Picnic Plethora

Summer is coming, and the days are calling for barbecues, grilling over the fire, and picnics. Eating out of doors was done in the early nineteenth century as well, but not always the way we might picture it.

As I was researching for this post, I ran across a number of excellent blogs, where my sister authors and other lovers of history had already covered picnics wonderfully well. So, I thought I’d share.

Maria Grace, Austen Variations, shares the origin of picnics, how they were treated in the Regency period, and even a menu.

Thither Jane Austen, a site for costuming and resources related to Jane Austen and her work offers another great set of recipes, and the pictures are to die for. I want to be on that hillside, right now!

The Jane Austen Centre in Bath describes details from the picnic scene in Emma.

Hampshire Cultural Trust has a lovely Jane Austen-inspired picnic pack you can download.

A few years ago Houghton Lodge Gardens, also in Hampshire, hosted a Regency picnic. Though the event is over, the pictures are delightful.

Okay, now I really must go find a blanket and a shady spot and dream of England.

Need a Picnic Hamper? Think Fortnum and Mason

Fortnum and Mason is an upscale department store, beloved by millions today. But its roots date back to before the Regency period, and our ladies and gentlemen of the nineteenth century would have been sure to make use of its offerings, especially the famous picnic hamper.

Established in 1707, when an enterprising footman from the household of Queen Anne and his landlord agreed to start a small shop in St. James’s Market, Fortnum and Mason catered to those travelling. One of their earliest innovations was the Scotch egg in 1738. The culinary delight consisted of a hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat and coated with deep fried breadcrumbs. I must admit I had never heard of it before researching for this blog post, but you can be sure it will find its way into one of my stories in the future!

One of the greatest needs was from the wealthy who had to travel long distances between their country estates and London. They also needed sustenance when travelling to horse races or out on their pleasure craft. Fortnum and Mason met these needs by stocking hampers with luxury travelling food like poultry in aspic jelly, game pie, cheeses, and fruit cake.

But their efforts extended beyond the wealthy. Fortnum and Mason had a soft spot for the military. They sent dried fruit and other preserves to the British army during the war with Napoleon. And they gave soldiers and sailors discounts on letterboxes—places to send and receive mail.

Fortnum and Mason is located on Piccadilly in London, as it has been since the late 1700s. Charles Dickens even shopped there. You can learn more about the amazing shop on their website. 

(Picture of the shop courtesy of Michel Wal and hampers courtesy of Matt Brown.)