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!

     

Christmas good wishes and a big thank you

Christmas good wishes and a big thank you

We just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who supports us here at the museum. Thank you to all the wonderful accommodation providers throughout Powys, Herefordshire, Shropshire and beyond who send people our way, or come in to see us themselves; thank you to all the hard-working (and increasingly rare) Tourist Information Centre staff; thank you to all the other attractions in the area and to all you lovely people who pop in, bring your friends or help spread the word about us. We are so terribly grateful – we would not be here without you.

We hope you have all had a good year, despite the economic difficulties. It certainly is a challenge for us all isn’t it?! We were saddened at the beginning of the year by the loss of our well-loved museum cat, but thanks to generous local people and visitors, we were able to have a most fitting Victorian style headstone made for him.  It’s been up and down here since, as I’m sure it has for all of you, but we’ve had some definite highlights in the filming and a huge Victorian buffet that we staged in the summer.

We are looking forward to a new set of challenges in 2011, as we prepare ourselves (all funding applications willing) to transform  two exhibition rooms into an exciting new area about Presteigne, a chill-out space, new kids activities and a temporary exhibition gallery, where we will start preparing a very varied programme of exhibitions and events. Christmas Tree 2010

We wish great things for you in 2011.

Have a wonderful Christmas.

With our warmet regards

Gaby, Curator and all the staff

P.S. If you’ve started to feel like you just can’t stand Christmas any longer, we’d like you to spare a thought for us having to put our Christmas tree up and decorate the museum in October! Why? Well, the filming took place for the seasonal special of the S4C series on Victorian living that has been going on here throughout the year.  Click here if you want to read a bit more about it.

 

 

 

 

 

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