Sandra's Sunday Musings
TOP TEN PLACES I’D VISIT IN REGENCY ENGLAND
As a Regency romance author, I would love to have the opportunity to go back in time to that era…but only for a visit, mind you. I’d miss hot showers too much to stay forever, nor does the thought of chamber pots appeal. But if I could spend a week in London during the Regency era, I do have a Top Ten list of the places I’d want to visit.
10. Carlton House The palace, home of the Prince of Wales or Prinny as he was often called, was an exquisite showplace of priceless art, magnificent chandeliers, French royal furniture and decorated in the colors of gold, blue and crimson. Prinny entertained his friends at the palace, his parties known for their decadence where no expense was spared.
9. Almack’s Famous for its weak lemonade and strict rules, Almack’s weekly Wednesday night ball was still the place to be seen and admittance was by approval of its patronesses.
8. Tower of London Built by William the Conqueror in 1078, visitors could view the crown jewels, the Horse Armory, Traitors’ Gate (where many prisoners were escorted into the Tower) and the Menagerie which at various times included lions, a wolf, monkeys and even a hyena. The ghost of Anne Boleyn, beheaded in 1536 for treason, is said to walk around the White Tower, carrying her head.
7. Astley’s Amphitheatre Famous for its spectacular performances of acrobatic riding and horsemanship including equestrian ballet shows and re-enactments of war scenes.
6. White’s An exclusive gentlemen’s club and one of Beau Brummell’s haunts, White’s is famous for its bow-window where “dandies” would gather and gossip about those walking by, often wagering on such things as the color of the bonnet of the next lady to pass. For this visit, I would want to be invisible so I could meander among the tables and eavesdrop on the men’s conversations.
5. Gunter’s Known for its fruit ices and sweets, patrons could sit inside the shop, or stay in their carriages and be served their treats by waiters. Many a lord courted their chosen lady while treating her to a Gunter’s ice.
4. A Gaming Hell For no other reason than to be able to write better descriptions when one of my characters spends his evening gambling.
3. Vauxhall Gardens Famous for its wafer-thin ham slices and potent punch, Vauxhall Gardens was a fun place to go for evening entertainment. Concerts, the mechanical Cascade, dancing and fireworks entertained both the nobility and commoners nightly. Lamps lit the garden’s paths, but enterprising lovers could always find a dark corner to share a kiss, or more.
2. Visit a modiste Where I would be personally fitted for an exquisite ball gown, perhaps made from popular fabrics of the day such as spider-gauze, sarsnet or crepe. This visit would be in preparation for number one on my list.
1. Attend a ball Having received my handwritten invitation to the most sought after ball of the Season, my lady’s maid would spend several hours bathing me, dressing me in my beautiful new gown and then she would style my hair in the latest fashion. Within minutes of arriving at the ball, my gaze would drift across the crowded room to see a stunning man staring back at me. The bored look in his startling blue eyes would fade as his gaze roamed over me. He would push away from the wall he’s leaning on and prowl toward me, his eyes never leaving mine. My breath would hitch as I realized I’m about to dance my first waltz with the most handsome man I’ve ever seen and…I don’t know how to waltz.
Although there’s so many other places I’d love to visit, that is my top ten. Now I’m off to take waltzing lessons. Just in case.
#sometimeblog
As a Regency romance author, I would love to have the opportunity to go back in time to that era…but only for a visit, mind you. I’d miss hot showers too much to stay forever, nor does the thought of chamber pots appeal. But if I could spend a week in London during the Regency era, I do have a Top Ten list of the places I’d want to visit.
10. Carlton House The palace, home of the Prince of Wales or Prinny as he was often called, was an exquisite showplace of priceless art, magnificent chandeliers, French royal furniture and decorated in the colors of gold, blue and crimson. Prinny entertained his friends at the palace, his parties known for their decadence where no expense was spared.
9. Almack’s Famous for its weak lemonade and strict rules, Almack’s weekly Wednesday night ball was still the place to be seen and admittance was by approval of its patronesses.
8. Tower of London Built by William the Conqueror in 1078, visitors could view the crown jewels, the Horse Armory, Traitors’ Gate (where many prisoners were escorted into the Tower) and the Menagerie which at various times included lions, a wolf, monkeys and even a hyena. The ghost of Anne Boleyn, beheaded in 1536 for treason, is said to walk around the White Tower, carrying her head.
7. Astley’s Amphitheatre Famous for its spectacular performances of acrobatic riding and horsemanship including equestrian ballet shows and re-enactments of war scenes.
6. White’s An exclusive gentlemen’s club and one of Beau Brummell’s haunts, White’s is famous for its bow-window where “dandies” would gather and gossip about those walking by, often wagering on such things as the color of the bonnet of the next lady to pass. For this visit, I would want to be invisible so I could meander among the tables and eavesdrop on the men’s conversations.
5. Gunter’s Known for its fruit ices and sweets, patrons could sit inside the shop, or stay in their carriages and be served their treats by waiters. Many a lord courted their chosen lady while treating her to a Gunter’s ice.
4. A Gaming Hell For no other reason than to be able to write better descriptions when one of my characters spends his evening gambling.
3. Vauxhall Gardens Famous for its wafer-thin ham slices and potent punch, Vauxhall Gardens was a fun place to go for evening entertainment. Concerts, the mechanical Cascade, dancing and fireworks entertained both the nobility and commoners nightly. Lamps lit the garden’s paths, but enterprising lovers could always find a dark corner to share a kiss, or more.
2. Visit a modiste Where I would be personally fitted for an exquisite ball gown, perhaps made from popular fabrics of the day such as spider-gauze, sarsnet or crepe. This visit would be in preparation for number one on my list.
1. Attend a ball Having received my handwritten invitation to the most sought after ball of the Season, my lady’s maid would spend several hours bathing me, dressing me in my beautiful new gown and then she would style my hair in the latest fashion. Within minutes of arriving at the ball, my gaze would drift across the crowded room to see a stunning man staring back at me. The bored look in his startling blue eyes would fade as his gaze roamed over me. He would push away from the wall he’s leaning on and prowl toward me, his eyes never leaving mine. My breath would hitch as I realized I’m about to dance my first waltz with the most handsome man I’ve ever seen and…I don’t know how to waltz.
Although there’s so many other places I’d love to visit, that is my top ten. Now I’m off to take waltzing lessons. Just in case.
#sometimeblog
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Thanks, Dannie. LOL on skipping the ball gown. :-)
It's a real eye opener for a writer to visit the places one writes of. Great success to you, Sandra