Story Search Results

Change and the Country House #61

...on?  The Industrial Revolution caused a lot of change – the growth of industry spawned cities and a new class of people, self-sufficient and educated, not dependent on the old landlords.  This shift in power had greatly accelerated by 1890.  The mid-1870s had seen the agricultural depression take its toll and landed estates lost their attraction.  Also there were reforming Acts of Parliament and the ballot box which were creating a lot of change.  By the end of the 19th century, the traditional community responsibilities of the country gentleman had been eroded and institutionalized due to the creation of county councils in 1888.  Up until then the justi...

The Origins of the Stately Home #39

...When the Industrial Revolution came along it meant more houses were being built for the newly rich Industrialists which often mimicked stately homes whilst the poor continued to live in squalid, overcrowded slums.  By the 1850s the economy was booming - however, increased taxes and wars led to the downfall of a lot of these large houses as well as the agricultural depression of the 1870s as more people moved to the cities to find work.   If you're enjoying this sort of history, here's a book you might like to read! Click on the image below.   The illustrated guide to the architectural, cultural and historical heritage of Great Britain and Northern Irel...

The country house in society #48

...from the Industrial Revolution and swollen incomes from land enclosures. By 1850 the accepted view of the kind of house suitable for an English gentleman has been described as:  “A gentleman's house should be substantial, serious and in a style suitable for country life. It should be dignified, not ostentatious and suitable for family life. It should provide decent quarters for servants and be comfortable but not luxurious.”   Elizabethan and Gothic were endorsed as being of old English style, Elizabethan for English gentlemen and Gothic for Christian English gentlemen, with a religious tone on the increase up to 1870, by which time the Victorian relig...

Victorian Fashions #95

...The Victorian era was roughly from 1830 – 1900 and saw many changes in fashion styles.  This was the era of technological advancement and the mass production of sewing machines in the 1850s and the advent of synthetic dyes introduced major changes in fashion.  This, coupled with the printing of fashion magazines, allowed the masses to become more fashion conscious – the middle classes were rising up thanks to the Industrial Revolution! Clothes were an expression of your place in society, therefore upper-class women, who didn’t need to work, could wear more elaborate dresses over layers of petticoats with tightly laced corsets.  Men would wear long froc...

The origins of the stately home #43

...When the Industrial Revolution came along it meant more houses were being built for the newly rich Industrialists which often mimicked stately homes whilst the poor continued to live in squalid, overcrowded slums. By the 1850s the economy was booming - however, increased taxes and wars led to the downfall of a lot of these large houses as well as the agricultural depression of the 1870s as more people moved to the cities to find work. So, how many rooms does your average stately home have? A manor house might typically have about 30 rooms whilst a Hall could have up to 100 rooms (including servants quarters). Hoar Cross Hall had 70 rooms although the kitchens...

Queen Alexandra - my family #50

...Queen Alexandra was the daughter-in-law of Queen Victoria as she was married to her eldest son and heir, Edward VII. Her family were from Denmark and although of royal blood they were a distant branch of the royal house of Oldenburg and apparently lived very modestly on her father's army commission. However, in 1852 her father, Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg, was chosen to succeed his second cousin Frederick VII as King of Denmark thus the family's status rose and they moved into a new official residence, Bernstorff Palace. Alexandra, or 'Alix' as she was known was born on 1st December 1844, her full name being Alexandra Caroline M...