Castlewood Canyon State Park

Hiking in Colorado is amazing. Castlewood Canyon State Park. We took a moderate loop hike. It was cold in the mountains and so it was perfect for an overcast day just outside the city. We should have taken a longer path, but hadn't picked up a map. Thought the trail maps would be enough. We will definitely be back.    

Regency fare

The Prince Regent indulged in food and it was said of him that he never restrained himself from any table. In one month’s time at Carlton House the household used 5,264 pounds of meat excluding sausage, pork and poultry. Those items were also consumed in varying amounts. At any given time there were close to 120 people eating at the Regent’s table. But that means that each guest had to eat at least more than a pound of meat a day. Any of the left-over dishes the servants ate and they were also given their own “joint of meat”.

In January 1817 at the Brighton Pavilion, the menu consisted of over a hundred dishes for the Regent and his guests. The dishes were placed in the middle of the table and servants would bring each dish to guests to serve them. Conversation was continually interrupted by guests asking servants for certain dishes.

One guest complained that the servants always offer the ladies the dishes first and some guests are offered the same dish 2 or 3 times while some unhappy fool sits without any options at all.

In smaller households hostesses began putting the dishes in the middle of the table and letting the guests serve themselves as they passed it along the table. It was more harmonious. But in order for this to work you could not have as many dishes otherwise you would be passing dishes all night and never have a chance to eat.

The working class’s main staple, you would think would be bread. However, bread cost a schilling, the same price for 20 pounds of potatoes. So they more than not survived on potatoes. If they received a higher wage, they would add tea, sugar and bread to their diet.  

So working as the staff of a grand home was desirable as it provided better food and often lodging. 

What's in a Title

What is in a title? It turns out during the late 1700’s and early 1800’s . . . a lot. Men’s titles dictated what the women in his family would be called. 

For instance if your father was a Duke, the highest rank under the King, both he and his wife the Duchess would be called Your Grace, though people close to them would be able to call them Duchess or Duke. All of the Duke’s daughters are given the title Lady, then their first name and then their surname. These titles continue to all daughters who have  fathers that are either a Duke, Marquess or Earl.

The Earl of Mistlewatch is then shortened to Earl Mistlewatch, his wife would be the Countess. So any one calling on him would call him the Earl of Mistlewatch or Lord Mistlewatch or Mistlewatch. His wife would be the Countess of Mistlewatch or Lady Mistlewatch, and sign letters to her closest friends, Constance Mistlewatch. His daughter would be called for instance Lady Helen Mistlewatch.

To make matters more interesting if Lady Helen Mistlewatch marries a commoner, she retains her title but if Lady Helen marries the Earl of Heinrich she becomes the Countess of Heinrich, Lady Heinrich. If she marries the holder of a courtesty title, then she may use his title or her birth title as she wishes.

So the Duke of Edinburough’s daughter, Lady Mary Edinburough will never be called Lady Edinburough. That is her mother’s title. The only exception being if her father has no sons and she marries the heir to his title. Then she will be Lady Edinburough. But if that does not occur she will be called Lady Mary until she marries.

To complicate matters the son of Earls, Marquesses and Dukes will take the title the father had before he became the higher title. So your father may be called Duke and the son from infancy would be called the Marquess of another property/land that the family holds. ie Marquess Somerset.  

It is great to keep a chart of who is who and what they should be called for it can be very confusing even within a family of who is who.