The purple-blue blossoms of the wisteria delight the eye, and their sweet fragrance enchants the soul. Today, this beautiful plant adorns gardens, cottages and manor houses across Britain. The popular Regency-era series Bridgerton shows Bridgerton House with wisteria in full bloom climbing up the facade. But is this historically accurate? Did wisterias bloom in gardens during the Regency period? And would Jane Austen have enjoyed the blossoms, too? Let’s find out. | Regency Explorer
Coffee was a popular hot beverage in 18th century Britain. Coffee houses spread across cities, and grocers sold both coffee beans and ground coffee to private consumers. As demand rose, coffee became the subject of fraudulent practices. How could customers be protected from adulterated products? And what other crimes were related to coffee? How to […]| Regency Explorer
Dolls have always been around. As a marketable toy for children, they became more and more elaborate in the 18th century. Dolls for the wealthy were elegantly dressed, including ruffles, panniers, rich lace and tiny shoes with buckles. True ambassadors of fashion were the so-called Pandora dolls, early mini-mannequins used by dressmakers to send their […]| Regency Explorer
As we continue our month-by-month journey through Jane Austen’s novels, letters, and lifetime, we find ourselves in the lovely month of April! If you’re just jumping on the bus, you can find …| Jane Austen's World