Regency England Research - post 10 - The British Weather

Look, you can’t expect a British person not to discuss the weather. We can experience all four seasons in one day; it gives us a lot to talk (and whinge) about. Honestly, bear with, there’s actually some interesting stuff here.

So, I’ve focussed on 1814 for Regency Love. It was generally a chilly year. The winter of 1813 was particularly severe.

December 2013 to January 2014 saw an average temperature of -3.15oC -very cold for England!! The Thames froze over. Using the best British spirit, Londoners decided it was a jolly good idea to hold a Frost Fair on the surface! :-O They even walked an elephant across! As you do!?

1816 was dubbed “The Year Without Summer”.

Weather is very important to us Brits, so if you want to mention it in your own book, do have a check on the weather records – it may add a little backdrop.

Oh, and don’t forget the terrible air quality of London. It was “a real pea souper”!

It was rather a dirty, smelly city. It’s easy to forget when one considers they didn’t have cars. However, there were plenty of horses – watch where you tread! Plus, without gas central heating, they used coal fires – phewee! The Thames itself was a bit of a cesspit. All sorts of detritus found its way into it. Finally, following The Great Stink in 1858, the politicians decided something needed to be done!

And during all this, there were brave boys fighting in the Peninsular Wars etc. (more on those later).

It takes more than snow and rain to stop us though, and later I’ll tell you all about the celebrations which still took place.

I’ll keep this post short. I don’t wish to bore you, merely reminding you of an important topic.

Next up, we’re taking a trip to the seaside. Tune in tomorrow!

Always in love and light,

TL

You know what’s fun to do when it’s raining? Staying inside and reading a good book, such as Regency Love