Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2018 i Victoria

The holidays are so often centered on tradition, but was there ever a time when you departed from your usual routine? If so, what was the outcome—did it provide a refreshing break or leave you with the feeling of something missing? We would love for you to share your letters with us. Send correspondence to victoriamagazine@hoffmanmedia.com or Victoria Reader-to-Reader, 1900 International Park Drive, Suite 50, Birmingham, AL 35243; you can also submit online at victoriamag.com/calling-readers/. Victoria reserves the right to edit any letters published.…

Today, home brewing is a popular, male-dominated hobby, but once upon a time—in the Middle Ages and earlier—all brews were made at home by women as one of their many kitchen duties. Like cooking, brewing was more art than science as precise temperature controls, thermometers, and other such devices had yet to be invented. Early female brewers—sometimes called brewsters or alewives—might have used only a large pot over an open fire. Ale was the main beverage for many in those days, providing nutrition and fluids before sanitation made water safe to drink. Until hops—which add flavor but also act as a preservative—became part of the recipe, beer had to be brewed frequently to prevent it from spoiling. (Ale and beer are slippery terms. Historically, the main difference between the two…

Ensconced within the moorlands of northern England, the community of Haworth, once a center for wool manufacturing, has become more widely known over the past two centuries for tales woven by enigmatic former residents. Tourists roam the village’s cobblestone streets, follow ambling footpaths into the countryside, and traverse heather-covered slopes to discover settings depicted by the most famous siblings ever to pick up the pen. Area destinations, such as the Brontë Parsonage Museum, allow readers to visit sites that influenced the family’s works. Clergyman Patrick Brontë moved into Haworth Parsonage with his wife, Maria Branwell, and their children in 1820. Widowed a year later, the vicar also soon lost his two oldest daughters to illness. Under the patriarch’s care, and the watchful eye of Maria’s sister Elizabeth, the remaining four…

When textile designer, writer, and leader of the British Arts and Crafts movement William Morris first came upon the gray limestone farmhouse nestled by the River Thames in the Oxfordshire village of Kelmscott, it perfectly matched one he had envisioned in a dream. Originally called Lower House, the oldest section was built by yeoman farmer Thomas Turner in the early seventeenth century; his grandson, also named Thomas, increased the home’s footprint with a large wing many decades later. “MY WORK IS THE EMBODIMENT OF DREAMS IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER.” —William Morris The addition greatly enhanced the stature of the dwelling, with exterior walls tapering inward from the ground level to the roofline to accentuate its height. Generous windows, high ceilings, and carved stone fireplaces further added to its splendor.…

Author Sir Walter Scott once called Perthshire “the fairest portion of the northern kingdom,” and seeing the countryside ablaze in autumn color surely confirms his opinion. The rich green of the native Scots pine contrasts with the bright golds and scarlets of deciduous trees, while the moors are swathed in the purple hues of fall-blooming heather. It is not surprising that visitors are drawn to the area to enjoy the splendor of the season. This strikingly prismatic scenery forms the setting for one of the great country retreats in Scotland, the Ballathie Country House Hotel and Estate. Its location on the banks of the River Tay allows for the convenient exploration of both back roads and big cities. Edinburgh and Glasgow are just a short drive away, as is the…

A COZY PUB FEAST Ploughman’s Platter Makes approximately 8 servings Pâté in Puff Pastry (recipe follows) Scotch Eggs with Curry-Lime Mayonnaise (recipe follows) Hearty Soda Bread (recipe page 119) Tomatoes on the vine Pickled Red Onions (recipe page 119) Irish Cheddar cheese Stilton cheese Major Grey’s chutney Slice Pâté in Puff Pastry, Scotch Eggs, Hearty Soda Bread, and tomatoes. Place on a serving platter with Curry-Lime Mayonnaise, Pickled Red Onions, Irish Cheddar, Stilton, and chutney. Serve immediately. Pâté in Puff Pastry Makes 8 to 10 servings 12 ounces smoked duck breast 12 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breasts 12 ounces smoked bacon ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley ¼ cup chopped fresh chives 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves 2 large eggs 2 tablespoons sour cream 1 (17.3-ounce) package frozen puff pastry, thawed…

Take a closer look at some of our favorite September features: Haven of Creativity Prepare to be inspired as we tour the gorgeous Dartmoor-based home and studio of entrepreneur and textile designer Louise Townsend. A Certain Eden Discover the natural beauty of Kelmscott Manor, the former retreat of beloved designer and Arts and Crafts Movement leader William Morris. A Haworth Treasure Home to Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë for several decades, the history-steeped Brontë Parsonage Museum honors this literary family. Gifts of the Orchard Prepare to entertain with a medley of sweet and savory recipes featuring those ubiquitous fall favorites, apples and pears, which are sure to bring delight to the table this season. Visit our website to read this issue’s online stories and to find more of the content…

“COMING DOWN THE HILL AND TO THE ENTRANCE TO HONITON, THE VIEW OF THE COUNTRY IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE IN THE WORLD—A MERE PICTURE—AND I DO NOT REMEMBER THE LIKE IN ANY ONE PLACE IN ENGLAND.” —Daniel Defoe…

Sheep graze on the hillside as clouds drift overhead, giving a gentle cadence to the afternoon at the farmhouse and studio of Louise Townsend. Open to welcome autumn breezes, windows frame vistas of Devon, an area of southwest England known for its pastoral beauty and temperate climate. The property’s idyllic setting, which includes verdant fields, orchards, and herbaceous borders abloom with roses, delphinium, and lupines, serves as the muse for her eponymous line of screen-printed fabrics, pillows, and totes. “COLOR AFFECTS US EMOTIONALLY.IT  EVOKES DIFFERENT FEELINGS, REPRESENTS MEMORIES, AND COMPLETELY CHANGES OUR SPACES; IT’S A JOYFUL THING WE ALL INTERPRET IN UNIQUE WAYS.” —Louise Townsend Home and career intertwine for this textile designer. The daughter of a naval officer, Louise grew up in various English ports. Despite the…

“FALLEN LEAVES ON THE GROUND ARE THE GOLDEN SONG OF IMMORTAL CREATIVITY.” —Amit Ray…

From intricate trefoils to elaborate butterflies, Honiton lace features a series of hand-woven designs appliquéd onto net, forming a masterpiece in thread. Made popular among the elite during the Victorian era, the lace continues to impress and inspire generations through the dedicated efforts of the Allhallows Museum of Lace and Local Antiquities in Honiton, England. This style of lacemaking came to the area in approximately 1560, and, as Allhallows curator, Margaret Lewis, explains, the town soon became a center for production due to nearby flax fields, thread yield, proximity to London for distribution, and skilled workers whose serging skills easily transferred into weaving. By 1669 the Grand Duke of Tuscany observed of Devon: “There is not a cottage in all the county where white lace is not made in great…

ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 2, 7, 75, 78, and 129: To learn more about Valerie Greeley, visit her website, valeriegreeley.com, and her shop at etsy.com/uk/shop/acornmoon. WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE Pages 13–14: Rebecca McClanahan, a poet, essayist, and memoirist, is the author of ten books. To sample more of Rebecca’s work, visit her website, rebeccamcclanahanwriter.com. ENGLISH COTTAGE JOYS Page 15: Olli Ella: Vine Basket, $44, Soukie Backpack, $89; 310-450-6288, burrogoods.com. Page 16: Oxford University Press: The Oxford Illustrated Jane Austen: 6-Volume Set, $175; from Barnes & Noble, 800-843-2665, barnesandnoble.com. Page 17: Portmeirion: Pomona Teapot, $118.25, Pomona Creamer/Jug, $52.50, Pomona Covered Sugar, $52.50, Pomona Teacups and Saucers in Assorted Motifs, $232.50 set of 6; 888-778-1471, portmeirion.com . Spode: Cranberry Italian 8" Salad Plate, $25.75; 888-778-1471, spode.com. Ahmad Tea: Wooden Tea Keeper, $40; 800-637-7704, ahmadteausa.com. Page 18: Burleigh:…

My first job was at the age of twelve, running our family’s commercial fishing lake in Anderson, Indiana. When my father died, I, as the oldest of three daughters, had to take over the business. That entailed getting up at 4 a.m. and closing at 10 p.m., selling tickets, preparing food, selling bait and tackle, ordering truckloads of fish, obtaining bait (sometimes digging it or capturing it), mowing and weeding five acres of land, and more. I dealt with clogged springs feeding the lake, algae, a snail invasion, and a carp eating other fish. Every day was different. It was a lot of hard work, but it taught me responsibility. After the rough summer schedule, handling up to two hundred fishermen a day, I felt I could handle anything that…

“I LONGED TO BE TRANSPORTED INTO THAT QUIET LITTLE LANDSCAPE, TO WALK UP THE PATH, TO TAKE A KEY FROM MY POCKET AND OPEN THE COTTAGE DOOR …”—Alan Bradley “THERE IS ROOM IN THE SMALLEST COTTAGE FOR A HAPPY LOVING PAIR.” —Friedrich Schiller…

“FEW THINGS ARE MORE PLEASANT THAN A VILLAGE GRACED WITH A GOOD CHURCH, A GOOD PRIEST AND A GOOD PUB.” —John Hillaby…

Stepping into the atelier of Catherine Walker & Co. in Bury Walk, a charming seven-studio mews in the Chelsea area of London, is like stumbling upon the secret cache of a couturier, one with exceptional taste. Catching the light—and the eye of everyone who enters—are beautiful evening dresses, some enhanced with delicate Leavers lace or hand-embroidered crystal borders, others trimmed in shimmering paillettes or droplet sequins. Cofounded in 1977 by Said Cyrus and his late wife, Catherine Walker, the business quickly caught the attention of women who were drawn to the clean lines and pure elegance of the couture designs. “Catherine Walker & Co. is very much a quintessentially British enterprise,” explains Said. “Although we have been told that our evening wear especially exudes a certain amount of French sensuality,…

Though the origins of tea drinking can be traced to ancient China, it wasn’t until the seventeenth century that the pastime became embedded in English culture. Because tea was grown in Asia and had to be shipped great distances, it was a costly commodity, with hefty taxes driving prices even higher. Households fortunate enough to afford this coveted import regarded it as a prized possession. As a rule, the mistress of the house was tasked with the responsibility of keeping the tea properly and safely stored. The first containers—also called caddies—were simple jars of porcelain or faïence, but these soon gave way to more ornamental receptacles made of materials such as tortoiseshell, brass, and pewter; more common were finely wrought wooden boxes, complete with locks and keys. Although these canisters…

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