Cottage Capers

On this day in history….26th March 1839

On this day in history : 26th March 1839 – The first Henley Regatta is held; it was originally initiated by the Mayor and residents of Henley-on-Thames to attract tourism….

An 1877 painting of Henley Royal Regatta by James Tissot – Public domain

In 1829 a boat race was held between Oxford and Cambridge Universities along the stretch of the River Thames upon which the Oxfordshire town of Henley-on-Thames lies….So many visitors were attracted to the race that the people of Henley realised a similar, regular event could be very lucrative for the town….

The first ‘Regatta’ was essentially a single afternoon race, accompanied with a fair and other entertainment…. Being a huge success the following year it became a two day event…. The focus quickly changed to competitive amateur rowing…. In 1886 it grew to three days and four days in 1906…. Finally in 1986 it became a five day regatta and has been held every year since 1839 – with the exception of the years during WW1 and WW2….

During the Victorian era the Regatta became a major social event and in 1851 Prince Albert became the first Royal Patron…. Since then the reigning Monarch has always been its Patron, thus meaning it has remained being known as ‘Royal’….

Regatta participants in the 1890s – Public domain

Nowadays Henley Royal Regatta is held at the beginning of July and is a highlight of the English social sporting calendar, attracting top rowing teams from all over the world…. Having been established since before national and international rowing federations it operates under its own rules – although it is recognised by the International Rowing Federation and the Amateur Rowing Association in England….

Green Lake Crew, USA racing in 2007 – Image credit : Tgamen – own work – Public domain

It is now the largest racing regatta in the world…. There are sixteen separate trophies…. Races take around seven minutes each with start times at five minutes apart – meaning there are usually two races happening at the same time…. Whilst races are fiercely competitive there is a strong protocol of politeness….both from spectators and competitors alike…. Each boat is applauded by those watching and each team gives the other ‘three cheers’ just after crossing the finishing line…. The winning crew congratulates the losing crew and vice-versa….

Henley Royal Regatta remains a major part of the English social calendar….it has the atmosphere of a giant garden party…. For many it is a chance to gather with friends- whether onboard a boat on the river itself or in the enclosures and marquees along its banks…. Admission to the prestigious Steward’s Enclosure is at a premium and limited to 6,000 Members…. Champagne and Pimms flow, picnics are enjoyed and strawberries devoured in abundance…. There are most certainly those socialites who attend annually and have quite possibly never even witnessed the rowing! The dress code is formal…. For ladies skirt lengths should be to the knee or longer, trousers should be full length…. Hats, although not obligatory, are customary…. The traditional attire for a gentleman is a striped blazer and straw boater…. But a lounge suit, or blazer with flannel trousers is equally acceptable – teamed with a collared shirt…. Neck ties or cravats are not essential but are encouraged…. Jeans, shorts or trainers are not permitted for anybody….

This year’s Henley Royal Regatta is scheduled to be held from Tuesday 30th June to Sunday 5th July…

On this day in history….25th March 1811

On this day in history : 25th March 1811 – Percy Bysshe Shelley is expelled from Oxford University for publishing the pamphlet ‘The Necessity of Atheism”….

Portrait of Shelley, by Alfred Clint (1829) – Public domain

Shelley, one of the major English Romantic poets, held radical political and social views which were to be, inevitably, reflected in his poetry and writing….

He was born in Broadbridge Heath, near to Horsham, West Sussex on the 4th of August 1782 and was the eldest son of Sir Timothy Shelley, a Whig MP…. After attending the Syon House Academy, Brentford, Middlesex and Eton College, Shelley entered University College, Oxford on the 10th of April 1810….

His first novel was published anonymously in 1810…. ‘Zastrozzi’, a Gothic novel, which through its characters indicated its author’s atheist views…. Other publications followed, ‘St Irvine; or, The Rosicrucian: A Romance’, and ‘Original Poetry by Victor and Cazire’, which he wrote with his sister Elizabeth…. He also published a collection of verses ‘Posthumous Fragments of Margaret Nicholson’, with his close friend Thomas Jefferson Hogg…. Then in 1811 he anonymously published the pamphlet ‘The Necessity of Atheism’ – which saw him hauled in front of the College Dean, George Rowley…. His refusal to admit as to whether he had or had not penned the publication saw his expulsion from Oxford…. It is widely believed Hogg helped him to write the pamphlet….

‘The Necessity of Atheism’ was first published around the 14th of February 1811…. Few original copies remain as most were destroyed shortly after publication…. At the time its content was deemed to be so shocking….

“As a love of truth is the only motive which actuated the Author of this little tract, he earnestly entreats that those of his readers who may discover any deficiency in his reasoning, or may be in possession of proofs which his mind could never obtain, would offer them, together with their objections to the Public, as briefly, as methodically, as plainly as he has taken the liberty of doing”….

At the end of the pamphlet Shelley writes…. “the mind cannot believe in the existence of a God”…. He signed it…. ‘Thro’ deficiency of proof, AN ATHEIST’….

A page from the 1811 Worthing Printing – Bodleian Library

British History

On this day in history….24th March 1684

On this day in history : 24th March 1684 – English woman Elizabeth Ridgeway is burned at the stake after being convicted of poisoning her husband of just three weeks….

Born Elizabeth Husbands, during the mid 1600s, she had been brought up in the Christian faith on the family farm near to Ibstock, Leicestershire…. She didn’t leave home until she was around 29-years-old….

She married Thomas Ridgeway, a wealthy tailor, on the 1st of February 1684…. However, he owed his sister £20, a debt she called in almost immediately after her brother had married – the newly weds were now virtually bankrupt….

One Sunday morning, just over three weeks after they were married, Thomas went off to Church, whilst his wife stayed at home to prepare his dinner…. When he returned for his meal she served him up a bowl of broth, of which he ate most but left some complaining it was ‘gritty’…. Less than 30 minutes later he was vomiting violently, which continued to around midnight – when he died in agony….

Thomas’s young apprentice told his master’s relatives that he had seen something in the bottom of the bowl as Elizabeth removed it from her husband…. He was convinced it was poison and Thomas’s family reported it to a Justice of Peace, who ordered an inquest…. Thomas’s body was examined and indeed showed evidence of poisoning…. Elizabeth was arrested and taken to Leicester Gaol….

On Friday the 14th of March she was brought to trial before Lord Judge Street – she pleaded ‘not guilty’…. However, after some deliberation the jury returned a ‘guilty’ verdict…. Elizabeth was sentenced to burn…. There were those who claimed the sentence to be too harsh and called for a reprieve – but the Judge was having none of it…. He did, however, ask local clergyman, John Newton, to counsel her…. But Elizabeth had no interest in making her peace with God – in fact on the morning of her execution she had a shocking confession to make….

Not only did she admit to poisoning her husband, with arsenic, it transpired she had quite a catalogue of murders to her name…. Elizabeth had poisoned her own mother, after an argument, the year before she had left the family home to take up work as a servant…. It was whilst in this employment that she fell out with a male, fellow servant – being one to bear a grudge she decided to poison him too….

She then found herself entangled in a romantic liaison with a suitor by the name of John King…. Elizabeth had quite a few suitors – but after having promised too much to King she could not see a way of backing out…. She had her eye on the wealthier prospect of Thomas Ridgeway…. She solved her little problem by getting rid of King with more poison…. Of course after marrying Thomas, only for him to instantly lose his wealth, he was to meet the same fate….

Elizabeth burned at the stake….

British History

On this day in history….23rd March 1540

On this day in history : 23rd March 1540 – Waltham Abbey becomes the last religious community to be closed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII….

Waltham Abbey Church – Image credit : diamond geezer via Flickr

Henry VIII visited Waltham Abbey in Essex a number of times, actually staying there in 1532 with Anne Boleyn…. He suggested that it could become one of the Church of England’s new cathedrals – but this was never to happen….

After the 1534 Act of Supremecy and the severing of ties with the Catholic Church King Henry was free to do what he wished with the 850 different religious establishments across England…. Between a quarter and a third of the country’s land was owned by churches in England – within two years of the Act the Crown began to disband the monasteries and religious houses, seizing their assets…. In four years all had been dissolved bringing great financial gain to Henry – all that is except for Waltham Abbey….

Surviving bridge and gatehouse of the abbey

Eventually though even that was to succumb….causing economic disaster to the town, which had grown prosperous from the many pilgrimages to the Abbey…. The last abbot, Robert Fuller, received a generous pension – but over time all of the buildings, with the exception of the parish church nave, were either demolished or fell into neglect….

The nave of Waltham Abbey Church – Image credit : Cnbrb – own work – Public domain

British History

On this day in history….22nd March 1808

On this day in history : 22nd March 1808 – The birth of author, social reformer and feminist Caroline Norton, who campaigned for women’s rights in Victorian England….

Born Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Sheridan in London, Caroline was the granddaughter of Irish playwright and poet Richard Brinkley Sheridan…. Her father was Thomas Sheridan, a soldier and her mother was Scottish novelist Caroline Henrietta Callender…. Tragically Thomas died in 1817 whilst serving in South Africa – he left his family virtually penniless….

Caroline was the second of three daughters, all known as beauties and sometimes referred to as ‘The Three Graces’…. Caroline herself was a high-spirited girl and quick of tongue…. Her mother, finding it difficult to control her, packed her off to boarding school in Shalford, Surrey when she was 16….

Some of the girls attending the school were invited to Wonersh Park, the home of local landowner William Norton, Lord Grantley…. It was here that Caroline caught the eye of Lord Grantley’s younger brother, George Norton…. He made up his mind there and then that he was going to marry her…. He wasted no time in writing to her mother….who whilst keen to see her daughter married off, insisted that they wait for three years…. The marriage took place in 1827, she was 19 and not overly happy about the union but agreed as she was all too aware of her family’s continuing financial difficulties….

The marriage was a disaster from the start…. He was somewhat dull, jealous – and a little dim…. She was bright, quick-witted and flirtatious…. They were also completely incompatible in their political views…. Norton was a hardline Tory – and MP for Guildford – whereas Caroline had liberal tendencies and like her grandfather she supported the Whigs…. Because she dared to voice her opinions she suffered regular, savage beatings at the hands of her husband….

Caroline buried herself in her writing…. She had shown a gift for verse from an early age…. It was two such pieces, ‘The Sorrows of Rosalie’ in 1829 and ‘The Undying One’ in 1830, that led to her being appointed editor of the publications ‘La Belle Assemblee’ and ‘Court Magazine’….thus giving her some financial independence…. She counted amongst her close friends influential people, such as Mary Shelley, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Benjamin Disraeli, Edward Trelawney, Fanny Kemble and the then Home Secretary Lord Melbourne….

Portrait engraving of Caroline from one of her books – Tucker Collection – New York Library Archives – Public domain

Caroline finally left her husband in 1836…. Norton retaliated by accusing her of having an affair with Lord Melbourne…. It was a friendship he had initially encouraged – for his own gains…. Having lost his Conservative seat Norton had hoped that by using her friendship with Melbourne she could secure him a highly-paid government post…. Caroline and Melbourne, a widower who liked the ladies, were to become the subject of gossip – something Norton had in the beginning turned a blind eye to…. But once his wife had left him he sued Melbourne for seducing her…. He lost the case but Caroline’s reputation was in tatters…. To add to her misery Norton denied her access to their three young sons, Fletcher b.1829, Brinsley b.1831 and William b.1833…. Caroline’s battle against her husband for access to her boys eventually led to the Infant Custody Bill, 1839….

Norton then tried to claim the money she earned from her writing…. This prompted her to write to Queen Victoria, as part of a campaign to ensure women were supported after divorce…. The letter was published and became influential in helping the Marriage and Divorce Act 1857 succeed….

Watercolour sketch of Caroline by Emma Fergusson, 1860, National Portrait Gallery of Scotland – Image : Stephencdickson – own work CC BY-SA 4.0

Caroline herself was refused a divorce by her husband – she was not released from the legality of the marriage until his death in 1875…. Two years later, in March 1877, she married her old friend of 25 years, Sir William Stirling Maxwell, the Scottish historical writer and politician…. Sadly only three months later, on the 15th of June 1877, Caroline was to die….