Continue reading "ON THE SHELF – PATRICK LEIGH FERMOR: A LIFE IN LETTERS"

THE NAME OF THE ROOM – WHERE PRECISELY IS THE NECESSARY?

by Louisa Cornell Having covered the all-important drawing room and the equally vital kitchen areas of your average Regency era English country house, I thought it imperative we visit… The Necessary. Anyone who has read their British history knows this era was on the cusp of modernity in many areas. Plumbing was one of them. …

MORE ROYAL WEDDING GOWNS

by Victoria Hinshaw Originally posted in February, 2011 This is really just a collection of pretty wedding pictures and  gorgeous dresses.  But, since it’s on our minds, these days, why not?  Some of these brides are related to the U.K. royals, others from European families. At right is Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden with her … Continue reading "MORE ROYAL WEDDING GOWNS"

A GARMENT BY ANY OTHER NAME

by Kristine Hughes Patrone Recently, an article about the Raglan Sleeve brought home to me just how many garments and styles are named for people or places related to British History. Of course I’d been aware of the Raglan Sleeve prior to the article, but as I always think of Raglan as he was – … Continue reading "A GARMENT BY ANY OTHER NAME"

ROYAL WEDDING GOWNS

by Victoria Hinshaw Originally posted on February 12, 2011, ahead of the other wedding of the decade, that of William and Katherine. As I write this, there is no word on the designer Kate Middleton has chosen to create her wedding gown, though I have heard many breathless accounts of who is and who is … Continue reading "ROYAL WEDDING GOWNS"

SIR EDWIN LANDSEER, R.A.

                by Kristine Hughes Patrone One of my favourite painters is Edwin Landseer, who will always be associated with his Scottish paintings featuring wild landscapes and majestic deer, such as the Monarch of the Glen, pictured above, which he painted following a visit to the Highlands of Scotland in … Continue reading "SIR EDWIN LANDSEER, R.A."

EARTHQUAKE!

On the 8th of February, 1750, an earthquake was felt in London, followed exactly a month afterwards by a second and severer one, when the bells of the church clocks struck against the chiming-hammers, dogs howled, and fish jumped high out of the water. Horace Walpole, in a letter to Sir Horace Mann, draws a lively … Continue reading "EARTHQUAKE!"

THE ROYAL WEDDING

If you were reading this blog back in 2011, you may remember our coverage of the marriage of William and Kate on 29 April, 2011. Number One London certainly got into the spirit of things, bringing you all the news and speculation in posts during the months leading up to the wedding on subjects including … Continue reading "THE ROYAL WEDDING"