Dr Sally Holloway

Thank you very much. I'm happy to be here.

Thank you very much. I'm happy to be here.

So Georgian Britain, it's the period from about 1714 to 1830. It's when it's ruled by the Hanoverian kings, George I, II, III, IV. And we commonly refer to the era generally as the long 18th century. So it's a time of massive social and cultural change. And we're going to be talking about the typical journey that a so-called ordinary person might go on as they search for a spouse.

So Georgian Britain, it's the period from about 1714 to 1830. It's when it's ruled by the Hanoverian kings, George I, II, III, IV. And we commonly refer to the era generally as the long 18th century. So it's a time of massive social and cultural change. And we're going to be talking about the typical journey that a so-called ordinary person might go on as they search for a spouse.

I think actually it's a lot more about romantic love than you think. So like, yes, it is important to make a strategic match, but a strategic match with someone who you were in love with. This whole ideology of love became much, much more important during the 18th century. particularly for middling and genteel people like Mr Barnaby Sykes.

I think actually it's a lot more about romantic love than you think. So like, yes, it is important to make a strategic match, but a strategic match with someone who you were in love with. This whole ideology of love became much, much more important during the 18th century. particularly for middling and genteel people like Mr Barnaby Sykes.

People like that would have found that love was being celebrated right across culture. You know, in the novels they read, in the poetry they read, in the art they saw, in philosophy. And it wasn't this sort of frothy idea, but actually something that was really important in revealing your morality and your refinement as a civilised person. Oh, that's interesting.

People like that would have found that love was being celebrated right across culture. You know, in the novels they read, in the poetry they read, in the art they saw, in philosophy. And it wasn't this sort of frothy idea, but actually something that was really important in revealing your morality and your refinement as a civilised person. Oh, that's interesting.

That's a pretty good guess. Yeah, I mean, women were typically, you know, 23, 24. Men were mid-20s, maybe 26, 27, 28.

That's a pretty good guess. Yeah, I mean, women were typically, you know, 23, 24. Men were mid-20s, maybe 26, 27, 28.

Middling and genteel people, family and friends were really important. And you might meet someone at one of their houses, you know, in a group of friends that you were all going to the theatre together. Card party?

Middling and genteel people, family and friends were really important. And you might meet someone at one of their houses, you know, in a group of friends that you were all going to the theatre together. Card party?

card parties yeah gaming or visits for tea or cake or dinner or you might meet people walking to church and back or if you were much poorer you might meet someone at a fair it wasn't completely calculated but it also doesn't mean that you could do anything you wanted for love you were just sort of gently shepherded into the right direction

card parties yeah gaming or visits for tea or cake or dinner or you might meet people walking to church and back or if you were much poorer you might meet someone at a fair it wasn't completely calculated but it also doesn't mean that you could do anything you wanted for love you were just sort of gently shepherded into the right direction

So much walking, walking out in public squares, walking through town, walking around in front of other people.

So much walking, walking out in public squares, walking through town, walking around in front of other people.

And everybody saw me out walking with Barnaby Sykes. There's no point walking with Barnaby Sykes if no one can see you doing it. Oh, my God.

And everybody saw me out walking with Barnaby Sykes. There's no point walking with Barnaby Sykes if no one can see you doing it. Oh, my God.

He might sort of open it by offering her some gifts to see how interested she is and how well they're received.

He might sort of open it by offering her some gifts to see how interested she is and how well they're received.