Mrs. Leach Christmastide in the ‘Age of Austen’ Regency Revels, Georgian Gambols & Festive Fare

*PLEASE NOTE EDIT: the next event is planned to take place on 20 Dec. 2017, 7 - 8.30 pm, at Mrs. Leach's establishment in Derby. 

As my most-loved time in all the year, I am exceedingly pleased to be able to provide an event that revels in the beliefs of customs Christmases past: 'Christmastide in the ‘Age of Austen’ Regency Revels, Georgian Gambols & Festive Fare'.

I hope that this seasonal offering will become an annual tradition in itself; this year's December talk  - which forms part of the series of events that I intend to hold until summer 2018, concentrating on the time in which Britain's favourite female author lived and died, as part of the Bicentenary commemorations - will focus on the 'Age of Austen'

Centring on the 1770s - 1810s, the Christmastide talk considers celebrations before those of the Victorian period, with which many today are more familiar. In order to explore continuities (some of which have evolved into modern-day practices) and change (resulting in the loss of once popular customs), I will also include information about the two decade's between Jane Austen's death, and the start of Queen Victoria's reign, thus examining the late Georgian & Regency eras more fully, and including an array of attractive and intriguing material. 

I shall approach the topic through a number of themes to over-view attitudes, beliefs, and customs of the time surrounding Christmas past and present, using Jane Austen's work, and early biographies; a range of written and audio sources and images, including diaries and letters, newspapers & magazines, literature, poetry, and music; prints & art; and - of course, from an archaeological perspective - various aspects of material culture. This array of sources will pay particular attention to Derby, Derbyshire, and the East Midlands. 

The themes begin with 'Ancient Origins & Antiquarian 'Inventions'. This will touch upon pre-Roman, Classical, Medieval and Early Modern traditions, by considering Antiquarian interest in and '(re-)envisioning' of Christmas customs in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It will explore concerns of the 'Austen Age' that Christmas and other ancient English customs were under threat, considering how this related to war, urbanisation, and industrialisation, and  measures taken to preserve 'olde' ways. (This will integrate my own ongoing research into the effects of Antiquarianism upon ritual and belief in the past).

The second theme, 'Festive Families and Community Care', will explore Christmas trade and travel, briefly considering commerce, holidays, and transportation - notably that popular seasonal motif: coach travel; and the most significant factor of the Victorian (and subsequent) Christmas: the family. It will also touch upon faith and belief; and explore charity and gift-giving at Christmas time.

The final theme - 'Festive Food, Fun, and Games' - will look at seasonal amusements & pastimes, including the theatre, community entertainments, and domestic traditions, such as card-playing and party games. No exploration of Christmas would be complete without a foray into food and drink, which will conclude the talk, considering recipes of the day, and how food and drink was integrated with the Christmas calendar, and customs.

The event will be held in the 'common parlour' of the 'Academy', which (though limiting the number of available places)[1] enables the creation of a cosy 'atmosphere', through colour and candlelight, fabrics and furniture (& possibly firelight!),[2] and material culture and costume. I will as usual (in the guise of Mrs. Leach) be clothed in period dress - and 'Academy pupils' garbed in their own Regency- and late Georgian-style attire will be welcome!

Tickets cost £3.50 pp (purchases online accruing an additional Eventbrite fees of 87p), and may be obtained online by clicking this link; the 'Buy Tickets' button bellow; the 'Register' buttons at the top right of the webpage, or by using the form at the end of this post.

Update: Early Bird offer has now expired, but there's a discount of £1 for those who attend in Regency costume! Enter the promo code Costume_Concession

Tickets may also be obtained on request by email: antiquarianacademy@gmail.com, or text: 07903 237953 (Paypal); or by post: Lymehurst, 1 West Park Rd., Derby, DE22 1GG (cheque & SAE).

For more information, see the Eventbrite page; Facebook event page; Twitter: @LadyAntiquary; or by text, email, or post.

It would be great to know if readers are interested in this event - even if unable to attend (so that I might better plan this and future events), using website comments, Twitter, Facebook; or email. 

I hope to see some readers at the event! 

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Notes

[1] A minimum number of places need to be filled for the event to proceed.

[2] Should conditions be suitable.

Material Worlds of Jane Austen Exhibition: 10 Sept., 6.30-8.30 pm, Derby

Just a quick post to announce another upcoming exhibition by Mrs. Leach that explores material culture of the late 18th and early 19th centuries as part of her Jane Austen bicentenary celebrations: The Material Worlds of Jane Austen.

This free-entry 'pop-up' exhibition will take place as part of this year's Heritage Open Day events, on Saturday 10th September, 6.30-8.30 pm.

In addition to the material presented in the previous Archaeology of the 'Austen Age' exhibition (held as part of the 2017 CBA Festival of Archaeology) - which included a wide range of household objects, illustrations, and written sources of the period (in particular considering Derby and Derbyshire in the late Georgian era), the Material Worlds exhibition will display information on Jane Austen's homes, family domestic artefacts, and her burial.

As before, visitors will be able to handle artefacts dating to the late 1700s - early 1800s, and there will be activities that provide opportunities for archaeological analysis.

The exhibition will feature some of the materials, and examine various topics, that Mrs. Leach intends to incorporate within talks, tours, and workshops focusing on everyday life in and around Derby during this period, to be held over the following year (October 2017 - July 2018). 

The topics that will be considered in events that are currently under development are: for Halloween, Death and Burial; on the run-up to Christmas, Yuletide Customs; Love and Marriage, for Valentine's Day; for Mother's Day, Motherhood and Family Life; at Whitsun, a Summer Picnic, on Tourism and Antiquarianism; and in July, for the 2018 Festival of Archaeology (TBC), an Archaeological Detective Adventure. 

Participation in the above events will be by pre-booked ticket only (on a first-come-first-serve basis). Depending on venues (TBC), maximum numbers will be 8 - 15 persons, and minimum numbers 3-8 participants.  To be sure of a place, and to ensure that these events will go ahead, please contact Mrs. Leach ASAP to express interest; to book at ticket (it is anticipated that tickets will cost between £5-25 each, again depending on venue, and on whether the event includes a meal, refreshments, and / or souvenir booklets etc.); or for more information.

Mrs. Leach looks forward to seeing readers at these events.

Journal: January 9th. Reflections on Twelfth Night

Now that my Twelfth Night guests have departed, I might briefly reflect upon the delightful time that was had by all on the 6th – the festivities even more splendid than on Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve!

We were fortune to purchase one of Johnson’s prize Twelfth cakes – such magnificence: sweet icing, rich and juicy fruit, delicate figures decorating the top, and what a size! Perhaps I shall bake my own Twelfth cake next year?

Derby Mercury report (12th January, 1804) on Twelfth Night Masquerade Ball

Although grander households (and increasingly, commercial establishment) throw masquerade balls on this night (of which we know from newspaper reports, and only rarely from invitation!), we contented ourselves with more modest masques. We had purchased a set of Twelfth Night character cards from Johnson’s; Dr Leach (of course!) King, and I the Queen (as would only be fitting!), our guests assuming the role of other courtiers – so much gaiety! I might even create my own set of cards for next year’s party, with characters better suited to the temperaments of our guests!

My antiquarian interests inform me of majestic and noble traditions (surely following the lead of their betters, also the poor and middling sorts!) of gambling on Twelfth Night, although I see no such sports mentioned in the press in these early years of the nineteenth century. Notwithstanding, we follow old court traditions by playing at dice and cards – although our stakes were surely much more meagre than those of wealthier citizens, and more generous than those of our more humble neighbours.

We ended the evening with the forfeits contrived earlier by those forgetting to remain in the character that they had drawn. However, (as my 21st century self has noted previously) we decided to forego Ravel's suggestions and instead fulfilled less boisterous, and more seemly, penalties.

I can now look forward to what this year might bring, and hope that it will be as happy for my family and companions (and I trust, my servants and forthcoming pupils) as it has been in recent months.

Journal of a Lady Antiquary: January 6th (Twelfth Day)

 Twelfth Night cake (from late 18th century book of ballads, The Twelfth Cake. A Juvenile Amusement, Reginald Spofforth) 

With preparations yet to complete for tonight’s Twelfth Night celebrations, journeyed into Derby this afternoon to make some essential purchases; but also with hopes of catching a glimpse of the great Twelfth cakes. The crowds around the pastry cooks were large, and it was with relief that I heard no cries of ‘thief’ among the multitudes; London newspaper reports (published in the local press - until the later 19th century, confined to the Derby Mercury) had made me wary of the pickpockets such gatherings attract.[i] I was also gratified to see that another Twelfth Day custom of the Capital (news of which I encountered in a book of days) seems not to have taken hold in our more practical town: that sport of errant youth, the nailing of the gowns and coat tails of lady and gentlemen onlookers to the shop front, and to one another![ii]

Twelfth Day: clothes nailed to pasty-shop windows. William Hone (1835) The Every Day Book vol. 1 

But, returning to the confectionery! I have heard of colossal cakes of the past – such as the 45-pound cake, with 45 decorations (I suspect that the number 45 is a reference to the 1745 Jacobite uprising), said to be sent to the radical John Wilkes in 1769![iii] I hope that the cake due to be delivered this evening is substantial, but not to this extent!

The competition for the best Twelfth Cake, baked by local pastry-cooks, and viewed by numerous townsfolk, has become popular in Derby, as elsewhere. I took interest in the above newspaper article (Derby Mercury, January 8th 1823) that describes their various and elaborate designs.

The advertisement shown above (on the front page of the Derby Mercury) demonstrates that Twelfth Night was good for the confectionery business! (In this case the cake show, as with other festivities, was held on the 7th, due to the 6th falling on the Sabbath.)

I must now return to preparations, and to welcome my guests (who are due to arrive imminently); I hope to write a favourable report of the party, after they have departed on the 8th!

---

[i] Derby Mercury, 4th January 1787.

[ii] William Hone (1835) The Every Day Book vol. 1

[iii] Derby Mercury, 13 January 1769.

Journal of a Lady Antiquary: January 1st

With a view to betterment, I have decided to begin the New Year by keeping a journal. It is unlikely that I shall write every day; and what I do write will merely document my activities and thoughts so that I might reflect upon my progress throughout the coming year. Entries will first appear as posts (labelled 'journal'), and will be collated on the Journal page. 

My first entry is as follows:

January 1st (New Year's Day)

Made merry last night in celebrating the turn of the year. Although piqued by antiquarian interest to try the ancient beverage of wassail, I found the aroma unappealing (the spices almost overwhelming), and resisted temptation. By the sore heads of the gentlemen this morning, I feel my lack of adventure vindicated! I shall endeavour to find a less pungent receipt for another occasion, so that I might taste the potion oft claimed as instrumental in bringing about a royal marriage between our Saxon and British forebears (despite my misgivings regarding the veracity of the Hengist and Horsa legend)![i] 

Notes

[i] In Book VI, Chapter 12 of the 12th century Historia regumBritanniae, Geoffrey of Monmouth writes of the marriage in the 5th century between the British king Vortigern, and Rowenna, daughter of Anglo-Saxon invader, king Hengist. Vortigern is said to have fall in love with her after drinking what is popularly supposed to be the beverage now known as ‘wassail’ (whereas in the legend the significance of the term is as a toast, the drink perhaps being another intoxicating beverage). Bearing in mind the late date of this text; its political agenda; use of sources that were themselves potentially inventive; and that the more closely contemporaneous Gildas mentions none of these characters by name in his 6th century De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae, the legend rests on dubious footings. For a balanced discussion of the legend, see (2013) Worlds of Arthur: Facts and Fictions of the Dark Ages (Oxford: OUP), by the eminent specialist on this period, Guy Halsall.