A Victorian wedding was a most important celebration. The day was an important one, not only for the bride and groom, but also the bride’s mother – as she’d been preparing and planning for this day since her daughter first arrived in the world. When it came to Victorian weddings, EVERYTHING was important! The attire of the bride and groom … Read More
Murder mysteries – why we love them!
One of the most popular entertainment nights we host at Grim’s Dyke hotel, is our comedy Murder Mystery evenings. You get to enjoy a 3-course meal with wine, whilst also turning amateur sleuth, as you watch a full performance from a cast of 6 or 7 professional actors. But why do we British love a good murder mystery – especially as we didn’t even invent them? … Read More
The tradition of wedding favours
When it comes to cutting back on the expense of a wedding, the favours you give away to guests could be considered a ‘nice to have’ extra that can easily be cut out altogether – but that would be a huge mistake! The History of Wedding Favours Wedding favours have a long history and a significant one at that. You’re not … Read More
The changing role of Grim’s Dyke and other estates from the bygone era
Like any country house and estate in England, Grim’s Dyke has had its fair share of changes over the years. Originally designed and built in 1870’s by Richard Norman Shaw, Grim’s Dyke has had name and owner changes, conversions and additions to its original layout – but the biggest of those changes happened at the start of World War I. … Read More
Plant your own herb garden
Man has been using herbs, in the kitchen and for health-related reasons, for as long as history has been recorded. The Victorians in particular, loved to use herbs and flowers in their everyday lives – and no Victorian home was complete, without its own herb garden. Herbs such as Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme were the staple herbs of any Victorian kitchen, as is the case … Read More
Host your own dinner party – the W.S. Gilbert way!
Mrs Beeton’s Dinner table Setting During the Victorian era, Sir William Schwenck Gilbert and his wife, Lucy, hosted some amazing dinner parties at Grim’s Dyke. They were the talking point of local society, not least because the family lemurs often made an appearance! Victorian dinner parties were all about status, refinement and attention to detail – and Lady Gilbert excelled in these areas. If … Read More
What does your choice of wedding flower say?
It’s long been known that flowers can convey a hidden message, with each colour and variety holding a secret key. When it comes to picking your wedding bouquet flowers, for many, it can be a simple case of selecting the most suitable colours for your overall wedding colour scheme – but have you considered what your choice of wedding flower … Read More
How to look after your Roses
Lady Gilbert had her own rose garden in the grounds of Grim’s Dyke and women the world over love to receive them, but how many of us know how to really look after them – regardless of whether they are growing plants or cut flowers? Cut Roses You can tell roses are fresh, by gently squeezing where the petals join the stem … Read More
Gilbert & Sullivan: after the Savoy Operas
The Gilbert & Sullivan collaboration ran from 1871-1896. The duo produced a total of 14 Savoy Operas, but the relationship had reached breaking point, leading them to part company. W.S. Gilbert In the years that followed, Gilbert continued to write, even after he’d announced his retirement from the theatre. Gilbert’s first solo play was in 1897. Entitled ‘The Fortune Hunter’, it unfortunately … Read More
Architecture of the Gothic Revival
Originally, the word ‘Gothic’ was used as a derogatory statement, to illustrate architecture that ‘spoiled’ or ‘ruined’ the look of existing buildings – however, it went on to be a massive influence to the architects of the Victorian era, including the likes of Richard Norman Shaw, who went on to design Grim’s Dyke. The Gothic revival of the 18th and 19th Centuries, started in … Read More