5 Fun Facts about Regency England that May Surprise You

Donna Hatch
by Donna Hatch 1.       It was not scandalous for ladies to show their ankles during the Regency Era. A number of Regency fashion plates and caricatures depict ladies revealing silk stocking-clad ankles and low-cut slippers, which were much like todays ballerina flat, while dancing, sitting, and walking. During the Victorian Era, shoe fashions changed from slippers to the Victorian boot. This happened about the same time that hemlines lowered and skirts widened. In addition to…

Bath, Time Traveling to Rome or Georgian England

Donna Hatch
by Donna Hatch When Rome occupied England, the quaint English town now known as Bath was a hub for social, religious, heath, and recreational activities. The sick–those who could afford it–flocked to the healing mineral waters of a warm natural springs. They sought cures, or at least relief, from all manner of health complaints such as palsy, arthritis, gout, skin diseases including leprosy, and many chronic and terminal illnesses.  It seems that both genders bathed…

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…

Windsor Castle

Donna Hatch
Windsor Castle is a worldwide icon for England. Built in the eleventh century, it has been in continuous use as a royal residence since William the Conqueror–the only structure that fits that description. To date, thirty nine royal generations have called this home. In recent times, Windsor Castle became more of a weekend retreat for the royal family, although formal events also occur here. William the Conqueror founded the castle and is credited for its…

New Release

Donna Hatch
My newest sweet (PG-rated) Regency Romance novel, Courting the Country Miss, is available to readers. Though it is technically a sequel for Courting the Countess, it also reads well as a stand-alone novel. Here is the back cover blurb for Courting the Country Miss, Courting Series, Book 2 Cynical and broken-hearted, Leticia banishes dreams of marriage. When her childhood friend, Tristan, wagers he can find her the perfect husband, she hopes the challenge will coax…

Regency England through the Eyes of Romance Author Donna Hatch

Donna Hatch
As many of you know, I recently spent three weeks in England. I walked all over a part of London known as Mayfair, studied buildings and architecture, and visited parks and locations of historical interest during the Georgian and Regency Era. I have such a better idea of Regency Mayfair, and how my characters would live, work, play, and travel. I also visited a bit more modern sites such as Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and…

Summertime Pleasures in Regency England

Donna Hatch
A song I learned as a child summed up summer activities beautifully: Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green? Do you fish in a stream, or lazily dream on the banks as the clouds go by? Is that what you do? So do I! Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green? Do you swim in a pool, to keep yourself cool,…

Summer in Regency England

Donna Hatch
Ah, summer! It conjures up images of lazy summer days sipping lemonade and swimming. In mid June to early July, when the whirl of the London Season wound down because parliament ended, the gentry and aristocracy went back to their country homes. Which begs the question, since they were so rich and didn’t have to work for a living, what did they do all day–especially in the summer? The answer to this may surprise you.…

Breeching Boys

Donna Hatch
When looking at old photos and portraits of families with very young children, one almost immediately notices that the boys and girls are dressed alike–in dresses. This custom existed well before the Regency Era, and possibly for hundreds of years prior. Throughout history in Europe and America, all children of both sexes wore dresses and petticoats which were simply considered children’s clothing and not gender-specific attire. Dresses were easier than pantaloons or breeches when a…

Gowns, Gowns, and More Gowns, and how often Regency Ladies Changed Clothes

Donna Hatch
Getting dressed during the Regency occupied much of a lady’s time, mostly because she had to do it so frequently every day. When a lady of wealth and quality arose, she usually threw on a dressing gown over her shift or her nightgown (also referred to as a night rail), whichever she preferred for sleeping.   After breaking her fast with a light meal which often included chocolate (hot, usually no cream or sugar), fruit and/or…