By Kate Hodgson

The Victorian Age beckoned to the MLHS Society for its December Meeting last year. Plans were made – our normal venue was excellent for the project with its panelled walls, and the Sisters of Hyning prepared a magnificent fire in the grand fire place which danced and crackled its merry way throughout the evening.

As well as the usual decoration of holly and ivy, we had an impressive display of Miss Field’s grandmother’s betrothal dress in black (in a grosgrain type material) and beautifully made for a very slim woman. Evidentially betrothals were great events with a certificate rather like that for a wedding – at least that was the custom in Scotland. There was a lovely paisley shawl of the same period.

On the table was displayed a nightdress made by Miss Field’s mother when she was 12 or 13 years old – how they managed such delicate work at such a young age and when lighting in the home was so inadequate I don’t know. A Culpeppers Complete Herbal of 1818 detailed cures for everything and “Legends for Lionel” would have provided good reading for young children. We also saw grandfather’s shirt studs, an old type pen with an assortment of nibs for a time when writing was writing indeed, a button hole flower holder, a pretty candlestick and envelopes from a time when you had the shape but made them up yourself. Not only do we thank Miss Field for the excellent display (we were all grateful she was a hoarder) but she also set us a riddle over one particular item – we wrote down many suggestions but only one of us guessed right. It was for making the nibs of quill pens – of course – how obvious – why didn’t we all think of it!

Members either dressed smartly for the occasion or had dug deep in their wardrobes for a suitable garb for Victorians: a navvy returning from a hard day; and stiff collars, waistcoats etc, shook off the dust and came for a night out. Not so easy for the men to find the right things, but the ladies had gone to town – literally, in many cases, to the hairdressers by the lovely hair creations. Long skirts, pretty bonnets, shawls, some dresses made especially for the occasion – you had to look twice to recognise people in their Victorian disguise!

The small organ and regal looking gold harp appeared very purposeful and soon Mr and Mrs Bacon and Mr Anderton, immaculately attired for the period, called us to order and Mr Anderton started with a song which was followed by Mrs Bacon reading a poem on childhood. Then our three entertainers gave an excellent reading from Oliver Twist. After Mr Anderton’s rendering of Arthur Sullivan’s ‘The Lost Chord’, Mrs Bacon read from Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, the rather sad and dramatic passages about the comfort of her doll as she felt so alone in the big house.

The harp was feeling the effects of the warm atmosphere and, while Mr Bacon was making the necessary adjustment, he explained that in a middle class family of the time the harp was used by the ladies of the house to accompany singers and was not used as a solo instrument as he was going to play it now – ‘Reflections’, ’Thoughts’, and a special Christmas lullaby for the Sisters of Hyning which was most delightful.

We were not allowed to relax for ‘Loves Old Sweet Song’ but were expected to sing the chorus if we wanted our supper, so we all co-operated well as we had seen the lovely Jacob’s Join that had accumulated in the outer room. We had all done too well in that aspect – a most colourful arrangement of most tasty food – and however much we ate we did not do justice to it all.

After the supper we listened to the dramatic ’Excelsior” and then Mrs Bacon read from Dorothy Wordsworth’s Journal covering one Christmas period, talking of deep snow, then a thaw and a delightful walk by Rydal on the 26th.

Just in case we didn’t feel Christmas was approaching, Mr Bacon read from Charles Dickens’ Pickwick, when the winter season meant skating and Mr Winkle made the mistake of saying he could skate and later earned the remark that he was an ‘awkward gentleman’ on skates.

We had to earn our release to go home by singing from the appropriate carol sheet, and that enjoyed and accomplished, Mr Anderton sang Christina Rossetti’s ‘Love Came Down at Christmas’, followed by her “In the Bleak Midwinter’, in which his audience joined.

Having got us in the season’s mood the wonderful poem, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’, was recited and by the time we had heard the description of St Nicholas and his sleigh and his journey down the chimney, I for one was looking aghast at the still hot fire in case Father Christmas got called several days early by our festivities! He didn’t attempt the hot chimney – that is to come.

By now it was time for home but a request was made for Mr Bacon to play again the charming lullaby on the harp composed for the Sisters of Hyning and we enjoyed hearing it again.

A good evening, good entertainment, good food, a warm and cordial atmosphere.

Published in Mourholme Magazines Issue 12 Autumn 1986