Social History
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Crime, Punishment and other Family Traditions
Read more: Crime, Punishment and other Family TraditionsThe hidden histories in Georgian and Victorian records reveal fascinating details about family ancestors, particularly those with criminal backgrounds, offering insights into their lives, societal challenges, and the justice system’s impact.
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The Curious Domestic Arrangements of John Hardwicke (c.1755 – c.1826) – Part Three
Read more: The Curious Domestic Arrangements of John Hardwicke (c.1755 – c.1826) – Part ThreeThe search for my 4th great grandmother Elizabeth Harris has gradually evolved from what appeared to be an entirely ordinary piece of family history research into something resembling a Regency detective novel. What began with a straightforward baptism in Wymering quickly unravelled into a web of missing marriages, suspiciously timed deaths, an exciseman called John…
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Heatwaves, Frost Fairs and Failed Harvests: Weather in Regency Britain
Read more: Heatwaves, Frost Fairs and Failed Harvests: Weather in Regency BritainThe Regency period’s weather profoundly impacted agriculture, food security, and social dynamics, illustrating the historical significance of climate.
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The Excisemen: the Regency officials no-one wanted to meet
Read more: The Excisemen: the Regency officials no-one wanted to meetA few weeks ago, I introduced you to my ancestor, John Hardwicke, a man whose family arrangements proved considerably more complicated than his occupation. While trying to untangle the various wives, children and mysteries that seemed to follow him around, I discovered that he worked as an exciseman. At the time, it was simply another…
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The Regency Cost of Living Crisis
Read more: The Regency Cost of Living CrisisFamily historians sometimes have a habit of making assumptions based on occupations. A labourer sounds poor. A farmer sounds comfortable. A shopkeeper sounds respectable. Yet occupations tell us remarkably little about how much money someone actually had at the end of the week. They tell us how a person earned a living, but not whether…
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The Hidden Connections of Sheep Farming and Aristocracy
Read more: The Hidden Connections of Sheep Farming and AristocracyA sheep farmer’s connections to a powerful aristocratic dynasty in Georgian Britain reveal a contrast between ordinary and elite lives. The discovery of a land tax record linked Francis Anderton to the Marquess of Buckingham, underscoring how rural labour supported aristocratic power. This relationship reflects the fragile nature of wealth, influence, and societal change.
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Cures, Curiosities, and Questionable Practices: A Candid Look at Regency Healthcare
Read more: Cures, Curiosities, and Questionable Practices: A Candid Look at Regency HealthcareIf the Regency period conjures images of elegance and refinement, it’s worth remembering that everyday life told a rather different story, particularly when it came to health and illness. Behind the polished social world lay a system of care that was uncertain, uneven, and deeply shaped by circumstance. In this post, I explore what that…
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The Regency Period: More Than Just Ballrooms and Scandal
Read more: The Regency Period: More Than Just Ballrooms and ScandalIf recent television schedules are anything to go by, the Regency era is having something of a revival. Between Bridgerton, The Other Bennet Sister, and yet another cinematic adaptation of Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, one could be forgiven for thinking that the early nineteenth century consisted entirely of attractive people exchanging meaningful glances across crowded ballrooms…
