Bridgerton

  • Visiting Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens

    Visiting Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens

    One of my favourite things to read about in eighteenth and nineteenth century history is how, and where, people spent their free time. The eighteenth century saw a real change in the development of leisure and pleasure, especially for the elite, which meant the arrival of more cultural institutions and places to satisfy these needs. read more

  • Attending a Ball in Regency England

    Attending a Ball in Regency England

    If you could time travel to Regency England, what better way to spend a Saturday night than at a ball? (My dream, really!) If you were attending, you would arrive late in the evening: if you think we head out dancing late now, that has always been the case, with the earliest arrivals coming at read more

  • What actually was the London season?

    What actually was the London season?

    It seems that whenever we turn on the TV to watch Regency-based period drama, or pick up a historical novel set during this period, there are so many references to the London season. Bridgerton, of course, has much of its storyline powered by the London season and the actions of the ton in the capital. read more

  • Did women actually use dance cards at Regency Balls?

    Did women actually use dance cards at Regency Balls?

    I wanted to deep dive into a little bit of a mystery in period drama: you often see at balls in period drama women recording the names of their dance partners beside the name of each dance in a little card – a dance card – tied to their wrists with pieces of ribbons, with read more

  • What is a Cabinet of Curiosity?

    What is a Cabinet of Curiosity?

    One of my favourite things that I spotted in the second half of the third season of Bridgerton was the presence of cabinets of curiosity in Penelope and Colin’s sitting room. It seems the perfect set addition for our intrepid and intellectually engaged couple (I tried to find a still of the set, but couldn’t!): read more

  • Balloon flight in the early nineteenth century

    Balloon flight in the early nineteenth century

    One of the marvels in the first part of season 3 of Bridgerton is an innovation fair with, at its centre, a balloon. During this era, people were fascinated by flight and the skies, and balloon flight was still very new. The first recorded flight in Europe happened at Versailles on 19th September 1783, when read more

  • What women read in the 18th & early 19th centuries

    What women read in the 18th & early 19th centuries

    To celebrate – finally! – the release of the second half of season 3 of Bridgerton, in which I’m hoping our lovely heroine Penelope Featherington gets her happy ending, let’s talk about one of Penelope’s favourite activities: reading. Her mother makes her pretend in front of Lord Debling that she doesn’t understand the book she read more

  • Celebrating the release of Bridgerton Season 3 (Part 1)!

    Celebrating the release of Bridgerton Season 3 (Part 1)!

    Happy Sunday! It’s been an exciting few days in which we have FINALLY (after 2 years!) been able to see part of the new season of Bridgerton on screen. Without any spoilers, I can safely say it has been worth the wait, and I can’t wait for Part 2 to drop on June 13th! It’s read more

  • “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” Review for BSECS Criticks

    “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story” Review for BSECS Criticks

    Cover image: Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz by Thomas Frye, 1762. Image copyright National Portrait Gallery, NPG D9089. If you’re anything like me, you are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the third series of Bridgerton, or at the very least, an announcement of its release date. This year, however, we were treated to an extra: an origin read more

  • Queen Charlotte article for BBC History Extra

    Queen Charlotte article for BBC History Extra

    Happy Thursday everyone and happy Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story release day! I have been so excited ever since it was first announced that Shondaland and Netflix would be making a special spin-off exploring Queen Charlotte. She is such a powerhouse of a character in the Bridgerton TV show but also she was a powerhouse read more

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