What would you have seen if you were a visitor to the Great Exhibition of 1851? Here's 10 awesome cultural and technological marvels you would have seen on display.
10 Awesome Exhibits You’d Have Seen in the Great Exhibition of 1851
The Master and The Pupil: The Correspondence Between Charlotte Brontë and Constantin Heger
Many of us have been there. Many of us have believed ourselves in love to the point of obsession, and letters Charlotte Brontë wrote to Constantin Heger, a Belgian tutor, proves that even one of the most famed writers in English Literature wasn’t immune to this human experience.
Kate Webster: The Female Sweeney Todd
Kate Webster’s (1849-1879) mark on history is as the “female Sweeney Todd” for murdering her employer, Julia Thomas, but before dismembering and boiling the bones off a corpse, Kate led a life filled with larceny, pick-pocketing, and petty crime.
15 Hilarious British Laws That Are Mind-Bogglingly Real
The United Kingdom has a rich and extensive history. This might not be more apparent than in the country’s legal history, with strange laws spanning from not wearing armor into the House of Parliament to ladies not eating chocolate on public transportation. Some laws are still enforced, but others are not. While this is definitely... Continue Reading →
Edith Lanchester: How A Victorian Feminist Ended Up In An Insane Asylum
In the Victorian era, insane asylums were a tool utilized by a patriarchal society in the oppression of women. While there were signs of feminism and women’s rights taking hold in the 19th century (i.e. bluestockings, feminist writers, women’s colleges, etc.), progression was slow. Women’s suffragettes, in England, wouldn’t see the fruits of their labor... Continue Reading →
6 Times Beau Brummell Was the Ultimate Diva
Beau Brummell took Regency England by storm with his devious good looks, witticism, and fashion sense. He was an ideal dandy, meaning a man who placed importance in his appearance, pursued his passions to the utmost, and adhered to romantic ideals. Beau took these beliefs to heart, taking great pains with his wardrobe. He disdained... Continue Reading →
Frankenstein’s Famous Creator, Mary Shelley, Kept Her Dead Husband’s Heart
One of my favorite things to do is to dig into the English annals and discover really weird stories. I’ve covered some strange and deranged stories on this blog, from Lady Caroline Lamb sending her bloody pubes to Lord Byron to one of life’s most baffling questions—was Jack the Ripper a woman? This month I... Continue Reading →
Abode of Love: Home to a Wacky Victorian Sex Cult
What images come to mind for the Victorian era? Maybe corsets, tea, and large country homes come to mind. Maybe the values of the time: wealth, family, morality, and strict gender roles (like divorce as a rare occurrence and society's obsession with virginity). The last thing you might think of is a crazy sex cult... Continue Reading →
Minsden Chapel: Home to Glowing Crosses, A Murdered Nun, and A Ghastly Monk
Is Minsden Chapel haunted by a ghostly monk that clanks around in spectral shackles? Ok, maybe I took a little bit of creative license with the shackle part, but a monk has been alleged to wander through the crumbling ruins. a Built in the 14th century, Minsden Chapel was in use through the 18th century.... Continue Reading →
Harris’s List of Covent Garden Ladies: A Guide to 18th Century England’s Prostitutes
Before the "Adult" section on Craigslist or hookup sites, there was Harris's List of Covent Garden Ladies. Printed annually between 1757 and 1795, this pocket-sized guidebook acted as a directory to Georgian London's prostitutes. a a Each issue featured 120-190 prostitutes who worked in or near Covent Gardens, often giving erotic details and reviews on the... Continue Reading →
