Hi, Jo here, sharing some of a fascinating book about London. That picture, BTW, is me about a month ago preparing to venture into hown in the perishing cold. The weather's much better now, and I'm beginning to be able to get annuals into the garden.
But back to London.
When doing a bit of spot research I came across a book called A Stranger in England by Christian Augustus Gottlieb Goede, written in 1809. (You can find it on Google Books.) That's almost a decade before the time of my book, 1817, but I have no reason to think the situation would have changed that much.
He loves London, but it's a "warts and all" devotion.
He refers to other writers who have described the city as presenting "a dark gloomy aspect; the houses being very smoky, the streets contracted, and the whole rendered impervious to the sun by low-passing clouds." This is a common complaint. It was very polluted.
To counter that, he writes that they must have visited in autumn and winter."At these seasons of the year indeed a thick humid fog envelopes the whole for the greatest part of the day; and the smoke from coal-fires, being pressed down by the humidity of the atmosphere, floats through the streets in murky clouds: but in the spring and summer months, London is quite as cheerful in its appearance as any other large city whatever."
The true meaning of that does depend on the state of other large cities, doesn't it?
"It is true, the houses, which are mostly built of brick, and not whitewashed, suffer materially from this smoke, and gradually assume a greyish colour, which would give them a very gloomy appearance were they not enlivened by other means. But the width of the principal streets, the cleanness of the pavement, the splendour of the plate-glass windows, the indescribable magnificence of the shops, the continual throng of well-dressed people, and, above all, the lawns and gardens which enliven the grand squares, produce a chain of agreeable impressions unknown on the Continent, and leave us scarcely sensible of the absence of ornamental architecture."
He likes it, but it is a rather hurly-burly place, isn't it, not the quiet elegance I sometimes envision. He describes the routines of the day for the great and small, and the ladies of the ton (though he doesn't use that word) crowding into Bond Street in the afternoon so that it becomes almost impassable.
Again, I often read about traffic jams, and with so many unpredictable horses accidents were common, and it wasn't only the carriages that were hurt. The picture is of a London street.
It's easy to forget that even then London was a huge city of about a million inhabitants, and as Goede points out, subject to daily comings and goings. He mentions that the receipts of the London turnpikes show that ten thousand people a day pay tolls to pass through the toll gates around the city.
In that case, I have to wonder whether the hero chasing after the eloping couple and enquiring at the toll gates after them would get much help!
Goede praises London's illuminations. I often come across references to these, which were used to celebrate a variety of events. He contrasts London's with those in Paris, where they were displayed by the city authorities, not individuals.
"In London, an illumination is a token of public rejoicing, voluntarily evinced by the people themselves. It is general, because every individual is interested, and every individual cordially contributes to its splendour. The public buildings on this occasion cannot make much parade; as they do not, with the exception of the Bank, present any considerable facade for the purpose, and are otherwise disadvantagcously situated: but the private houses are superbly and fancifully decorated with lamps; so that in a long handsome street, the brilliancy is uninterrupted, and inexpressibly grand. Each byestreet claims its share in the public rejoicing, and we wander about the town till we are lost in the contemplation of an object that appears without end.
The inequality of the buildings, and the circumstance of every occupier following his own fancy, prevent any regular plan of illumination; but this perpetual variety serves only to improve the
scene. The eye might otherwise be fatigued with sameness; but now fancy and caprice create fresh objects of admiration at every step we take. The devices at the west end, are usually crowns, stars, crescents, foiaged pillars, festoons, garlands, &c. but those in the city have
little of either ingenuity or taste; at least, this was the case at the proclamation of the peace in 1802.
The latter decorations, on this occasion, were for the most part transparencies emblematical of naval conquests and national glory, portraits of the King, scrolls complimentary to commerce, busts of favourite admirals, or a whole-length figure of Britannia with an olive-branch. There were however some of more merit. I remember the difficulty I had to pass at Charing-cross, where the whole town seemed to be collected in admiring a device displayed by a tasteful and ingenious watchmaker. It represented a vessel floating on illuminated waves, the motion of which was produced by clock-work; the whole surrounded by a garland of lamps, with the motto "Britain's glory."
The squares were illuminated with considerable taste and effect. The houses, by means of temporary contrivances, were transformed into splendid temples; and beautiful allegories were represented by transparent paintings. Oxford street, from its length, breadth, and nearly straight direction, afforded an enchanting perspective. As I advanced, squares, apparently on fire, burst on the view from either side with sudden and surprising effect. But the most extraordinary circumstance is, that whatever part of the town I visited, the crowd was so great that I might well have supposed every other spot deserted."
This cartoon is of a royal "drawing room." It seems crowds were taken for granted even there!
So we have pollution, crowds, gardens, shops, and illuminations. Not quiet elegance, but a hell of a city!
Do you agree?
Does any of this surprise you?
Do you think that in Regency romance we've fallen into an image of London that isn't quite true to the times?
Did it perhaps come from Georgette Heyer? I don't know if the London in the period after the First World War would have been more genteel, in the better parts, at least. Quite possibly. The general progress seems to have been toward order over the centuries.
Jo
London was the largest city in the Western world at the time ( might have been of the known world, but I can’t say for sure about that.) Almost all the visitors remark on the size and the bustle. Of course, it is busy, noisey, and dirty.
Some Americans were impressed by the fact that people moved in an orderly fashion along the sidewalks and on the roads, with traffic in each direction on one side of the walk or road.
Regency romances deal with the arostocracy and generally the upper crust. The aristocratic more residental squares were not likely to be as noisey or populated as streets elsewhere.
I’ll have to read that book.
Does the author also ccomment on the way the mob punished those they didn’t think put up grand enough illuminations? The houses of some high goovernment officials, ( I think even that of the Lord Mayor of London) were damaged because the mob disapproved of their lack of illumination. This was so whetehr or not the householder was in town , or not.
One account told of the mob throwing something into carriages that caught the ladies’ gowns on fire. How LOndon survived so long as a civilized place without more efficient police, I don’t know, for the city certainly had that sign of a big city– crime.
London was the largest city in the Western world at the time ( might have been of the known world, but I can’t say for sure about that.) Almost all the visitors remark on the size and the bustle. Of course, it is busy, noisey, and dirty.
Some Americans were impressed by the fact that people moved in an orderly fashion along the sidewalks and on the roads, with traffic in each direction on one side of the walk or road.
Regency romances deal with the arostocracy and generally the upper crust. The aristocratic more residental squares were not likely to be as noisey or populated as streets elsewhere.
I’ll have to read that book.
Does the author also ccomment on the way the mob punished those they didn’t think put up grand enough illuminations? The houses of some high goovernment officials, ( I think even that of the Lord Mayor of London) were damaged because the mob disapproved of their lack of illumination. This was so whetehr or not the householder was in town , or not.
One account told of the mob throwing something into carriages that caught the ladies’ gowns on fire. How LOndon survived so long as a civilized place without more efficient police, I don’t know, for the city certainly had that sign of a big city– crime.
London was the largest city in the Western world at the time ( might have been of the known world, but I can’t say for sure about that.) Almost all the visitors remark on the size and the bustle. Of course, it is busy, noisey, and dirty.
Some Americans were impressed by the fact that people moved in an orderly fashion along the sidewalks and on the roads, with traffic in each direction on one side of the walk or road.
Regency romances deal with the arostocracy and generally the upper crust. The aristocratic more residental squares were not likely to be as noisey or populated as streets elsewhere.
I’ll have to read that book.
Does the author also ccomment on the way the mob punished those they didn’t think put up grand enough illuminations? The houses of some high goovernment officials, ( I think even that of the Lord Mayor of London) were damaged because the mob disapproved of their lack of illumination. This was so whetehr or not the householder was in town , or not.
One account told of the mob throwing something into carriages that caught the ladies’ gowns on fire. How LOndon survived so long as a civilized place without more efficient police, I don’t know, for the city certainly had that sign of a big city– crime.
London was the largest city in the Western world at the time ( might have been of the known world, but I can’t say for sure about that.) Almost all the visitors remark on the size and the bustle. Of course, it is busy, noisey, and dirty.
Some Americans were impressed by the fact that people moved in an orderly fashion along the sidewalks and on the roads, with traffic in each direction on one side of the walk or road.
Regency romances deal with the arostocracy and generally the upper crust. The aristocratic more residental squares were not likely to be as noisey or populated as streets elsewhere.
I’ll have to read that book.
Does the author also ccomment on the way the mob punished those they didn’t think put up grand enough illuminations? The houses of some high goovernment officials, ( I think even that of the Lord Mayor of London) were damaged because the mob disapproved of their lack of illumination. This was so whetehr or not the householder was in town , or not.
One account told of the mob throwing something into carriages that caught the ladies’ gowns on fire. How LOndon survived so long as a civilized place without more efficient police, I don’t know, for the city certainly had that sign of a big city– crime.
London was the largest city in the Western world at the time ( might have been of the known world, but I can’t say for sure about that.) Almost all the visitors remark on the size and the bustle. Of course, it is busy, noisey, and dirty.
Some Americans were impressed by the fact that people moved in an orderly fashion along the sidewalks and on the roads, with traffic in each direction on one side of the walk or road.
Regency romances deal with the arostocracy and generally the upper crust. The aristocratic more residental squares were not likely to be as noisey or populated as streets elsewhere.
I’ll have to read that book.
Does the author also ccomment on the way the mob punished those they didn’t think put up grand enough illuminations? The houses of some high goovernment officials, ( I think even that of the Lord Mayor of London) were damaged because the mob disapproved of their lack of illumination. This was so whetehr or not the householder was in town , or not.
One account told of the mob throwing something into carriages that caught the ladies’ gowns on fire. How LOndon survived so long as a civilized place without more efficient police, I don’t know, for the city certainly had that sign of a big city– crime.
It is surprising how very busy it was. When reading Regency romances one tends to focus on the ton, which was a very small proportion of the population. One forgets that the wagons and drays carrying the necessary goods would get in the way of those lovely carriages and curricles, and that the pavements would be thronged with individuals who weren’t bathed and dressed to the nines.
I do think that Georgette Heyer created a very distinctive Regency world which it must be difficult to vary or escape from as an author. Because she did do so much research and was very accurate about much of the world she described, any variation from it is likely to be regarded by the reader as a mistake. But I think you’re correct that it probably wasn’t busy enough. And all those fires must have combined with the mizzle and the fogs to make London very gloomy in the winter, for the earlier part of “the season”.
It is surprising how very busy it was. When reading Regency romances one tends to focus on the ton, which was a very small proportion of the population. One forgets that the wagons and drays carrying the necessary goods would get in the way of those lovely carriages and curricles, and that the pavements would be thronged with individuals who weren’t bathed and dressed to the nines.
I do think that Georgette Heyer created a very distinctive Regency world which it must be difficult to vary or escape from as an author. Because she did do so much research and was very accurate about much of the world she described, any variation from it is likely to be regarded by the reader as a mistake. But I think you’re correct that it probably wasn’t busy enough. And all those fires must have combined with the mizzle and the fogs to make London very gloomy in the winter, for the earlier part of “the season”.
It is surprising how very busy it was. When reading Regency romances one tends to focus on the ton, which was a very small proportion of the population. One forgets that the wagons and drays carrying the necessary goods would get in the way of those lovely carriages and curricles, and that the pavements would be thronged with individuals who weren’t bathed and dressed to the nines.
I do think that Georgette Heyer created a very distinctive Regency world which it must be difficult to vary or escape from as an author. Because she did do so much research and was very accurate about much of the world she described, any variation from it is likely to be regarded by the reader as a mistake. But I think you’re correct that it probably wasn’t busy enough. And all those fires must have combined with the mizzle and the fogs to make London very gloomy in the winter, for the earlier part of “the season”.
It is surprising how very busy it was. When reading Regency romances one tends to focus on the ton, which was a very small proportion of the population. One forgets that the wagons and drays carrying the necessary goods would get in the way of those lovely carriages and curricles, and that the pavements would be thronged with individuals who weren’t bathed and dressed to the nines.
I do think that Georgette Heyer created a very distinctive Regency world which it must be difficult to vary or escape from as an author. Because she did do so much research and was very accurate about much of the world she described, any variation from it is likely to be regarded by the reader as a mistake. But I think you’re correct that it probably wasn’t busy enough. And all those fires must have combined with the mizzle and the fogs to make London very gloomy in the winter, for the earlier part of “the season”.
It is surprising how very busy it was. When reading Regency romances one tends to focus on the ton, which was a very small proportion of the population. One forgets that the wagons and drays carrying the necessary goods would get in the way of those lovely carriages and curricles, and that the pavements would be thronged with individuals who weren’t bathed and dressed to the nines.
I do think that Georgette Heyer created a very distinctive Regency world which it must be difficult to vary or escape from as an author. Because she did do so much research and was very accurate about much of the world she described, any variation from it is likely to be regarded by the reader as a mistake. But I think you’re correct that it probably wasn’t busy enough. And all those fires must have combined with the mizzle and the fogs to make London very gloomy in the winter, for the earlier part of “the season”.
This looks great, thanks! Just ordered a print copy off Google Books (I love having that option!).
This looks great, thanks! Just ordered a print copy off Google Books (I love having that option!).
This looks great, thanks! Just ordered a print copy off Google Books (I love having that option!).
This looks great, thanks! Just ordered a print copy off Google Books (I love having that option!).
This looks great, thanks! Just ordered a print copy off Google Books (I love having that option!).
I love the picture of “Jo as Arctic explorer.” *G*
I was also intrigued by the illuminations. I’ve seen references, but had no idea how complex and widespread they were. They sound like a combination of Christmas decorations and fireworks displays, without the explosions. Intriging! Must. Put. In. A. Book….
I love the picture of “Jo as Arctic explorer.” *G*
I was also intrigued by the illuminations. I’ve seen references, but had no idea how complex and widespread they were. They sound like a combination of Christmas decorations and fireworks displays, without the explosions. Intriging! Must. Put. In. A. Book….
I love the picture of “Jo as Arctic explorer.” *G*
I was also intrigued by the illuminations. I’ve seen references, but had no idea how complex and widespread they were. They sound like a combination of Christmas decorations and fireworks displays, without the explosions. Intriging! Must. Put. In. A. Book….
I love the picture of “Jo as Arctic explorer.” *G*
I was also intrigued by the illuminations. I’ve seen references, but had no idea how complex and widespread they were. They sound like a combination of Christmas decorations and fireworks displays, without the explosions. Intriging! Must. Put. In. A. Book….
I love the picture of “Jo as Arctic explorer.” *G*
I was also intrigued by the illuminations. I’ve seen references, but had no idea how complex and widespread they were. They sound like a combination of Christmas decorations and fireworks displays, without the explosions. Intriging! Must. Put. In. A. Book….
I think spring and autumn rains might have kept those seasons cleaner. Georgette Heyer does talk about how horrible London is in the summer, and dirty, and drab in the winter. It made me wonder how anyone could want to be there then.
I think spring and autumn rains might have kept those seasons cleaner. Georgette Heyer does talk about how horrible London is in the summer, and dirty, and drab in the winter. It made me wonder how anyone could want to be there then.
I think spring and autumn rains might have kept those seasons cleaner. Georgette Heyer does talk about how horrible London is in the summer, and dirty, and drab in the winter. It made me wonder how anyone could want to be there then.
I think spring and autumn rains might have kept those seasons cleaner. Georgette Heyer does talk about how horrible London is in the summer, and dirty, and drab in the winter. It made me wonder how anyone could want to be there then.
I think spring and autumn rains might have kept those seasons cleaner. Georgette Heyer does talk about how horrible London is in the summer, and dirty, and drab in the winter. It made me wonder how anyone could want to be there then.
Jo here. Yes, Nancy, it was a major city. I haven’t come across references to the mob punishing those they didn’t think were putting up good enough illuminations, but I can easily imagine it.
Jo
Jo here. Yes, Nancy, it was a major city. I haven’t come across references to the mob punishing those they didn’t think were putting up good enough illuminations, but I can easily imagine it.
Jo
Jo here. Yes, Nancy, it was a major city. I haven’t come across references to the mob punishing those they didn’t think were putting up good enough illuminations, but I can easily imagine it.
Jo
Jo here. Yes, Nancy, it was a major city. I haven’t come across references to the mob punishing those they didn’t think were putting up good enough illuminations, but I can easily imagine it.
Jo
Jo here. Yes, Nancy, it was a major city. I haven’t come across references to the mob punishing those they didn’t think were putting up good enough illuminations, but I can easily imagine it.
Jo
Ella, interesting thought about the beneficial effects of rain. However, I suspect it would be “acid rain” because of the soot in the air, so I’m not sure what the effect would be.
However, London was a popular place to be in the winter because those London houses were much easier to heat than the vast rural house, especially in the Regency when the houses were quite small, even for the ton.
Also, there was plenty to do, and plenty of company, just around the corner. Bad weather could trap you in that icy, draughty noble seat in the country looking out at frosty ground and skeletal trees.
Ella, interesting thought about the beneficial effects of rain. However, I suspect it would be “acid rain” because of the soot in the air, so I’m not sure what the effect would be.
However, London was a popular place to be in the winter because those London houses were much easier to heat than the vast rural house, especially in the Regency when the houses were quite small, even for the ton.
Also, there was plenty to do, and plenty of company, just around the corner. Bad weather could trap you in that icy, draughty noble seat in the country looking out at frosty ground and skeletal trees.
Ella, interesting thought about the beneficial effects of rain. However, I suspect it would be “acid rain” because of the soot in the air, so I’m not sure what the effect would be.
However, London was a popular place to be in the winter because those London houses were much easier to heat than the vast rural house, especially in the Regency when the houses were quite small, even for the ton.
Also, there was plenty to do, and plenty of company, just around the corner. Bad weather could trap you in that icy, draughty noble seat in the country looking out at frosty ground and skeletal trees.
Ella, interesting thought about the beneficial effects of rain. However, I suspect it would be “acid rain” because of the soot in the air, so I’m not sure what the effect would be.
However, London was a popular place to be in the winter because those London houses were much easier to heat than the vast rural house, especially in the Regency when the houses were quite small, even for the ton.
Also, there was plenty to do, and plenty of company, just around the corner. Bad weather could trap you in that icy, draughty noble seat in the country looking out at frosty ground and skeletal trees.
Ella, interesting thought about the beneficial effects of rain. However, I suspect it would be “acid rain” because of the soot in the air, so I’m not sure what the effect would be.
However, London was a popular place to be in the winter because those London houses were much easier to heat than the vast rural house, especially in the Regency when the houses were quite small, even for the ton.
Also, there was plenty to do, and plenty of company, just around the corner. Bad weather could trap you in that icy, draughty noble seat in the country looking out at frosty ground and skeletal trees.
Interesting to see what a visitor from abroad noticed about London. I wonder how different a picture of London you would get from, say, a middle class resident who had always lived in London and had no other place to compare it to. And a member of the ton, who alternated between London and a country resident, would probably be aware of still other things.
Lots of nice ideas to play with. Thank you for this reference. I’m looking forward to reading Goede.
Interesting to see what a visitor from abroad noticed about London. I wonder how different a picture of London you would get from, say, a middle class resident who had always lived in London and had no other place to compare it to. And a member of the ton, who alternated between London and a country resident, would probably be aware of still other things.
Lots of nice ideas to play with. Thank you for this reference. I’m looking forward to reading Goede.
Interesting to see what a visitor from abroad noticed about London. I wonder how different a picture of London you would get from, say, a middle class resident who had always lived in London and had no other place to compare it to. And a member of the ton, who alternated between London and a country resident, would probably be aware of still other things.
Lots of nice ideas to play with. Thank you for this reference. I’m looking forward to reading Goede.
Interesting to see what a visitor from abroad noticed about London. I wonder how different a picture of London you would get from, say, a middle class resident who had always lived in London and had no other place to compare it to. And a member of the ton, who alternated between London and a country resident, would probably be aware of still other things.
Lots of nice ideas to play with. Thank you for this reference. I’m looking forward to reading Goede.
Interesting to see what a visitor from abroad noticed about London. I wonder how different a picture of London you would get from, say, a middle class resident who had always lived in London and had no other place to compare it to. And a member of the ton, who alternated between London and a country resident, would probably be aware of still other things.
Lots of nice ideas to play with. Thank you for this reference. I’m looking forward to reading Goede.