Ceilidh at the Turner's Farm

 Our Ceilidh

Last night was our much anticipated Ceilidh at the Turner Farm. We were all so happy to celebrate the harvest with the Turners once again and this year’s Ceilidh was every bit as much fun as all the previous ones. The evening was filled with good food, laughter, song, stories and dance. It was wonderful to see everyone smiling and enjoying the evening and it will surely be a night to be remembered.

Entering the barn was enchanting with all the lovely lanterns casting beautiful patterns around the floor, walls and ceiling, making the room dance with light. Buntings of bright autumn colours were hung in swags transforming the barn into an elegant hall. There were stooks of hay put here and there for ambiance and the tables for the food had colourful cloths upon them in all the earthy shades of autumn. It truly was a sight to behold; the children stood awestruck just looking around at all the colour.

To the side was a place for the musicians who had set up early and were playing light-hearted tunes as everyone arrived. It lightened the mood and lifted everyone’s spirits to hear those old familiar songs. Soon some were singing along while others clapped in time, chatting all the while.

It seemed the entire village was there and another table had to be brought in to hold all the generous home cooked food donated for this special evening. Everyone used their best dishes and the table looked elegant and inviting, eliciting much admiration from the guests. Gardens around the village supplied fresh fruit and produce to round out all the savoury dishes and cakes. Eva Broome not only made her braised Grouse and Kensington cake but brought several other cakes to sample.

We enjoyed the bounty of our gardens and kitchens amongst laughter and stories, some standing to recite a favourite poem. At times someone would begin a song and everyone would join in singing, promoting such a feeling of community and friendship throughout the evening. Eva Broome started to sing Bonnie Dundee and soon everyone was singing then the fiddles and pipes joined in making it a resounding chorus.

After our feast, the music commenced once again and the dancing began. The Turner boys danced with all the young ladies in attendance making sure everyone shared in the fun. Those not dancing clapped their hands or tapped there feet in time with the music while watching the dancers swirl and skip to the beat of the tunes. Strip the Willow was a particular favourite and danced not once but twice!

It was a happy time for all and so very welcome after such a long pause. We thank the Turners for hosting this happy tradition in the village once again.

A Closer Look into our Residents' Lives, Part five

 Dr. Woodforde

We last heard about Jane Meryvale sidestepping her mother’s blatant attempts at matchmaking having decided Dr. Woodforde the perfect candidate to wed her daughter. But who is Dr. Woodforde? Read on for a glimpse into the doctor’s life.

Dr. Robert Woodforde, having recently completed his training to practice medicine has returned to his home in Inscombe. A brilliant student awarded honours for his work he had a bright future in town and was certain he would have been chosen to work with Dr. Wayte, one of the foremost physicians in London. His mother’s declining health dictated he return to the Greenlea Estate but with the intention of returning to London at the earliest opportunity. An only child, the care of his mother fell solely to him.

Once back home in Inscombe, the demands on his time came quickly. As the weeks went by he realized he enjoyed the life of a country doctor. This led Dr. Thornton of Bexford to ask Dr. Woodforde to partner with him with an aim to take over when he retired. If this offer had come when Dr. Woodforde had first arrived home it would have met with a polite refusal, however now, rural medicine quite appealed to him and so he accepted Dr. Thornton’s proposal to join forces.

It was through Dr. Thornton he’d met Miss Meryvale. He had immediately thought her like the other young ladies he was acquainted with in London who vied for his attention, deeming him a good match, when she offered her assistance in organizing the school on his estate and procuring a teacher. It was only after lunching with Miss Meryvale and her mother he realized it was her mother who intended him to marry her daughter. Miss Meryvale apologized for her mother’s obvious attempts at pushing them together and went on to assure him she never intended to marry. Sensible and efficient, he found her help with establishing the school invaluable and at times she confounded him.

Together Dr. Woodforde and Miss Meryvale try to dissuade Mrs. Meryvale they are not suited. Charis Meryvale, however, has other ideas.

A Note From Eva Broome

 

Hallo M’Dearies,

Tis wonderful news the Turners will once again be hosting their Ceilidh. Ceilidh, pronounced Kay-Lee, is an old Gaelic word meaning visit and it shall be a grand occasion for us all to meet with friends and neighbours. In my youth, back in Fife, we would tell stories and recite poems and passages from books we loved, there was much singing and later dancing and of course good food to celebrate a bountiful harvest. Everyone pitched in and brought something to share and it was always a feast of many wonderful dishes.

As you know I am partial to baking cakes so I shall bring one of my favourites to the gathering but I shall also be bringing a Braised Grouse. I am much obliged to Mr. Jasper Downsman of the Nettles for kindly supplying a brace of grouse for my purposes and to Viscount Comely for allowing him to do so, he is the kindest of landlords.

I thought I would share my receipt for Kensington Cake. Perhaps you will try it at home or indeed bring one to the Ceilidh. As I am wont to say, there is always a need for a wee bit of cake, and the more cake the better for such an occasion as the Turner’s Ceilidh.

Kensington Cake

Ingredients

½ lb. Butter 3 ounces Sultanas

½ lb. Sugar 2 ounces Citrus Peel

½ lb. Flour ½ teaspoon Baking Powder

4 eggs

Method

First beat the sugar and butter to a cream, then add 4 eggs, also beating until quite thick. Then add the flour and sultanas and citrus peel. Last of all add the baking powder. Bake in a moderate oven. Dinna open the oven to check the cake and dinna let the children make loud noises or your cake will drop and you’ll be left with a biscuit! This cake is very nice iced with coffee icing.

Coffee Icing

Ingredients

½ lb. Sugar

½ lb. Butter

1 tablespoon very strong coffee

Method

Cream the butter, then add the sugar and coffee and mix very well until a smooth spreading consistency is achieved.

Do let me know how you like the recipe. Fiona and I shall be so happy to see you all at the Ceilidh.

Until the 26^th,

Best wishes,

Eva Broome

Folding & Sealing a letter in a Georgian/Regency Style

Because envelopes had not yet been invented during the Georgian Era, letters were artfully folded and sealed with wax.  One "quarto" was the size paper used to write letters, that being one quarter of a broadsheet, which was the size used for newspapers. A quarto is roughly the size of an A4 sheet of paper.

There were several ways to fold and seal a letter but today we will just learn two different styles of folding and sealing your letter. Below we have a small fold using a portrait orientation and also a horizontal orientation that gives a slightly larger folded letter.

To achieve the smaller portrait orientation folded letter, hold your letter vertically and fold the sides into the middle.  Crease the sides to make sealing easier.  Once you have done this, fold the bottom up about three inches and then again three more inches.  Fold the top of the paper down over the bottom fold and apply your wax seal. Your letter is now tamper-proof and ready to be sent to your correspondent.

To fold and seal you letter in the landscape orientation, hold your paper horizontally and fold it in half.  On the right side, fold inwards one half inch.  Now fold the bottom edge of the paper up about three inches and crease and then fold the top edge down over the bottom.  Now you are ready to affix your wax seal. 

A Closer Look into Our Residents' Lives Part 4

           Jane Meryvale

We’ve been exploring the lives of some of the residents of Amberleigh these past few weeks. This week we shall expand a little and have a more in depth look at Miss Jane Meryvale, a particular friend of Lady Elizabeth Marlowe.

Jane Meryvale, a childhood friend of Lady Elizabeth, resides at No. 14 Gracious Street in Bexford with her mother, Mrs. Charis Meryvale. Wealthy in her own right with a sum of £12,000 per year, Jane is an intelligent young woman who is quite happy to follow her own pursuits which, much to her mother’s chagrin, do not include marriage.

The Bluestocking Society is dear to Miss Meryvale's heart. Revelling in the interaction with like-minded women, Jane often attends meetings and organises education for girls and young ladies so they may make more informed decisions about their futures. At present she is busy searching for a meeting place in Cheltenham that may be used so that local woman who cannot get to No. 16 Royal Crescent in Bath easily may meet locally to discuss Bluestocking topics. Miss Meryvale is proud to have partnered with Lady Caroline Farnsworth and Lady Elizabeth Marlowe in founding a new lending library in Bexford which shall open its doors anon and recently offered her expert advice to Dr. Woodforde of Inscombe who has been setting up a school on his estate Greenlea. Jane will ensure the girls on the estate shall be educated along with the boys by supplying the teacher, a Bluestocking colleague. Jane has compiled proper books, slates to write upon and other materials and often confounds Dr. Woodforde when they show up at the estate, causing him to wonder why he had not thought of providing these things.

Of course Jane’s mother, having met Dr. Woodforde, thinks him a perfect husband for her daughter, being educated, wealthy and a handsome young man. However, Jane has been quite frank in apologising for her mother’s matchmaking and informing Dr. Woodforde she does not intend to wed...ever.

Jane’s response to her mother constantly putting Dr. Woodforde in her path has been to pack up and go to Bath, but she cannot stay there forever. How will Jane convince her mother her Bluestocking pursuits fulfil all her needs leaving no room for matrimony? And how will Mrs. Meryvale contrive to overcome this obstacle?

Featured Resident

 Leandrea Wallis  Written by Nickalli

By now you must have met our dear Leandrea Wallis. You’re sure to find her busy and fluttering about over at the Rose and Crown Inn and Pub. She’s the most charming type of girl. She’s not short but nor is she tall. She’s not thin, but nor is she curvy. She’s of average height and average build, a sturdy girl by sure. Her looks are also very pleasingly average with dark brown eyes and hair that is usually put up for practicality’s sake. But her eyes are often sparkling with mischief and she’s always got some project that she’s working on. She’s not fancy and not one for putting on airs, a good hard-working girl who loves a bit of laughter and fun.

She and her husband, Bryan Wallis, hail from Galloway, Scotland. They moved to Amberleigh a few years back when they heard that the Rose and Crown needed new proprietors. She runs the kitchens and inn and Bryan keeps mostly to the pub and stables. It’s such a lovely place to pass the time, whether just to stop in for an afternoon drink or if you’ve need of a meal and a bed. 

Besides the hard work that is required to keep the Inn running smoothly, Leandrea has several other skills and interests. She is especially talented with embroidery, her favorite being silk ribbon embroidery. She’s not so fair with practical sewing, however. She adores pretty penmanship and journals when time permits. She’s also an accomplished cook and baker and keeps the Inn’s guest and staff well-fed, but she’s an utter tragedy in the garden. Leandrea likes to pass the time in the evening reading and putting up preserves each season. She’s an admitted horrible gossip, but always gives people the benefit of doubt. Her tales of her past guests are always amusing and worth a stop in for afternoon tea and scones when you get a chance.

Leandrea Wallis, nee Bratten, was born in Galloway, Scotland. Her parents, Aibert and Wynfreda Bratten are the proprietors of House O’Hill on the edge of the Galloway forest. She was raised with her two older brothers, Tory and Paden and her younger sister, Katherine. All the children were expected to work hard at the Inn with their parents, learning every aspect of the business from the youngest age. It was a happy childhood, with constant adventures and interesting characters passing through. 

Her father, Aibert, saw the importance of an educated wife. His Wynfreda had such a knack for running the Inn but also of conversing on multiple subjects with the guest that came from all over. So he insisted that all of their children were tutored and educated as well. The girls were schooled right alongside the boys. And there were no chores to be found that could be divided up solely by gender, everyone pitched in where ever it was needed. They were a progressive family to be sure.

One evening a horrendous storm drove a local family to the House O’Hill Inn for shelter and a warm meal. The eldest son of the family was quite taken with young Leandrea and being unhappy with his own job prospects sought employment with Mr. Bratten. Well, Aibert was quite shrewd and able to see where this was headed. He’d caught his daughter’s own not so subtle looks at the boy. So he took the young lad under his employ and was determined to teach him as much about keeping an Inn as his own sons. And so Bryan Wallis began his apprenticeship as an Inn proprietor and the courtship between Bryan and Leandrea began. 

They were wed within the year as Leandrea was already in her 18th year when they met. They kept a residence near the Inn and both continued to be employed there, but were getting restless. A passing guest mentioned over dinner one night that he had just come from the lovely Rose and Crown in Amberleigh and that the gentleman was looking for someone to take over the proprietorship as he and his wife were getting on in years and with no kin of their own. After that, it was as if destiny had taken over. Bryan and Leandrea traveled to Amberleigh to meet with the couple and it was as if this was always meant to be. The transition was seamless and they’ve been here ever since. 

A Closer Look into Our Residents' Lives, Part 3

We’ve had a glance into the private lives of several of Amberleigh’s residents over the past few weeks. This week we conclude with part three which is Old Mary’s poignant story.

Earlier this year Old Mary was called to London to make her good-byes to her Aunt Olympia, sister to her dear Mama. Aunt Olympia was instrumental in helping a very young Mary to enter into medical school passing for a boy, so eager was she to be a doctor. Her father, a physician himself, would have been scandalized to know his daughter was dressing as a boy but at the same time would have been proud of her hard work and determination in being the best at all she studied. In everything, Mary was the son he had always wished for.

To say good-bye to Aunt Olympia, Aunt Olly as she was affectionately known, was also to say good-bye to the last link to her mother. All the medical training in the world cannot cure old age and so it was with most dear and tender feelings for this woman she said her last farewell.

For Mary, London was a place she thought she should never again return. She had not yet made peace with her former life, nor the loss that accompanied it. Oh, there are many tales of lost love, but perhaps this one differs from those. Old Mary has lived in Amberleigh so long, no one knows she was once the very lovely Miss Pearce or that she was betrothed to a man she adored. Young Mr. Denbigh was as besotted with Mary as she with him and begged her to marry and journey with him to India, where they would make their fortune. But Mary knew she would be a hindrance and that their life together would begin sooner if he went alone. So devoted to one another, the only thing they could give each other before he left was one innocent night of love. Letters to and from India were much delayed in travel, it being a six month journey by ship, and so there was a long silence between the two. After a time, Mary realized she was pregnant; not wanting to bring scandal to her family, Mary wrote to her dear friend Jerusha Penrhose of Wyndham House in Bexford.

Jerusha arranged for Mary to stay in a small cottage in Ead, a nearby village, for her confinement. All the while her family believed she was caring for her sick friend. Mary gave birth to a son, who was the greatest joy of her life; she delighted in being a mother and doted upon this most adored child. A letter arrived one day for Mary urging her to make haste in returning home for her mother was gravely ill. Once again, dear Jerusha had a plan to place the child in a foster home until such time as Mary could return. Jerusha had three children of her own and the addition of Mary’s son would cause talk, something they agreed was not wise so Mary reluctantly left her son in Jerusha’s capable hands and returned home.

Her mother was ill for quite some time but did finally make a recovery. This was a most happy occasion which was interrupted by a letter from India informing Mary that her best beloved had succumbed to malaria. The world stopped that day for Mary. All she had left now was her precious son. Jerusha had been keeping her informed of the baby’s progress but there had been no word for a time. Mary sent yet another letter to Jerusha only to have a reply from her husband informing Mary that Jerusha had been thrown from her horse and killed instantly. Their plans for Mary’s baby were their own and only Jerusha knew the name of the foster parents which left Mary with no means to find her son. Shock, grief and utter disbelief were all she had.

Mrs. Pearce fell ill once again and this time did not recover. It was then Mary made the decision to go to Bexford and try to find her son. Armed with no information and little help from Jerusha’s grief stricken husband who knew very little of his wife’s friends and acquaintances Mary settled at Thistledown Cottage in Amberleigh. Even if she could not be with her son, she could be near him in this small way while she searched.

After so many years, the memories of her own true love still reside in Old Mary’s heart as do those tender emotions for her infant son. How does Old Mary cope with such loss? Will she ever come to terms with life’s perfunctory assignations? Who among us knows what life has in store?