In 1814 the Meux Brewery of London experienced the catastrophic failure of a 120,000 gallon beer aging tank. The tank released almost all the beer instantly and the surge burst the walls of the brewhouse. Spilling into the street the flood killed 8 people “..by drowning, poisoning, by fumes and drunkenness.” As beer flowed down …
Category Archives: General history
Dangers of “Cold Small Beer”
Next time you think about cracking a can of Budweiser, consider this tale from 1724. An unusual grave marker located in Winchester Cathedral, UK. A memorial to Thomas Thetcher who died on the 12th of May in 1764, in part it reads that he “…died of a violent fever contracted by drinking Small Beer when …
Hot Toddy
The traditional hot toddy formula is simple: Start with a hot cup of tea, add lemon and honey, then a bit of whiskey. This is certain to make even the worst cold feel just a little better. The toddy is believed to have been invented in Scotland sometime in the eighteenth century. It was a …
Martha Washington’s Shrub
In the drink world, a shrub is a concentrated syrup that combines fruit, sugar, and vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is the most common base for shrubs, and herbs and spices are often added to create interesting flavor combinations. By the 18th Century, making shrub with no vinegar was considered passé but vinegar shrubs will make …
Lemonade
The earliest record of the precursor to lemonade hails from the Mediterranean coast of medieval Egypt. Kashkab was made from fermented barley (like beer) combined with mint, rue, black pepper and citron. Thanks to Jewish books like the Cairo Genizah, we know that Egypt traded and exported bottles of the sugary lemon juice concoction throughout …
How the British Perceived the American Revolution
The American revolution was a matter of great interest for the people in Britain. The British press weighed in on economics, military success and failures, the morality of the revolution, and more, through the press and private correspondence. As the British enjoyed one of the freest press systems in the world, not everyone felt obliged …
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Historical Tidbits — Coup of 18 Brumaire
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. November 9, 1799 – Napoleon Bonaparte become First Consul of France On November 9, 1799 (18 Brumaire in the French Revolutionary calendar) Napoleon Bonaparte executed a coup d’état and …
Historical Tidbits — Edmund Halley
When reenacting or acting as a historical interpreter, its good to have a few historical dates and stories to share. This series will publish a few. Edmund Halley, England’s most significant astronomer, was born November 8, 1656 Edmond Halley was born on November 8, 1656, in Haggerston, England to a well-to-do merchant family. His father was …
The Doan Brothers — Tory Horse Thieves
The word Tory is borrowed from Gaelic: It literally means Horse Thief. So, it should come as no surprise that five brothers from Bucks County in Pennsylvania, all notorious horse thieves, would be loyal to the King during the Revolutionary War. These were the Doan Brothers — Moses, Joseph, Levi, Mahlon, and Aaron; and they …
How to Cheat at 18th Century Whist
Whist was a very most popular card games in Georgian England, played by the gentry in all the best coffee houses in London. It features prominently in the novels by Jane Austen and is considered fashionable in high society as a challenging strategic card game requiring good memory, sympathetic partnering and psychological acumen. The rules …
Michael Carver -- Historical Interpreter/Reenactor 