Monthly Archives: January 2018

John Money Aloft

In the first instalment of balloonist Major John Money’s story, I dealt with the background and the arrangements made in Norwich for the balloon to take off. You will recall, that Money was to have gone up with two other … Continue reading

Posted in C18th Norfolk, Tid-bits | Comments Off on John Money Aloft

The Intrepid John Money

John Money was born in Trowse Newton, near Norwich, probably in 1741. Some accounts say 1752, but I think this is almost certainly wrong, since it would require him to begin his career in the regular army at the age … Continue reading

Posted in Georgian Society, Travel | 2 Comments

Living Conditions for the Georgian Rural Poor

Most of us assume that the rural poor in the 18th-century lived in cottages. But what is a cottage? Is it simply a small dwelling house, maybe with a single room? Is it a small house that stands by itself, … Continue reading

Posted in Agriculture, C18th Norfolk | 4 Comments

The Georgian Ship’s Cat

Cats have been taken aboard ship since at least Viking times and possibly well before that. It was not unusual for ships to be infested with rats and mice, causing obvious problems to on-board supplies of food. The ship’s cat … Continue reading

Posted in Tid-bits | 7 Comments