Category Archives: Leisure

Competing Pleasure Gardens

Posted on May 22, 2019 by William Savage

The most famous pleasure gardens of the eighteenth century were undoubtedly those in London. However, other towns and cities established similar gardens, amongst which Norwich had, perhaps, the most and some of the longest-lasting. At one time, five main gardens … Continue reading →

Posted in C18th Norfolk, Georgian Society, Leisure | 2 Comments

The Georgians and Whist

Posted on October 24, 2018 by William Savage

Partnership in Whist is an Emblem of Partnership in Trade… It shows how much depends upon good Partnership; and I will venture to say, that a good Whist-Player will make both a good Partner and a good Merchant. The Polite … Continue reading →

Posted in Georgian Society, Leisure | 2 Comments

Georgian Readers and Their Impact

Posted on September 12, 2018 by William Savage

During the 18th-century, there was an explosion of growth in the number of people spending time reading. Amongst the many reasons for this, two stand out. Firstly, the importance of ‘politeness’ and sociability amongst the middle and upper classes. To … Continue reading →

Posted in Georgian Society, Leisure | 4 Comments

Discovering “The Picturesque”

Posted on May 23, 2018 by William Savage

For many decades during the 17th and 18th centuries, young upper-class men (and some women) had undertaken a “Grand Tour” of Europe (principally Italy) to acquire ‘polish’ and gain first-hand experience of the glories of Rome as revealed in its … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Leisure | 1 Comment

Georgian Dancing-Masters in Norwich

Posted on November 1, 2017 by William Savage

For the upper and middle classes, the Georgian period was one of intense social activity, both in the home and in public assemblies. Since dancing was an essential part of many gatherings, the ability to dance gracefully became an essential … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Leisure | 2 Comments

A Private Musical Performance in Norwich

Posted on October 25, 2017 by William Savage

The Georgian era was, in many senses, a public era, in which leisure activities amongst the wealthier segments of society were often social. One aspect of this was the growth of a mass of clubs and societies in towns and … Continue reading →

Posted in Leisure | 6 Comments

Opera Mania

Posted on October 11, 2017 by William Savage

Just as the operas of composers like Handel soon became an important part of London’s musical scene, similar music could be heard in Norwich, often performed by the same famous singers. Here you might hear many of the operatic arias … Continue reading →

Posted in Leisure, Theatre | 2 Comments

“The Convivial Songster”

Posted on May 17, 2017 by William Savage

I wrote a short while ago about music-making in the Georgian home. Here’s a fascinating advertisement for the kind of music available for home music-making in 1783. Note the list of song types, in which “Songs on the Caprices of … Continue reading →

Posted in Georgian Society, Leisure | 5 Comments

Music at Home

Posted on April 5, 2017 by William Savage

During the eighteenth century, england was seen throughout europe as an unusually musical nation, one in which different kinds of music were enjoyed at every level of society. That was why, at one end of the scale, a major composer … Continue reading →

Posted in Leisure, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

The Purposes of the Grand Tour

Posted on February 15, 2017 by William Savage

During the 17th and 18th centuries, rich young Englishmen finished their education by going on The Grand Tour — an extended cultural and collecting trip through continental Europe. You can think of it as a ‘finishing school’ for the sons … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Leisure, Travel | 5 Comments