Ross & Jeremy Poldark at Waterloo

If you have not read  The Loving Cup or The Twisted Sword, then you might want to delay reading this blog.  The Twisted Sword is a magnificent book but also heartbreaking.  Winston Graham said at the time it was published, 1990, that it was to be the last Poldark novel.  As we know, he went back one more time with Bella which was published in 2002, the year before he died.

The year is 1813, Demelza has discovered her son Jeremy has masterminded a terrible deed (robbing of a stage coach) because the girl he loves (Cuby Trevanion) cannot marry him because he is not wealthy enough.  So in a fit of despair he robs a stagecoach (with others)  but then doesn't spend the money...... To me, this nearly was history repeating itself ie his father's obsession with Elizabeth.

Eventually Jeremy decides to join the military at age 22 (he thus uses part of the ill-gotten booty to buy his commission) to get away from Cuby Trevanion and Cornwall. Cuby was supposed to marry Valentine Warleggan, not because she loved him, but because her brother and Valentine's father, George,  "arranged" the marriage.  Valentine being Valentine had other plans and married someone else.

When Jeremy comes home on leave he discovers his love is available and his father offers the antiquated advice of "why don't you go take her?"  Jeremy laughs at his father and Demelza thinks you cannot do that but then remembers Ross did just that once.......

Instead of "taking" her he convinces her to run away with him. It is all rather fun as he climbs a trellis to get to her room and waits for her.  Naturally she was surprised and in a change of heart, agrees to go with him. They make their way to London and are married.

St. Clement in the Strand, where Cuby and Jeremy were married

 In a letter dated January 19, 1815, Ensign Jeremy Poldark wrote to "My dearest Father & Mother, The briefest note and in haste - belated but as promised - to give you my news. It is say that Cuby agreed to come with me, and we were married by special license at the church of St. Clement in the Strand last  Tuesday, the seventeenth.  I should by rights have obtained the permission of my commanding officer, but it would have meant delaying until we reached Brussels, and I felt that could not be............. I am just the happiest of men!" (lots more in The Loving  Cup)

Jeremy probably had assistance from his cousin Geoffrey Charles Poldark with his enlistment and regiment selection.  He tells Ben Carter that his father gave him his old sword but he still spent L55 on a spyglass and a compass and still had to purchase his uniform, bedding and a horse.

 Jeremy tells Ben he wishes he was more like his father who "is a natural soldier and a brave man."  Jeremy joined the 52nd Regiment, he told his mother: ... "The Fifty-second, though I did not know it when I joined them, was one of the elite regiments trained as part of the Light Brigade by Sir John Moore.: (The Loving Cup)   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Moore_(British_Army_officer)

Jeremy impressed Cuby with his "regimentals"... "tight scarlet jacket with dull gilt epaulettes, collar and cuffs, brass buttons down both fronts of the jacket, a diagonal best with '52 on it, and tight navy trousers fastening with a belt under the black shoes."


Throughout the Napoleonic wars, the 52nd foot wore red uniforms with buff facings. The officers had silver lace, while the other ranks' lace was worn in pairs, red with orange stripes (according to 1802 regulations); in 1812 a commentator described the lace as red with two blue stripes. Light infantry officers wore short jackets, rather than the tailed coats of the other line regiments, with white piping, silver buttons, and silver and scarlet shoulder wings. The uniform was completed with a crimson sash; to match the buff facings and turn-backs, the officers generally wore buff breeches, or grey overalls. Field officers of the 52nd wore silver epaulettes, with regimental badge, overtop the light infantry wings, to designate rank. An 1810 order stipulated these be badged with a star (for majors), a crown (lieutenant colonels) or star and crown (colonels).  Light infantry also commonly wore a narrow waist belt instead of the customary shoulder belt,  The 52nd wore the stovepipe shako throughout the Napoleonic period; it was adorned with the brass bugle badge and green plumes of the light infantry.  In the 52nd, officers' plumes were made from horsehair. Officers generally carried a stirrup-hilted sabre.

Officers were responsible for providing (and paying for) their own uniforms; consequently, variable style and decoration was present, according to the officer's private means. Equipment could consume a significant portion of an officer's pay; during the Napoleonic era, the 52nd's plain regimental sabre, for example, cost 4 guineas, , approximately 16 days' pay for an ensign.  ^{(Thank you Wikipedia!)}



In a nutshell here's the scenario: while Jeremy and Cuby are in Belgium, Ross has been sent to Paris as an observer and takes Demelza, Bella & Henry (Mrs. Kemp too to watch the children).  Ross goes to the countryside while the "little father" aka Napoleon escapes Elba and lands in France and meets practically no resistance and arrives back in Paris.  But Ross is slowed down by yet another lame horse which leaves Demelza nervous about what to do.  She and the children leave Paris at the last possible moment in the last carriage with their friend Jodie, Mme La Blache, who also has the crown jewels in a lock box!  This is great stuff!

Ross escapes his internment and makes his way back to Paris as Napoleon arrives to cheers at the The Palace.   He then goes to their apartment to find that Demelza and the children are gone. Demelza has left a message for him at the Embassy.  There's confusion about when Demelza left and with whom so he returns to their apartment.  Unfortunately he succumbs to exhaustion and awakes to knocks on the door in the morning and is arrested and taken to a cell somewhere in Paris and then eventually to Verdun where he escapes!

 Meanwhile Demelza and her entourage were making their way to Calais to return to London but plans had to change because of the unrest due to Napoleon and they make their way to Belgium and spend a week with Jeremy and Cuby.

Jeremy and Cuby are more or less having a lovely honeymoon interspersed with him having actual military duties.  On the night of the famous Duchess of Richmond Ball, some say the most famous ball in history (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchess_of_Richmond%27s_ball) they decide to have an intimate dinner together instead of attend the ball and go back to their apartment.  Napoleon is closing in, Jeremy I think feels he will be sent away soon.  This part gets rather emotional as fear grips Cuby as she says "Come back boy" and off he goes the next morning.

I will never forget while looking at purchasing the Poldark books, I discovered quite early on that Jeremy dies.  I didn't know of course how it would affect me after reading the books.  Jeremy and Demelza had some wonderful conversations and a loving relationship. Here is one of my favorites:

"You married father for love. Isn't that so? Oh yes. Then when did the first passion wear off and you begin to observe his faults?" Demelza laughed. We're talking close home now Jeremy, but since you ask me. I suppose twould be true to say that it never has worn off - or not yet anyway." That, from close observation of the objects under view, is what I thought." "So when did you begin to observe his faults? Well, he hasn't any really bad ones! And those he has - they are part of him and therefore mean nothing to me."  The Loving Cup

Jeremy goes with his regiment to Brain le Compte then Nivelles where there's a battle nearby. Ross eventually meets Wellington and learns Jeremy has been promoted to Captain.  He also knows Jeremy will participate in the upcoming battle and is determined to find him at Chateau de Hougoumont after he is sent on a mission to deliver a message to Prince Frederick of the Netherlands.

I purchased two books about Waterloo but had little time to do other than peruse them, but if you are interested to learn more: WATERLOO, the History of Four Days, Three Armies, and Three Battles by Bernard Cornwell and THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO, by Jeremy Black. 

 The 200th reenactment was held in 2015 and there's lots of pictures and video of the event: https://www.facebook.com/Implausibleblog/videos/vb.341504945955768/786202781485980/?type=2&theater

The great battles happen June 16 & 18. Ross arrives where Jeremy's regiment led a charge to find Jeremy unconscious.  It is all so sad and heart wrenching, I cannot even relay it. The last time I read The Twisted Sword was on a trip to London in August, 2016 and finished the book on the plane going home and cried for dear Jeremy!  Ross was crying too.  One can only imagine a child of yours dying in your arms....

The last thing Jeremy asked what to "Look after Cuby...." "of course.  I promise."  "That," said Jeremy, "is the hardest part of all." And then he died.

Ross then had to write a letter dated June 22, 1815, dated Brussels,  to Demelza: "I have to tell you that Jeremy is dead.  I cannot bring myself to write the words, but there is no way I know of breaking this to you gently. He fell nobly and bravely in the great battle just fought in the area south of the village of Waterloo, about twelve miles from this city ........" He then goes on to tell her how he escaped and what he went through.  What he never told her is that he nearly died too...his father's gold pocket watch saved his life.

The real people are Wellington, Marshal Ney, Blucher mentioned in the books.

 Wellington at Waterloo

Blucher

Marshal Ney

Arthur Wellesley, First Duke of  Wellington

Plan of the Battle of Waterloo

As always, I try to incorporate food into my blog. This one is no exception!  I think you will enjoy Summer Pea Soup, Chicken Marengo, Beef Wellington and Martha Washington's Great Cake which is essentially A Rich Cake from Hannah Glasse's The Art of Cookery made Plain and Easy, 1776.


Summer Pea Soup

1 small onion, diced
4 oz. butter
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 romaine heart, end chopped off, the rest chopped
2 - 13 oz packages of sweet garden peas, frozen
3-4 mint leaves, chopped
6 c. chicken stock
cream to taste*
Salt & Pepper (white) to taste

Cauliflower florets steamed for garnish

Add the onion, butter and celery in a stock pot and saute, then add the peas, mint, romaine and chicken stock.  Simmer until all the vegetables are tender and then puree either in a food processor or use a wand blender.  Make a beurre manie (equal parts butter and flour), I used 2T of butter and 2T of flour and add to the pureed soup. Meanwhile steam the cauliflower florets (4/5 for each bowl of soup)

Recipe calls for cream, but neither my husband or I thought it needed it.  If the soup is too green for your liking, add 1/2 c. cream (cream always makes anything taste better!)

This recipe from Traditional West Country Cookery by Theodora Fitzgibbon.

Summer Pea Soup

Chicken Marengo

1 c. flour
Salt & Pepper to taste
Pinch of oregano & basil (dried) I only had oregano
4 T. butter
2 T. olive oil
4 T. onion, diced
1 c. sliced mushrooms
4 T. sliced green olives (without the pimento stuffing)
1/2 c. red pepper sliced thinly
1 c. chicken stock
2 T. Brandy
1/4 c. chopped green onion tops
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts*

Place the flour, salt & pepper and herbs in a flat bottom bowl, this will be used for dredging the chicken.  Pound the chicken breasts to 1/2" thickness.  Dip in flour mixture and set aside.

Melt butter in a heavy skillet, add olive oil and swirl to combine.  When hot, add chicken breasts.  Cook until done on one side.  Turn and brown the other.. Remove from skillet and put in an oven proof pan and place in a warm oven.  Put the brandy in the hot skillet to delaze, then add onions, mushrooms, red peppers and green olives.  Saute until the onions and mushrooms are tender (can add a little more olive oil if needed) then add the chicken stock and simmer until slightly reduced.

When serving, place the mushroom, green olive sauce on top of the breast.  Sprinkle with the green onion tops (I do not think this was  necessary).

* second time I made this recipe I purchased the thinly sliced chicken breasts available at the grocery.  Although it worked just fine (just must be careful not to over cook them), I prefer the breasts pounded  best, the pre-sliced were a little too thin.

Chicken Marengo

Named for the battle of Marengo fought  June, 1800.  French forces won against Austrians in Italy.  This dish presumably was named after this battle but I have my doubts Napoleon ever ate it!  Napoleon also named his horse Marengo.  The skeleton is on display at a museum in London and the front hoofs were saved and encased in silver! The horse lived until 1831.

This is a delicious chicken dish even if Napoleon never ate it. There are several versions of the recipe and stories associated with it. You can Google it.  I've had this version for a long time and know it to be good. But supposedly Napoleon's chef used what he could find. Good enough.

Beef Wellington

Again, probably has  nothing to do with Wellington but considered a classic for decades.  Beef tenderloin coated with pate and sauteed mushrooms wrapped in puff pastry and baked. There are loads of recipes, just Google one if interested in making it.


Dessert- this recipe, Martha Washington's Great Cake is virtually the same recipe as Hannah Glass's, A Rich Cake from The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy, first published in America in 1776. Mrs. Glass's recipe calls for Sack and Brandy whereas Mrs. Washington's uses Madeira (George's favorite tipple I believe) and brandy. This recipe is courtesy of Mt. Vernon, George Washington's beautiful home in Virginia.

Martha Washington's Great Cake

1 1/2 c. currants (the box you buy is 2 c. I used it all!)
1/3 c. chopped candied orange peel*
1/3 c. chopped candied lemon peel*
1/3 c. chopped candied citron*
3/4 c. Madeira, divided
1/4 c. French brandy
3 c. all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 c. slivered almonds
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground mace
3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 c. sugar
3 large eggs, separated

Combine currants, peels, and citron in a large bowl. Add 1/2 c Madeira and stir to combine, cover and and set aside for at least 3 hours. Stir the remainder of the Madeira together with the brandy, cover and set aside.

When ready to bake the cake, preheat oven to 325.  Grease and flour a 10" tube pan.  I have a lovely antique one that I use.

Drain the fruits in a large strainer set over a bowl, extract as much as the Madeira as possible.  Add the strained Madeira to the set-aside Madeira and brandy.

Combine 1/4 of the flour with the fruit, and mix well. Add the almonds, set aside.  Sift the remaining flour with the nutmeg and mace. (I didn't have mace! so I used allspice instead...)

In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter until light. Add the sugar, 1/2 c at a time, beating for several minutes after each addition.  Whisk the egg yolks until they are light and smooth, and add them to the butter and sugar.  Continue to beat for several minutes, until the mixture is light and fluffy (imagine doing this by hand!)

Alternately, add the spiced flour, 1/2 c. at a time, and the Madeira and brandy, beating until smooth.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites to form stiff peaks.  By hand gently fold them into the batter, combining lightly until well blended. By hand, fold in the fruit in thirds, mixing until well combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Bake for about 1 1/2 hours, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.  Set the cake on a wire rack to cool in the pan for 20 minutes.  If serving the cake plain (who wants plain I say?!) turn it out of the pan to cool completely. If finishing it with icing turn the warm cake out of the pan onto a baking sheet, and proceed with the icing.

To ice the cake, spread Sugar Icing (basically meringue) generously onto the surface, piling it high and swirling it around the top and sides.  Set in the turned-off warm oven, and let it sit for at least 3 hours, or until the cake is cool and the icing has hardened.  The icing will crumble when the cake is sliced.

*bought from Amazon as it wasn't available at our grocery stores.  Keeps a long time in the refrigerator.

Sugar Icing

3 large egg whites at room temperature
1 1/c. sugar
2 T rose water or orange water (I used vanilla extract)

In the bowl of an electric mixer, start beating the egg whites on low speed, gradually adding 2 tablespoons of the sugar (this is very important and I didn't do it! LOL  So my meringue isn't fluffy but it was 10 p.m. and I was tired...........) After about 3 minutes, or when they just begin to form soft peaks, increase the speed to high and continue adding the sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until all the sugar is incorporated and the egg whites form soft peaks.

Add the rose water or vanilla, and continue beating to form stiff peaks.  Use immediately to ice the cake.

Okay, at first I thought this cake is just okay......I thought it too dense, not enough flavor for all the goodies in it. Well, it improves with age!  I left it out ((fully intending to throw it away! haha) but 4/5 days later it is quite good with a cup of hot tea.  I think the icing seals the cake so it has not gotten dry at all.  Learn from my mistakes I mention, but the cake still turned out well.

Martha Washington's Great Cake

I am sad to admit for a long time I don't think I knew Waterloo as anything other than that pop song by Abba!

What did Waterloo mean? Well, for the British it meant 15,000 dead or wounded, Blucher lost 7,000 and Napoleon lost 24-26,000 dead or wounded. This was a decisive battle that the allies won.  Apparently Victor Hugo has muddied the waters with his Les Miserables and the French have a different takeaway!

Paris surrendered on July 4, 1815.  Napoleon was sent off to Saint Helena.  I didn't realize a lot of people wanted to execute him. Wellington refused, but Marshal Ney was executed by a French firing squad.

In 1821 when Wellington heard that Napoleon had died, he said, "Now I think I may say I am the most successful General alive!"

Wellington refused to give interviews about the battle and by the 1830's, a British army officer named William Siborne conceived an idea to build a massive model of the battle.  Lord Fitzroy Somerset (recognize that name!) wrote to Siborne and offered suggestions on the model.

The model was built and can be viewed today in the National Army Museum in Chelsea. Here's the link if you want to check it out, definitely looks interesting: https://www.nam.ac.uk/   Type in Waterloo in the search box and there are pages and pages of paintings and real artifacts like Wellington's shaving mirror, dispatch case, camp cooking kettles, etc.

That is all for this time.  Thanks for reading! Please leave comments, I appreciate them.

Bonny Wise, I am
Inspired by Poldark

Duels in the Poldark Novels

Dueling seems a barbaric practice to we  modern people, but for hundreds of years it was considered THE way to settle a matter of honor. There are two duels in the Poldark novels.

 In the 18th c. the small-sword was commonly used but late in the century the pistol replaced the sword as the wearing of swords became less fashionable. By the time of the Regency, dueling was on its way out (and out-lawed) but that doesn't mean the practice died out.

There were rules,  such as a gentleman would not challenge a socially inferior such as a blacksmith. A challenge should never be given at the time of the insult, but sent by letter.  Negotiations were handled by the seconds and even if the firing would be simultaneous or take turns receiving fire, as well as the number of shots and the distance between the duelists.  The meeting would be in a remote place typically so the law would not be alerted.  The seconds would inspect the pistols and a final opportunity to issue an apology was given.  If it was to go on then the seconds determined if the duel was to first blood, until one can no longer stand, or to the death.

"The Art of the Duel," by A Traveller, 1836, the proper technique is described: "A person should stand with his right and left shoulder in a line with the object he wishes to hit...let him raise his right arm steadily into a line with the object, bring that part of the arm between the shoulder and elbow close to the side-throw out the muscle strongly, and let it cover the breast as much as possible."

Apparently it was rare, but there is one known example of women dueling! Lady Almeria Braddock and Mrs. Elphinstone, who fought with both pistols and swords in 1792.

Mrs. Elphinstone expected  a cup of tea when she paid a social call to Lady Almeria Braddock’s London home in 1792. The visit went decidedly into unladylike territory when the hostess, evidently enraged by a casual comment Mrs. Elphinstone made about her age (not very  ladylike!), challenged her guest to a duel in Hyde Park (where Ross fights a duel too). According to reports, Mrs. Elphinstone fired her pistol first, knocking Lady Braddock’s hat to the ground (oh the outrage to the hat!). The women then took up swords, and Lady Braddock got her revenge by wounding her opponent in the arm. The “Petticoat Duel,” as it came to be known, ended without further incident when Mrs. Elphinstone agreed to write a letter of apology.  Let us be good examples of tea etiquette.

Back to Ross Poldark (the book) where the first duel takes place.  Verity sees Captain Blamey at Nampara because Ross felt he could trust her and knew her better than her father and brother.  Naturally, Francis and Charles were displeased when they found out she was meeting him at Nampara.

The scene is very much like the series......Captain Blamey calls Francis an insolent puppy.  Puppy here means an inexperienced young person.  The ultimatum is issued but the standard "cooling off" cannot happen because Captain Blamey sails for Lisbon at tomorrow's tide.  Appeals were made, a request for pistols......

Duelling Pistols in box

Francis told Jud to act as referee and to count out fifteen paces for them; Jud glanced at Ross, who shrugged.  Unlike the series, Verity stayed inside..."At the word fifteen they turned. Francis fired first and hit Blamey in the hand.  Blamey dropped his pistol. He bent and picked it up with his left hand and fired back.  Francis put up a hand to his neck and fell to the ground."  We know he lived....apparently satisfaction on both sides, but of course, Blamey could not stay and woo Verity any longer.

In 1809, Ross's friend George Canning, foreign secretary,  dueled with Lord Castlereagh, war minister.  Apparently Canning was trying to get Castlereagh removed behind his back and he didn't like it one bit!  Letters were exchanged and a duel fought on September 21, 1809. The duel took place at  6 a.m. on Putney Heath. First shots missed, but Canning was shot in the thigh on the second.  He lived until 1827, but his career was damaged by the duel.  He did become Prime Minister in 1827 but died a few months later.

Killing no murder, or a new ministerial way of settling the affairs of a nation!', a satire by Isaac Cruickshank of the duel between Castlereagh (l) and Canning that took place on September 21st, 1809  In The Angry Tide (1798-1799) much happens to Ross and Demelza. They are in London and keep running into Monk Adderley, a rake if ever there was one! Until Monk comes on the scene they are having a fabulous time and their marriage is on the mend.  Unbeknownst to Demelza or  Ross, Monk has a bet with George Warleggan that he could get Demelza into his bed and sets off to pursue her.  Poor Demelza.. she tries not to be rude to anyone, but he is relentless and Ross doesn't understand.  At any rate, it all comes to a head when Monk takes Ross's seat in Parliament.  Monk is sitting on Ross's gloves, he yanks him up by his cravat, snatches his gloves and drops him back with a thump.
Ross receives a letter challenging him to a duel and asks Dwight to be his second.  "I desire that you meet me in Hyde Park on Wednesday at 6 a.m. with a brace of pistols each, to determine our differences.... I desire that this Meeting be kept a dead secret, for reasons which must be plain to you........ Monk Adderley

Hyde Park today, a corner of it. Photo taken by the author in August, 2016

Dwight Enys tries to intervene, but neither Adderley or Ross will have it.  Fourteen paces are counted according to the book. They both fired simultaneously and it seemed both missed. The light was still not too good.  Ross had heard the ball go past.  "That will do!" Dwight said, moving forward.  Adderley dropped the empty pistol and changed hands, raised the other.  As he saw this Ross did the same. Just as he fired the pistol was knocked out of his hand and he felt a searing pain in his forearm.  To his surprise the force of the ball swung him round. He half doubled, clutching his arm, and then through the smoke saw Adderley on the ground.  UPDATE JULY 2018: The duel and other scenes were filmed at Bowood (https://www.bowood.org) a beautiful property that I have been able to visit two times! Its interesting because in later novels Demelza and Clowance visited Bowood.   I am not going to give away the whole story, but needless to say, Demelza was horrified that Ross had needlessly risked his life.  And why? Read The Angry Tide and see what Caroline thought! 
As you might have noticed, I'm crazy for historic fashions.  In The Angry Tide, Caroline takes Demelza shopping as her clothes were not fashionable enough for London.  The style had changed: waists were high, almost under the armpit, both for day and for evening. Neck and bust were much exposed... Ostrich feathers in the hair, or a few pearls.  This illustration could be what Demelza wore, found on Pinterest.

  Ross said: "That is very pretty. But where is the gown?  "This is it! This is what I bought!"  "That's a petticoat."  "Oh, Ross, you are provoking! You know well it is nothing of the sort." (LOL)  and then: "The vexing thing is, good-looking women look good in anything. Or should I say almost anything?  Well..... He stared at her. On longer inspection I like the frock. I think it has a touch of elegance. I am only a little reluctant that so many men should see so much of you."

Author in her Inspired by Poldark ensemble. Would Ross and Demelza approve? I think Caroline would!

Thanks for reading my blog. By the way, I Tweeted after a recent episode of Poldark and it was picked up and appeared in an article in The Daily Mail in London!
Bonny Wise, I amInspired by Poldark

How to dress in the Poldark Style

What do you do when you fall in love with books by Jane Austen or Winston Graham? Why you start building a wardrobe so that you can hopefully attend balls or events that feature the authors you love!

I've been in the Jane Austen phase now for over 10 years and have assembled over three dozen outfits for day wear and for attending Grand Balls.....(my husband once asked, "how many do you need?"  My reply?  "As many as I want, it's better than running the streets after all!") haha

Fast forward to the Poldark "era." (June, 2015 to the present)  I cannot say why exactly Poldark has taken a place in my heart, but I would say the story is so compelling and I think Winston Graham's writing is extraordinary (there are 12 novels).  It is after all, don't you think, easier to read a novel written in the 20th century about the 18th century? And of course there's the terrific acting by  Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson that makes it all so real.  Especially so after I visited Cornwall for my birthday in June and seeing all the place names there ie Illogan, Warleggan, Launceston, Bodmin Moor, Truro, Demelza, etc,  it made the world of Poldark so real for me.

Here we are in Demelza! The place that gave Winston Graham the name for his heroine of the novels.

So when I decided to put together a Poldark era ensemble I began to do my research. The books begin in 1783 and progress about two or three years with each successive book.  I settled on 1790 ish and thought a day dress more practical for the first gown. I am very pleased with the results.

I went with a red, white and blue theme.

Where do you start? Find a good pattern company.  In this case I chose the Sense & Sensibility Portrait Pattern (sensibility.com).  There are tons of portraits and fashion plates to look at on Pinterest.  Find me, Bonny Wise, and you can look to see what I have "pinned."  You might find appropriate fabric at Joann Fabrics, but I found what I was looking for at Burnley & Trowbridge, a wonderful supplier of fabrics (www.burnleyandtrowbridge.com) that meet the needs of reenactors, ie 100% cotton, linen, silks and wools.  Do not use polyester fabrics please!  I made small adjustments to the pattern. I shortened the bodice a couple inches as I am a short person, and I took some of the fullness out as I am not model thin and I used cartridge pleating around the entire waist to give it the proper fullness.

In the tv series a back-lacing gown was used.  It is 1787 and the dress belonged to Grace Poldark, Ross's mother (this was not explained in the tv series and is why Ross was angry that Demelza was wearing it by the way).  Unfortunately, this is totally inaccurate for a period costume of this period... it should have been front laced.....but either Mr. Graham didn't know or didn't care, but it was a plot device!  Demelza needed Ross to notice her and she wanted him to seduce her so she would not have to go back to her father and step mother in Illogan! Needless to say it worked and what a beautiful scene that was.....I have to rant a bit here as several news outlets keep referring to "raunchy" when describing certain scenes in Poldark.  There is nothing raunchy in Poldark!   end of rant.

 Here's the youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TapKHdiAHaA if you want to watch the scene again (and again!) "Then Let it Be True."

The other investment is a corset. Ladies, and sorry gents, this is all for the ladies- if you are over a B cup, you really must have a corset for your dress to look and fit correctly.  I am telling you they are not that bad!   I have several and always wear with my period attire.  There are several sellers on Etsy, but one I can definitely recommend is historicaldesigns by Beth Shaw.  There are patterns out there too if you are inclined to sew one yourself.  In all of this, give yourself plenty of time.  You cannot make all of this up in one week unless you are superwoman! Just make sure you get the right corset for the right time period. A good corset maker will  know this (so a cosplay provider or Fredericks of Hollywood are NOT good choices).

1790 Pattern used to make my dress

The 3 1/2" wide ribbon was purchased at a great fabric store in New Orleans called Promenade. They now have an Etsy store but you can search ebay and Etsy for your color of choice. I used 4 yards of a soft ribbon (no wire edge).

The hat!  The hat is everything and I am not kidding!  Amber Mendenhall Welch from Ohio made my hat and it did not disappoint. You can find her on Etsy as VirgilsFineGoods.

I decided to go totally authentic and invested in a "hedgehog" wig.  Yes, it's called a hedgehog! The hedgehog style was fashionable in the 1780s and 1790s. This is BIG hair full of curls that seems wildly styled.  If  you look at Gainsborough portraits from the period, you will recognize it.  Basically it is an elaborate up-do with a drop curl on each side of the neck.  The hair all over the head is a wild mess of curls just barely contained.  I love mine and you can have one made too by our local company in Louisville, KY (www.customwigcompany.com)  I cannot help but remember Prudie's line from the series, "An' after all, 'tis better'n takin' orders from some fudgy-faced baggage wi' drop-curls!"

Actress Laura Linney as Abigail Adams in the series, John Adams

My hedgehog made in my color

As for the jewelry, I had the notion to have the pendant Ross gave Demelza at the ball copied.  It turned out well I think!

The original Georgian piece on the left used in the series, and the reproduction on the right.  Mine is made with "paste" (glass) which is totally authentic and less expensive.  Most people could not tell the difference and it is amazingly beautiful!

And of a pair of red leather shoes! From Burnley & Trowbridge

A knock came at the door and she checked an impulse to start up as a maid entered.  “This has come, ma’am. I was telled to bring it up to you.  Thank you, ma’am.  A dressing maid’ll be along in just a few minutes.”

Demelza stared at the packet. On the outside was written Rs. Poldark Esquire, and over that Ross had scrawled in ink not yet dry: For delivery to Mrs. Demelza Poldark.

She pulled at the wrapping, took out a small box, parted some cotton packing, gasped.  After a moment, gingerly, as if afraid of burning herself, she put in a finger and thumb and drew out the brooch.

“Oh,” she said.  She lifted it and held it to her breast so she could see the effect in the mirror.  The ruby glowed and winked at her. Ross’s gesture was tremendous.  It melted her.  Her eyes, black and liquid with emotion, glowed back at herself above the ruby.  The gift, if anything, would give her confidence.  With a new dress and that, no one surely could look down on her.  Even the maids could hardly do so. (Demelza Poldark)


I think that about covers it!  I hope you have enjoyed this blog about costuming and learned "how-to" if you are inclined to put together an outfit.  Perhaps you will want to attend the Poldark Balls in Cornwall and I heard rumor of an event in America in 2017!

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All the best!
Bonny  Wise, I am
Inspired by Poldark 

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