~Regency Wednesday~ Manchester Square

How about a Regency place this fine (dreary) Wednesday? I've clipped an image and description from Ackermann's Repository of Arts. Enjoy! ♥ 

PLATE 3.—MANCHESTER-SQUARE.

  This is one of the those squares which, during the last century, successively sprung up in the new western suburb of Mary-le-Bone. It is situated at a little distance from the north side of Oxford-street, between Cavendish and Portman-Squares; and the period at which it was built, was likewise intermediate to the dates of their erection. It was intended to have been dignified with the name of Queen Anne's-Square, and to have had a handsome parochial church in the center. This design, however, for what reason we are not informed, was not carried into execution; and the ground on the north side lay vacant till the late Duke of Manchester purchased the site, and erected upon it his town residence. From this circumstance the square received its present appellation. Upon the sudden death of that nobleman, the premises were purchased by the King of Spain, as the residence of his ambassador, who erected a small chapel in Spanish-place, on the east side of his mansion, from designs by Bonomi, which, for its classic purity of style, deserves the attention of all lovers of architecture. The house, which is one of the most magnificent private residences in the metropolis, and forms the prominent object in the annexed engraving, has been for many years the property and habitation of the Marquis of Hertford. 

  The other three sides of the square are composed of neat, respectable dwellings, which have nothing worthy of particular notice.*

*Clipped from Ackermann's Repository of Arts, July 1813, page 50. Get the Google e-book HERE.

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

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♫♪ Stone Sour ~ Through Glass

~Regency Wednesday~ New Bethlem Hospital

How about a Regency location for a change? I found the following print and description in the August 1817 edition of Ackermann's Repository. 

 NEW BETHLEM HOSPITAL.
 St George's Fields. 

PLATE 8.—NEW BETHLEM HOSPITAL.

  Having in a preceding number described the architectural arrangement and general appearance of this institution,  it will be sufficient here to advert to such particulars connected with its internal economy as are of any interest to the general reader. 

  This hospital is designed for the admission of all poor lunatics, except cripples and such as are afflicted with certain bodily diseases. Upon security being given that they shall be taken away when required, and have clothes found them, all admissible patients, except those from parishes and public offices, are admitted without fee or expense. Parishes and public offices pay three guineas for each, and enter into the same engagements. For incurables must be paid a deposit of five pounds, and nine shillings a week, besides their clothing; but if sent by poor friends, the weekly payment is reduced to six shillings. Patients remain till cured, or for twelve months, when they are to be discharged, unless there be then a prospect of cure. 

  According to the rules of this institution, no person whatever, except governors, or those in company with a governor, is to be permitted to view the hospital and patients; but the president or treasurer may give written orders for the admission of any member of either House of Parliament at convenient hours. 

  The keepers and servants are forbidden to receive any fee or gratuity whatever, either from visitors or others, on pain of dismission. 

  The official return of the state of this hospital as delivered to the lord mayor, according to custom, on Easter Monday last, was as follows: 

Remaining in the hospital, 1815  . 118

Buried last year  . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8

Cured and discharged last year  . 102 

Patients under cure  . . . . . . . . . . 115

------- incurable  . . . . . . . . . . .   81

*Get the Google e-book HERE.

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

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~Regency Wednesday~ Hyde Park

It's Wednesday again, my lovelies, and you know what that means.... 

~REGENCY WEDNESDAY~ 

That's right. Here is a lovely Regency tidbit for your edification. Enjoy!

Hyde Park was where one went to see and be seen during the late afternoon hours while enjoying a Season in London. It was one of the few places a young, unmarried lady could go with a gentleman, unchaperoned, provided they did not go in a closed carriage.

In My Lady Coward, Maria accepts an invitation to go driving with the Duke of Derringer. She doesn't realize that her reputation would suffer just being in his presence, even if they went in an open carriage as propriety dictated.

*Image clipped from Hyde Park: Its History and Romance by Mrs. Alec-Tweedie (1908), p.312. Google eBook can be found HERE. 

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

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~Regency Wednesday~ Bedlam

How often have Regencies made references to Bedlam or Bedlamites? I've used both terms in more than one of my novels and will probably use them in more. While longtime fans of the genre are probably familiar with the term and its source, newer readers may be a bit confused.

"Bedlam" is a corruption of the Hospital of St Mary Bethlehem, a religious house in London that was converted into an insane asylum when the monasteries were disbanded in the 16th century. The hospital retained the name along with the vulgar appellation.

In 1815, Bedlam was located in St George's Fields, Southwark.

*Further reading: Wikipedia article Bethlem Royal Hospital; Curiosities of London by John Timbs, page 51; The Penny Cyclopedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge, Volume IV, page 148

~Regency Wednesday~ Vauxhall Gardens

"I came to the gardens with the impression that I was about to see something excelling all other splendid objects which I had hitherto beheld. Nor was I disappointed. For, as we entered, a scene presented itself splendid beyond description, and almost beyond conception, exceeding all that poets have told of fairy lands and Elysian fields."~Benjamin Silliman*

Vauxhall Gardens was just one of the many evening entertainments London had to offer. The Gardens featured everything to tantalize the senses. Visual displays, succulent food, orchestral arrangements and an overall ambiance that could be described exactly as Mr Silliman said, a fairy land.

During the Regency, Vauxhall was known for the fireworks, wafer-thin ham and the dark walks. The Gardens were open from June 4th until the end of August, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday nights. Entrance could be gained with 3 shillings and 6 pence from 1809 to 1850, when the price dropped to 1 shilling. Anyone with the entrance fee was allowed in, regardless of station. It was one of the few places in London where the lower classes could mingle with the upper.

On a fun note, according to the currency convertor on The National Archives site, the entrance fee in 1810 (3s6d) would be approximately equivalent to £5.94 today. In 1850, when the fee changed to 1s, today's spending equivalent would be £2.93.

*Further reading (all link to full view google books and should open in a new window or tab): London and its Environs; or, The General Ambulator, and Pocket Companion for the Tour of the Metropolis and its Vicinity..., 1820; Curiosities of London by John Timbs, 1868; A Journal of travels in England, Holland and Scotland, and of two passages over the Atlantic in the years 1805 and 1806 by Benjamin Silliman, 1812

Regency Wednesday: Almack's Assembly Rooms

I have decided I will do themed blog posts on Wednesdays and Fridays. Today is Regency Wednesday, in honor of the fact that Almack's assemblies were held on Wednesday nights during the British Regency.

I am not going to do a long post full of details. More along the lines of a simple explanation for those who may not know very much about the time period.

I will start with the place that inspired me to use Wednesday as my "Regency" themed day.

Almack's Assembly Rooms

Almack's was a social club attended only by the crème de la crème of Regency Society. Located in King Street, St James, London, it was ruled by six or seven patronesses at any given time during the Regency. In 1814, they were Mrs Drummond Burrell, Lady Esterházy (who was Princess Esterházy after 1833), Lady Jersey, Lady Cowper, Lady Castlereagh, Lady Sefton, and Lady Lieven (who was Princess Lieven after 1826).

To attend, one had to apply for vouchers at a cost of ten guineas. Eager attendees were allowed in only if they had one of these coveted vouchers. Being denied vouchers for any reason could ruin the social aspirations of the seeker. If one received vouchers only to lose them later, one may as well pack one's bags and leave London.

The outer appearance of Almack's was nothing special but neither was the interior. The patronesses wanted the focus to be on the Society within, the people and manners, not the amenities. It was a social club to the core, a place to see and be seen.

Dancing was the premiere entertainment at Almack's with gossip running a close second. Reputations were made and broken with shocking regularity.

Almack's was an important part of Regency history. The famed novelist Georgette Heyer often mentioned it in her Regency romances. At times, she is even credited with having invented Almack's. It was a real place, however.

If anyone has something about Almack's they'd like to share, please leave a comment. Even if all you want to do is point out where I've erred.

*Dates were taken from the Wikipedia article Almack's.