Mildred Freeman, Lady Historian

14/02/2025

Happy Valentine's Day......Victorian style.

31/01/2025

This week has seen me working on drama revision theatre sessions for GCSE students working on An Inspector Calls. When pompous old Arthur Birling pronounces there will be no war and that the Titanic is unsinkable. Audiences, when the play was first performed in the 1940s, of course knew this to be untrue. Not one but two wars came! Read some of the letters sent from our soldiers on the front to their families back home with the following link.

Throughout the First World War newspapers printed letters home from the servicemen posted on the front lines. Here, we collate 30 letters home from the front.

26/01/2025

With a concerned and confused expression Harriet handed Mildred yet another glass of wine and enquired, "My dear Mildred, is this not your eighth glass?"
"Yes indeed it is Harriet." Replied Mildred, in a somewhat lackluster fashion. "Tis medicinal, I've just completed my tax return!"

16/01/2025

I shall forever love my sausage curls and crinoline.......but there is just something about the wimple and crown combo I can't resist

05/01/2025

Home Birds WI - Virtual/Notts are inviting you all to join them for this fascinating talk. About to book my place now!

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-pankhurst-centre-tickets-1089087743759?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0m_HRXgAPaywBukkNPFPXsPyjQSOME_kZAS2R8XDz6p4Jm2XbmUyyTHkc_aem_mPEpy_ZRAEQ_H_GCkAvhwA

Join Emma McBeath of The Pankhurst Museum to explore the legacy of the Suffragettes and their fight for our equality

03/01/2025

The good Mr Butler and I were just discussing how few engagements we have in the first half of 2025. In light of this we wondered if any of you beautiful lot would like a 'Licentious Ladies of the 18th and 19th century' zoom in February. What better way to celebrate the month of Valentines than by talking about the ladies who sold love!

01/01/2025

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year. Here is a beautiful article about the New Year festivities held by the firemen at Southwark Fire Station in 1893/4. Published in The Graphic, January 6th 1894.

24/12/2024

Merry Christmas you lovely lot!

22/12/2024

It is December 22 and I have been remiss in not yet posting any bizarre Victorian Christmas cards, so…

Here’s a reminder to make sure you remember to give the gift of a severed head with embedded cleaver this Yuletide.

22/12/2024

Born 1844: Herbert Campbell, a truly larger than life figure in every sense who appeared in 22 consecutive pantomimes at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. He worked regularly with the great Dan Leno and the two of them even played the Babes in "Babes in the Wood" . That must have been quite the sight! in 1904 Campbell and Leno appeared together in the Drury Lane panto, "Humpty Dumpty". At the end of the show they sang:

“In the panto of old Drury Lane,
We have both come together again
And we hope to appear
For many a year
In the panto of old Drury Lane.”

It was the last panto for both of them. Happy 180th birthday, Mr Campbell.

19/12/2024

A lovely lunchtime at the Lace Market Theatre. A pleasure to visit as always. One more show until this Victorian finishes for Christmas!

18/12/2024

Christmas is nearly upon us so I must ask, have you gilded your walnuts? If not follow the link to learn how!

Gilded walnuts were popular Christmas tree ornaments in the Victorian era. Make Victorian gilded walnuts with walnuts, ribbon and gold acrylic paint.

03/12/2024

What a lovely start to my Christmas talks. The ladies were a brilliant audience as always. It's tiny bell time again folks!

30/11/2024

This morning was less Mildred and far more Macbeth! Look at my glorious wimple!

15/11/2024

Message in a bottle from 1892. A lovely little find.

38.6K likes, 472 comments. “Mechanical engineers inspecting a lighthouse in Scotland found a surprising message: a handwritten note from workers of another century.”

15/11/2024

Alas, not Christmas Classics from the Music Hall, but I'm sure it will be a lovely evening!

What's your favourite Christmas song or carol? On Tuesday 10th December, come and get in the festive spirit with us at A Very Merrie Noyse at Christmas, a joyful evening talk about historical Christmas music! Book now for just £10 with all proceeds going to the Friends of the National Civil War Centre - Newark Museum, at https://palacenewark.com/whats-on/instances/evening-talk-a-very-merrie-noyse-at-christmas.php

31/10/2024

Sorry ladies, I didn't mean to make lunch time so gruesome!

30/10/2024

A little something you might not be aware of is..........I adore the Moomins! Somehow one of my very clever chums has combined my love of Moomins and saucy history. Zoom in on the book spine Moomin is reading!