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!

     

The Judge’s Lodging brings Napoleon to Powys!

The Judge’s Lodging brings Napoleon to Powys!

PRESS RELEASE

 Napoleon & Powys is the exciting new exhibition recently opened at The Judge’s Lodging, focussing on the effects of the Napoleonic Wars, which 200 years ago were brought to a conclusion at Waterloo.

This exhibition brings together for the first time objects from museums and private collections throughout Powys. There is a stunning 11th Light Dragoons uniform, worn during the conflict by a Brecon man, Waterloo medals, weapons and artwork made by French prisoners all on display. Two British Light Cavalry sabres on display have a particularly gruesome story about the devastating damage they could inflict on the enemy. You can seen souvenirs from the battlefield of Waterloo and of the Napoleonic Wars’ greatest figures – a lock of Wellington’s hair, a piece of Nelson’s Victory and there is even a piece of wallpaper allegedly from Napoleon’s bedroom, thought to have contained the arsenic that killed him – alas, dramatic although this story is, it is quite conclusive now that the French Emperor in fact died of stomach cancer, but what a story! The exhibition features objects from six museums: the three Powys shire museums, the Regimental Museum of the Royal Welsh, Herefordshire Museum Service and The Judge’s Lodging’s own collection.

 It is easy to think that such a quiet part of the UK could not possibly have seen much change to their lives throughout over twenty years of fighting, which ranged from Egypt, throughout Europe, and especially through the Peninsular, before culminating in the Allied Army meeting Napoleon’s forces in Belgium. But to many people in the shires that now make up Powys, these wars were an integral part of their lives, from the men who enlisted and fought, to those who lived in one of the five towns throughout Montgomeryshire and Brecknockshire who housed French prisoners.

There is a special focus on men from Presteigne who fought in the conflict, including a major section dedicated to Thomas Burch, whose gravestone can be seen just yards away from the museum in St Andrew’s churchyard. Thomas was wounded at the Battle of Quatre Bras during the Waterloo campaign, but returned to the town to become a larger than life figure as landlord of the Bull Inn.

There were those who keenly followed the war news and how could Presteigne residents not have heard that the country’s best known- prisoner of war, Napoleon’s own brother Lucien, was living just twenty miles away in Ludlow! There is even a criminal case highlighted in the exhibition where a local woman was transported to Australia for her forgery of the paper money, being produced as a direct result of the wars’ costs on Britain.

Gaby Rivers, The Judge’s Lodging’s curator, says  ‘This is real honour to be able to share the stories of these people; see their clothes, their medals and the effects this conflict had on them. We are so tremendously excited to be able to bring these stories and objects together like this and can’t wait to share it with visitors – it is a very special exhibition.’

Napoleon & Powys is open now and will run until 30th September. The museum is open 10-5 Tuesday – Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday. Admission to this exhibition is free.

This exhibition has some fascinating stories and visually stunning objects. If you would like to send a photographer, they would be extremely welcome. Alternatively, we could arrange for photographs taken ourselves to be sent to you. 

A further press release will be issued in a few weeks concerning the soldier Thomas Burch, whose life is far too colourful to fit in here – as a taster, he was one of the ferocious 79th Cameron Highlanders and appears to joined the army, lying about his age,  when he was only 12 years old!

Please do contact me on info@judgeslodging.org.uk  or call 01544 260650 to arrange or ask for any further details. 

Gaby

Gabrielle Rivers

Senior Museum Curator

The Judge’s Lodging

Presteigne

Powys

LD8 2AD

Tel: 01544 260650

Email: info@judgeslodging.org.uk

www.judgeslodging.org.uk

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