Final day in the Reading Room at CHL

Sigh...it has come to an end. I loved my little table overlooking the gardens and the grounds, I loved my bins of antiquarian books, the foam supports to cradle elderly books, and the strings of covered beads to hold books open (to prevent the oils from one's fingers seeping onto the pages). All of these things, unfamiliar as I was with them a month ago, have become part of the daily routine.

I found two more fantastic books today that really added to my search. One of them, Heberden's (1802) Commentaries on the history and cure of diseases, of which it was a delight to read the introduction with sentences like this one (speaking about food choice):
"I never yet met with any person of common sense (except in acute illness) whom I did not think much fitter to choose for himself, than I was to determine for him."

Amen, Dr. Heberden! But then his writing progressed to tell about how much to bleed a person, or when emetics and purgatives were called for (quite a lot as it turns out!). The striking thing for me in this book was the first line of the first paragraph, about the link between diet and health. How I wish books for medical students started that way in this era, when nutrition is covered minimally, if at all, in medical schools. Granted, that's pretty much all they had to go on around 1800 as well as the ever present bloodletting, vomits, and purges, and that old standby...opium!  Nevertheless I LOVED and concurred with Heberden's views on listening to the person experiencing the illness and let him/her decide what is best for their condition (oh...and then haul out the lancet).

The other book in today's hurried tidy up of books still on my table was:

Campbell, R. (1757). The London Tradesman. Being an historical account of all the trades, professional arts, both liberal and mechanic, now practised in the Cities of London and Westminster. Calculated for the instruction of youth in their choice of business (3rd edition). London: T. Gardner.



This little gem had descriptors of all sorts of trades related to the cloth, haberdashery, and household goods trades. The wonderful Morwenna procured me copies of the pages I needed and agreed to hold it over for me when I return for a few hours on the afternoon of August 9.

Kathryn Ibin, the JASNA International Visitor, Sarah Parry, CHL's Education Officer, and I had an informal debrief/discussion about our research progress over the month we have been here. It was a delight especially when the seeming disparity between what I have studied and Kathryn's studies in music in the Austen households resulted in the three of us making all sorts of connections and suggesting additional sources to consult. We kept Sarah here long past her time and were grateful for her spending time with us to learn about our work here and our plans to move our findings forward.

Then a bite of dinner, trying to get through the remaining grocery items....and then, when I was about to go to my room to pack, Kathryn began playing the piano . Mendelsohn. So... what could I do but grab another glass of wine (yes, 'another'), pick up Persuasion to read the last two wondeful chapters that were written just down the road from here , and sit in the parlour to enjoy a bit of bliss! 

A perfect way to end my visit to Chawton. But lucky me...I get to return for a tiny visit before heading back to Canada. Tomorrow the train to Leamington Spa!

Sorry, no pictures today...didn't take a one of my final day in the Reading Room!

Over Hill and Dale to Farringdon

The Folly in Farringdon;
a church hall built by a 'mad' rector

Upon arrival back to the Reading Room, having been gone one whole day, I found an unfamiliar book on my desk. The JASNA International Visitor, Kathryn Libin, had found a book she thought I might be able to use in my search. It turned out to be 'a gem', containing not only instructions for the sickroom, but many of the recipes with which I am now very familiar as well as the anticipated effect(s) of using the various foods.

The title of the book (get ready for this...) is:

Anonymous. (1818). The new female instructor: or, young woman’s guide to domestic happiness being an epitome of all the acquirements necessary to form the female character, in every class of life: with examples of illustrious women to which are added, advice to servants; a complete art of cookery, and plain directions for carving: also a great variety of medicinal and other useful receipts in domestic economy; and numerous other interesting articles, forming a complete storehouse of valuable knowledge. London: Thomas Kelly.

Birdies shorn into shrubs (Farringdon) 

We (the VFs and CHL staff) certainly do get a kick out of these titles, especially when these days one tries to come up with a short, laden with meaning combination of adjective and noun, or adverb and verb. Maybe the long flowing description approach should be revisited? I certainly knew what I was going to get when I opened this book. Well, hold on there, I didn't plan on reading heavy doses of religion in a guide to domestic happiness, nor messages reinforced throughout reminding women about their inferiority and subservience to men, and warnings that if anything were to go wrong within the home re: finances, health of the family, survival of children, performance of servants, etc. it was definitely the woman's fault. The section on medicinals was interesting in that there were advertisement type comments about the sworn effectiveness of such and such a recipe... and if it doesn't work, 'you did something wrong' or 'you failed to follow the medical man's advice'. I thought as I read, 'How easy is that, you simply blame someone else when things don't turn out?' I wonder how women coped with this sort of messaging? To what extent were these ideas accepted as the right and proper way for society to function? Or was rejection of these values more widespread? There is so much more to explore.

And then  I got to marvelling anew how studying  aspects of daily life as I am (feeding the sick/household sewing) can lead to all sorts of other areas of study...way leads on to way, as in Robert Frost's poem.

The view north having just emerged from the woods

After that wonderful day of research I met Laura and Sue, two Chawtonites, at the top of the drive to walk to the next village of Farringdon for a meal in the pub, The Rose and Crown. What a perfect walk...along paths, over stiles, across fields, through woods...and there we were after about a half hour. The weather was ideal. The meal and the conversation were delicious. I learned about what Chawton House was like before its transformation into a working library....when it was a series of flats, about the pool that used to be on the grounds, about the gangster who used to live in the Stable Block, about how his bodyguard let partygoers use the restroom during the annual Chawton Ball when the temporary toilets failed...life in Chawton lo' these last 32 years. I am truly sorry to miss the Chawton Fete on August 7; I'll be a bit further north visiting cousins and arrive back here on August 8.

Fab!

Our walk back to Chawton was into the brilliant pink sunset...absolutely stunning. I was thrilled that my friend Kathryn in North Vancouver (sooooo many babies named Catherine - with varied spellings - born in the 1950s!) recalled that a member of her recent tour group in India lived in Chawton. 

The Hampshire County Registry Office

Like an old pro, I met the bus in Chawton to get to Winchester when the Records Office opened at 9 am. WHAT  a model of efficiency the Records Office is! In no time, I had my Reader Card, my belongings locked into a locker, the documents ordered, my computer set up...et voila! the documents were ready for pick up.

The screen announcing 'your documents are ready'

I looked at the John Ring Furnisher's Account Ledgers noting that the Austen's purchases were recorded in the big fancy book wherein gentlemen's family purchases were recorded. Purchases by all others were recorded in a much smaller, much less fancy account book. The class system once again; seems to have been reinforced in a myriad of ways including in account ledgers!

I got a complete kick out of seeing purchases recorded for His Royal Highness The Prince of Whales. Only one time was the 'h' in Whales crossed out. I was hoping to get a copy of it but copies weren't permitted, only scans, and a photo pass, where you can use your own camera was 10 Pounds per day. That was too steep for one photo.

The other documents I looked at were Mary Lloyd Austen's diaries - more her 'Daytimers' really. These were pre-printed little little books where one recorded appointments. Mary wrote such rivetting notes as 'Mr. E. Knight dined with us' or 'I took tea at Manydown'. I was interested in what she wrote the weeks leading up to and including Jane's death. Not much was written except "Jane Austen breathed her last early this morning, Only Cass and I were with her'.

I then partook of a lovely lunch overlooking the park fronting the Cathedral, then walked along the river, bought some groceries, then took the bus back to Chawton. The angst of taking the bus to/from Winchester that accompanied last week's unfamiliar trip has vanished!

Tomorrow back to the Reading Room! Only 3 more lovely days to go. I'll miss it here...and still have so much to get through!

Photos of other items from the JA Museum in Chawton.  

Needle case made by Jane Austen for her niece

Silk thread winders used by the Austen family

Monday, July 26 - Joyous Day!

Quilt by Jane Austen

Today’s plan was to finish up in the Reading Room then to head over to the Jane Austen Museum in Chawton to do some sleuthing about ‘the bodkin’. All went according to plan; I took the path through the pasture (the route believed to be close to what JA herself would have walked to get to her brother’s estate house) rather than along the road (which either didn't exist or took a different route in Jane's day..I have yet to get that sorted out).

Just for Sasha, a mourning hair brooch!

When I mentioned to the Museum guide my interest in household linens, ZOOM! She took off up the stairs with me in tow to show me the pieces that ‘for sure’ were made by Jane and a number of other pieces from the Austen family that cannot be connected to Jane. Imagine my thrilledness when “I”, little old me, was explaining to the JA Museum guide how things were made, what the fabrics were, etc. I have attached photos of textile pieces from the house to this post. I would love to go back to the Museum some day and do a more thorough analysis of all of the textiles they have on display.

Embroidery covered prayer book

I had a wonderful time there and will return to visit the gift shop and likely the museum as well.

A netted purse; was THE bodkin involved?

When I returned home, it was soon time for the Monday evening bell ringing practice. Sarah Parry, Education Officer at CHL is one of these bell ringers and had arranged for me to shoot their practice today. Much to my delight, one of them members (for they all knew I was coming) offered to take the camera up to the bells to shoot while the others ran through a tune! How wonderful! I cannot wait to see that footage.

Tomorrow to Winchester to the Hampshire Country Registry Office.

Neckkerchief; applique on net by Jane Austen

Fleece! and Strawberry Thief

Fleece bundles; each about 4' high

Last Thursday I met Ian, the shepherd hereabouts who grazes his sheep on the CHL fields (and other fields in the area). He lives on a farm that was once part of the Chawton House estate. As the crow flies, his place is just across the A31 but to get there, one walks into the village, to the roundabout, then back along a road parallel to the one that CH is on. I got a fleece from him that I spent spare moments Thursday and Friday washing and washing. No mean feat using small tubs of water. Trish, the housekeeper, was very accommodating of my wash bins taking up space in the laundry room. Thanks, Trish!

Alan, the Head Gardener, provided me with a piece of galvanized chicken wire upon which I laid the fleece to dry. All in all, the staff here have been very generous with helping me figure out how to wash the fleece to get it ready to bring home. I am most grateful to them.

Fleece set out to dry

So then, once the fleece was set out to dry, I was away to London to visit with Johnathon, another West Van Youth Band parent whole work frequently brings him to London. We spent the two days getting to know his neighbourhood (Belsize Park, Hampstead). It was very revealing; one can definitely see how London became a big city through the merging of many many villages, each with a 'High Street'.  I enjoyed walking, stopping for coffee, walking, stopping for a pint, walking, taking in wedding well wishes at a church, stopping for tea, walking, taking in a photo shoot for a very fancy wedding indeed!, walking, stopping for dinner, walking, crashing into bed! Johnathon recommended the Dillons Hotel for 40 Pounds/night.

Strawberry Thief partout!

It proved a charming place (even though breakfast was as far from gluten free as one could get!), a former family home. I particularly admired their William Morris Strawberry Thief draperies. I think Strawberry Thief was the theme for the weekend since I saw that print design in at least 4 places - the hotel drapes, upholstery on a bench in a pub, lace curtains in a family kitchen, and a throw cushion in a shop window!

My research today will take me to the Jane Austen Museum in Chawton. I read in one of Cassandra Austen's letters after Jane's death that she was enclosing Jane's bodkin (that, she indicated, Jane had used constantly for 20 years). I am on a mission to find out what sort of bodkin as that will help me figure out what it was Jane worked on when she wasn't writing.

I am pleased with the progress I have made in the invalid's dietary research; there is a lot to take forward from what I have done here especially as I want to link practices during JA's time to present day dietetics (to trace the evolution of thought in the profession). I have a bin of books I looked at during my first week here that I will revisit today to be sure I get out of them what I can before returning them to the librarian.

I still have not found out what I wanted to re: household linens. I have learned quite a bit about the textile industry of the era but exactly what people used in their kitchens, baths, and dining rooms remains unclear as does how these textiles got into their homes. I suppose none of us would write down a record of how dishcloths come into our homes and how we use them, and neither did the Austen/Knight families. Dresses for balls...yes, these got attention, but not the mundane household items. Perhaps my sleuthing in Winchester tomorrow will reveal a bit more.

Scenes from London...

Commuting on the canal

A Leafs jersey in London?

Cutest car ever!

Imposing Malnutrition

I developed an inkling last week that many children were described as 'sickly' in Austen's era because they didn't get much to eat. Today I reviewed a book that supported that theory. Bread and milk (milk toast) for breakfast, a bit of meat and potatoes for dinner, and bread and cheese for supper. No vegetables (too strong!), no sweets, pastries or fruits. More milk was OK, or 1/2 milk and water. Good golly, how did anyone survive? My thinking is that people who survived childhood could rightly say they were sickly owing to malnutrition. Then they thrived as adults when they got to self-select their own food.

Other hair raising finds: "After bathing infants should be thoroughly dried and dusted. Ground starch is ideal; under no circumstances should an infant be dusted with white lead". Gulp! CAN YOU IMAGINE?

Opium or syrup of poppies also not recommended for children. Gulp again....

When the library closed I baked up some wonderful red currant GF scones thanks to an emailed recipe from Ana Sousa! Thanks Ana. The plate is almost gone already; of the 4 Visiting Fellows here, 3 are GF consumers so the other two are pretty happy when baking materializes.

This evening I also retrieved what was a musty smelling book from the freezer. Ta da, all nasty smell is gone! Thanks for the wonderful tip, Anthea!

In the gloaming I took a wee stroll around the estate and through the pretty, little wilderness (the well manicured forest). Enroute I bumped into Alan, the Head Gardener, who was on his way to tuck the chickens in for the night. Alan was so kind as to send us eggs and jam last week. Maybe we should reciprocate with GF baked goods!

In an unfamiliar place, I find signage interesting and revealing. Attached are a few signs I've seen the past few days.

This shot (left) is of the field that one arrives at once you follow the footpath that starts where
the road in front of the estate ends. It leads across the field (the one with horses and sheep) to get to the far side wood. You walk through that, through another field, and come to the next village where apparently, there is a very lovely pub. I haven't made it that far yet but plan to do that for an evening meal before I leave here.

The sign about the lambs is next to the stile. 

In news of how tough it is to survive in the wild ...one of the baby sparrow hawks died today (the sibling of the one I posted photos of); it flew into a window and its neck broke. Poor wee thing.

Along the footpath

Tiny Clues

In the copy of JA's letters I bought on Saturday, JA wrote that her niece was enthralled with another niece's spinning wheel. This is a clue that spinning may have been going on in the Austen's sphere (I really did not think they would have been spinners), or the wheel may have been a decorative piece. It is the sort of mention I'll try to connect with other data sources . 

Speaking of other sources, a second clue that really got me somewhere today was the mention at the AGM of the Basingstoke provisioner's records from the Austen era that are held on the Hampshire County Records Office. The exact title is the 'Customer Accounts Ledger for furniture and furnishings supplied by John Ring, auctioneer/furnisher of Basingstoke, Oct 1792-1796 with later entries to 1800'. With the help of  Morwenna, library assistant, I looked at the online database of the HCRO and found all sorts of documents I want to review. I highly recommend anyone interested in the history of Hampshire and the families who lived here, including the Austens and the Knights, to have a look at this site. The titles alone are intriguing. I know that one day I want to make a trip here to study the 30 odd years of Mary Lloyd's diaries. Mary was a friend of Jane, Cassandra, and their mother; her sister (Martha) shared a house with J, C and Mrs. A. Mary later married JA's brother. I am hoping her diaries will tell me about the time of JA's final illness, and also provide insights into household sewing/linens. And since I now know my way on the bus to Winchester, I'll plan a trip there one day next week after I have made my through the 3 bins of books I have yet to get through in the library. One gets a Research Network Ticket upon showing ID which, I am told, is good for accessing documents in any County Records Office in the country. How great is that? I hope this connection helps someone else in their sleuthing for information.

First thing this morning, I embarked on making notes from an 1830 book of surgery to try to figure out what on earth beliefs were at the time about how the human body functions. It is so far from what I learned about human physiology in my training and through my work as a dietitian, it was very difficult to sort out. Thanks once again to JA's book of letters, a tiny footnote lead me to a series of books on the history of medicine (.e.g., Tom Foster, Blood and Guts, 2004) so I can follow up with those references once I get back to Canada. I am finding that the dietary advice connected to beliefs that all sorts of ills could be treated through bleeding and inducing purges and vomiting appears to be a jumble of recipes but that they directly connect to their beliefs about how the body worked and how various foods fed or dried up the humours, depending on what was desired. I find that if I suspend my knowledge of human digestion, I can imagine why people thought the remedies they had might work. I am excited to share these ideas with others in the coming months/years. 

In other news, two baby sparrow hawks fledged from their nest on the side of the Stable Block (the house that we live in) last week. Tonight, while the St. Nicholas bell ringers were practicing, one of the babies decided to hang out in the eaves. Katherine, the JASNA International Fellow, and I were present on Friday when this little being took his first flight. So special! I enjoyed watching the two babies play and romp through the skies as I was eating lunch in the back garden today...how quickly they went from not flying to playing in mid air!

Another lovely find today was of this image of a draper's shop from the Victorian era. It hangs in the hallway of the Stable Block; I'd walked by it a number of times without realizing what it was. On closer inspection, it shows a  poor sewer or weaver trying to sell her work to a shop while a more well to do/better dressed woman beside her is shopping. The title is Ruinous Prices. 'Twas ever so for textile artists/workers.

Thanks all for reading and for your kind notes.

Sunday to and from Winchester

Clare (who works at CHL) and David  very kindly got me to Winchester, showed me around the Cathedral area (at right), and recommended a pub for lunch (The Wykeham) so we had a lovely meal there. We went into a book sellers at the back of the Cathedral (photo of C and D outside booksellers) where there was a dusty, musty set of rooms. In one of these there were musty, dusty JA related books. I found a very early biography. It was far more than I wanted to pay but it contains details about Jane's domestic life I hadn't read elsewhere so I gulped and paid the cash! [I learned in the Textile Arts program that if things smell musty, to put them in the freezer, so that's where that book is right now! I'll report back on whether freezing actually works.]

We then parted ways. I went into the Cathedral where heavenly music was being sung by a boy's choir. Gorgeous.

I admired the abundant needlework in the church (machine stitched altar cloth; woolwork chair pad below), and paid a visit to JA's tombstone. 

  

From there, I walked along the High Street where a Sunday craft fair was in progress, found a tea shop to buy a proper tea strainer (the one I use at home is plastic and horrible), popped into yet another charity shop, visited the working Mill Museum where they have just started up the works and are once again grinding wheat (the mill, in its day, was used to grind all kinds of grains, so said the shop staff), and THEN (very proud of myself I am for figuring this out), I took the local bus service back to Chawton. 

The driver was very helpful, as were some of the other passengers. While the bus doesn't stop at Chawton, the driver called back, "I'll get you as close to Chawton as I can". That was nice. The two elderly passengers in front of me looked at each other quite perplexedly and said, "Chawton? This bus doesn't go to Chawton". Oh no...what havoc was about to unfold in the schedules of the bus full of passengers in order to get me to Chawton? I needn't have worried....

After the roundabout nearish to Chawton the driver stopped the bus, and a number of passengers said, "This is you!"... so off I got. As I was exiting the driver pointed in one direction and said you can go that way or get off at the next stop in Alton at The Butts (a stop I know as one walks by it to get to the grocery store). I assumed his pointing was a hint on the direction I should take but when I looked up the road and watched the bus disappear around a bend, I saw no signage, no buildings in view, etc. I felt like I was in one of those movie scenes where the heroine is dropped in the middle of the moors as her passage fare only took her that far. What to do? Luckily, I had the bus schedule with a wee map on the back in my bag so studied it, and decided I needed to go back to the roundabout. Lo' it was the right choice; the signs pointed me clear across to the other side of the roundabout!

Once there, there was the Chawton sign, and just down the road TWO signs proclaiming that I was entering the village, one on eather side of the road. I figured there were signs on both sides to alert North American and European righthand side drivers of where they were should they happen to find themselves in the lane that feels right but is wrong.

Before too long (maybe a two-minute walk?) there was the comforting sign indicating the back garden of Jane Austen's home. Phew. I gathered blossoms that had dropped from shrubs overhanging the wall for my flower pounding project and then headed back to the Stables (about an 8 minute walk).

The VFs' plans for a Sunday roast meal in Alton fell through; one had just returned from London where she had had a big lunch and one was feeling unwell. No matter...I'd been shopping yesterday so was spoiled for choice for my evening meal! A very fortunate position to be in...

After that, started stitching on my charity shop find quilt.

Tomorrow, back to the Reading Room. Next weekend, London!

JAS AGM

My first Saturday staying in Chawton. To start off the day, I hitched a ride into Alton (about a 25 minute walk) on the vintage bus that was ferrying people to Chawton House from the train station for the AGM to get provisions.
The bus was a 1962 bus used in Winchester. The driver and conductor were very kind and even though they said they couldn't drop me on/near the High Street, they did anyway. I suspect he (the driver) must have broken some sort of 'one way' rule to do so...I was most grateful!

My shopping was very productive; I visited my favourite of the four charity shops on the High Street and got two skirts (read that as cheap cast offs that I have since cut up) for my quilt project. I also got a copy of JA's letters that I need for my research (one I can put sticky notes in, something we are not allowed to do in the Reading Room's copy...for good reason).; then walked back the Chawton. Such a crowd was here by the time I got here!

These shots are of the quilt on my bed. Lovely muted colours, soft cotton, all hand sewn. It, along with the V and A quilt show have inspired quilt making while I am here.

But before I describe the day's events, I'll report on an emergency surgery that occurred yesterday afternoon. I turned from my workspace quickly to chat with another researcher when she mentioned baby clothes appearing in some writing of the period. I ended up with splinters of antique wood floor boards in the side of my foot (that I couldn't reach). I thought I could hang in and have them removed at the end of the day but found that was not going to be possible. I sort of limped down to the Stable Block to ask another VF, Fran, to help me out and she performed surgery with a sewing needle and tweezers while I sat in her window seat. All the while we tittered that perhaps I might get into trouble making off with expensive antique flooring.  In time, she extracted three bits of the wood...my foot felt much better.

The offending threesome! Small bits of wood cause much pain when where they ought not to be.

And now back to Chawton and the JAS AGM....

Cars in the sheep pasture? What? The AGM is clearly a popular event so there were loads of cars where there are normally sheep. The horses were in the pasture next to the Stable Block...contented as you see - completely unaffected by the goings-on just up the drive.

A very interesting lecture was on offer delivered by Edward Coupland (forgive any misspelling) about the generation of writers that followed Austen and their shameless rip offs of her plots, characters, dialogue, etc. The tour from JASNA was in attendance so I even got to meet someone from the Vancouver chapter, and a member from Ontario who came dressed as Mr. Austen would have done in 1800 on a summer afternon.! I mistakenly asked him if he was impersonating Paul Revere...my goodness, such a set down I got! "I am Canadian!", he exclaimed. Afterward we had a lovely chat...he grew up about 5 km from where I did in S. Ontario. We wondered if we might ever have met before since we are roughly the same age. We concluded we had not.

We (the AGM attendees) then attended Evensong at St. Nicholas' Church (across the driveway) and awaited the start of the Chawton Ball. It is going full tilt at present. It is a black tie affair where one brings their own picnic supper and drinks, and the band (a mix of rock, disco, R and B) plays and plays. I was invited to gate crash but alas, left my gowns at home so enjoying the festivities that I can hear very plainly from the Stable Block.

I met Richard Knight (at left) today, current owner of Chawton House, and President of the Jane Austen Society. He and his wife, Phillipa, were staying at the Stable Block. Richard was very pleasant (as was Phillipa who offered me a glass of her homemade elderflower cordial...delicious and refreshing!). Richard was apologetic for entertaining guests at lunch in the Stable Block (everyone brought packed lunches), hoped we didn't mind, etc. We (the VFs) assured him it was absolutely fine, as awestruck as we still are about being able to stay here ourselves. Richard expressed interest in all of our research efforts; I was thrilled to have a conversation with him have him engage in a conversation about what I am working on here, about the nature of the food supply (another VF tells me she has heard Richard describe himself as 'just a farmer', about connections between diet and health, etc. What a bonus of my stay here!

At the AGM presentation I got a very good clue about a resource to sleuth out in Winchester; the provisioner's records for a company that delivered to Chawton and the Austen's house! What a wonderful clue...the sort of thing that someone just casually mentions that can be a 'Eureka' moment for someone else! I asked Edward about details after his presentation and will chat with Jacqui, the librarian, about it on Monday then plan to go to Winchester to have a look!

Speaking of Winchester, tomorrow's plans are to hitch a ride there with Clare, the housekeeper, as it is JA Weekend in Winchester and I haven't been there yet. This means giving up the Alton bus rally but alas, these two places are in opposite directions. Will take the local bus back to Chawton.

Rules for the Dance

Marie Disiewicz , my sometimes English Country Dance teacher (sometimes only because I keep injuring my foot...Marie keeps right on teaching) asked me, when I was heading off for England, to keep my eyes open for anything related to dance. Today I found 'the rules for the Assembly Rooms' in a 1789 tour guide to Bristol that I found most interesting. Those of us who are ECD types will know the terms such as 'sets' (the group of dancers arranged in two rows, one of men, one of women), and 'the bottom' (where you have arrived when you have danced 'down the set' and change to the series of steps that will have you dance 'up the set' to get to...you guessed right...to get to 'the top'). I shared these with Marie and thought others would likewise be interested.

At right, the panelling over the fireplace in the CHL office where we sign in and out as we enter/leave the building. A thing of beauty, like every other surface in the house!

Here they are the rules for Assemblies...note the title, this is reflective of the 18th century titling of books...cram in every word you think might help attract a reader. I must admit that the 'medicinal water' part is what flagged this title for me.

From: Shiercliff, E. et al. (1789). Shiercliff’s Bristol and Hotwell Guide; or, Useful Entertaining Pocket Companion for all persons residing at, or resorting to Bristol, the Hotwell, or their Vicinities: containing An Historical Account of the ancient and present State of that Opulent CITY: also, Of the Hotwell from its first Discovery; The Nature, Properties and Effects of its Medicinal Water. Bristol, England: E. Shiercliff, JB Becket, W Browne, J Norton, T Mills, W Bulgin, and J Llloyd.

Describing the assembly rooms in Bristol (1789)

You ascend to the Ballroom by a flight of steps. The windows are placed of such height as to prevent the company from being overlooked. Here is a very good orchestra, two fireplaces, which, together with the upper end of the room, are decorated with large looking-glasses, in elegant carved frames. From the ceiling, which is lofty, is pendant a large beautiful glass luster in the centre of the room; there are also two that are smaller, and one over the orchestra. Behind the Ball-room is the Drawing-room, which is of a proportionable size, and convenient: underneath is a Coffee-room. There are Assemblies here every Thursday fortnight, during the Winter, also on the King and Queen’s birth-days, &c. The Assemblies are conducted by a committee, which consists of gentlemen, principal inhabitants of the city, who have appointed James Russell, Esq. Master of the Ceremonies, and as a compensation for his troubles he has a ball annually.


The following are the established rules, viz.


That the assembly shall be supported by a subscription of two guineas from each subscriber, to be paid to the Treasurer at the first opening thereof.

That the admission of every new subscriber shall be by the consent of a majority of the committee.


That no gentleman inhabitant of the city or the environs shall be admitted to the Assembly without becoming a subscriber.


That non-residents shall pay five shillings for each night’s admission.


That all officers in his Majesty’s service, who are not subscribers, be admitted as non-residents, paying five shillings each night of admission.


That every subscriber be entitled to two ladies’ tickets.


That the minuets begin a half past six o’clock and end at eight, when country dances are to commence.


That no children in frocks be admitted to dance minuets.


That in country dances the ladies shall draw for their places, which shall be claimed, and taken in the first dance, or lose the benefit thereof.


That in country dances the Master of the Ceremonies shall have the privilege of complimenting three ladies, being strangers, with the three first places.


That ladies changing partners shall maintain their respective places, but not the gentlemen.


That any lady, who has not drawn for places coming into a set shall go to the bottom.


That the top couple, after calling one dance, shall retire to the bottom.


That every couple going down with a dance will be expected to go up the same.


If it is thought necessary by the Master of the Ceremonies to have two sets at country dances, every second cople to be drawn off into another set.


That ladies shall not be admitted in hats.


That the balls be once a fortnight, and continue till the subscription-money is expended.


That at eleven o’clock all dancing shall cease, and the musicians retired at the signal of the Master of the Ceremonies, excepting on his benefit, or any public night, when the time of breaking-up is left to his own discretion.


That all expenses be paid out of the subscription-money, as the number of Assemblies be determined according as there shall be a sufficiency in the hands of the Treasurer for their support.


That whatever money may be taken for the admission of non-subscriber, shall be laid out at the end of the season in a cotillion ball.


That in case of any breach of these regulations, complain shall be made to the Master of the Ceremonies, whose authority shall be supported by every member of the society.


That Mr. Russell be continued as Master of the Ceremonies on the usual plan; that he provide six good musicians to compose the band; and that he be attentive to these regulations, and such others as the Committee shall judge necessary to superadd.


That these rules be printed, and a copy of them sent to every subscriber.


Here are also public concerts during the winter season, under the conduct of a committee of gentlemen, who have engaged the best vocal and instrumental performers in this city, Bath, &c. The subscribers pay two guineas each; they have two tickets regularly sent them for the admission of two ladies. Gentlemen living in Bristol, or its vicinity, are not admitted, unless they subscribe. Those who are non-residents pay five shillings for their admission.

As Marie pointed out, these events were clearly popular with such an orderly set of rules set out and widely made known in a travel publication.
 
I walked about 'the wilderness' after the library closed at 5 pm, a most manicured bit of forest, before the Fellows went to the village Greyfriar's Pub (a grocery shop in JA's time) for dinner. I was shooting footage of lambs and their mamas, kestrels, bees in hives, sculptures, the veg/fruit gardens and didn't take still photos to post. I'll aim to do that tomorrow. The weather has turned wet and wooly again tonight (ha ha ha, so many sheep around here that it's wooly alright!) so will hope for clear skies again tomorrow.

 
I did take some photos of preparations for the Jane Austen Society AGM on Saturday and The Chawton Ball on Saturday. I chatted with the fellow from Carter's Tent Rental in Basingstoke and he assured me that parties at big houses, schools, and restaurants keep about four tent companies in the area busy. Imagine how many parties that is!

Another photo is what we see frequently here, arrivals for the twice weekly tour of the Great House. As there is no parking on site, visitors must ring for admission at the gate, as this group did. We (the VFs) are all a-twitter about what the AGM will be like!

A Dark and Stormy Night in Chawton

Feeling a little weary mid-afternoon today but not willing to give up one second of my precious time in the Reading Room I pushed through to 5 pm closing time, got to my room around 530, thought I'd have a little 'lay me down', and woke up at 9 pm. In my semi-conscious moments, I heard claps of thunder. When I went downstairs to rustle up some dinner, I opened the front door to the cottage to see the Head Horse(wo)man heading out in the gathering darkness to find the horses. I'm not sure it was as wild as it seemed or whether that was an effect brought about by much rustling of the ivy and roses growing about the house being tossed in the wind.

At any rate, had a little meal and arranged with housemates to go to the Chawton pub (The Greyfriars) for tomorrow's dinner. It should be fun! The Jane Austen Society AGM is at Chawton on Saturday so it is expected to be crazy busy here this weekend. And don't forget the Alton bus rally!

There is a little family of swallows nesting right over the front door to Chawton House so one must be careful to avoid droppings when going in and out. Photos of mum and babes attached. Mama looked none to pleased with us taking all of these shots.

I've also included the photo of the rear of our house taken from the back of the garden (that I was taking a turn about in, of course!). My bedroom window is just above on the slope of the roof although you can't really see it owing to the glare from the sun setting at the front of the house.  The building to the right is where the horse staff live.

Two more photos of the Great House kitchen, one showing dish ware storage, and the other an ancient sink hook up. The chopping block has been pushed toward the sink but that isn't where it normally lives. You can imagine a sink being afixed in this frame and can see where the water came in (hole in the back wall) and where the drain pipe was). The tree  block was from a 200 years old tree (so I am told).

Research today was fair(is)...I can't seem to find the info on household textiles I am looking for so I'll consult the librarian, Jacqui, tomorrow. I'm very pleased with where I have got in thinking about the theory behind the invalid's dietary as everything I look at now fits within my proposed theoretical framework (hurray!).

The wind has just whipped up! The walls in this house are about 3 feet thick at the based and about 1 foot up here in the attic. Were the window closed, I would hear nothing of what is going on outside.

Until tomorrow!