I’m a White South African

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My Cousin Made a Black Bonnet- Mourning Dress in the 19th Century

This is the world of my forgotten forebears. They were ordinary people whose lives are now beyond memory. I hope to give them a name and a context. They are my family, but I hope you’ll enjoy reading about my journeys through time to bring back their stories. “Custom decrees, if even inclination does not prompt … Continue reading →

Four Reasons Why Having Children May Have Been Easier 200 Years Ago

In  early Victorian times 50% of recorded deaths in England were those of children under the age of five. There was smallpox, consumption, diphtheria and cholera. In the earlier Reformation period, causes of death included “suddenly” and “teeth”. But there are some ways in which Victorian parents had it easier than us. 1 Sleep-deprived much? … Continue reading →

Nose Jobs in the 19th Century

“The science of the nose has reached such perfection that it is now possible to modify or change the nose” ~Baroness Staffe,  My Lady’s Dressing Room 1892 This article follows on from a previous post in which I had promised to look into early rhinoplasty as described in My Lady’s Dressing Room. Disappointingly, Baroness Staff’s entry was slim. Her … Continue reading →

A Polar Bear in my Victorian Bathroom

“At the opposite side of the room is placed a couch covered with the skin of a Polar bear, whereon, clad in a luxurious peignoir, one reposes after the fatigues of the bath and the douche. “ ~The Lady’s Dressing Room, by Baroness Staffe We are renovating our characterless 1970s bathroom. We have only the … Continue reading →