I have been taking a look at hair removal for women in the 18th and early 19th centuries and it seems highly likely that the only part of their body that they remove hair from was on their face. It…

Having taken a look at my favourite subject –  hot chocolate, it’s now time for a post about eighteenth-century tea drinking. At the beginning of the 1700s, according to the Daily Coura…

I have been taking a look at hair removal for women in the 18th and early 19th centuries and it seems highly likely that the only part of their body that they remove hair from was on their face. It…

To date, the life of Dido Elizabeth Belle and her extended family has been researched and written about extensively here on All Things Georgian, and I realise that this article is extremely lengthy, but as it’s the last one for this year hopefully you’ll find time over the festive period to read it at your leisure. By 1784, Dido was in her early twenties when a key influence in her life, Lady Elizabeth Mansfield died, leaving in the house the then nearly 80-year-old Lord Mansfield, his two nieces, Ladies Anne and Margery (both in their early fifties and the sisters of Viscount Stormont, later to become the 2nd Lord Mansfield) and, albeit briefly by then, …

To date, the life of Dido Elizabeth Belle and her extended family has been researched and written about extensively here on All Things Georgian, and I realise that this article is extremely lengthy, but as it’s the last one for this year hopefully you’ll find time over the festive period to read it at your leisure. By 1784, Dido was in her early twenties when a key influence in her life, Lady Elizabeth Mansfield died, leaving in the house the then nearly 80-year-old Lord Mansfield, his two nieces, Ladies Anne and Margery (both in their early fifties and the sisters of Viscount Stormont, later to become the 2nd Lord Mansfield) and, albeit briefly by then, …

YouTube video by Marsh Family

James Mansfield was born on 10 May 1734 to a Hampshire attorney, John James Mansfield (1700-1762) and his wife, Elizabeth (née Fezard) (1700-1740). John James had, apparently, at some stage, changed his surname from Manfield to Mansfield. James and Elizabeth were the owners of a lovely Georgian property in the village of Ringwood, in Hampshire, known as The Manor House in Ringwood. James was one of seven known children, and along with his younger brother, Richard Fezard Mansfield, they followed in their father’s footsteps by pursuing a career in the legal profession.

James Mansfield was born on 10 May 1734 to a Hampshire attorney, John James Mansfield (1700-1762) and his wife, Elizabeth (née Fezard) (1700-1740). John James had, apparently, at some stage, changed his surname from Manfield to Mansfield. James and Elizabeth were the owners of a lovely Georgian property in the village of Ringwood, in Hampshire, known as The Manor House in Ringwood. James was one of seven known children, and along with his younger brother, Richard Fezard Mansfield, they followed in their father’s footsteps by pursuing a career in the legal profession.

I am delighted to welcome back a regular guest, Elaine Thornton to All Things Georgian to tell us an interesting story I hadn't come across before: In the early afternoon of 1 December 1804 groups of excited people began to gather outside London’s Covent Garden theatre. When the doors finally opened, a huge crowd stampeded into the auditorium, fighting for seats. The scene quickly descended into chaos: several hundred spectators jumped down from the packed lower boxes into the pit, adding to the crush in front of the stage. The situation became so serious, with audience members in danger of injury or suffocation and unable to escape, that the military were called in to restore order before the play could begin.

Oil on canvas 50 x 40 1⁄8 in. (127 x 102 cm)

YouTube video by Marsh Family

This was a case covered by many of the newspapers of the day due to its horrific nature and its subsequent trial at the Old Bailey, and yet it seems to have been lost to history, so let’s begin at the beginning. Samuel Wild Mitchell was born in 1751, just a year after his parents, James Mitchell and Elizabeth Wild’s clandestine marriage and was baptised at St Botolph church, Aldgate in the City of London. At the age of aged 21, he married Hannah Kelley, with whom he had a son, named for his father, born 1772, and a daughter, Mary (born 1774) and another daughter.

This was a case covered by many of the newspapers of the day due to its horrific nature and its subsequent trial at the Old Bailey, and yet it seems to have been lost to history, so let’s begin at the beginning. Samuel Wild Mitchell was born in 1751, just a year after his parents, James Mitchell and Elizabeth Wild’s clandestine marriage and was baptised at St Botolph church, Aldgate in the City of London. At the age of aged 21, he married Hannah Kelley, with whom he had a son, named for his father, born 1772, and a daughter, Mary (born 1774) and another daughter.

It is a pleasure to welcome back Dr Paul Main, who will share more fascinating information about Bristol. Some of his previous articles have been - 'The Romantic Poets in Bristol' and  'The Story of the Hotwell at Bristol'. On Christchurch Green, in Clifton, Bristol, very near to the church, are two unusual monuments.  There is, more often than not, somebody taking a photograph of them or peering at the writing, trying to read the worn away English or to decipher the Latin prose.  The monuments’ story is fascinating…

It is a pleasure to welcome back Dr Paul Main, who will share more fascinating information about Bristol. Some of his previous articles have been - 'The Romantic Poets in Bristol' and  'The Story of the Hotwell at Bristol'. On Christchurch Green, in Clifton, Bristol, very near to the church, are two unusual monuments.  There is, more often than not, somebody taking a photograph of them or peering at the writing, trying to read the worn away English or to decipher the Latin prose.  The monuments’ story is fascinating…

In early June 1809, the second battalion of the 8th regiment returned to Portsmouth with preparations being made for them to sail out towards the end of the month. Their baggage and ammunition were placed on Point Beach. About 11am on 24 June there was a dreadful explosion – it was nothing less than a barrel of gunpower. The Caledonian Mercury, 29 June 1809  the reporter stated that: The effect was most dreadful. About 20 men, women and children were literally blown to atoms, and the remains of their bodies, limbs and heads were strewn in all directions.

In early June 1809, the second battalion of the 8th regiment returned to Portsmouth with preparations being made for them to sail out towards the end of the month. Their baggage and ammunition were placed on Point Beach. About 11am on 24 June there was a dreadful explosion – it was nothing less than a barrel of gunpower. The Caledonian Mercury, 29 June 1809  the reporter stated that: The effect was most dreadful. About 20 men, women and children were literally blown to atoms, and the remains of their bodies, limbs and heads were strewn in all directions.

Apart from spending time in bookshops I do love an old fashioned stationery shop and  have fond memories of such a bookshop/stationers in my home town, Nottingham, whilst the shop is long gone, the…

Salary: £36,799 (Grade 5: Development Worker grade)Contract: Fixed term for 12 months Hours: Fulltime, 35 hours a week (.8 FTE or 28 hours will also be considered). Some occasional evening or weekend ...

I am always delighted to welcome back to All Things Georgian, Jim Symington, and today he's going to tell us more about one of my favourite artists, Thomas Lawrence. Like me, Jim has a keen interest not just in art, but in the back story behind the works themselves. In 2030 there will be commemorations for the two hundredth anniversary of the passing of Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769 – 1830). He was one of our nation’s outstanding portrait painters.  Lawrence was the President of the Royal Academy of Arts from 1820 until he died, unexpectedly, in his sixtieth year.

I am always delighted to welcome back to All Things Georgian, Jim Symington, and today he's going to tell us more about one of my favourite artists, Thomas Lawrence. Like me, Jim has a keen interest not just in art, but in the back story behind the works themselves. In 2030 there will be commemorations for the two hundredth anniversary of the passing of Sir Thomas Lawrence (1769 – 1830). He was one of our nation’s outstanding portrait painters.  Lawrence was the President of the Royal Academy of Arts from 1820 until he died, unexpectedly, in his sixtieth year.