Throw a Georgian tea party with your family and A Girl For All Time!
The Georgian period took place from 1714-1830 and is so named after four infamous King Georges. This was a period of massive social change with the industrial revolution. It also marked a time of expansion for the British Empire, with many starting new lives in colonial America. Lydia, Your Georgian Girl, would have been one of these travellers, sailing all the way from her home in Bristol, England to Boston and ‘the New World’.
We've done little research into Georgian popular culture and discovered that a woman by the name of Sarah Fielding, sister to Henry Fielding, wrote one of the first novels specifically aimed at children. The book was called The Governess, or The Little Female Academy (written in 1749), and more specifically it was written by Sarah to encourage girls to read. As Sarah herself wrote, 'I“Consider with me, what is the true use of reading, If you can fix this truth in your minds, namely, that the true use of books is to make you wiser and better, you will have both profit and pleasure form what you read.”
One of our other favourite female authors, Jane Austen, also wrote during the Georgian era. From Pride and Prejudice to Emma, Jane Austen’s stories are all set under the reign of the notoriously unpredictable King George III. Although it was common within her work to refer to ‘taking tea’, the formal afternoon tea party was not customary until after Austen’s time, with an after dinner ‘Regency Tea’ being customary.
Tea itself also looked very different to what we know today. It was more similar to green tea and surprisingly was served with milk! It would have also been far more expensive, costing around 10 shillings per pound (the equivalent of around £60 or $80 dollars today).
Why not throw your own Georgian tea party with Lydia and your family? Use proper cups and saucers, brew some loose leaf tea or even make some delicious cocoa and decorate your party room with long stem Georgian candles. Spend the time sipping tea and reading your favourite Jane Austen passages.
Check out our favourite passage from Jane Austen:
‘Till I have your disposition, your goodness, I could never have your happiness.’ - Elizabeth in Pride and Prejudice.
Lydia, Your Georgian Girl is currently available for pre-order.
If you enjoyed this A Girl For All Time blog why not discover more with Lydia’s secret diary. You can also get involved with some other Georgian activities like baking ships biscuits or exploring with our favourite family days out.
