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!

     

Installation of the High Sheriff of Powys

Installation of the High Sheriff of Powys

Victorian halberdsThis week, our building will be alive and buzzing with activity of a very special kind. The Installation of the High Sheriff of Powys takes place annually and is held in our building every third year, when a representative from Radnorshire, our part of Powys (the middle bit), takes the role.  This year, Sue Thompson of Kinnerton takes the position, following in the footsteps of the Sheriffs from over 1,000 years of history.  On Friday 21st April 2017, there ceremony will take place in our building. If you are intending to visit us that day, you are very welcome – we are open as usual – but please be aware that some rooms will be inaccessible whilst parts of the ceremony are underway.  On the plus side, visitors get to see a truly British ceremony, with our building in coming back to life as a centre for legal administration for its county. There will be a presiding Judge, the Lord Lieutenant of Powys and other dignitaries of the County all present – a truly spectacular affair.

The name Sheriff comes from ‘Shire-Reeve’ or the Anglo Saxon ‘ Scir-gerefa’. Their powers were once extensive, including judging cases in court, policing, collecting taxes on behalf of the crown and representing their area in early parliaments. These powers were slowly eroded over the centuries but the position has remained.

In our building’s heyday, the High Sheriff would meet the Judge at the edge of the jurisdiction and bring them safely into the town, to his lodgings here. We still have some sets of halberds on site, used originally for protection of the judges and later more for ceremony (although, as you can see from these, they could still inflict a nasty bit of damage to someone!).

Today, the duties of Sheriffs are mainly: attending on and looking after Her Majesty’s Judges; acting as Electoral Returning Officer in some constituencies; above all, upholding the rule of law and order and uniting of all the Sovereign’s subjects in loyalty to the Monarchy. All of this is fulfilled at no expense to the public purse.

We are very proud to host this ceremony, as we feel it keeps the building going as a living place and not just a fusty old museum for you to wander around – not that we would ever call ourselves fusty (just come to one of our jelly events, or find out all about Victorian toilets and pants as you wander round, and you’ll see for yourself!).

April 2017

News & Events

Subscribe to our
newsletter Subscribe