A Regency Weekend in Lyme Regis - Part 1

Way back in October I spent a lovely weekend with a few friends in the small seaside town of Lyme Regis. It is a place that I have wanted to visit for a very long time - ever since I saw the 90s version of Persuasion. So when I heard about a Jane Austen tour being organised in Lyme, I jumped at the chance.

On the first day it was chucking it down with rain, so we escaped the downpour by sheltering in the local museum. It's a lovely little museum that has a small wonderful section on Jane Austen and Regency England.

A reproduction bonnet made out of paper!!! I think it was made for some sort of competition.

Exquisite baby's cap

Beatrix Potter also visited Lyme. These are some of the sketches she produced whilst there.

Lace making. I would love to learn how to make lace, but it looks very complicated!!

Rachel's bonnet - ME WANT!!!! :)

So pretty.

Miniature food made for a dolls house!!

When the rain stopped, we ventured outside.Thankfully for the rest of the weekend the weather was quite good.

The beach

Promenading along beach. I think we were seeing how close we dared go to the water, whilst wearing our gowns.

We attended a very interesting talk on Jane Austen, given by one of her descendants. After the talk she showed us a few items of Austen's that had been passed down the family.

One of Austen's gloves!!!

A chemisette embroidered by Austen!!! So beautiful.

We  also spent sometime on the famous (very windy) cobb, from where Louisa Musgrove falls.

This is the view off the end of the cobb. Not there during the Regency Era. I think it was added about 5 years ago.

Leaning against the cobb listening to the very knowledgeable tour organiser Natalie.

On top of the cobb, looking out to sea. Did I mention it was windy!!

Considering whether to jump. :)

I have decided to split this post into two as I have way too many photos! :)

Battle of Vinegar Hill

A long while ago (so long ago I can't remember which month - I think it was June), I spent a weekend in Ireland at the reenactment of the Battle of Vinegar Hill in Enniscorthy. A whole group of us got the ferry over to Ireland and spent a lovely, if slightly wet weekend in the town.

A view of Enniscorthy

The Castle in town. It is now a very good museum chronicling the history of the the town and its role in Ireland's history. However, it also has a long illustrious history itself, which includes time as a private residence, and a key building in a few battles.

A music recital in a local pub, part of an evening of merriment! :)

The first battle - in the streets of the town

Marching to the centre of town

Drill  (in a carpark!!)

Lining up in front of the memorial to remember those who fought for Ireland's freedom.

Relaxing before the battle

The battle on Vinegar Hill

It was a very interesting weekend. Learnt a bit about Irish history and met some lovely people.

A Long Overdue Update

I have been horrendous at posting recently. Partly because I haven't been to many events, due to me having a job where I have to work on a Saturday, and partly because I have become seriously lazy. It also looks like I will be going to even fewer events as in a week I am moving and starting a new job (one that will probably prevent me from attending most things even the Jane Austen Festival!! :( ). However a new place and a new job should be a good experience and will hopefully all work out.

Anyway enough of that. Here are a few photos from a couple of events that I was able to attend this summer:


Battle of Nations, Hunton Court:

Hunton Court

Marching to the house to be inspcted

Enjoying a small picnic whilst watching the battle

The battle

Promoting the 200 anniversary of Waterloo, at the Tower of London:

Camp - we were only there during the day so it was a very simple camp setup. 

A member of my group mixing modern and napoleonic army uniform!

Me with a Beefeater!! :)

I went to one more event, but will give it its own post. :)

John Lewis - 150 Years

John Lewis is a British institution. Before Ikea invaded the country, it was always the place you would go to if you needed anything for your home. Well this year it is celebrating it's 150th year. The flagship store on Oxford Street was opened by John Lewis in 1864 as a drapers. As part of their celebrations, the company has recreated the original shop on the 3rd floor of their Oxford street store. 

Last week I went along to see what it was like.

A reproduction of the original shop front.

Children's clothes in the shop window

Inside the shop

An accounts book from c.1920

After the reproduction of the shop, there was an exhibition about the company's history.

The account book for the shop's first bank account.

A photo of the shop in the early 20th century

One of the first shops that John Lewis bought, when his business started to grow, was a department store called Peter Jones. Today it is still owned by John Lewis, and remains the only department store, that the company has taken over, to keep its original name. Though its name hasn't changed the actual shop has changed beyond recognition.

The original Peter Jones Shop. It had a pub on the ground floor.

The shop today.

When John Lewis died the company was inherited by his son John Sepdan Lewis. John Spedan Lewis was the one who turned the company into a partnership. Through his new scheme every employee owned shares in the company, so shared in its profits. The company is still run this way today.

John Spedan Lewis's desk.

The recreation of the view from a shop window during the 19th century.

This typewriter was on John Spedan Lewis's desk but I am not sure if it was actually his or just one from the same era.

Some of the products which the shop has sold in the past

more products

This is a reproduction of a fabric that was used on some of the furnishings on the Titanic. At one point John Lewis owned the company that made the material.

The supermarket Waitrose is also part of John Lewis.

This is a photo of the original Waitrose before it was bought out buy John Lewis

During WWII the Oxford street shop was bombed. This money tin was found in the wreckage, with the money melted to the bottom!

The rest of the exhibition was about the late 20th Century, today and the future, which didn't interest me as much, so I didn't take any photos :).

The exhibition was very interesting and definitely worth a visit if you are in the vicinity of the Oxford Street shop.