Category Archives: Tid-bits

One of the penalties that could be enforced on guilty parties in the eighteenth century was to pay for a public apology and admission of guilt to be published in a suitable local newspaper or newspapers. It seems to have … Continue reading →

There were no veterinarians in 1707, yet horses were essential to daily life. It’s not surprising therefore that Katherine Windham, mistress of Felbrigg Hall, made notes of remedies that she might make up to deal with illnesses amongst the horses … Continue reading →

A look at the local papers sometimes throws up some unexpected gems: stories that illuminate real life in the community, rather than the more artificial and mannered activities of politicians and their kind. Here’s a case of some very rough … Continue reading →

The following poem appeared in the Norfolk Chronicle in 1784. A citizen of you know where, Discoursing with his dearest dear, As o’er the silver stream they rode Close cheek by jowl together stow’d, Of fiddle-fiddle gan to chatter, He … Continue reading →

Here’s a little extra for Hallowe’en, proving that old customs lingered on in some rural parts of England. It’s from the Bury and Norwich Post. October 2nd 1783 There was an inquisition taken at Ballingdon in Essex near Sudbury on … Continue reading →

The following advertisement appeared in the Norwich newspapers in 1771. As you can see, people’s tastes in popular magazines seem to have been no different then from now. Nor was this an isolated publication. There were several similar ones during … Continue reading →