The Season

Donna Hatch
Houses of Parliament Houses London 1852 by Edmund Walker Few events created more anticipation and excitement, and in some cases, fear and dread, than the Season in London. Historically, going “up” to London for the Season coincided with the sessions of Parliament. The dates when Parliament convened varied each year but generally ran from January to July. The varied beginning dates may have depended on the hunting season. According to What Jane Austen Ate and…

Have a Little Class — Social Classes in Regency England

Donna Hatch
The social structure in Regency England was a lot more complicated than it is in today’s world. As an American who is an Anglophile as well as a certified history geek, I delved into this topic like Alice going into the rabbit hole and found a plethoria of fascinating tidbits. At the top of the social structure is royalty. These include the monarchy and their offspring, and siblings who were often royal dukes. According to…

English House Names

Donna Hatch
The Holburn Museum, Bath Copyright Donna Hatch As an American, I find it fascinating that so many historical houses—mostly in Europe—are named rather than simply numbered. The practice has charm and suggests history and longevity. Nowadays, it would seem a tad presumptuous, or at least eccentric, to name a home. However, house naming has a rich heritage. In one of my favorite historical novels, the heroine goes to live in a place called Green Gables. …

Regency House Parties

Donna Hatch
by Donna Hatch From the Archives: Regency House Parties A time-honored English tradition, dating back hundreds of years, is the House Party. In England, house parties served multiple purposes: the gathering of friends; an informal setting in which to discuss politics and possibly sway a member of Parliament; showing off one’s wealth to friends or anyone else the host is trying to impress; and it also could provide a last-ditch effort to help a young…

London Rookeries

Donna Hatch
During the late 1700’s London experienced a population explosion, and these newcomers—mostly working class—needed places to live. Unscrupulous landlords rented out rooms in medieval buildings. These areas became knowns as “Rookeries” and they were the very vilest of London slums. Entire families crammed into single rooms with little to no ventilation because windows were taxed, so they were removed or boarded up. Since candles were expensive, many of these families lived in perpetual darkness. The…

London Townhouse, the Mews

Donna Hatch
As any proper Regency lady or gentleman would tell you, the quintessential London home of the upper classes was the townhouse. Each home, attached at both sides to its neighbors, were as unique as its owners. Built in central London, these exclusive dwellings provided easy access to many beautiful city parks, as well as being within walking distance of shopping and all the iconic Regency areas such as Parliament, Buckingham Palace, Gunther’s Tea House, and…