For all my posts about true stories from history scroll down through the list below

True stories from Kew Palace and Gardens with Queen Charlotte, of Bridgerton fame, connections

• • Kew Palace and Gardens ~ The story of a house that became a palace
  • Queen Charlotte’s Cottage Folly
  • When is a pond not just a pond

William Shakespeare, Stratford upon Avon and the surrounding area

• • Why do we remember and celebrate Shakespeare’s birthplace?

Tales from Jane Austen’s ancestral home which inspired many elements of her novels, and other Jane Austen connections

• • Stoneliegh Abbey and Jane Austen’s family connections
  • More about Jane Austen’s stay at Stoneleigh Abbey
  • And even more about Jane Austen’s stay at Stoneleigh Abbey
  • Jane Austen’s family history at Stoneleigh Abbey
  • Two captivating true characters among Jane Austen’s relatives
  • A copy of Fordyces Sermons as mentioned in Pride &Prejudice
  • Attending the Theatre in Jane Austen’s life-time
  • Emma (2020 film) the real red dress
  • Emma (2020 film)

Frances Bankes letters record the pleasures of an 18th Century Christmas Ball

• • Today I am inviting you to join me at a Christmas ball – we’re going to the 19th December 1791
  • This week we are going to dance at Frances Bankes Christmas ball the date is 19th December – come along
  • Children allowed at the Christmas ball

The Old Theatre Royal, which I discovered in the City of Bath, UK

• • I came across the front door of the old Royal Theatre in Bath and then found out I could go inside
  • I discovered a real preserved gem in Bath, the old Royal Theatre in Orchard St
  • The Theatre Royal Orchard St Bath was the Theatre that Jane Austen attended
  • 18th-century life in the Orchard St Theatre Bath and its involvement in the transport of letters
  • Attending the Theatre in Jane Austen’s life-time

Life in 18th Century town of  Bath, England.

• • The upper assembly rooms in Bath
    

    Company at Play, Comforts of Bath Thomas Rowlandson 1798

  • Gambling, cards and billiards in the assembly rooms in Bath
  • The history of life in 18th Century Bath
  • A day in the life of 18th Century Bath
  • Experiencing the hot baths in 18th Century Bath
  • Love stories from 18th Century Bath ~ The Tale of Sylvia S
  • Love stories from 18th Century Bath ~ The Tale of Miss L
  • Gamesters in 18th Century Bath

• A 19th Century musical evening  at Stourhead

• The pelisse (coat) Lord Byron’s bride wore to their wedding in 1815

• Mary Shelley, the author of frankenstein, her own and the novel’s connection with the city of Bath

• Novel inspirations for J R R Tolkien, JaneAusten, Arthur Ransome, Beatrix Potter, John fowles, the Bronte sisters and me 🙂

• An 18th Century truly grand grandstand for watching country sport

• Whitehall Palace Banqueting House

• A bird’s eye view of historical London

• Bath Royal Mineral Water Hospital

• Let’s talk about the macabre. Was Byron original?

• The Bowood Mausoleum

• Macabre or beautiful? ~ mourning treasures

• Tracking Down Tudor Graffiti

• Curious Collections

Life in an 18th Century Farmhouse

• • Have you ever heard of macon?
  • A weavers’ bowl was filled with water to spread the light
  • A library full of rare historical books, complete with paw prints that tell some tales about the reader

The history of a house on an English village green

• • Part 1.The tale of house on an English village green
  • Part 2. Poulshot and its brewers
  • Part 3. Poulshot and Devizes in the Civil War
  • Part 4. Was it once part of Poulshot’s fortified manor

Inspirations for the Wickedly Romantic Poets Series

• Lets talk about the macabre: was Bryon truly so original
• Lord Byron’s influence on the Wickedly Romantic Poets Series
• Three old houses that inspired part the plot and some of the setting in Treacle Moon
  • House No.1 is Chastleton House
  • House No. 2 is Swarthmoor Hall
  • House No. 3 is Townend, Farmhouse
• Touring Rome for Treacle Moon
  • A tour of Rome
  • A tourist in Rome
  • Savouring memories from our tour of Rome
• Entangled’s inspirations
  • How a novel begins …

The commemoration of the Battle of Waterloo

• • Part  One
  • Part Two
  • Part Three
  • Brief stories from The Battle of Waterloo ~ Sir Alexander Gordan ~ Wellington’s aide-de-camp
  • A woman’s role in a soldier’s camp
  • Brief stories from The Battle of Waterloo ~ The impact of combat on men
  • Brief stories from The Battle of Waterloo ~ General Uxbridge
  • Brief stories from The Battle of Waterloo ~ A sense of infantry squares
  • What happened when Wellington left the Duchess of Richmond’s ball ~ the battle of Quatre-Bras and Ligny
  • The experiences of women at the front line of war

• • See my Facebook page or You Tube channel for videos and lots of pictures of Waterloo 2015

• The history of  Marriages at Gretna Green

Lady Caroline Lamb’s whole disgraceful truth  ~ Lady Caroline Lamb story, including her short affair with Lord Byron

• • Part One ~ A member of the mist
  • Part Two ~ Affairs of the heart
  • Part Three ~ A wild life abroad
  • Part Four ~ A Georgian girl’s education – life at Jane Austen’s school
  • Part Five ~  A period of troubles
  • Part Six ~ Becoming a Young woman
  • Part Seven ~ Meeting her first love
  • Part Eight ~ Coming out in France in the time of Napoleon
  • Part Nine ~ The Bessboroughs’ life in France in the time of Napoleon
  • Part Ten ~ Another illegitimate child graces the family
  • Part Eleven ~ The proposal
  • Part Twelve ~ Married into a love match
  • Part Thirteen ~ The honeymoon period of marriage
  • Part Fourteen ~ Caro falls with child
  • Part Fifteen ~ The true traumas of a regency marriage between two young people
  • Part Sixteen ~ ‘The Duchess’ of dies
  • Part Seventeen ~ Love, breeches and a woman’s wiles
  • Part Eighteen ~ Giving birth setting up the vicious rumours and throwing pottery
  • Part Nineteen ~ The pressures that open the cracks in the Lamb’s ill-fated marriage
  • Part Twenty ~ The true story of what you should never do if you have a regency intrigue
  • Part Twenty -one ~ The scandal of waltzing parties
  • Part Twenty-two ~ Sudden fame and a new fan for Lord Byron
  • Part Twenty-three ~ A passionate love affair with Lord Byron

• The X Factor in Downton Abbey. Why do people love Downton Abbey so much?

The true story of a 19th Century Courtesan ~ Harriette Wilson

• • Another true scandalous tale of a 19th century courtesan
  • My second post on the true adventures of a 19th century courtesan on her play for a prince
  • Harriette Wilson the true story of a 19th century Regency courtesan and pastures greener
  • The next chapter in a Regency courtesan’s true story as recorded in her memoirs
  • The next chapter in a 19th century courtesan’s true story – Harriette Wilson meets Julia Storer
  • Another Chapter in a Regency courtesan’s real story
  • Another chapter in my Harriette Wilson series – the true story of a regency courtesan
  • The tale of the three graces – the life story of a real 19th Century courtesans continues
  • The gossip of a real 19th Century courtesan offers a window into the past
  • A real 19th Century courtesan Harriette Wilson seeks wealthy protector – the Duke of Wellington
  • Harriette a 19th Century courtesan chases a man she desires
  • Harriette Wilson a 19th Century courtesan grows tired of fame and longs for love
  • Harriette Wilson does what a courtesan should never do – she falls in love
  • Harriette Wilson the 19th century courtesan savours real love
  • Harriette Wilson questions her lover’s friend to learn more about Lord Ponsonby’s relationship with his wife – guilt or jealousy
  • The darker side of Regency England – the story of how Harriette Wilson’s sister Sophia was seduced and coerced into the life of a courtesan
  • How Harriette Wilson’s Memoirs inspired me to write The Illicit Love of a Courtesan
  • The end of love Harriette Wilson tells us how she suffered a broken heart
  • Harriette Wilson’s fame and position as favourite receives another knock back
  • 

    Lord Ponsonby

    Yet again Harriette gives us a fabulous insight into the world of a Regency courtesan

  • Did all courtesans in the Regency era long for a fairy-tale ending and hope to win a duke?
  • The second courtesan to seek a fairy-tale ending
  • Did the Regency courtesan Harriette Wilson seek a calculated happy ending too
  • Harriette begins an intrigue with a new protector perhaps with a happy ending on her mind
  • Lord Worcester’s youthful adoration of a courtesan
  • Harriette begins a game of tug of war over the affections of her young marquis
  • Harriette and Lord Worcester’s regiment the 10th Hussars
  • A theatre trip shows up the contrast between a courtesan and a prostitute
  • Harriette’s description of a stay in a small apology of an inn
  • Lord Worcester’s love turns desperate and Harriette resorts to disguise
  • Harriette’s hopes and Lord Worcester’s love begin tumbling towards a terrible end
  • The cost of love – even for a courtesan is sometimes too high
  • What happens once Lord Worcester has gone, will the courtesan play?
  • A new seduction
  • Harriette’s country retreat – including a trip to Regency Lyme Regis
  • A Courtesan’s little deceit for the sake of propriety
  • A messy separation Regency courtesan style
  • A courtesan scorned
  • Harriette, the Regency courtesan, kicks the next man out of her bed ‘and I , to show my indifference, would make a point of joining any gay evening parties’
  • The jealous courtesan and the hidden Regency fashion for seducing young men
  •  A courtesan caught in a possessive relationship – wracked with jealousy on both parts
  • While the cats away a real Regency courtesan could…
  • The jealous game played int he world of a courtesan
  • A Regency courtesan’s power of persuasion
  • A courtesan alone in a masculine domain
  • A break-up Regency style ~ a courtesan who just can’t let go of a young handsome man
  • Free as air a courtesan’s agreement of inconstancy in denial of the feelings of her heart
  • A courtesan’s agreement of inconstancy – also known as revenge
  • A courtesan deserted  – Fanny’s break up with Colonel Parker
  • Life as a courtesan begins to age and lose her fame
  • A Regency courtesan caught in a love triangle
  • A courtesan’s portrayal of a real Regency villain
  • A real 19th century masked ball, experienced through the eyes and emotions of a courtesan
  • A courtesan enjoying the novelty, secrecy and equality of a masquerade ball
  • The impact of a courtesan’s kiss and tell memoirs on the elite of Regency society
  • At the end of a Regency courtesan’s life, who can she turn to

The true stories, Harriette Wilson, the 19th Century Courtesan, didn’t tell in her memoirs

• • How she fell
  • Where she first learned the arts of a courtesan – as recorded by Jane Austen in a letter

Attingham family tales

• • Lady Berwick, Sophia Dubochet, sister of Harriette Wilson the regency courtesan
  • Sophia Dubochet and the 2nd Lord Berwick
  • William the Third Lord Berwick, an excellent diplomant (and the inspiration for Spencer’s brother in Treacle Moon)

Scandalous women recorded in history

• • The story of Lady Caroline Lamb, Lord Byron’s mistress, and the niece of the Duchess (the story told in the Keira Knightley film)
    

    Mary Shelley

  • The tale of Kitty Hunter the real mistress of a Pembroke
  • Mary Shelley’s story, the author of Frankenstein
  • Claire Jane Clairmont, Lord Byron’s mistress, and Mary Shelley’s step sister
  • Mary Imlay’s story, Mary Shelley’s (the author of Frankenstein’s  half-sister
  • Emma Hart’s (Lady Hamilton’s) story, the courtesan who won a title and the love of Admiral Nelson

• Cheddar Caves and their gloriously ghoulish 18th Century entertainment

Stories about a Georgian Mill

• • Spinning and weaving in the early 1700s
  • Life in a Georgian mill Oliver Twist style

• Historic Graffiti at Fountains Abbey, Helmsley Castle and Sudeley Castle

Stories from the period of the Stuart’s Dynasty

• • The tale of the mad cavalier, Prince Rupert
  • The story of Barbara Palmer, Countess of Castlemaine and mistress of King Charles II
  • Ashdown House and the love story of William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven and Elizabeth Stuart Queen of Bohemia (The Winter Queen)
  • 2 July 1644, a story of a formidable woman, Jane Ingleby meets Oliver Cromwell

Old trees – my secret passion

• • 19th Century Tree Planting at Kingston Lacy
  • Lord Byron may well have walked or ridden along this avenue that became the the setting of the opening scene in The Lost Love of a Soldier
  • One more story of my unusual passion for old trees

Follies

• • My exploration of follies has brought me to Old Wardour Castle
  • Prior Parks Grotto and Graffiti
  • Is the whole city of Bath just a folly from the view of Prior Park, the home of Bath’s builder?
  • The Obelisk at Kingston Lacy
  • Belmount Tower, a Romantic Folly in Lincolnshire
  • The follies of Stourhead as featured in Pride and Prejudice (2005 film) and my Wickedly Romatic Poets Series
  • I love follies

• Medieval tales

• The tale of an impoverished lord who encourages his son to take a wealthy wife

• Hampton Court Palace and the Windsor Beauties; the portraits of the ladies in waiting

• Lancelot Brown, known by his nick-name ‘Capability’

Belton House stories including its link to King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson

• • Belton House, Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson
  • The secret of Belton House Chapel
  • Belton House and Pride and Prejudice
  • Belowstairs at Belton House, Lincolnshire

The history of Christmas

• • Part one: The Roman Saturnalia Festival
  • Part two: A medieval ‘Christes-maesse’
  • Part three: From day to night – The Tudor and Cromwellian Christmases
  • Part four: The Christmas traditions we know today
  • Part five:  Christmas Eve is the perfect day to explore the evolution of Father Christma

Posts about writing novels

• • How working with children in fiction writing can ramp up a plot
  • Books and dogs
  • What inspires a psychological thriller?
  • A writer’s mood board
  • From bodice rippers to psychological thrillers
  • COVID-19, me, music and inspiration
  • The secrets of a bestseller