Regency Hot Spots: The Daffy Club

“Notwithstanding the writer of this article most anxiously wishes his KEY should fit well and that every person who is in possession of it should be able with the utmost ease to unlock the door that affords a peep into the movements of the Sporting World yet rather than attempt to gammon any of his … Continue reading →

Regency Sex Symbols: Thomas Belcher

   “Tom came to London in the year 1803, when his brother Jem was at the zenith of his fame, having beaten every man with whom he had fought, and attained the position of undisputed Champion of England. Although Tom’s ring career was not so brilliant as his elder brother’s , it had a less … Continue reading →

Regency (H)Not Spots: Millbank Prison

I started reading Affinity by Sarah Waters, in conjunction with some lighter fare (including Heyerwood) which features Millbank Prison as a main location/character of the novel. Originally constructed as the National Penitentiary, which was to include a holding facility for soon to be transported (to Australia) criminals, Millbank was opened in 1816 in Pimlico.  Students … Continue reading →

Regency Hot Spots: The River Thames Frost Fair

Between 1400 and 1814, The River Thames froze over approximately 26 times.    The Great Freeeze of 1683-1684 prompted the first commercial and full scale “Frost Fair”.  Taken advantage of the thick layer of ice covering the Thames, stalls selling everything from printers to barbers, butchers to bakers set up tents to ply their wares.  Games … Continue reading →

Regency Hot Spots: Savile Row

Every girl is crazy about a sharp dressed man.  Or so they say. The Regency man was not immune to displaying his charms to catch the eye of the ladies.  And in an era when the aristocratic class was still largely one of leisure fashion was formidable in terms of accomplishment. While Heyer frequently references … Continue reading →

Regency Hot Spots: The Bartholomew Fair

Dating back to the Middle Ages, the charter fair was a street fair or market established by Royal Charter.  Originally held as markets for merchant trading, by the 19th century the charter fair began to shift towards entertainment as the main attraction. One of the most notable summer charter fairs was Bartholomew Fair, held for … Continue reading →

Regency Hot Spots: Regent’s Park

Regent’s Park was, in Medieval England, a part of the Barking Abbey property.  Around the mid 1600s, after the dissolution of monasteries, it was transformed into Marylebone Park for hunting grounds. Later in the 1600s, it was subdivided into farming lots.  Its use went through many ownerships, including gentleman.  The last lease holder was the … Continue reading →

Regency H(N)ot Spots: Harrogate

High Harrogate and Low Harrogate came to birth around the 17th century as two separate developments.  In north Yorkshire, it is an iron and sulphur rich spa spot which became know as “The English Spa” during the Georgian era. Known as England’s “Floral District,” Harrogate  has a massive public space called The Stray which was … Continue reading →

Regency Hot Spots: The Hotels of the Haute Ton

Once a young man hit Town, it was not uncommon for him to rent rooms so that he could do the do.  London offered a step above the coaching inn: houses converted into Hotels primed for the influx of the Ton.  But where was a fellow to stay?  Here is a short review (the research … Continue reading →

Regency Hot (R-Rated) Spots: 28 Charlotte Street

As a crow flies north of Soho in London, Theresa Berkley made a living spanking naughty gentlemen. The inventor of the “chevalet” or “Berkley Horse”, she was the original dominatrix and her brothel on 28 Charlotte Street specialized in BDSM.  A high class establishment it helped Theresa Berkley amass no small fortune. There were other … Continue reading →