Do You Think You Could Survive Tudor Beauty Standards? They Were Brutal.

Do You Think You Could Survive Tudor Beauty Standards? They Were Brutal

Today I want to take a look at Tudor beauty standards and how people in Tudor England viewed physical appearance.

Beauty has always, and no doubt will always be influenced by society. In Tudor England things were no different. What people considered attractive during this period was often influenced by wealth, status, religion, fashion, and even politics. Looking beautiful was not just about vanity. For many people, their appearance could actually affect their marriage prospects, social standing, and even how others judged their character.

Image info:

The "Darnley Portrait" of Elizabeth I 

Date: 1575

In the early Tudor period, during the reign of King Henry VII beauty standards were still  influenced by the late medieval world. A fuller figure was seen as desirable, especially for women. Soft curves suggested they were in good health, fertile, and, importantly, they had access to plenty of food. Ordinary people struggled to eat well, so a fuller body showed wealth and security. Pale skin was also very highly prized. If your skin remained fair and untouched by the sun, it suggested you did not have to work outdoors in the fields.

For Tudor women, a smooth pale complexion quickly became one of the most desired features. Many women tried to protect their skin from the sun by wearing hats, hoods, or veils outdoors. Some even used homemade mixtures made from things like egg whites, rosewater or herbs to soften the skin. Beauty ideals often favoured the wealthy because they were easier for the wealthy to achieve.

Image info:

Elizabeth of York

Artist: After Meynnart Wewyck

Date: 1470-1498

Tudor court records suggest some ordinary people were criticised for dressing above their social rank. Tudor sumptuary laws under Henry VIII, restricted who could wear luxurious fabrics and decorations. Even poorer households sometimes owned ribbons, caps, combs, or mirrors. They most likely used simple homemade remedies. But for most poorer people, survival mattered far more than fashion.

During the reign of Henry VIII, fashion and beauty became almost synonymous with the royal court. Courtly appearance was hugely important. Clothing and fabrics became richer and more luxurious, and grooming was much more important. For women, an ideal face often included high cheekbones, a small mouth, rosy lips, and a high forehead. That high forehead became so fashionable that some women plucked or shaved back their hairlines to make their foreheads appear larger. It was seen as elegant and refined. Portraits of women like Elizabeth of York and later Elizabeth I show this fashionable high forehead, but portraits were often idealised. It may seem strange, but beauty trends evolve and often involved sacrifice.  Eyebrows were often thinned or plucked too, not so different from today.

Image info:

Elizabeth 1

Artist: Nicholas Hilliard

Date: 1573-1575

Walker Art Gallery

Hair colour was also important. Blonde or reddish-gold hair was hugely admired, partly because lighter hair was associated with being young and beautiful. Some women tried to lighten their hair using the sun or mixtures that contained really harsh ingredients like saffron or lye to help bleach it, sitting in the sun to strengthen the effect. Some historical recipes also used ingredients like lemon juice or vinegar. The process could dry out and damage the hair.

 

Men also had beauty expectations, although they were different. A handsome Tudor man was expected to look and be strong, broad-shouldered, and confident. Physical strength suggested power and authority. Well-groomed facial hair became fashionable during parts of the Tudor era, especially beards in the later years of Henry VIII’s reign. Rich clothing, broad shoulders created by padded garments, and a commanding posture all helped create an image of masculinity and status.

Beauty standards shifted once again during the reign of Elizabeth I. Queen Elizabeth had an enormous influence on fashion and beauty. After surviving Smallpox in 1562, she was left with facial scars. She started to wear heavy white face makeup. It is debated as to whether it was to cover them up or because pale faces were already popular. This created the famous pale face look that is now associated with the Elizabethan court. Many women copied her and a white face became fashionable. They often used a cosmetic called Venetian ceruse also known as “Spirits of Saturn", which was made with white lead and vinegar. It created the sought after smooth pale appearance, but it was so incredibly dangerous and slowly poisoned them.

Rosy cheeks were also considered attractive in Tudor England because they gave the impression of being young and healthy and they were bold against the pale complexion. Some women got this look by pinching or rubbing their cheeks but recipes and trade records show that wealthier women used pigments made from plant dyes. It is believed that some may have even used crushed insects such as cochineal to add extra colour.

Behind the elegance and fine dresses, the lengths women especially went to in order to meet these high beauty expectations make me think there must have been some insecurity, or at the very least a great deal of pressure. We cannot know exactly how Tudor women felt, but the popularity of cosmetics, harsh beauty treatments, and even dangerous products suggests that appearance mattered a lot. Many people were likely comparing themselves to ideals they could never reach, just as people often do today.

 

Do you think the pressure to look “perfect” was easier or harder in Tudor times than today?

 

Tomorrow I will be finding out more about Tudor fashion by looking into what they wore. 

Just Nuisance: The Royal Navy Dog Who Won Thousands of Hearts

Just Nuisance: The Royal Navy Dog Who Won Thousands of Hearts

Today I want to tell you about a Great Dane called Just Nuisance. He was the only dog ever officially enlisted in the Royal Navy.

Just Nuisance was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1937. As a puppy, he lived in Simon's Town, a naval town that was full of sailors and ships. He was a huge Great Dane, and stood nearly two metres tall on his back legs. He had a gentle and affectionate nature, and the sailors quickly became attached to him.

He loved following the men around town and often wandered onto naval ships, lying across gangplanks and blocking people’s way. This earned him the nickname “Nuisance,” though it was meant with affection.

Nuisance developed a habit of riding trains with sailors into Cape Town, often without a ticket. Railway officials eventually threatened action, and people were worried that he might be put down. The sailors did not want to lose him so the Navy made an extraordinary decision. In 1939, he was officially enlisted in the Royal Navy as Ordinary Seaman but was later promoted to Able Seaman Just Nuisance, which gave him free rail travel.

For the next few years, he became a mascot and morale booster, he lifted spirits wherever he went.

Just Nuisance was lovable but mischievous. His service record included him travelling without his pass, going AWOL, losing his collar, refusing to leave pubs, and getting into fights with other ship mascots. He even had all his bones removed for seven days after being caught sleeping in a petty officer’s bed.

 

 But by 1944, after an injury and worsening illness, his health sadly declined. On the 1^st of April 1944, he was put to sleep. He was buried with full military honours, including a gun salute and the playing of the Last Post.

Just Nuisance is remembered with affection.

Had you heard of Just Nuisance before, and do you think animals played an underrated role in boosting morale during wartime?

 

The Victorian Milliner: The Women Who Created Fashionable Hats and Bonnets

The Victorian Milliner: The Women Who Created Fashionable Hats and Bonnets

Today I want to continue our look into Victorian jobs. This time I want to take a look at the Victorian milliner.

A milliner was someone who designed, made, trimmed, and sold hats, bonnets, and other headwear, that were mainly for women. In Victorian Britain, hats often showed a person’s social status, wealth, and of course fashion sense.

The word milliner  originally referred to merchants who sold luxury goods that were imported from places like Milan. Gradually, it came to be more associated with hats and bonnets.

During the early Victorian period, bonnets had become very popular. They were elaborately decorated with ribbons, lace, silk flowers, feathers, and sometimes even beads or jewels. A milliner would start off with a basic bonnet or hat frame. They were  made from things like straw, buckram, or wire. They would then be carefully shaped and decorated with trims, all by hand. This needed amazing patience, skill, and a good eye for detail.

Many milliners were women and it was one of the more socially accepted jobs for Victorian women. There weren’t many jobs that were considered respectable for Victorian women. It was believed a woman’s proper place was in the home. Respectability was hugely important and was closely associated with being modest and “ladylike,” so jobs that involved physical labour or working with men were often frowned upon. Jobs like teaching, sewing, nursing, or domestic service were all seen as more suitable because they were more like traditional female roles. Poorer women though, often had to work in any role they could find, regardless of whether society approved.

 

Some milliners worked in small family businesses or even owned their own shops, but others were employed in city workshops. In large cities like London, fashion was huge. Wealthy customers expected the very latest fashions which could change quickly. Fashion magazines and high society strongly influenced what was en vogue. If a duchess or lady wore a particular style of hat the demand could rise overnight. Just like trends today, which can change like the wind and are often influenced by famous people. It seems that some things never change.

But behind the glamour was very hard work. Many milliners worked long hours, especially during busy seasons. Some of these young women started working as a milliner as an apprentice in their early teens. They learned how to sew, trim, shape, and about customer service. The working conditions were not great, they could be cramped with poor lighting.

There was also the pressure to keep demanding customers happy. Wealthy clients could be very particular, they wanted the finest materials, the most fashionable designs and they wanted high quality.

Later in the Victorian era into the Edwardian era larger hats became popular with increasingly dramatic decorations. Sadly, this growing demand for feathers also contributed to the hunting of birds for fashion.

 

You may have heard the phrase “mad as a hatter.” In the 18^th and 19^th centuries, some hat makers used mercury when making felt hats. Breathing in the fumes over time could make them ill. It could cause shaking, memory problems, mood changes, and strange behaviour. This is where the phrase “mad as a hatter” is believed to come from.

 

Do you think Victorian milliners were artists as much as they were tradeswomen?

The Night Witches: The Incredible Women Who Struck Fear Into the German Army in WW2

The Night Witches: The Incredible Women Who Struck Fear Into the German Army in WW2

Today I want to tell you a little bit about a remarkable group of women known as the Night Witches.

Image info:

Yevdokiya Bershanskaya

The Night Witches were an all-female Soviet bomber regiment. They became famous for carrying out dangerous night bombing missions against German forces on the Eastern Front. Their official name was the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, later renamed the 46th Guards Night Bomber Aviation Regiment after their bravery was recognised.

image info:

Irina Fyodorovna Sebrova

After Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, many young women who already knew how to fly wanted to help defend their country. They wrote to famous Soviet aviator Marina Raskova, who is often called the “Russian Amelia Earhart,” asking how they could serve. Using her influence with Joseph Stalin, she helped to gain approval for three women’s air force regiments, including the 588th.

Most of the women who joined were in their late teens or early twenties. Many had never seen combat before. Their commander was Yevdokiya Bershanskaya, who helped to turn these young volunteers into one of the most feared bomber units of the war.

Image info:

1941 Fighters move wounded man

They flew old Polikarpov Po-2 biplanes made of wood and canvas. These aircraft were originally designed as training planes and crop dusters, so they were slow, open to the cold air, and gave very little protection. They carried only small bomb loads, meaning crews often had to fly eight or more missions in a single night.

What made their attacks so terrifying was their technique. As they approached their target, they would cut their engines off and glide before releasing their bombs. German soldiers reportedly said that the noise was like a soft rushing sound that reminded them of a broomstick sweeping through the air, which is how some people believe they earned their nickname Night Witches.

Their first combat missions began in June 1942. From then until the end of the war, they flew across some of the fiercest fighting on the Eastern Front, including the Battle of the Caucasus, Crimean Offensive, operations in Poland, and the final push into Germany.

Despite their aircraft being outdated and them having to face anti-aircraft fire, searchlights, and enemy fighters, they kept going. Their courage was extraordinary. Many flew hundreds of missions. Irina Sebrova flew an astonishing 1,008 sorties, more than anyone else in the regiment.

By the end of the war, the regiment had flown over 23,000 combat sorties, dropped more than 3,000 tons of bombs, and delivered over 26,000 incendiary shells. They managed to damage bridges, railways, fuel depots, and enemy positions. They made a real impact on the war.

But their success came at a cost. Thirty-two members of the regiment sadly lost their lives during the war. Many were still only young.

In total, 23 members of the regiment were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union, one of the highest honours possible.

The Night Witches proved that courage, skill, and determination were far more important than age, gender, or outdated equipment.

Had you heard of the Night Witches before today?

The Medieval Miller: One of the Most Important Jobs in the Village

The Medieval Miller: One of the Most Important Jobs in the Village

Today I want to continue our look into medieval jobs, and this time I want to take a look at the medieval miller. In medieval times the miller was incredibly important. Without millers, one of the most basic foods in daily life, bread, would have been much harder to make.
Bread was one of the most important foods in the medieval era. Most people ate bread every single day. The rich and the poor both relied on it, but the quality varied depending on your wealth.

Before mills became common, grain was often ground by hand at home using heavy stones called querns. This was a tiring job and it usually fell to women. It could take hours each day just to make enough flour for bread. Wheat, barley, oats, or rye was grown by farmers, usually on manorial lands or village farms. It was then brought in sacks to the local mill after it was harvested. The miller then had to carefully pour it into the mill machinery, where heavy millstones crushed it into flour. This sounds simple, but it was skilled work. The stones had to be properly aligned. If they were too close, the flour could burn or become too fine. If they were too far apart, the grain would not grind properly.

Most medieval mills were powered by water or wind. Watermills were obviously more common near rivers and streams and windmills more popular in flatter areas. The work must have also taken a toll on their health. Millers spent long hours breathing in flour and grain dust, which may have harmed their lungs. We do not have much direct evidence from medieval times, but later records and our modern knowledge do show us that this kind of dust can cause coughing and chest problems.

A miller’s job was also physically demanding. During busy times, especially after harvest, they might need to work from sunrise to sunset. They would have lifted heavy sacks, maintained the machinery, cleaned the mill, repaired any damaged parts and also kept everything running in any weather. If the water level dropped or the wind stopped, work could slow or stop completely.

Millers were usually not bakers. Their job ended once the grain became flour. The flour then went back to villagers, to bakers, monasteries, manor kitchens, ale brewers, or market traders. Bakers then turned the flour into bread, while brewers used the grain to make ale, another daily staple in medieval life.

Because milling was so essential, many mills were controlled by the local lord. In fact, some villagers were legally required to use the lord’s mill and pay a fee called a mill toll, which was often a small portion of their grain or flour. This was regulated under manorial law. There were rules the millers had to follow, the rules were to ensure fair measurements and honest toll collection. Millers had a bad reputation and some people believed that they kept extra flour for themselves.

This is actually mentioned in medieval stories, including in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. The miller is portrayed as rough and cunning and it is even suggested that the miller cheated his customers. The miller is also described as big, broad, and very strong. This description reflects the physical work many millers did. They had to lift heavy grain sacks and work with large millstones that would have needed real strength. His character shows us how some medieval people saw millers, probably because they held so much control over food.

Manorial court records also show that people’s suspicion of millers was not just based on stories. Some people complained that millers took too much grain as payment, gave them back less flour than they should, or measured it unfairly. This doesn’t mean that all millers did this, but it does show us that people had fair reasons to suspect them.

In spite of this reputation, many millers were reasonably well-off in comparison to ordinary peasants. Everyone needed flour, so millers often had steady work and a regular income. Some owned their mills, others were employed by wealthier millers as labourers, apprentices to carry sacks, clean the machinery, and help with repairs.

A good miller would have needed strength, patience and mechanical skill. They needed to work closely with farmers, bakers, brewers, carpenters, blacksmiths, and the local lord.

Do you think medieval millers deserved their bad reputation?

The Brave War Pigeons: The Feathered Messengers Who Saved Lives in WW2

The Brave War Pigeons: The Feathered Messengers Who Saved Lives in WW2

I have recently told you about some of the incredible animals and pigeons that served during the Second World War, and today I want to explain exactly what it is that they did and just how important they were to the war effort.

When many of us think of heroes of the Second World War, we rightfully think of the amazing courageous men that served. But there were also other heroes, not only human ones. They were the small, feathered messengers. War pigeons may seem unusual today, especially in our world of modern technology, but during the war they became lifesavers.
Before the Second World War, pigeon keeping was already a really popular hobby, especially in the UK. A lot of families kept homing pigeons, they bred them, trained them and raced them. Pigeon racing was really popular. There were many clubs and competitions all across the country. This became hugely useful when the war started. It meant that there were a lot of trained birds and skilled pigeon keepers who could help the military.

Most war pigeons came through the National Pigeon Service, which was set up in the United Kingdom during the war. It used trained homing pigeons from civilian pigeon keepers, most of whom willingly offered or loaned their birds to help the war effort. In some cases, pigeons could also be requisitioned for service.
For some pigeon keepers, letting the military use their birds must have been difficult and some of them never returned. Many owners were probably proud to help the war effort, others may have been worried or heartbroken about sending them into danger.

Messenger pigeons have a very special skill. They can find their way back home from unfamiliar places far away from their home. This made them incredibly useful. Before a mission, pigeons would be taken from their loft and transported with soldiers, sailors, aircrews, or resistance fighters. A message could be written on tiny paper, placed inside a small capsule that was attached to the pigeon’s leg, and the bird would be released to fly home. It could often be the difference between life and death.

During the war, radios could break, batteries could fail to work and messages and signals could be intercepted by the enemy. In these dangerous conditions, pigeons provided a very reliable backup. They carried messages from ships stranded at sea, from aircraft that had crashed, and from troops that may be trapped behind enemy lines. They were also used by resistance groups in occupied Europe to pass secret intelligence back to Britain.

The pigeons had to face terrifying conditions. They had to fly through storms and into smoke. They had to do mission while there was explosions and enemy fire around them. The enemy even targeted them to stop the messages from getting through, and the Germans even used trained hawks to try to intercept them. But many of these courageous little birds still continued to fly. They were driven by instinct and by training.
Some of their stories are remarkable.

One famous pigeon was Cher Ami. He served in the First World War. He showed people how valuable messenger pigeons could be in war.

In the Second World War, Mary of Exeter became legendary. She was wounded multiple times and she was even attacked by a hawk. She thankfully survived and continued to deliver messages. Her injuries were so severe at times that there were concerns she would not recover, but she kept going.

Another extraordinary pigeon was G.I. Joe. In 1943, British troops had captured a village in Calvi Risorta, but Allied aircraft had not been told and they were preparing to bomb the area. G.I. Joe flew around 20 miles in about 20 minutes carrying the urgent message to stop the attack. The planned bombing was thankfully stopped just in time. He is often credited as saving more than 1,000 Allied soldiers and civilians.

There was also Commando, who delivered messages from occupied France on several dangerous missions. Each successful flight helped provide intelligence to Allied forces.
It is easy to forget that these humble birds had absolutely no understanding of politics, borders, or war. They did not choose to serve. They were sent into danger by humans. But they saved countless lives. They became heroes.

The bravery of animals did not go unnoticed. Some were awarded the Dickin Medal for outstanding courage and service. The medal was created in 1943 by People's Dispensary for Sick Animals. It is often called the animal Victoria Cross. It recognised the incredible risks animals took for our freedom.

These were small, vulnerable creatures in an enormous global conflict, but they made a real difference.

Today, pigeons often have a bad reputation. Many people see them as dirty or as a nuisance in towns and cities so it is easy to overlook them. But this can make us forget that these humble birds once helped to save many lives during the war. So when you look at the humble birds around us today, think about their amazing sacrifice.

Had you realised just how important pigeons were during the war?

The Medieval Apothecary: The Skilled Healer Who Prepared Medicines in the Middle Ages

The Medieval Apothecary: The Skilled Healer Who Prepared Medicines in the Middle Ages

Today I want to continue our look into medieval jobs, and this time I want to take a look at the medieval apothecary. You may recognise the name, but I think we often forget how important these people were during the Middle Ages. Before modern pharmacies, hospitals, or antibiotics, apothecaries played a huge role in helping people to manage illness, pain, and injury.

The word apothecary comes from the Greek word apotheke, which means storehouse. In the early medieval period, much of the knowledge about healing came from ancient Greek and Roman writers, alongside monastic medicine. Monasteries were also very important because the monks usually grew medicinal herbs in their gardens. They also copied medical texts by hand. Remedies were usually made from plants, spices, oils, minerals, and sometimes even animal products.

Willow bark was often used for headaches. Honey was used for wounds because it could help to keep them clean. Coughs and sore throats were treated with syrups made from honey, liquorice, or herbs like thyme. For stomach problems, they used mint and fennel. Some remedies actually worked.

Some remedies that were used by medieval apothecaries are still recognised today. Willow bark, for example, contains natural compounds that are similar to those used in aspirin for pain relief. Honey is still used to help sore throats and can also help with wound care. Herbs like mint, fennel, and chamomile are still commonly used to help with digestion, relaxation, and mild stomach discomfort.

As towns and cities started to grow during the High Middle Ages, the role of the apothecary became a lot more specialised. Rather than medicine being prepared just in monasteries or by local wise women, trained apothecaries began opening up shops. 

An apothecary’s job was to make and sell remedies. They created ointments, syrups and powders. 

Many apothecaries worked closely with physicians. In wealthier towns, a physician would often diagnose the patient and then decide what treatment was needed. The apothecary then prepared the medicine. But most ordinary people could not afford a physician and so the apothecary may well have been the first person they turned to.

Training to become an apothecary took years. Most learned as apprentices. They would have learned under experienced masters. They needed to be able to recognise hundreds of ingredients, understand how to measure and mix them correctly, and know how long remedies would keep before they spoiled. Mistakes could be dangerous even fatal.

During outbreaks of diseases like the Black Death, apothecaries would have had to face the fear and the danger, but they were often helpless to do anything about it.

Medieval apothecaries helped to lay the foundations for the modern pharmacy. 

Do you think that you would have trusted a medieval apothecary’s remedies?