Barron, Stephanie:
Author of the “Being a Jane Austen Mystery” series, author Stephanie Barron has been writing of Jane Austen as detective for so …
delope:
The practice of intentionally firing wide during a duel, signifying you did not wish to harm your opponent. As there were no …
living, a:
Many wealthy landowners had it within their rights to grant a living to the local vicar or parish priest. This person would …
coroner’s inquest or jury:
You’ll see mention again and again in Holmes, Poirot and Miss Marple stories about an inquest being held after Lord Thingummy is …
Georgian era:
We often think of Jane Austen as the Regency era, but she lived most of her life before the Regency officially began …
constitutional monarchy:
England is a constiutional monarchy, that is the king or queen is a largely ceremonial position and acts as the head of …
gentry, landed gentry:
The landed gentry is the class from which most Jane Austen characters were drawn. They are below the nobility but may include …
Debrett’s, look him up in:
Since 1780 (with a few lapses) Debrett’s Peerage and Baronetage has been the who’s who of the English titled, and you see …
fichu:
A scarf-like square of linen tucked into the bodice (or worn as a shawl) to conceal the bosom. Despite a lot of …
entailed:
To ensure that property remain in the family, many estates were entailed, meaning that only a male heir could inherit property. This …
deacon, curate:
The low man on the ecclesiastical totem pole. The deacon was a full-fledged clergyman but without the benefit of a benefice (living, …
dandy, Beau Brummell:
George Bryan Brummell was a trend setter in Regency England and a friend of the Prince Regent. Nowadays we might think of …
Court of St. James
St. James Palace is the official home of the British monarchy, although the sovereign has many royal residences, such as Buckingham and …
Jane Austen Centre, in Bath:
The Jane Austen Centre on Gay Street in Bath is a delightful pilgrimage. After a 15-minute talk, you’re allowed into the museum …
Royal Crescent, The:
The Royal Crescent, now and in Regency times, must be the most fashionable address in Bath. From the preservation trust website: “Built …
Freshford:
Freshford.com is billed as “the websites for Bradford-on-Avon, Bath, Freshford, Limpley Stoke & Hinton Charterhouse,” but it’s not geared toward tourists with …
John Wood (the elder and younger):
This father and son team defined Palladian architecture and with Ralph Allen are responsible for Bath’s consistent Georgian appearance. The father is …
vicars, parish priest, rectors:
Below bishops, they are the parish priests, aka vicars and rectors, who conducted services and officiated at weddings, christening and funerals. They …
Upper Assembly Rooms:
The newer of the assembly rooms (see assemblies) in Bath. It is now part of the National Trust and are still at …
in trade:
Someone in trade is not part of the gentry. You might act like a gentleman and even be treated as such, but …
ton, haut ton:
In the 1892 The Stanford dictionary of Anglicised words and phrases (don’t you just love Google) ton, borrowed from the French and …
titled, nobility:
In order of rank from highest to lowest: duke and duchess, marquess and marchioness (MAR-SHUN-ESS or MAR-SHU-NESS), earl and countess, viscount and …
solicitor, attorney:
A solicitor acts directly for a client but cannot represent a client in court (see barrister). Solicitors draw up wills and contracts …
quarter days:
Days on which rents were due or servants could be hired. They are Lady Day (25 March), Midsummer Day (24 June), Michaelmas …