Currently, my editor has Book #2 in the Oliver & Jack series, and I thought it might be fun to share some of the research that I did for that book, mostly with fun pictures or maps. Nothing tedious that a reader might have to slog through because, as I have often been told, not too many people like to slog through the kinds of records that I do, with the tiny print and obscure references. That’s a rabbit hold I shouldn’t even go down, but I love to do it just the same.
At any rate, Book #2 takes place in Lyme Regis, England. I picked that location because I’ve actually been there and was impressed not only by the Jane Austen references (and who wouldn’t be!) but also by the rugged hilly landscape. It is this landscape, I believe, that gives this little village its charm and keeps it from being modernized. Sure, there’s a suburban sprawl all around it, but it all seemed very laid back to me during my visit.
One of my prized collections is this following picture. I call it Lyme Regis Pastoral, though at the bottom of the painting you can see faint traces of the artist and the date.
Now if you examine the painting (as I have, for hours) you can see the lovely green hills that bend into the bay, St. Michael’s church on the left, the Cobb toward the middle, and all the cute little houses in the village. When I looked at this picture, I asked myself which house was the one where Oliver and Jack would stay?
Naturally, I picked the biggest house in the center of the picture, having no idea at all how I’d be able to do anything more than to point at it.
Imagine my surprise while doing some research, to come across a map of Lyme Regis, back in the day, when I discovered that the name of the mansion was called Rhode Hill House.
And how do I know for sure? Because here is a picture of Rhode Hill House as it looks today.
And as you can see, there aren’t any other houses in the vicinity that have that distinctive late-Jacobean look about them.
Further research gave me the following background on the house. At the time my story takes place (Spring 1846) the house was owned by Sr John Talbot.
Wikipedia has this post about him:
Admiral the Honourable Sir John Talbot GCB (c. 1769 – 7 July 1851) was a senior British Royal Navy officer who served in the French Revolutionaryand Napoleonic Wars and was engaged in several prominent single ship actions, all of which were successful. Later, during the War of 1812, Talbot was engaged in blockading the Connecticut coast and following the war retired to his country seat, never returning to service.
Talbot never again took an active post in the Navy either at sea or on shore. He retired to his estate at Rhode Hill near Lyme Regis in Dorset and married Maria Julia Everard, daughter of Lord Arundell, with whom he would have two sons and five daughters. In 1815 he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath and in 1819 was promoted to rear-admiral. For the next thirty years, Talbot lived as a country gentleman, steadily advancing in rank until at his death in 1851 he was a full admiral and a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.[1]
Regarding the house, it has existed since the time of the Doomsday Book.
Since I respect a man who has so gallantly served his country, he does not have a cameo in this book. Instead, suffering from exposure to green arsenic paint, which was very popular at the time, he and the family have retired to Brighton for his health.
Word Count – Average 2,000 a day
Total for April – 45,176
Update: April 21, 2015. My school friend Barb Patrick reminded me about William Morris, who was a hug proponent and user of arsenic green in his wallpaper designs. He also, didja know, owned and managed Devon Great Consols, which was an arsenic mine. He was well aware of the dangers, since his workers came down with all kinds of diseases, but he dismissed peoples concerns and went on making loads of money. People used arsenic green to make all kinds of things, wallpaper, dresses, paint, everything. It wasn’t until the 1880’s that people, including Queen Victorian, began to realize the health dangers, and it became illegal to use. It’s a pity it was so harmful, because it did make the nicest green.
Arsenic was also in the very popular green flocked wallpaper made by William Morris. Morris owned a an arsenic mine and was very happy that people liked his green wallpaper.
Oh, yes, I’d forgotten about that! He had skin in the game and so used arsenic green a lot. I suspect he knew it was hurting people long before they made it illegal.
Arsenic poisoning is always a fun way to get historical figures to leave when you need them out of the way. Looking forward to “Oliver and Jack” ‘s release!
Thank you; I’m looking at a mid-summer release. I hope you enjoy it!
As for Sir John Talbot, I had wanted to make him the bad guy, but he really seemed too good and honorable, so he got a pass and a vacation in Brighton.
Hi,
Just stumbled on your site and noticed the reference to Rhode Hill. I live in Rhode Hill Stables, one of the old estate buldings now converted into a family home and tucked just behind the big house.
FYI the house shown in the old painting is not Rhode Hill House as we are a couple of miles outside Lyme whereas the one shown is in the middle of town.
Fascinated to learn you are basing your latest novel in and around the area. Look forward to its publication.
Thank you so much for writing! I love it that you live in the stables, converted over for a new use of housing a family. Buildings always last longer when there are people in them.
As for the location, you are definitely going to be more accurate than I, since during my last visit there we were mostly in the main part of town and on the beach and the Cobb for that day trip. I would have loved to have gone up into the hills and found Rhode Hill with my own two eyes! It’s such a beautiful building with the unique brickwork and distinctive chimney work. Plus, Sir Talbot! I wanted to make him the bad guy, but after doing even the briefest research on him, determined he was too good a person for that, so he got a vacation.
So, any idea what building I am looking at? I won’t bug you constantly for info, since this is fiction rather than non-fiction, but the chimney tops in the painting are rather distinctive and seem to match photographs of the house, but is there another building it might be? I kept thinking Middle Mill Farm might be a good candidate, but could find no pictures.
Thank you again for your comment and for your interest in the book.
Regards,
Christina
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-33769591.html
I wonder if it may be Haye House. It was recently on the market and you can see photos on the link above. The side view and chimneys look the same. It’s another fascinating place, steeped in history – perhaps some inspiration for your next novel?
The descendants of Sir John Talbot still live nearby, although sadly no longer in the big house. They will be pleased your story will be painting him in a good light.
Happy to help if I can and would love to know more about the history of this wonderful place. Have you seen this:-
http://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/108825.html
We are setting up a holiday rental business with luxury accommodation in our home so, if you are planning another visit, do let me know and you can stay in with us on the estate. 😉
I took at look at the Haye House and believe that you are right, that it must be the one in the painting, based on the location. I’m going to stick with Rhode Hill House because I’ve fallen in love with it, all that red brick and the sweeping grounds. As for your luxury accommodations, I am very tempted, esp based on your location, being near Lyme and on the grounds of Rhode Hill House! Will you have a website and/or a newsletter?
Eventually … We are not in any rush and still getting ourselves organised. Maybe Spring of 2016….. Best of luck with the novel and you are quite right to stick with your original use of Rhode Hill House. Let’s call it artistic licence …
Yes, lets. : D
I’ll keep my eye out for developments on your B&B.
I, too, stumbled upon your site. I lived in Rhode Hill main house and the stable block when it was a girls boarding school. The house was massive and housed some 200 girls aged 11 to 18, we had free run of the house and grounds. It’s a shame that it has been split into multi million pound properties, but I have fond memories of the old place.
That is amazing! I love the idea that it was a school at one point; how marvelous it must have been for you, with the red brick to shelter you and the green grounds to play in. I am always on the lookout for more about its history. When it becomes a B&B, it might be nice to go stay there.
Lovely to see the photo of that beautiful building..
In 1964 I went to Rhode Hill for a year when it was a Domestic Science School and my dormitory for 6 was the top bay window. The stable block was our laundry where we 16 year olds learnt how to iron with a flat iron, as well as very modern electric irons!!
The countryside was stunning and it was there I started reading Thomas Hardy books to get the feel of the place in older times.
I’m glad to hear the building has been preserved.
That is wonderful to hear! I love details like this, to know that the building was lived in and enjoyed, and never abandoned. What an amazing time you must have had living on the top floor with such a view. Thank you for telling me your story.
I stumbled across this whilst investigating where my great grandmother lived when she was in service around the end of the 1800’s, which was indeed Rhode Hill House. She was there for, we believe, around 2 years before she decided, together with a friend, to go to London. They both walked to London using only a small wooden cart to carry there belongings.
I would love to visit the house so Mark if you have some details of you B&B I would be very interested.
Thank you so much for commenting! I love the story about your great grandmother, and how she worked at Rhode Hill House. That really brings my research alive for me.
I too am looking forward to the day when it opens up as a B & B.
Best Regards,
Christina