Strange But True

Strange But True

  • Inexpressibles

    The name given to the tight trousers worn by some Regency gentlemen, such as the notorious Beau Brummell and his ‘dandy’ followers,  as they showed off their leg muscles.

  • What did Victoria do first

    after her coronation in 1837?  Have a parliamentary meeting?  Have tea with all the royal dignitaries?  No – she gave her dog, Dash, a bath.

     

  • Now that’s what we call a cake!

    Victoria and Albert’s wedding cake was a colossal 9 feet wide and weighed 300 pounds.

     

  • Victorian ladies’ knickers had no middle

    Once they got all those big dresses on, they couldn’t reach their knickers to pull them down, so they could stand over a potty to wee with these on instead.

     

  • Would you wee in your dining room?

    Victorian gentlemen did! Some dining rooms (like ours) had a special cupboard to house a chamber pot so all the gentlemen could go for a wee without leaving the table (once the ladies had left the room, of course!).

     

  • The last ducking stool to be used in England

    (in 1809) can still be seen not far from us in the Priory Church, Leominster, Herefordshire. It’s huge.

     

Handy Hints

Handy Hints

  • Keeping your kettle clean

    To prevent teakettles coating with lime – put the shell of an oyster in the teakettle and the lime will adhere to it, instead of coating the sides. 1852

    As with all our historical handy hints, this is a real tip from a Victorian book. We cannot say that it’ll work and it’s up to you if you want to try!

     

  • To take mildew out of linen

    Take soap and rub it well, then scrape on some fine chalk, rub that also into the linen, lay it on the grass, as it dries, wet it a little, it will come out at twice doing. 1852

    As with all our historical handy hints, this is a real tip from a Victorian book. We cannot say that it’ll work and it’s up to you if you want to try!

     

  • Antidote against mice

    Gather wild mint, put it where you wish to keep them out, and they will not trouble you. 1852

     

    As with all our historical handy hints, this is a real tip from a Victorian book. We cannot say that it’ll work and it’s up to you if you want to try!

     

  • To remove grease from books

    Lay upon the spoon a little magnesium or powdered chalk, and under it the same; set on it a warm flat iron, and as soon as the grease is melted, it will be all absorbed, and leave the paper clean. 1852

     

    As with all our historical handy hints, this is a real tip from a Victorian book. We cannot say that it’ll work and it’s up to you if you want to try!

     

  • An insect trap

    Scoop out the inside of a turnip, scallop the edges, and place it downward in the earth. The insects will pass into it as a place of retreat through the holes, and the cucumbers, squashes, melons etc., may soon be clear of them.  1852

     

    As with all our historical handy hints, this is a real tip from a Victorian book. We cannot say that it’ll work and it’s up to you if you want to try!

     

  • To clean gilt buckles, chains &c.

    Dip a soft brush in water, rub a little soap on it, and brush the article for a minute or two, then wash it clean, wipe it, and place it near the fire till dry, then brush it with burnt bread finely powdered. 1823

     

    As with all our historical handy hints, this is a real tip from a Victorian book. We cannot say that it’ll work and it’s up to you if you want to try!

     

Thank you for helping us achieve 25 wonderful years

Thank you for helping us achieve 25 wonderful years

A note of thanks on our 25th birthday to all of you who have supported us.

On the 24th May 1997, actor Robert Hardy descended the steps of an 1860s horse-drawn carriage, to cut the ribbon across our gates, declaring us open for all, after three years of work to restore this Grade 2* building and its contents to its former 1860s glory.

Since then, we have  seen thousands of visitors, won numerous national awards, hosted hundreds of interactive school trips, held community exhibitions,  and hosted crazy events (our personal favourite was a pirate weekend, as we got to dress up and say ’Argh’ a lot!).

Our ’hands-on’ policy  has allowed us the freedom to experiment in Victorian living and share experiences with visitors.  If you visit, you are perfectly welcome, for example, to pump water in the kitchen and see just how tiring it is to carry it up the 41 stairs to the bathroom!

We’ve learnt which plants don’t last well in period lighting fumes, how hard it is to fold napkins into fancy shapes, that it can take up to an hour to iron the best table cloth to make it fit for the judge’s table. We know how to get a 16 foot Christmas tree in through a window,  set jelly without gelatine, trim lamp wicks to allow lights to burn effectively, and how to clean carpets using tealeaves. Oh yes, the staff here have no end of (admittedly, rather non-transferable) skills!

What a ride it has been and we thank you for your support over the years. We really couldn’t do what we do and keep our wonderful building alive without you encouraging us, sending visitors our way and of course, dropping by yourselves. I, myself, have been with the building since its restoration, so I truly know how important you’ve all been on our journey so far. Every day it is open is another reason for me to smile. Here’s to the next 25 and onwards!

With thanks

Gaby

 

Gabrielle Rivers, Manager     24th May 2022

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