Regency Reference

Wedding and Wedding Breakfast in the Regency Era of Jane Austen

I’ve had to do more research with this latest book regarding the wedding breakfast. What was the order of precedence for walking into the dining room? What was the wedding ceremony like? The engagement was not a big deal, no getting down on bended knee, no special dinner or occasion. Engagement rings were rare and not used at all. The wedding ring could have a stone but it was not diamond unless the woman preferred…

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Regency Reference

How far can the post or express rider travel in the Regency era?

For my latest novella/novel, I needed to know how long it would take an express rider to get from Pemberley to Netherfield. Or perhaps just the regular post. So, if anyone else is writing Regency romance or Regency anything and needs to know about travel in England, the road conditions, the roads, horses, etc then here is a great big link dump for you. From my research an express rider travels 30mph. An average horse travels 20-30…

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Regency Reference

Assizes Courts in the Regency Era

I have been researching the hell out of the court system in the Regency era. I need to have Mr. Collins in court but there are so many questions.  I’m compiling info here for anyone else that needs it.  Or is curious. For more serious crimes such as rape or murder, cases were referred to Crown courts, who sat at quarterly assizes in large towns or at the Old Bailey in London. For the ordinary…

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Regency Reference

Contractions used in the Regency Era

Show of hands – how many of you knew contractions were used in Regency times?  List is from here but I only kept the ones used by 1810. http://www.joannawaugh.com/expressions.html Jane Austen used ain’t, can’t, don’t, I’ll, I’m, I’ve, ma’am, o’clock, shan’t, ’tis, won’t and you’ll. ain’t – in use by 1780 ‘cause (because) in use by 1450 can’t – by 1655 couldn’t – by 1650 don’t – c. 1640 e’en (even) – c. 1300 e’er (ever) – c. 1300…

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Regency Reference

Regency Expressions By Jove!

I needed to find some Regency expressions used when surprised or horrified. I found some and am saving the list here so I, and others, can find it easily. I only kept the Regency ones from this list http://www.joannawaugh.com/expressions.html ahem – c. 1765 bah –c. 1600 balderdash – c.1675 barmy — c. 1600 beastly – c. 1200 begad – c. 1600 blast and bugger your eyes — c. 1793 blasted – (damned) c. 1600 bloody (very)…

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