Florence Georgiana Spooner Carr (later Gray) formal portrait in Egret-feathered Hat ca 1878. Photographers C&R Lavis, Eastbourne, Via Wikimedia Commons. In a series of visits to Britain between 1862 and 1870, outspoken Frenchman Hippolyte Taine wrote lengthily about his impressions, and his comments-at-a-distance give us a clear and fascinating view of our ancestors in a... Continue Reading →
Weddings That Went Wrong
Delighted to announce the publication of my article on Marriage Mishaps in November 2025’s Discover Your Ancestors online periodical (by subscription). http://www.discoveryourancestors.com No-shows at the altar, mixups with the marriage vows and umpteen weddings that were stalled at the eleventh hour !
The Queen’s Halloween
by Ruth A. Symes [This article was first published in Scots Heritage Magazine in 2016] Balmoral in earlier days, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert bought Balmoral in 1848 after spending a happy holiday in the Highlands. In 1853, the original house (believed to date from the 13th century) was knocked down and a new, larger... Continue Reading →