Regency Britain - Hever Castle

This castle is likely one of the most famous in Britain, having been home to two of Britain's Queens.  Ann Boleyn and Ann of Cleves.

It was built as a defensive castle in the 13th Century,
by William de Hever, Sheriff under Edward I.  Even though after going into disrepair for several decades, the defensive nature of it is easily seen.

One can imagine it firing the imagination of little Regency girls and boys playing knights and maidens in distress, or maiden going out to battle the invading armies.

And yes, that is a moat all around the outside. One passes over a bridge to get into the house.

It was in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries that Hever Castle was owned by the Bullens, relatives of Ann Boleyn. By this time, the defensive nature was a thing of the past. It was a Tudor home.


These  photo's clearly illustrate that, but although it was Tudor in style during the Regency it was owned by Jane Waldo, the daughter of a knight of the realm, Sir Timothy Waldo, so it could easily be a back drop for a Regency story.

Next time, we go inside the house. Untill then.....

Regency Fashion September 1815

As we move into Fall, this September dress makes a bit impression for sheer femininity. 

A Carriage Dress from Ackermans for September 1815. I love that she has a lorgnette in one hand and a lacy handkerchief in the other.  I can remember carrying real handkerchiefs about my person as a child.  I still have a gift box of embroidered ones given to me by my grandmother somewhere. Paper tissues just don't quite feel the same do they?  Although I do like the little packets with pretty designs on the wrapping that you keep in your purse.  I digress.

Ackermann's describes this dress as follows.

Carriage Dress September 1815

Cambric muslin, jaconet, or French cambric dress, of short walking length, ornamented round the skirt with four borders of embroidery laid on; long sleeve, the fullness at the wrist confined in a bracelet of corresponding embroidery let in. 

Plain handkerchief, front trimmed en suite. The back of the dress broad and plain, sloped low between the shoulders; the fullness of the petticoat extended round the waist; the sleeve worn considerably off the shoulder, and the waist very short. 

The Anglesea chip hat, decorated with a full cluster of ostrich feathers, drooping forward. Sandals, kid, of the Pomona green colour. Gloves, Limerick or York tan.

I think this is a very flattering style of hat and one can imagine a lady able to stride out in a dress of this shape. I think this is an outfit I would use in a story.

Until next time

No Conventional Miss

Today we welcome debut author writing for Harlequin Historicals, Eleanor Webster, whose new book No Conventional Miss is out in October 2015.

She's always been different… Amaryllis Gibson is an unlikely debutante. She favors fact over fashion, cares not for "proper" conversation and is haunted by ghostly visions which could land  her in the madhouse! Marriage is definitely the last thing on Rilla's mind… But when she's caught in a compromising position with Viscount Wyburn, suddenly she finds herself betrothed! And worse, his powerful presence only increases her visions. By shedding light on the viscount's past, can Rilla gain his trust and win him round to her more…unconventional traits?

Welcome Eleanor, please tell us something about your journey to authorship and the research you undertook for this book.

I have always loved the Regency Period. Perhaps this developed from a youthful over- indulgence in Georgette Heyer but I think it is more than that. Regency society is one poised for change. The inventions of the Industrial Revolution are emerging, bringing with them the anticipation of societal transformation. Years ago, a friend got a summer job in Austria – we lived in Canada - by connecting his computer through the telephone lines. I was fascinated. It was a glimpse into the future and, although I could not anticipate its impact, I felt an emotional charge, an innate gut-level understanding that I was witnessing a game changer.

I wonder if people observing Richard Trevithick's first steam-driven railway journey in 1804 felt a similar charge. Or those brave passengers who boarded his ‘Catch-me-who-can’ locomotive  in London. Granted, many would have scoffed. Trevithick’s locomotives  had a habit of breaking the rails and falling over but I still think there would have been an atmosphere – a feeling – at least, for those with imagination and the spirit of innovation

My heroine, Amaryllis (Rilla) Gibson in the October Harlequin Historical release, No Conventional Miss, has exactly this spirit. Rilla is keenly interested in force, momentum and any number of ‘unladylike’ activities. She is working on an automated butter churn and has an eager enthusiasm for all things scientific.

As I began my research, I wondered whether any ‘real-life’ Regency woman might be similar to Rilla or were such accomplishments destined to remain in the fictional realm. Then I found Sarah Guppy (1770-1852). Sarah was born in Birmingham and patented numerous designs. Indeed, she achieved considerable financial success, earning a contract from the British Navy worth £40,000 for a device to prevent the growth of barnacles on ships. And then there is my personal favorite; her invention of a tea or coffee urn which also cooked eggs and warmed toast.

Needless to say, the number of female Regency inventors is limited – at least those publicly acknowledged. Indeed, women were not even permitted to become fellows of Britain foremost scientific institution, the  Royal Society of London, until 1945.

However, current historians are starting to rediscover people like Sarah and recognize female scientific accomplishments during the 18th and 19th century. Richard Holmes in the The Age of Wonder argues that women contributed to a far greater extent than is commonly acknowledged. Moreover, he states that they saw science in the context of a wider world, raising questions about its duties and moral responsibilities.

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/nov/21/royal-society-lost-women-scientists

As for me, the Regency Period will always fascinate and I will continue to write about those women, both real and imagined, who had a zest for living, an imagination and the spirit of innovation.
Richard Holmes's The Age of Wonder won the Royal Society's Science Books Prize for 2009; its sequel, The Lost Women of Victorian Science, will be published by HarperCollins and Pantheon USA


Eleanor loves high-heels and sun, which is ironic as she lives in northern Canada, the land of snowhills and unflattering footwear. Various crafting experiences, including a nasty glue-gun episode,  have proven that her creative soul is best expressed through the written word. Eleanor is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in psychology and holds an undergraduate degree in history and creative writing. She loves to use her writing to explore her fascination with the past.

Regency Fashion September 1815

As we move into the cooler weather for autumn we see it reflected in this Dinner Dress from Ackermann's for September 1815

The magazine describes this gown as follows

A WHITE satin slip, worn under a dress made in primrose-coloured French gauze, terminating at the feet with a full flounce of blond lace, headed with a double border of the same, gathered in full, and confined with folds of satin, of corresponding colour to the dress; 

handkerchief-front trimmed with white satin, and a falling collar of blond lace; long sleeve of white satin, the fullness upon the shoulder confined under an epaulet of the French gauze, trimmed with white satin;

the sleeve drawn alternatingly across the arm with the evening primrose-coloured satin ribbon. Long sash of white satin, tied in front. 

The ends of the hind hair brought forward, to fall in ringlets over the temple, confined with a plain white satin ribbon, and ornamented with a tiara of pearl. 

Necklace to correspond. Gloves, French kid. Slippers, white satin.


Well, to me, primrose is a yellow colour and the artist made this blue. I almost want to get my colouring pencils out and fix it.  Perhaps yellow did not work well in print to show the difference between the blond lace etc. and the French gauze. Not that I don't really like the blue, it just doesn't say primrose to me.

Enjoy…

Until next time, when we will be meeting Eleanor Webster and her debut book, No Conventional Miss…….

For more information about Ann Lethbridge and her books, visit annlethbridge.com

Regency Fashions August 1815

Books being what they are we are playing catchup. I wanted you to have this August dress before I started on September's offerings.

This is a summer Promenade Dress from Ackermann's Repository and this is the extracted description:

High dress, with plain body, buttoned or laced behind, composed of a rich satin-striped sarsnet, of celestial blue and white colour, trimmed at the feet with white satin;

long loose sleeve, confined at the wrist with a fulling of tull, edged with white satin;

a deep full ruff, of the French work, round the neck; a short sash of white satin ribbon, tied behind.

A French bonnet, composed of tull fulled in, and alternate folds of white satin; a roll of white satin, laced with tull, ornaments the edge of the bonnet; satin strings, tied under the ear.

Necklace of Oriental-gold.

Stockings elastic or ribbed silk.

Sandals crossed high up the ankle with blue ribbon. Gloves Limerick or blue kid. Parasol of shaded silk.

i thought this looked particularly elegant though I am not a fan of ruffs.

Until next time…..