Elizabeth Ambler started compiling her household book of cures in the early eighteenth century, including historic treatments passed down over the decades. These intriguing remedies include Sir Walter Raleigh's Receipt against Plague, Viper Broth and Snail Milk Water, as well as Ginger Bread and Apricot Ratafia. In addition to traditional flowers and herbs, ingredients consist of precious stones, exotic and expensive spices, and large amounts of brandy and wine. Set against the backdrop of the family's country houses, silverware and lavish portraits, this book is much more than just a collection of curiosities: it offers a fascinating insight into the sickness and health of our Georgian ancestors, and into what really went on in their kitchens.

A fascinating look into a collection of Georgian recipes and medicines Elizabeth Ambler started compiling her household book of cures in the early eighteenth century, including in it treatments which were much older and had been passed down to her. These intriguing remedies include Sir Walter Raleigh's Receipt against Plague, Viper Broth, Snail Milk Water and Tobacco for the Eyes, as well as Ginger Bread and Apricot Ratafia. In addition to traditional flowers and herbs, ingredients consist of precious stones, exotic and expensive spices, and large amounts of brandy and wine. Miss Ambler's book of cures is exceptional in that it has been handed down through her female descendants over nearly three centuries. Set against the backdrop of the family's country houses, silverware and lavish portraits, this book is much more than just a collection of curiosities; it offers a fascinating insight into the sickness and health of our Georgian ancestors, and into what really went on in their kitchens.

During the eighteenth century, ladies of high society kept handwritten notes on recipes, remedies, gardening and household advice in their personal House Books and it became fashionable to exchange their most successful tips with friends and neighbours. Very few of these fragile House Books have survived and this compilation celebrates two: one from Lady Talbot of Lacock Abbey and the other from Lady Louisa Conolly of Castletown House. In this collection you will find their herbal remedies for everything from coughs and colds to rickets, consumption and 'preventing smallpox', along with concoctions to ensure soft hands, improve the skin and 'remove inhibitions'. There are also tips on cleaning and polishing, the best ways in which a garden should be laid out and the roles each servant should be expected to perform. Finally there is also a selection of their favourite recipes, including Cinnamon Spinach, Slipcoat Cheese and Pitchcocked Eels. This charming compilation is full of fascinating information and useful tips and gives an insight into the lives of those living in the grand houses of the eighteenth century.

A gothic tale set in a rambling house by the sea in which a maid cares for a mute old woman with a mysterious past, alongside her superstitious staff--from the author of The Silent Companions. A perfect spooky read! Consumption has ravaged Louise Pinecroft's family, leaving her and her father alone and heartbroken. But Dr. Pinecroft has plans for a revolutionary experiment: convinced that sea air will prove to be the cure his wife and children needed, he arranges to house a group of prisoners suffering from the disease in the caves beneath his new Cornish home. While he devotes himself to his controversial medical trials, Louise finds herself increasingly discomfited by the strange tales her new maid tells of the fairies that hunt the land, searching for those they can steal away to their realm. Forty years later, Hester arrives at Morvoren House to take up a position as nurse to the now partially paralyzed and mute Miss Pinecroft. Hester has fled to Cornwall to try to escape her past, but surrounded by superstitious staff enacting bizarre rituals, she soon discovers her new home may be just as dangerous as her last. Laura Purcell's THE SHAPE OF DARKNESS is now out from Penguin!

Elizabeth Ambler started compiling her household book of cures in the early eighteenth century, including in it treatments which were much older and had been passed down to her. These intriguing remedies include Sir Walter Raleigh's Receipt against Plague, Viper Broth, Snail Milk Water and Tobacco for the Eyes, as well as Ginger Bread and Apricot Ratafia. In addition to traditional flowers and herbs, ingredients consist of precious stones, exotic and expensive spices, and large amounts of brandy and wine. Mrs Ambler's book of cures is exceptional in that has been handed down through her female descendants over nearly three centuries. Set against the backdrop of the family's country houses, silverware and lavish portraits, this book is much more than just a collection of curiosities; it offers a fascinating insight into the sickness and health of our Georgian ancestors, and into what really went on in their kitchens.

Taking you through the year day by day, The Oxford Book of Days contains quirky, eccentric, amusing and important events and facts from different periods of history, many of which had a major impact on the religious and political history of Britain as a whole. Ideal for dipping into, this addictive little book will keep you entertained and informed. Featuring hundreds of snippets of information gleaned from the vaults of Oxford's archives, it will delight residents and visitors alike.