tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post3400097868736314631..comments2023-10-12T02:21:40.102-07:00Comments on English Historical Fiction Authors: Fork handles? No, four candles...!Debra Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-64203702175315629572012-10-28T23:56:27.173-07:002012-10-28T23:56:27.173-07:00As far as I can see my ancestor never owned or use...As far as I can see my ancestor never owned or used oil lamps and there is no reference to them in his jottings.In the 18th century such lamps as there were were hardly improved from Roman times.It was only in 1784 that the Frenchman Argand added a glass chimney to the central draught lamp, and 1792 before William Murdoch began experimenting with gas lighting. The kerosene lamp didn't come into use until 1853, so for general household use candles were the only real alternative to natural lighting for most of the Georgian period. For that reason "early to bed...." was the best maxim to live by! Mike Rendellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17426662566641071103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-71759855245293755502012-10-28T08:52:03.180-07:002012-10-28T08:52:03.180-07:00Yes, Mike, it is lovely for awhile, but reading by...Yes, Mike, it is lovely for awhile, but reading by candlelight strains the eyes. I'm sure you are very pleased when the lights finally come back on. :D<br /><br />On another note, as you stated candles must have been expensive, and didn't last very long. Did you run across any journal entries on oil lamps? Their cost? Their lighting to read or write by? Thanks. Katherine Pymhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15807278372998263951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-53612723940556903572012-10-28T04:23:28.836-07:002012-10-28T04:23:28.836-07:00I imagine you got de-sensitized to the smell - to ...I imagine you got de-sensitized to the smell - to our noses it would be vile!I suspect the rushlights were used for basic lighting in dark corners rather than as an illumination for reading.Mind you, the gentle light given off by candles can be lovely as a change from the all-pervading modern electric light - something we are well aware of here in Spain, where I live, as we are forever getting power cuts!Mike Rendellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17426662566641071103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-90580735611962177822012-10-28T01:49:21.248-07:002012-10-28T01:49:21.248-07:00Very interesting - I guess those rush lights would...Very interesting - I guess those rush lights would have been as smelly as the tallow candles, what with being dipped in leftover fats... Sometimes we forget what a luxury it is to flick a switch and have light :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-36369514908596976362012-10-27T11:08:27.774-07:002012-10-27T11:08:27.774-07:00Great post, Mike! I, too found the Fortnum and Mas...Great post, Mike! I, too found the Fortnum and Mason connection interesting. I'm guessing they don't have cheap candles as I was just there and they wanted upward of 50 pounds for Christmas crackers. :)Sandra Byrdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02507129006313762319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-72516220816422765062012-10-27T06:08:12.884-07:002012-10-27T06:08:12.884-07:00Well you would certainly need to have quite some b...Well you would certainly need to have quite some business acumen to make a go of a business through all of life's vicissitudes over three centuries! Yes, interesting to see such humble beginnings. Next time I am there I will ask if they have any half-used candles going cheap...Mike Rendellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17426662566641071103noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-31069341802437165652012-10-27T01:17:33.088-07:002012-10-27T01:17:33.088-07:00So interesting! Thanks for that - who would have ...So interesting! Thanks for that - who would have thought that the great Fortnum and Mason grew from such humble beginnings! Vintage Maisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00929038050028476580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-78253772550014107592012-10-27T01:02:32.798-07:002012-10-27T01:02:32.798-07:00Another great post! So pleased William Fortnum (wh...Another great post! So pleased William Fortnum (what an enterprising chap!) sold on those half-used candles. Otherwise, what a waste! A form of early recycling. Thanks for sharing!<br />Lucinda Branthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09773969616612019527noreply@blogger.com