If ever a talk's title was guaranteed to pique the interest of Pewsham Belles, this was it! A number of Belles had spotted Sarah Slater doing the rounds via various WI Wanderers events and the ensuing glowing reports. It's great to have the opportunity to respond to members' speaker requests and Sarah didn't disappoint with her tales from Hampton Palace's Royal Court.
As you can see, Sarah likes to dress in period costume in her role as an official guide at Hampton Court Palace. She makes the costumes herself (as befits her WI membership) and appeared in a different one for our talk, an evening at home gown, with a linen undergarment and a beautiful green silk dress. Her hairstyle was also of the time- in a style called “spaniels’ ears” due to King Charles the 2nd's love of these dogs!
Prior to beginning her talk she pre warned us that it would contain content of a sexual nature, with swear words! None of us chose to leave the meeting!
Sarah started by giving us a brief history of Hampton Court Palace. Cardinal Wolsey had to give the palace to King Henry the 8th, after he fell out of favor, in 1529. Later Kings remodeled the Palace, most notably King William the 3rd, who ran out of money before he could demolish the Tudor Palace. This gives the Palace its two distinct contrasting styles, Tudor and Baroque.
We then had a history of the House of Stuart, and the House of Hanover- more commonly known as The Georgians. It was fascinating to follow their interwoven family trees, including one who looked like Boris Johnson... and Sarah revealed he is indeed Boris's ancestor.
Sarah’s talk then got onto the juicy court gossip. Royal lovers (both male and female) were discussed. Harris’s List of Covent Garden Ladies was also looked at; this was an annual directory of prostitutes- in handy pocket-sized form!
Scandalous courtiers were discussed, most notably John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, a very naughty poet. Barbara Villiers, the Duchess of Cleveland, the most notorious mistress of King Charles the 2nd, and Nell Gwynn, actress and another of King Charles’ mistresses. We also had a view of make-up (the paler, the better) contraception (condoms) and sexual health (beauty spots to cover pox marks!)
Sarah’s talk finished with a Q and A session, and a general agreement that a visit to Hampton Court, and a guided tour with Sarah, is a priority when day trips are allowed again.
Elsewhere this month the Walkie Talkies took advantage of 'Rule of Six' outdoor meetings starting again and arranged a walk with two separate groups of six who set off in opposite directions on the same walk. In addition, Michelle and Carolyn took advantage of Carolyne Carter's kind invitation for a walk round the farm to see the new calves and piglets. The Book Club reviewed Bernadine Evaristo's Girl, Woman, Other and placed it firmly in their top 3 reads of all time. The Happy Hookers tried their hand at the chevron pattern with good success and the Crafty Crew made some pretty flowers from scrap material.
Our Town met twice, once virtually with Chippenham Museum for Lucy Whitfield's talk on the history of two contrasting houses, then in person to tour the Art Fair with time for coffee afterwards at the Angel Hotel. Various Denman At Home and Wiltshire WI's events were attended, rounded off at the end of the month with John Aubrey Group's talk on craftivism and Helen Baker's #WeAreAllSmearReady campaign.
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