The Illustrated London News

I've just spent a wonderful couple of hours perusing the Illustrated London News from 1851 (best Christmas present ever?).

Here are the top 5 things I've found!

1. The 'Orchestron'. Possibly the most incredible musical instrument I've ever seen...

...and a subsequent engraving would seem to indicate that it is best accompanied by a trumpet-playing William Shakespeare?!

2. A rather charming advert for Victorian ready meals.

"IMPROMPTU DINNERS. - At ten minutes' notice, a first-rate dinner [...] can be put on the table by means of RITCHIE AND McCALL'S HOUSEHOLD PROVISIONS, which are the choicest productions of the markets, dressed by a first-rate French cook, and put up in vacuum canisters, so as retain their freshness and flavour for an indefinite period".

3. A massive Victorian wedding cake. I love massive Victorian wedding cakes. There is no indication of scale on this one, but it does seem to be on wheels.

4. Some taxidermied frogs, that are inexplicably shaving. What happens if frogs don't shave?! Do they become furry? Are frogs just shaved mice? Who knows. Maybe the frog with a parasol does.

5.'SUPERB NOVELTIES IN PAPIER MACHE'.

Ah yes, just what I've always wanted. A novelty papier-mache 'regency writing desk' - from no less a person than the Inventor of the Patent Castellated Tooth Brush...!


Happy New Year!
The Secret Victorian

Doctor Who in the Nineteenth Century

Doctor Who is back! I hasten to add that this post is spoiler-free. Never fear: no spoilers here.

Reading this, you're almost certainly aware that the Doctor is a frequent visitor to the Victorian era, as explained in great detail here.

Some Whovians I know resent this, prefering adventures in space to adventures in time. Personally, however, I can imagine nothing better than going back to the Victorian age, and completely understand why the Doctor keeps going there!

This got me thinking about which Victorian things the Doctor should do next, and I'm convinced that he should gatecrash the Great Exhibition of 1851. If only for the look on Prince Albert's face. The TARDIS could become an exhibit; there were far stranger things on show from around the globe! According to this site, the Doctor has visited before. But never on-screen. And paradoxes could be avoided by visiting at a different time; it was open for over 5 months, after all.

(cracking cravat-waistcoat combo in the above image, by the way)

But if the Doctor goes back to the Victorian era again, I'd like to go with him please!

Anyone want to come with us? Which Victorian event do you want to see the Doctor explore?

The Secret Victorian

Bake Off is back! And it's more Victorian than you'd think.

Spectacular bakes are nothing new - the Victorians had showstoppers down to a fine art.

The records of the Great Exhibition of 1851 show that among thousands of cakes, buns and biscuits served to visitors was the humble macaroon, perhaps the most prolific of Bake Off staples:

 

And yet Mary and Paul can’t even begin to compete with the Victorians, who managed to consume an impressive 1500 lbs (around 680 kg) of macaroons at the Great Exhibition.

If you assume that one weighs approximately 20g, I think this means they got through around 34,000 macaroons. Blimey. I wonder if you could fit them all into the Bake Off tent?!

 

Many of the images included in Mrs Beeton’s 1861 Book of Household Management look worthy of a Bake Off showstopper. I’d like to see this year’s contestants attempt this glorious trifle, for example. Wouldn't it be wonderful if those were little macaroons around the side?

 

The Victorians were also crazy about wedding cakes, which were of course the technical challenge in Bake Off's series 4 final. While Frances’ winning cake was certainly impressive, it pales in comparison to the intricate majesty of this Victorian wedding cake. The groom - Admiral Markham - designed it himself! I wonder what his new wife thought of it. Yes, it was beautifully intricate, but it was also 5-foot high...

 

If you know of any other culinary Victorian masterpieces, why not share them in the comments below?

 

Happy Baking!
The Secret Victorian