Regency England Research - post 14 – TRANSPORTATION; carriages, roads and post

Do you know your phaeton from your landau? 😉 No, I’m not being rude, these were carriages and coaches. And there was a variety of these to be had during the Regency. In the time before cars, these were the mode of transport, but like cars, had their fashions and variance.

I’ll leave a link to a detailed post on types of carriages here (with handy pictures), and even then there were differences in phaetons and curricles.

In rough order of size, in summary, there was:

v  Dog Cart – single driver (room for dogs); variations of

v  Governess / Jaunting Cart – ladies or children would use these (horse or donkey pulled)

v  Gig – really made for one

v  Curricle – sportster of its day; two wheeled, fast, dangerous, pulled by two

v  Phaeton – two-seater with four wheels (quite showy-offy)

v  Hackney – London cab, really

v  Post-chaise – two to four passengers, but intended for post

v  Landau – similar to a barouche – could be pulled by a pair or a team

v  Barouche – four-passenger, pulled by four horses – convertible (very grand) – could be pulled by up to 6 horses

v  Family Coach – enclosed four passenger – more suiting to long journeys

v  Brake / Brake – Could carry up to six sportsmen and their dogs to their hunting ground

v  Stagecoach / Mailcoach – Combined post with passengers and set up in relays/stages. Up to seven passengers (some outside)

Note - The Hansom and the Brougham were not actually in use yet. The Hansom Cab was developed in 1834 by a Yorkshireman of that name. And the Brougham, pronounced broom, was built in 1838 (recall Regency technically ended in 1820). Thanking you very much, please (sorry; watched too much Miranda of late!).

Carriage horses also formed part of the flashiness. One had to pair teams correctly. They were stockier than riding horses as they had to have the power to pull hefty weights.

Some of the very rich had their own relays of horses stabled along their frequented routes. Of course, this was extremely expensive. Most would hire the post horses which were en-route.

Right, so that’s the horses and carriages. They travelled upon something which I hesitate to call roads. Tarmacadam wouldn’t arrive until 1902! Turnpikes and tollroads had been introduced, so they weren’t quite the rough dirt tracks they once were. Improvements had been made, but inclement weather would still render roads impassable and hazardous. Many a carriage was overturned on its journey.

Road improvements were partly responsible for the sharp decline in highwaymen (*sings the Adam and the Ants song*).  They had improved even since Jane Austen’s time.

Journey Times

One can roughly guesstimate journey times.

Ensure you check maps of the time to see which roads existed. The M1 wasn’t even imagined yet.

If one assumes carriages travelled at around 8-12mph you can use the speed-distance calculator.

This article helpfully notes that King George III travelled from Windsor to Weymouth in 11-13 hours.

Another way of looking at it, and I remind you to be wary of distance on new roads – carriages would travel very roughly at cycling speed. Things such as Google maps will calculate the journey time for you (“avoid motorways”), nudge nudge, wink wink 😉

 The carriages mention post-chaise and mailcoaches. So I ought to quickly discuss the postal service. There was an appalling lack of email or even telephones, so one relied on letters to carry information. With all these lovely new roads, one had a speedier method of reaching our correspondents.

Enter the Penny Post – hoorah! That linked post contains all sorts of wonderful information on postal rates and franking, yes franking. Boo; in London, during the war, it was raised to threepence post! In around 1840 envelopes and stamps were invented; such exciting times.

Thank you and come again.

Always in love and light,

TL

Lady Anne in Regency Love has use of a barouche, of course 😉

Regency England Research - post 13 - FAITH; hatches, matches and dispatches

Hatches, matches and dispatches; a note-so charming phrase, really. It of course, refers to marriages, births and deaths; all part of the rich tapestry of life.

I was curious as to what part religion played in the lives of the Regency elite. They were so debauched I rather wondered if they practised Christianity at all. But, naturally, they did. They just weren’t terribly devout.

Going into the clergy was considered a respectable profession for rich young men, albeit a third class occupation. Perhaps suitable for the second son whose father had no additional estate to bestow upon him. Indeed, it was the lot in life for these poor chaps to make their own way in the world. Their options were; clergy, officer, lawyer or doctor. There were a few ways to make your living in the church.

But I digress. In Great Britain we have what is called the Anglican Church, or the Church of England (CoE). Gone were the fiery tempests of the Tudor times. Although, some religious movements were murmuring, such as the Methodists. The social elite would’ve generally stuck to the CoE though, as they wanted to ensure an Oxbridge (Oxford or Cambridge University) entry for their cherubs.

Church would be attended each Sunday, generally speaking. Although, I suspect once in town for the Season this was less adhered to. I couldn’t find much on this specifically. Pews could be rented, and the wealthy would reserve box pews.

Weddings were clearly an important aspect of Regency life. Do please note the types of marriage license. A special license was very rare, despite what you may have read in novels. A common license though, now that would be more plausible. It avoided the lengthy banns process (see link for full details).

You may find an outline of wedding procedures here or here.

Funerals could be rather dangerous affairs in England during the Regency, as that link shows. Funeral processions may be attacked. Even the verbal abuse shouted may terrify the gently bred young ladies. Also, showing too much emotion in public was unseemly. So, many upper class ladies did not attend such events.

And then there were births. New mothers would end their period of confinement with a churching service. “Thanksgiving of Women after Childbirth” was a special ceremony. Quite frankly, after such an ordeal, I think I’d fall on my knees and thank God for my survival too. That link takes you nicely through the whole process of bringing children into the world, including a section on christening.

The 1662 Book of Common Prayer was still in use. There’s a useful link there to wording of all church ceremonies.

So there you have it, a brief explanation on hatches, matches and dispatches the Regency way.

Go in peace.

Always in love and light,

TL

For a little flavour of all of the above do consider reading this author's book Regency Love

Regency England Research - post 12 - HEALTH; disease, death, doctors and childbirth

Disease and Ailments

There’s no escaping it; times were tough. Average life expectancy was low; around just 35 years old. But do bear in mind that infant mortality was exceedingly high. And some did live to their 70s or 80s.

Medicine was still very basic. In fact, the medicine itself may kill you if the disease didn’t! Opium, mercury and laudanum were common ingredients. However, recall how botany was an important part of a young lady’s education; plant remedies were still much in demand. A humble vinaigrette was most convenient, particularly during a faint.

But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, perhaps it is prudent to consider the diseases and ailments which were rampant at the time. Consumption (TB/tuberculosis) was rife; perhaps you have seen the elegant coughs into handkerchiefs which then become spotted with blood in films? This was Britain’s biggest killer. But do look up that link to diseases for a comprehensive list with explanations. The link to ailments supplies further information. Apoplexy, now known as a stroke was also common.

Death was a frequent visitor to Regency homes. There were rituals to be completed as part of mourning. I’ll look at funerals in my next post, covering faith.

And doctors were as yet to find their full use. Blood-letting and purging were standard treatments. There were different levels of doctor:

v  Physicians – considered the most desirable as they had further education and apprenticeship. Being so learned, they were considered gentlemen. They charged high fees.

v  Surgeons – sort of like our modern GP and would treat lesser mortals. Would perform crude forms of surgery

v  Apothecaries – think of these as dispensing chemists or pharmacists. They would grind ingredients into powders and tinctures.

v  Midwives / Accoucheurs – The male midwife was introduced (the accoucheur). Viewed as educated and trusted by the nobility

v  Barbers / Dentists – I say dentist, but they pulled teeth and that was about it

More details can be found here and here.

The seeds of modern medicine were being planted. Cleanliness was being gradually recognised as helping to avoid killing one’s patients. Theories on germs were being discussed. And medical instruments were being developed. Times were a-changing!

Birthing

Even pregnancy, childbirth and confinement were being cared for differently, as my own Lady Anne discovers. The birthing chair was being substituted for a bed, caudle was out for mothers, and in came fresh air instead of the stale, enclosed, darkened rooms for confinement. Forceps were being introduced too. Sadly, gas & air and epidurals still hadn’t arrived, so it was a full-on pain experience!! :-O

Fashions were mercifully forgiving, given the high empire line of dresses. Maternity wear started to get its own fashions though.

The death rate for mothers was sadly still high and peurperal / childbed fever was regrettably common.

Presuming one has a strong enough constitution to survive all of that, congratulations were certainly in order. Once confinement was over, there was a churching ceremony (see confinement link above) as well as the christening. There was no shame to breast feeding. Although, once one had full social engagements, a wet-nurse would be required. Baby clothes and nappies were somewhat different to modern day. Blue trim wasn’t sexist per sey. It was used more on boys clothing, but that’s because they wanted to protect the precious moppets from evil spirits; the heir was everything!

To round off this section, there’s also some details on early childhood and clothing.

Of course, there were forms of contraception around, but as it was one’s duty to breed like rabbits, this was really only used by the ladies of the night.

What a charming note to end this blog post on!? Join me next time for a discussion on faith.

Always in love and light,

TL

 My book Regency Love contains glimpses into all of this, of course.

Regency England Research - post 11 - The British Seaside, Bath and baths

“Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside. Oh, I do like to be beside the seeeaaa…” – everybody sing along now.

Ah, one of the great British pasttimes – going to the beach. It doesn’t matter if it’s not sunny. Skegness famously ran a successful advertising campaign for its bracing air (read flippin’ freezing and windy)!

Now, do proceed with caution, as it wasn’t until the railway network that seaside holidays truly became popular. However, the super rich, as ever, were the trendsetters.

There’s a list of historical seaside towns here by the way. Great Yarmouth is featured in my novel.

Sea bathing was promoted as beneficial to one’s health. Indeed, Mrs Bennet in Pride and Prejudice declared a desire for a little sea bathing.

My apologies; Bennet should only have one 't'!

However, one was required to wear a rather cumbersome bathing dress which included pantaloons for such an activity. And it was rather cold – our waters are not known for their warmth.

So, a very clever person decided that a bath house might be a good idea. There were only a couple in the UK, but one was happily situated in Lady Anne’s path. Seawater was pumped in and then heated in bathtubs. Herbs and oils could be added too. And one was served a glass of sea water to drink too – knowing what gets pumped into our seas, I think I’ll pass, thanks.

This was at a time when baths at home were still rare. It was too much faff even for the rich. They’d sometimes make their staff carry hot water and a big tub to them upstairs, and enjoy a good hot soak. But more often than not, they’d make do with a good bowl of water and some soap. Oh, talking of soap, I was delighted to discover that Pears soap came into existence in 1789 – I use it today as it smells so lovely. There were a few showers knocking around at this time, incidentally.

Of course, one could always “take the waters” in Bath. Thank you, Romans for the spa. Again, this was for their healing properties. One could dip in the naturally heated spa waters, or sip the water from a glass. Note; you can still do this, but don’t, it’s rather disgusting to drink! But do visit the town, for it is still marvellous and even has a lovely modern spa. The town had had fallen out of fashion during the Regency really, except for the invalids.

Jane Austen spent time in Bath herself, as has been well-documented.

I shall discuss matters of health next time.

Always in love and light,

TL

If you would like to visit the seaside with Lady Anne, please consider buying her book Regency Love

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

Regency England Research - post 9 – Houses

One is a member of the National Trust – I do love a good nose around old homes! Who else is with me on this? I find it fascinating, wandering about and envisioning what it would be like to “live like the other half”.

(*sigh*) One conjures up an image of Pemberley in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. The outside was Lyme Park (inside was filmed in Lacock Abbey; oh, the joys of TV trickery!). A place so pretty it made Lizzie fall in love with the grumpy Mr Darcy! I confess, this then prompted my own hero’s abode. Who can blame me? Any film production companies please make notes 😉

 OK, we have a pretty good understanding of those glorious mansions, don’t we? But where did they live in town?

Lady Anne’s papa is a duke, so he would’ve had a grand home in London. 

I based his on a mishmash of real ducal houses I discovered. Sadly, World War 1 saw the demolition of many of these. Poopey! ☹ There’s still a few though, including No. 1 London (Apsley House), where the first Duke of Wellington resided, and the current one still does.

A typical townhouse layout would look like this. That is a fabulously informative article, do take a look. This is the type of house that most of the rich people outside of the nobility would buy/rent when in London.

Shall we talk drawing rooms? There was a vast array, as you can see there. But they were basically where ladies would spend a great deal of time when entertaining. In Regency times, this is where the musical instruments would usually be. Music rooms were then added from this period on.

Not to be confused with the Drawing Rooms which Queen Charlotte held; these were the court presentations. 😉

Talking of royalty, Buckingham Palace was actually merely Buckingham House back then, and pops up in my book. It was relatively newly built.

Fun fact; my own papa was ‘in trade’, specifically carpets. Axminster was still considered one of his finest ranges. And the Regency folk happened to agree. It amused me to include one such in my story in homage to my daddy.

If you wish to learn about furniture I shall point you in this direction.

And I’ll just leave this general architecture note here.

It was a curious thing, writing about Regency homes whilst acknowledging that Lady Anne’s would pre-date these as she came from an old family. Let’s face it, how many of us live in a 2019 house? It amuses me when I watch the fantastic David Suchet play Poirot how everything is art deco – not a complaint as it’s gorgeous.

OK, enough on houses. We don’t want to get bogged down with details of every brick. We write stories, after all. They just have to happen somewhere suitable.

Always in love and light,

TL

 (lalala Regency Love lalala)

Regency England Research - post 8 – Education

This isn’t referred to directly much in my book, but one still had to think about what education young people received.

Of course, the poor were deemed not requiring too high an education. There were no free state-run schools. Think of poor Oliver Twist and you’ll get the vague idea, despite him being Dickension (later).

But the rich valued a good education.

Did you know Eton college was established in 1491? 😧 Lady Anne’s papa went there in my book. 

Harrow was its chief rival. And there were other learning academies and schools. 

Their lessons centred chiefly around “a classic education” (Latin, Greek, literature and the philosophies of the likes of Socrates) and would’ve included some science. But these were for the smelly old boys!

Young ladies were not supposed to be intelligent, unless you wanted them classed as a dreaded bluestocking (*shock, gasp, grabs smelling salts*). One would never bag a rich husband then!!

No, no, gently bred young ladies were to be “accomplished”. Girls’ schools were a bit rubbish. Think of Jane Eyre’s Victorian institution. So, most girls were home-schooled. Tutors would be brought in for some subjects and/or a governess. Basically, as much as you could afford. The more accomplished the young lady, the more desirable a marriage partner she would make, so long as she was sure to “hide her brains”.

A few were sent to what we’d call finishing schools, but this wasn’t common.

Arithmetic actually was important, as it fell to the lady of the house to run the household, including the accounts.

Girls Subjects

v  Reading

v  Writing

v  Arithmetic

v  Languages

v  Music

v  Painting & Crafts

v  Botany

Plus, a conversational knowledge of history, geography, literature, philosophy, science and politics

One lovely author has managed to find which text books would have been used.

Miss Bingley, Pride and Prejudice ~ "no one can really be esteemed accomplished who does not greatly surpass knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved."

 Feeling educated enough? OK, I’m going to leave you to ponder this.

Farewell until next time, my friends.

Always in love and light,

TL

(what? I might not have told you about my book. Better to be safe than sorry!)