Tuesday 27 August 2013

Celebrating 200 Years of Pride and Prejudice - Part 1: Bath

About a month ago I went on a Jane Austen tour to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the publication of Pride and Prejudice. The tour was organised by Pride and Prejudice Tours. I have wanted to go on one of their tours for ages but always felt that, since I live in England, I should save my money for tours abroad. But then the company organised a one off anniversary tour, which was shorter then the normal tours, and quite a few of my friends were going on it. So I decided that it was something I couldn't miss. 


The tour started in Bath, where our hotel was for the whole weekend.We all arrived on the Thursday afternoon, and on Friday morning, we dressed in our Regency finest and were taken on a walking tour of the city.

The house used as the Elliot's House in Camden Place, in the 95' version of Persuasion. It is a B&B, and apparently the dining room still has the same wallpaper as in the film!! Unfortunately we weren't able to have a peak inside the house.

As you can see not everyone dressed up, as half the group weren't crazy costume enthusiasts. :) This is the pretty side of the Holbourne Museum. A couple of years ago a hideous modern extension was added on to the back. :(


I think this house belonged to Jane Austen's aunt Mrs Leigh-Perriot.

Claire in her fabulous Maltese outfit.

Corina ringing Mrs Leigh-Perriot's doorbell. 

Sunderland Street - the shortest street in England.


The house used as the exterior of Mrs Smith's lodgings (Westgate Buildings) in 95' Persuasion.

The following 3 photos are of buildings and streets that are seen in 95' Persuasion

I think this was a bootmaker's shop.






The real-life Westgate Buildings



In the afternoon we had a talk by the amazing Natalie Garbett on Regency clothing. It was very interesting. I learned lots.

Natalie is extremely knowledgeable, and makes the most exquisite clothes.



A lovely round gown. The material had a beautiful embroidered pattern on it, but sadly you can't really see it in the photo.




This is my dream spencer!!!!! I just love the colour and design, and just everything about it. :) I took about 10 photos of it (trying to capture every little detail) but for some reason I can't find them. :(

Next Post: The Village of Meryton!!!!! :)

Saturday 3 August 2013

Chalke Valley History Festival

The Chalke Valley History Festival is a week long annual festival. The main part of the festival is the history lectures that are given by prominent historians and other public figure such as Dan Snow, Ian Hyslop, Boris Johnson and Amanda Vickery. However, during the weekend, as well as the lectures, there is also a living history encampment. This is where I fit in, well sort of. The Napoleonic reenactment group that I am a member of was planning on going, but a few days before they changed their mind. :( Most of the members had gone to Waterloo the weekend before and were still recovering!! It was looking like I wouldn't be able to go, which I was rather sad about as I had been really looking forward to this event. Thankfully the day before my sister sweetly offered to drive me down for the day on the Saturday. 

It was a multi-period event so medieval archers mixed with American WWII soldiers  :) Sadly as reenactors we weren't allowed to go to any of the lectures, but we had a great time wandering around.



WWII CAMP





American WWII food truck


Some fabulous cars.

40s army outdoor kitchen!

One tent in the WWII area was decked out as a  40s homefront kitchen, complete with 40s music playing. The detail was amazing! 


Children's games



My finger seems to have crept into this photo! :)


And this one!!

Ok so am official not the greatest photographer!

There was also a mock up of a war time police station. You can see part of it on the left side of this photo. For some reason I didn't take a photo of the rest, but you can see the fabulous car that was parked outside it.

My beautiful sister. It was her first re-enactment, and she even wanted to dress up! Amazing, as none of my family have ever showed the slightest interest in coming to an event, least of all dressing up. Anyway, none of my decent gowns fit her as she is about 3 sizes smaller then me. However, I did have one dress which I had made ages ago out of an old duvet cover, had only worn once and was always a bit small for me. It was too big for her but looked quite good with the help of a few safety pins and a sash. And she was able to wear my poke bonnet. It was the first bonnet I ever bought, but as my head is so big it does't fit me. It finally got its first proper outing!! :)



WW1 CAMP



A fabulous 1910s plane!





Lovely horses. :)






MEDIEVAL CAMP
This is where my knowledge of history gets a bit sketchy as I would call the camp in the next few photos Medieval, but there is a good chance that it wasn't. They looked medieval to me though! I apologise to anyone who portrays this era if it is not medieval!! 






Ok so have just found this photo, mixed up with 40s ones. Am pretty sure that the blue sign said Plantagenets, so am thinking Medieval camp is actually Plantagenet camp. :) 



NAPOLEONIC CAMP


Me beautiful sister :)





I bumped into a couple of people who I have met at the odd ball. They were sitting outside their friends tent which was amazing. Serious Napoleonic glamping - Double bed, a tent that you could stand up straight in wherever you stood inside it, chest of drawers, writing desk, white linen covered tables and blue and white porcelain tea set. :)



We took a couple of photos with them.




An amazing steam engine that was parked just inside the entrance to the festival. 

I seem to have forgotten to flip this photo. Sorry I can't be bother to re-upload it! :)



It was a boiling hot day, so after wandering around the camps, we sat down and had a cooling drink and a snack in one of the big food tents. 
Whilst eating some people started to do a display of 40s dancing.





At about 2pm there was an airshow of WWII planes




We had a lovely day, but I really wished my group had been there and that I could have stayed the whole weekend. Maybe next year. :)