During the course of editing Pascal Bonenfant’s Memoirs I have necessarily needed to do a considerable amount of research into life in 18th Century Britain in general and London in particular. This section of the site is to share some of that research with any who are interested.

The following are available and will be added to in due course:

Searchable Databases

Thieves’ Cant

Thieves’ Cant and Slang in Georgian London

• Main Page
• Database Search

The Newgate Calendar

Database of allegedly true stories of famous criminals in Newgate Prison.

• Main Page
• Database Search

18th Century Medicine

Medicine and medicinal recipes in the 18th century

• Main Page
• Pharmacopeia Indexes
• Database Search

London Business Directories

London business directory entries from the 18th century

• Main Page
• Database Search

Anecdotes from London's Clubs, Societies, Coffee Shops and Taverns

• Main Page
• Database Search

Boyle's Court Guide for 1817

• Main Page
• Database Search
• About the Guide

Compendia

London in 1731

Extracts from London in 1731 by Don Manoel Gonzales, published in 1745.

• Main Page
• Charity Schools
• Charterhouse School
• Christ's Hospital School
• College of Physicians
• London Food and Markets
• London Government
• London Hospitals
• Postal Service
• Royal Exchange
• Royal Society
• St Paul's Cathedral
• Tower of London
• Imports and Exports
• Westminster Abbey

England in 1782

Extracts from the letters of Pastor Charles Moritz in 1782

• Main Page
• The British Museum
• The Caves at Castleton
• Clothing
• Coach Travel
• Crime
• Education
• Food
• The Houses of Parliament
• A Night at the Theatre
• A Parliamentary Election
• Ranelagh
• Religion and the Clergy
• Rough Hospitality
• Vauxhall

People and Occupations

Pirates

The men and women who flew the Jolly Roger in the 18th century.

• Main Page
• Captain John Quelch : 1703-1704
• Captain Edward Teach (Blackbeard) : 1716-1718
• Major Stede Bonnet/Captain Thomas : 1717-1718
• Captain Bartholomew Roberts : 1720-1722
• Captain George Lowther : 1721-1722
• Captain John Phillips : 1723-1724
• Captain John Gow : 1724-1725
• Female Pirates (and Calico Jack)
• Pirates of the later 18th Century

Servants

Helpful advice for servant maids

• Main Page
• Going to Market
• Preparing Food
• Managing Linen for the Wash

Other Occupations

• General List of Occupations
• Covent Garden Ladies

More Stuff

• Budgets - what it costs to stay alive
• Coaching Inns - where and when coaches leave and where they go
• Coffee Houses - brief notes
• Coins and Banknotes
• Cost of Living
• Example of Draconian 18th Century Law
• Livery Companies
• Travel - what your journey will cost
• Wages - what you can expect to earn

The Epicure's Almanac or Diary of Good Living

• Main Page
• Complete Index
• Index in monthly format
• Author's Introduction

The Natural World

Natural phenomena in Georgian Britain.

• Main Page
• Earthquakes
• Phases of the Moon
• Weather