Homes and Haunts: Visting Writers’ Shrines and Countries.
Reassessing Romanticism. She has co-authored with
1841-6: letters (34) fromElizabeth Barrett Browning .
a synthetic collection consisting of manuscripts, correspondence, and portraits of the author.10 letters in the Pforzheimer Collection, to
Book History in a Digital Age,she worked on a class project to edit the sonnets from Mitford’s Dramatic Scenes, Sonnets, and Other Poems (1827).
Book History in a Digital Age,she worked on a class project to edit the sonnets from Mitford’s Dramatic Scenes, Sonnets, and Other Poems (1827).
the Bodysand mentions
Mrs. Body. We know that one member of the Body family is
new seriesreprinted edition of
line ofthat is, the descendants ofJacob ,
Joliffeand
Jolliffe. Associated with
Newberyand
Newberry, although the first is preferred.
Society for Promoting the Arts of Design,a society that would sponsor an annual exhibition (later the Summer Exhibition) as well as a School of Design (later the Royal Academy Schools.) Thirty-four founding members were elected; today, the society elects no more than eighty members at one time as Royal Academicians (Members of the Royal Academy, RA). During Mitford’s time, the Royal Academy was housed at
Scribleruspseudonyms.
A.R.W.
Mr. Abbott. In 1833, he opened the
Mr. Addison. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Mr. Aitken. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.
is my countrywoman,, that is, a neighbor. Later in
the prettiest, silliest, most affected, husband-hunting butterfly she ever remembers, but that Jane was by the 1810s extremely quiet, which impressed Mitford:
tillSource:Pride and Prejudice showed what a precious gem was hidden in that unbending case, she was no more regarded in society than a poker or a fire-screen, or any other thin upright piece of wood or iron that fills its corner in peace and quietness. The case is very different now; she is still a poker--but a poker of whom every one is afraid. It must be confessed that this silent observation from such an observer is rather formidable. Most writers are good-humoured chatterers--neither very wise nor very witty:—but nine times out of ten (at least in the few that I have known) unaffected and pleasant, and quite removing by their conversation any awe that may have been excited by their works. But a wit, a delineator of character, who does not talk, is terrific indeed!
his catamite and bed-fellow.In 1845 (during Mitford's lifetime), this passage was published for the first time.
Mr. Baker. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Will no one rid me of this meddlestome priest?,thereby calling for Becket's assassination without literally ordering it. Becket was canonized by the Roman Catholic Church as a saint in 1173.
Mr. Bender. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
for importuning a young male servant at Spa in August 1825Source: ODNB. He had been travelling in Italy after the deaths of a son and daughter from consumption in 1824, and remained in exile with his wife until his death in 1836.
Mrs. Bennettand sometimes catalogued as
Agnesrather than Anna. Mitford read her
Mr. Bennett. Retired from acting in 1862. Said to have inaugurated a new, more sympathetic and serious style of playing
Mr. Bennett. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Berghem.
a large family followed;
large familyis crossed out in pencil, and he has written
several children. In an attempt to establish the original for the story character,
And Did Those Feet..., which since the First World War has been popularized as a song. Until the mid-Victorian era, Blake's work was not widely known or was dismissed as the product of mental illness.
Mr. Bland. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
farmerresiding in
gentlemanin Reading directories. Buried
the wife of John Brenton
a fit. Elsewhere among
little Eliza. On each occasion, she is noting her third and fourth birthdays. In the story from
shopkeeperoccupation.
Mrs. Disciplinein letters of
A Mother.
as obscure as one ofLord Castlereagh 's explanations.
The play is wretchedly constructed, with some powerful scenes, many passages of power and considerable effect in the sketch of Cromwell's character, which, deserving first-rate support, was consigned to the murderous Mr. Cathcart--a very poor pretender indeed.Source:
Mr. Cathcart. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Mr. Chalk. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
new sermons(likely his
the martyr of the people,was executed outside the Banqueting House at Whitehall that had been designed by Inigo Jones for James I. A week after his execution, he was quietly buried at Windsor and the monarchy was abolished. Charles I is the apocryphal author of the
Mr. Chippendale. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
columns of musicalforgossip
the most prolific of all its reviewers,according to the ODNB. Reviewed
both men of headstrong passion--zealous partisans, vindictive enemies, fascinating companions--both great bullies--& as I suspect both great cowards.
talked of books with tasteand with that
wide range which is my delight--old books--odd books--rare boooks. The letter suggests she met Mrs. Coffin on a
little Collins. Acted under
Mr. Collins. According to 1806
died during the run of the comedy. An 1804 biographical sketch in the
Mr. Comer. orename unknown. Dates unknown.
,_Duchess_of_St_Albans_by_Sir_William_Beechey.jpg){kind=link}
Anna Matildawith
Della Crusca) and
Laura Maria, among others. Della Cruscan publisher
English Republican military leader, politician, and dictator. The effective protagonist of Mitford’s play
ecclesiastical tyranny and usurpation.During the
After the
The dandy
Culpepperin her journal and letters, the majority of legal documents spell the name as
Culpeper.
Culpepperin her journal and letters.
Carteretta Cornelia. Her date of death is unknown; more research needed.
a particularly ugly, noisy pug, that barked at every body that came into the house, and bit at most.
neighboring meadownear
Mr. Debar. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Mr. Doyne. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Lived with her family on
Drummond of Hawthornden, Drummond was a Scottish lyric poet with royalist sympathies. He is one of the sixteen poets and writers whose heads appear on the
Duckinfieldor
Dakinfield. name.
Miss Duncan from Edinburghat
Chard, is derived from her maternal lineage; Grace’s maternal grandmother was born Mary Chard. Grace Elford remained unmarried and later came to reside with her sister
rotten boroughwhose interest Lopes had purchased from
Waldron; however, she is not to be confused with the American Elizabeth Waldron (1780 to 21 July 1853). Her birthdate is not given in any standard nineteenth-century reference sources, but is likely to be before 1780.
Jane Mary. Additional research needed.
According to
Elford worked as a banker at Plymouth Bank (Elford, Tingcombe and Purchase)
in
He
married his first wife,
Mr. Emery.
Mrs. Faucit. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Mrs. Fisher. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
protegeof Mitford's (279).
Mr. Fleming. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
married(i.e., mated) to Mitford's dog
The English Aristophanes. He wrote
Mr. Forrester. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Venetian author and playwright who spent the last years of his life in England in the 1820s, in exile from Austrian rule.
In her Journal on
is now inEng : writing for theQuarterly .
Born of a Venetian father and a Greek mother, Foscolo spent most
of his early years in
Mrs. Geesin. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Best known for writing
Mrs. Grahamand references her travel publications,
Mr. Green. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
a very pleasant woman. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
First Lieutenant of the late Venezuela Artillery Brigade. According to a University of Kansas cataloguer, he served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars and later in Venezuela. The archive contains a letter written from 55 Great Queen Street, Lincoln's Inn, in London, to a Mr. Walter. Dates unknown. Source: WorldCat.
He is the most delightful critic in the [world]-- puts all his taste, his wit, his deep thinking, his matchless acuteness into his subject, but he does not put his whole heart & soul into it [. . . ] What charms me most inMr. Haslitt is the beautiful candour which he bursts forth sometimes from his own prejudices [ . . . ] I admire him so ardently that when I begin to talk of him I never know how to stop. I could talk on for an hour in a see saw of praise and blame as he himself does ofBeaumont &Fletcher & some of his old [favourites].
Miss Henry. Forename unknown.
Lieutenant William Heude, of the Madras Military Establishment.
Mr. Horrebow. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
about my Carnations which she stole. Possibly the mother or wife of
the Apothecary,a radical M.P. who represented Aberdeen in the House of Commons from 1818 as part of a network of radical leadership over the next thirty years. Criticized the government's role in
An exceptionally well-educated and self-assured early modern woman whose literary achievements are extremely significant. Her works include the first complete English translation of Lucretius's controversial Epicurean poem
Born Lucy Apsley, the daughter of Sir Allen Apsley, Lieutenant of the Tower of London. In 1638 she fell mutually in love with and married Sir John Hutchinson. While he fought on the
As the critic
the droll boy who lived at. Possibly a young servant. Surname unknown. Dates unknown. Source: Journal.Mr. Body 's 2 years ago & then went toLondon
independent means;in the 1851 census, as
landholder;in the 1861 census, she as
railway shareholder.
one of those delightful old men that render age so charming--mild playful kind & wise--talking just asIsaac Walton would have talked if we were to [have] gone out fishing with him.
John Johnson, esq.and gives his date of death as 5 April 1821. See
[Died] April 5 . . . John Johnson, esq. of Seymour-court, near Great Marlow, a celebrated member of the Hampden Club, and author of various political letters, &c., under the signature of Timothy Trueman(381). The
author of various political letters and essays in Mr. B. Flower’s(314).Political Register and other periodical works, under the signature of Timothy Trueman
Jackor
IrishJohnstone. Performed at Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin; and
corrected some poofs of Mrs. Joliffe’s little Tales(as yet untraced in our research). Frequently mentioned as a correspondent in the Journal.
Mr. C. Jones. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Doraor
DollyJordan; she adopted the name
Mrs. Jordanin the 1780s as a stage name. Courtesan and longtime mistress of
Miss Josephine. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
FannyKemble was a member of the Kemble acting clan, the daughter of
Mr. Kerridge. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
,plain Ben
, orBen Emmery
. Source:Dick
Son of John and Sarah Kirby, and brother of
Captain of the [French] Royal Geographical Engineers, Ex-Officer of the Ordnance of Prince Eugene, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, and of the Iron Crown. Mitford read his
Miss Lacy. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Lovejoy's Library.
Mr. Lee. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Mr. T. Lee. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Mr. Ley. Forename unknown. Dates unknown. Active 1810s to 1830s.
Mr. Liston.
Bluestocking,and the
Republican Virago.Her politics were Whig, reformist, and anti-Catholic, and they became increasingly radical in her later years, when she attacked the writings of
To William Charles Macready, Esq., with high esteem for those endowments which have cast new lustre on his art; with warm admiration for those powers which have inspired, and that taste which has fostered the tragic dramatists of his age; with heartfelt gratitude for the zeal with which he befriended the production of a stranger, for the judicious alterations which he suggested, and for the energy, the pathos, and the skill with which he more than emhodied its principal character; this tragedy is most respectfully dedicated by the author.
Maddison. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Mahometis also the spelling used by Voltaire in his 1735 play, with which Mitford may have been familiar.)
Meta. Paternal surname unknown. Dates unknown.
James May, attorney, Friar Street, Readingaccording to
the Magistrates’ Clerk. Dates unknown.
Mr. Mears. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Mr. Mildenhall. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
blue all sprinkled with little white spots just like a starry nightin her
Father of Midford
. Immediate family called him by nicknames including Drum
, Tod
, and Dodo
. He was a member of a minor branch of the Mitfords of Mitford Castle in Northumberland. Although later sources would suggest that he was a graduate of the University of Edinburgh medical school, there is no evidence that he obtained a medical degree and he did not generally refer to himself as Dr. Mitford
, preferring to style himself Esq.
. In surgeon (medicine)
of
He married
Captain Osbaldeston. He was a talented amateur artist, and learned engraving from
pretty little Spaniel with long curling hair--so white & delicate & ladylike.
Patriotshoemaker,
Mr. and Mrs. M. and dear B.. (
Dear B.would be their son,
celebrated shoemakeris Mr. Warry, possibly Joseph Source:
Mr. and Mrs. M. and dear B.. (
Dear B.would be their son,
group of women following Montagu’s salon. In theBluestocking
Sunday Schoolsto teach reading.
Mossywas a nickname for
Moss Trooper.
authoress,and lists her as living at
Mr. Mude. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Jacob Newberry, attorney, of 35 Great Queen Street Lincoln’s Inn Fields [London] and Friar Street, Reading(#17, p. 109, note 32). Mentioned as a Reading solicitor of Mitford's acquaintance in John Mitchell's
Master Norman. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
a great(Devonshire reformer, one of the bad epic poets and very pleasant men in which that country abounds
what a man! How loud & shrewd & full of himself & sharp all over from his eagle nose to his pointed hook toe! What a perpetual sky rocket bouncing starting & flaming! What a talker against time! Well might. Mitford may not have seen the poem, since it was published in Baltimore, MD. Northmore's poem was entitledMr. Hobhouse call himthe gentleman who came all the way from Devonshire to tell us that he was a great man at home.And he is a Poet too. Has written an Epic, which must have appeared incognito–for I never remember to have heard it mentioned in my life. An Epic Poem aboutWashington
O’Keeffeand
O’Keefe. In
O’Keefe, although the more accepted spelling is
O’Keeffe.
Miss O'Neill. Later Lady Becher: married Mr., afterwards Sir William Wrixon Becher, an Irish Member of Parliament who was later created a baronet.
Mrs. Orger. Source: The Biography of the British Stage. 187-188.
M.A. [and] Chaplain to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and Rector of Castlecromer. Dates uncertain.
Otto the Illustrious;historical figure who is the subject of
Charles Fyshe Palmer was the son of
A Whig politician, Palmer began running for Parliament elections as the
member for vastly
like a mop-stick, or, rather, a tall hop-pole, or an extremely long
fishing-rod, or anything that is all length and no substance.
Mitford also mentions Palmer in connection with a legal issue surrounding
Madelinaand
Madalina, although
Madelinaappears to be the more common and standard spellling of the name, as an anglicization of the French Madeline. For more on the Palmers, see note 2 in The Browning’s Correspondence rendering of
heard of poor dearin her Journal entry onMr. Perry 's death
Miss Phillips. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Miss Pincott. The wife of actor Alfred Wigan, she later appeared as
Mrs. Wigan.
A Solider of the 71st, or Glasgow Regiment, Highland Light Infantry, 1806-1815. The regiment fought in the Peninsular Wars from the Battle of Rolica to Waterloo under General Francis Dundas. Dates unknown.
cousin, who offers her the position of companion, but she refuses to leave
an age of fine spiritsand
noble daring,when such men
must have purified the very air.(See
Golden Age. Best known for his portraits in oil, particularly his many self-portraits, he also painted landscapes and narratives, including biblical and mythological scenes. He was also a skilled printmaker, employing etching as well as dry point techniques. See The Met’s Rembrandt site at
Vicar of Kensington, and Christian Advocate in the University of Cambridge..
breechesparts, mentored by
styled herself Mrs. Rowden(1860: 148). Rowden wrote poetry, including
New Year’s dayas the date of her death.
Mr. Selby. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
I had grown up--it is the privilege of English people to grow up--in the worship ofShakespeare , and many of his favourite scenes I literally knew by heart.
Mrs. Siddons. Her most famous role was
cousins of the tragedian's [(7th ser., 6, 28 July 1888: 76). Henrietta is likely to be theWilliam Macready 's] mother.
Hettamentioned in Macready's diaries. Source: Letter from
Downton, WilliamDNB. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
L.A.C. Bombet.
Bricklayer and beer retailer of
Sacharissaby poet
On the 17th, convicted of bribery at an election for the borough of Penrhyn, in Cornwall, was sentenced to be confined in the King's Bench Prison for one year.See
The eldest daughter of
Thomas and Rachel had five children: Francis, Mary, Katharine, Thomas Noon
[II], and William Wordsworth. In 1832, the family lived at 26 Henrietta
Street, St Andrew, Holborn and St George the Martyr, Bloomsbury. In 1837,
they lived at 56 Russell Square, St. George, Bloomsbury. On May 1, 1843,
Rachael and the five children were all baptized into the Church of England.
After the death of her husband, she lived at Margate, Kent, where she died
on
Close friend, literary mentor, and frequent correspondent of
Talfourd’s literary works include his plays
clerk in holy orders.Since he disappears from English census records after 1861, reappearing in 1891, and gives his son Arthur Harry Edmund’s birthplace as Isipingo, Natal, South Africa (then a British colony), it seems possible that he emigrated to South Africa between those dates, then returned to England. Further research needed.
Mr. Thomas. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Mr. Thompson. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Tuckermann.
his Brittanic Majesty’s Counsul at the Court of Tripoly,who edited her correspondence.
bound apprentice to a freeman of London, Humphrey Gregory Pridden,a printer. He was admitted a Liveryman of the Stationer’s Company in London in
Richard Valpy (the fourth of that name) was the eldest son of Richard Valpy
[III] and Catherine Chevalier. He was a friend and literary mentor to
Richard Valpy was married twice and had twelve children, eleven of whom
lived to adulthood. His first wife was
Mr. Warde. Tragedian who appeared at
our celebrated shoemaker & Patriotin a
gentlemanin the
Aunt Mary
Uncle John,uncle to Eliza and Mary Webb and younger brother to James Webb.
Mr. J. Webster. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Mrs. Webster. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Mr. G. Williams. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Blacksmith recorded by no place,
and his name does not appear in the 1854
edition of the Directory. Source:
Windsor paper man.Presumably the editor or proprietor of the
Mr. Yarnold. Forename unknown. Dates unknown.
Miss Yates. Forename unknown. Possibly the daughter of
Mr. Young. Rival of
Mr. Younge. Forename unknown. Dates unknown. Not identical with well-known lead actor
half a dozen ragged urchins,including
paintedcosmetics: hence, the phrase,
a painted Jezebel.
traitor.
adversary.
respectable tradesman.Surname not given.
a follower of Erizzo.played by
, as reported in theold Cook 's misconduct
a lover, or sectator, of shadows.
character in
Mrs., she is unmarried. Surname not given.
Character in
the very name is as stiff as poker,in a letter to Elford from
female Sir Charles Grandison.
pretty white cottage.His son,
hedge schoolmasterin
blind Robert. Full name not given.
opposite neighbour,suggesting a proximity of residence to the family. Proper name not given.
delightful placewith
enchanting Cartoons, which included an impressive self-portrait of
Hollandgradually become colloquial for
the Netherlands,and today the two geographic entities are frequently conflated.
Went with dear.Drum to London (Mr. Newbery 's, 33 Great Queen Street, which we had all to ourselves)
went to Overtonon
saw a young ladyfrom here named
new churchin 1827.
Whitehall,used without specific reference to the palace, refers metonymically to the centers of power of the English government, including the monarchy and parliament. Literally, Whitehall is a road in
-
common European adder Vipera berus berus Vipera Viperidae common European viper cross adder Venomous snake widespread throughout Eurasia and the UK. They are not particularly dangerous to humans; they are not aggressive and bites are seldom fatal. Also called the cross adder
for the diamond patterns on its back, although melanated individuals may appear entirely brown-black with no visible patterning. One of three snakes native to the UK; the other two are nonvenmous: the barred grass snake and the smooth snake. They have adapted to a wide range of land habitats such as meadows, rough commons and hedgerows, and the edges of woodlands, although they require complex habitats to support basking, hunting for small mammals, amphibians, and insects; protection from predators, and hibernation. The name is derived from the generic word forserpent
in Germanic languages, the same term used for snakes and the Devil in the Old Testament. The myth of thedeaf adder
has its source in Psalms 58: 4 and became proverbial for someone willfully refusing to hear by the early 17th century. -
ant Lasius niger Lasius Formicidae black garden ant common black ant Small, mostly wingless social insect. Symbolic of hard work, prudence, and foresight in Aesop 's fable,The Grasshopper and the Ant . -
Arabian horse Equus ferus caballus Equus Equidae A breed known for its stamina and athleticism, as well as its fine bone structure, arched neck, and highly-carried tail, were developed on the Arabian peninsula. The breed likely arrived in Europe around the time of the Crusades, as spoils of war, and became part of state and royal studs. James I introduced the breed to England in 1616 and others were imported in the 18th century to create modern racing breeds such as the English thoroughbred. Marengo, Napoleon's war horse, was an Arabian. Europeans travelling to the middle East in the 19th century began intensively collecting Arabians. -
bee Apis Social insect collecting nectar to produce wax and honey. Both honeybees and bumblebees are common in the UK. Proverbial for busy and diligent workers, as in the Isaac Watts poem, Against Idleness and Mischief. -
common blackbird Turdus merula Turdus Turdidae Eurasian blackbird Medium-sized black member of the thrush family, with a yellow-orange bill and distinctive yellow ring around its eye. Widely distributed across Eurasia and North Africa; unrelated to New World blackbirds. -
butterfly Mitford mentions seeinga most beautiful butterfly
in the grounds near her home in her Journal on19 September 1819 . Insect of the order Lepidoptera with two pairs of large wings that are covered with tiny scales, usually brightly colored, and typically held erect when at rest. -
cat Felis catus Felis Felidae Now, as in Mitford 's time, cats may be classed as domestic (kept as companion animals and for indoor pest control), farm (kept outdoors and in barns or even on ships for rodent control), or feral (wild). Domesticated around 7500 B.C. in Western Asia and likely brought to England by the Romans or other early traders. While frequently kept for rodent control, cats did not become common companion animals in England until the eighteenth century. British Shorthair and Scottish fold breeds are considered to have originated in the UK. Around 1819,the Mitfords owned a tabby namedPoll and a long-haired white cat nameSelim , likely a Turkish Angora. -
chicken Gallus domesticus Gallus Phasianidae Domesticated birds kept as livestock and used for meat, eggs, and feathers. Descended from species of Southeast Asian wild junglefowl. First domesticated for ceremonial use and cockfighting, then kept for food in the Middle East and then in Europe, beginning about the 4th century B.C. -
cow cattle Bos taurus Bos Bovidae Large domesticated grazing animal raised as livestock for meat, milk, or hides. Cow
is the term for female cattle andbull
for males, although both are commonly referred to ascows
. Also used as draught animals (called oxen) to pull carts or plows. One of the earliest domesticated animals, descended from two separate areas, one in the Near East (Turkey and northern Syria) and one in modern-day Pakistan. Many modern-day breeds are descended from cattle exported from the UK to the rest of the world between the l7th and early 20th century, including: Aberdeen Angus, Ayrshire, Belted Galloway, Blue Grey, Devon, Dexter, British White, British Friesian, English Longhorn, Gloucester, Guernsey, Hereford, Jersey, Kerry, and Shorthorn. -
cricket Gryllus campestris Gryllus Gryllidae European field cricket A dark-colored flightless cricket found in dry grasslands and heathlands. In Mitford's time, common in the UK and Western Europe; currently the most endangered cricket in the UK, due to habitat loss, mainly surviving in southern England. Scaly crickets and several species of bush crickets are also found in the UK. Symbolically associated with good luck. Mitford generally uses the simple termcricket
. -
common cuckoo Cuculus canorus Cuculus Cuculidae European cuckoo Migratory medium-sized blue-gray bird with long tail and wings that arrives in the UK in early spring. They are brood parasites who lay their eggs in the nest of other birds; they became proverbial for usurpers. Wordsworth published a poemTo Cuckoo in 1807. -
deer Cervidae Medium-sized hoofed mammals. Scottish red and roe deer are native to the UK, and European fallow deer are believed to the have been introduced by the Normans--all three species would have been extant in Mitford's time. -
fallow deer Cervus dama Dama Cervidae European fallow deer A medium-sized animal with light red-brown fur, paler rump and tail, and branching antlers. Native to Turkey and likely also the Italian and Balkan peninsulas, spread throughout Europe by the Romans and imported into the UK with the Normans and then naturalized. Widespread throughout the southern UK and considered part of a different genus than the red deer or roe deer. The male is called a buck
and the female adoe
. Hunted and farmed for meat (venison), hair, hide, and antlers, they may also be kept in deer parks. An adaptable species that can survive on smaller tracts of woodland, they are now found even within urban greenspace, such as parks and cemeteries. Scottish red and roe deer are both native to the UK. -
red deer Cervus elaphus Cervus Cervidae Scottish red deer Large deer with dark, red-brown fur, paler rump and tail, and branching antlers. Native to the UK. Red deer are now considered a species group rather than a single species, one prevalent throughout Europe that likely originated in Asia. The male is called a stag
orhart
and the female ahind
. Hunted and farmed for meat (venison), hair, hide, and antlers, they may also be found in deer parks. Scottish red and roe deer are both native to the UK, and European fallow deer are believed to the have been introduced by the Normans--all three species would have been extant in Mitford's time. -
roe deer Capreolus capreolus Capreolus Cervidae European roe western roe deer The most common deer in the UK, a medium-sized animal with light red-brown fur, paler rump and tail, and branching antlers. Native to the UK. Common throughout Eurasia and considered part of a different genus than red or fallow deer. The male is called a buck
and the female adoe
. Hunted and farmed for meat (venison), hair, hide, and antlers, they may also be kept in deer parks. An adaptable species that can survive on smaller tracts of woodland, they are now found even within urban greenspace, such as parks and cemeteries. Scottish red and roe deer are both native to the UK. -
dog Canis familiaris Canis Canidae domestic dog First animal species to be domesticated, before the developmment of farming, by hunter-gatherers more than fifteen thousand years ago. Descended from an ancient, now-extinct wolf species. Modern dog breeds were codified beginning in the late 19th century, with the rise of dog shows and set breed standards. Before that time, dogs were classified by appearance or function and any such may now be considered landrace , traditional, or heritage breeds. More than 50 named dog breeds originated in the UK. Breeds extant during the first half of the nineteenth century include: many terrier breeds in a range of sizes and coat types, originally bred to hunt vermin; several hounds, hunting dogs used to track or chase prey, such as the scenthounds (bloodhounds, harriers, fox hounds) and the sighthounds (greyhound, Irish Wolfhound, Scottish deerhound); mastiffs such as the English bulldog, Bullmastiff and English mastiff, used in blood sports and as guard dogs; sporting dogs used in bird hunting, such as setters and pointers; and many spaniels, including the Cavalier King Charles, Clumber, Sussex, English springer and English cocker spaniels. Now-extinct predecessor breeds include: Staghound, Buckhound, Talbot hound, Old English Bulldog, Norfolk and Tweed water spaniels, Black and Tan terrier, Cumberland sheepdog, English cur or drover's dog, Curley-coated retriever, English water spaniel, and English white terrier. Most so-called extinct breeds actually contributed bloodlines subsumed by later breeds. -
donkey Equus africanus asinus Equus Equidae Domestic animal descended from the African wild ass, mostly used as draught or pack animals. In the UK, used as recreational mounts at seaside resorts. Spread throughout the Roman empire. Before the 1780s, called asses
; the term may have changed to avoid vulgar connotations with similar-sounding terms likearse
. -
dove Columbidae Streptopelia Columbidae During the 19th century, four types of doves and pigeons were found in Britain: the stock dove , therock dove , or feral species of the domestic pigeon, and theturtle dove , as well as thewood pigeon . Domesticated pigeons such as carrier, homing, and racing pigeons are species of the rock dove. In Britain, thewood pigeon is hunted as a game bird and domesticated pigeons were also used as food. In the ancient world, doves were associated with goddesses of love, sexuality, and maternity, such as Inanna Ishtar and Aphrodite. Doves carry symbolic significance in both the Old and New Testaments of the Hebrew Bible: in Genesis in the story of Noah and the ark as a symbol of peace and deliverance, in the Song of Songs as a term of endearment, and in Matthew as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Doves were also acceptable burnt offerings and came to symbolize peace in early Christianity. Later literary and artistic references often draw on this association of white doves with peace, deliverance, and spiritual gifts, and are representations of the rock dove, which is highly variable in color, ranging from white to shades of grey and pale brown. -
dragonfly Predatory flying insect common to wetlands in temperate climates such as the UK. Part of an order (Odonata) that also includes damselflies. In the UK, there are 36 dragonfly species (Anisoptera) and 21 damselflies (Zygoptera). -
wild duck mallard Anas platyrhynchos Anas Anatidae Large dabbling duck with yellow-orange bill and dark blue and white wing tips, native to Eurasia, North Africa, and North America. Females are shades of brown, and males have a green head, purplish breast, and grey body. This wild species is the ancestor of most domestic ducks. They are the most commonly-hunted duck and have been a food source since ancient times. Mitford generally uses the termwild duck
rather thanmallard . -
earwig Forficula auricularia Forficula Dermaptera common earwig Dark brown crawling insect with back pincers and lighter brown legs and folded leathery wing cases which were thought to resemble human ears. Hide in dark and damp places such as under rocks, flowerpots, and tree bark. Generally harmless, they can be considered pests since they feed on some flowering plants and pantry foodstuffs; however, they are also beneficial in gardens in that they eat destructive smaller insects such as greenfly that attack plants. -
European ferret Mustela putorius Mustela Mustelidae European polecat Carnivorous mammal native to Eurasia, North Africa, and the UK. Shorter and stouter than related species like weasels or stoats, it is dark brown with a dark mask and lighter underbelly and defends its territory by spraying a malodorous liquid. Domesticated for hunting vermin and hunted for pelts. In 18th and 19th century England, Scotland and Wales, were eradicated by gamekeepers and bounty hunters, who believed them to be a nuisance animal dangerous to poultry stock. Traditionally hunted in Britain in spring with mixed packs of dogs. -
flea A type of insect that typically bites animals and humans. -
glow-worm Lampyris noctiluca Lampyris Lampyridae A nocturnal beetle found throughout Europe and Asia, a member of the bioluminescent family of insects commonly called lightning bugs orfireflies . The female forms are wingless, and thus became known asworms . Found in old-growth meadows, verges, hedgerows, and heaths, peaking in June and July. A favorite subject for poets from at least the early-modern period; in Mitford's time, a common subject, particularly for sonnets, by authors who include Charlotte Smith, Anna Maria Porter, William Wordsworth, and John Clare. -
goat Capra hircus Capra Bovidae Domestic grazing animals kept for their milk, meat, and skins. One of the earliest domesticated animals, descended from the wild goat found in Eastern Europe and in Southwest Asia. Males are called billygoats
and femalesnannygoats
. -
golden beetle Coccinella Coccinella septempunctata Coccinellidae seven-spot ladybird golden bug Despite the common name, likely the common red ladybird. -
goose Anser anser domesticus Anser Anatidae domestic goose Large domestic waterfowl raised as poultry. Kept for their eggs, meat, and feathers, they may also be used as guard or watch animals. One of the earliest domesticated birds. In Europe, domestic breeds descend from the wild greylag goose. -
grasshopper Orthoptera Insect of the order of Orthoptera with large head, chewing mouthparts, and large hind legs for jumping. Fourteen types of grasshoppers and groundhoppers are found in the UK. The most common are the woodland, common green, field, meadow, and rufous grasshoppers. Symbolic of laziness and lack of prudence and foresight in Aesop 's fable,The Grasshopper and the Ant .Mitford generally uses the simple termgrasshopper
. -
greyhound Canis familiaris Canis Canidae A sighthound
originally bred for coursing game using their acute vision, agility, and speed. Later employed as a sporting dog for racing. A tall, shorted-haired slender dog with long muzzle, legs and tail, and a characteristicS-shaped
body. May have a variety of coat colors including blue (grey), white, black, red, light tan (fawn) or black; and may also have patterned markings such as spots or brindle coats. Traditionally leashed in pairs for coursing and in groups of three for other types of hunting. English greyhouds may have been imported into Europe and the UK with the Romans. TheWebbs bred greyhounds and coursed hares with them with theMitfords . TheMitford family owned many greyhounds, includingMay-Fly ,Mossy , andMiranda . -
domestic guineafowl Numida meleagris Numida Numididae The helmeted guineafowl, native to subSaharan Africa, is also raised domestically as a game bird for meat and eggs. Males are called roosters
and females are calledhens
. -
brown hare Lepus europaeus Lepus Leporidae European hare Hares and jackrabbits are wild members of the rabbit family. Brown hares are small, furry mammals with golden brown fur with white underbellies and tails and black-tipped ears. They have longer ears and more powerful legs than European rabbits and live alone or in pairs, rather than in groups. Thought to be introduced into Britain from Eurasia with the Romans or earlier. -
hornet Vespa crabro Vespa Vespidae European hornet Large nesting wasp native to Eurasia and southern England, transported into North America in the nineteenth century. Also called yellowjackets . -
horse Equus ferus caballus Equus Equidae Domesticated horse; different breeds are all considered of the same species. There are seventeen breeds of horses and ponies considered native to the UK, including the English thoroughbred, a racing and riding breed descended from Arabian stock; the Hackney, a trotter; and Clydesdales and Shires, bred for heavy pulling and farm work. The stud book for UK horses is kept by Weatherbys. -
common kingfisher Alcedo atthis Alcedo Alcedinidae Small blue and orange bird with a large head pointed beak; frequents riparian areas and feeds on small fish and other invertebrates. Widely distributed across Eurasia and North Africa. -
lark In the UK, the lark family includes the woodlark , theskylark , and theshore lark . In Britain, the termlark conventionally refers to theskylark . Because of its habit of singing early in the morning, proverbial for early rising, and symbolic of happiness. -
leech A type of blood-sucking worm that was often used for medical treatment in a process known as bloodletting. -
long-tailed wren Spelaeornis Spelaeornis chocolatinus Timaliidae Naga wren-babbler The Naga wren-babbler or long-tailed wren-babbler (Spelaeornis chocolatinus), a bird species in the family Timaliidae. -
mongrel dog Canis familiaris Canis Canidae Term used in the UK for mixed or indeterminate breed dogs. -
Newfoundland dog Canis familiaris Canis Canidae Landseer Large, muscular working dog with a thick coat and webbed feet. Developed in eastern Canada to assist fishermen, they are genetically related to Irish water spaniels, Labrador retrievers, and Curly-Coated retrievers. Landseer or European Continental Type
dogs with black and white coats, named for the English artist, also exist, and may be a separate breed. Sweet-tempered and loyal, they good with children and became known asnanny dogs
.Nana
, from Barrie'sPeter Pan , was based on a black and white Landseer-type dog owned by Barrie. -
nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos Luscinia Muscicapidae A medium-sized migratory songbird, brown above and beige or whitish below, native to Eurasia and overwintering in sub-saharan Africa. Best known for its beautiful and powerful song. Prefers habitats of coppiced woods and scrubland. Great Britain represents the nothernmost extent of its range. Became proverbial for a person with a melodious speaking voice or with an extraordinary singing voice. -
oxen Bos taurus Bos Bovidae Large, domesticated grazing animals, often castrated bullocks of larger cattle breeds such as Sussex. Called ox
andoxen
when trained as draught animals to pull carts or plows. Usually yoked to work in pairs. -
grey partridge Phasianidae perdix Perdix perdix English partridge Hungarian partridge Medium-sized plump grey game bird, smaller than a pheasant and larger than a quail. Native to Eurasia and the UK; has naturalized throughout North America. A nonmigratory bird that breeds on farmland, it is currently threatened in the UK, while populations remain healthy elsewhere. -
peacock Pavo cristatus Pavo Phasianidae Indian peafowl Indian blue peafowl common peacock Native to the Indian subcontinent, widely introduced as domestic birds elsewhere. In the 19th century, kept in zoos and menageries as well as living ornaments to large gardens and estates. Domestic birds may be raised for meat, and their shed tailfeathers are prized for decorative uses. Omnivorous foragers that roost at night, feral birds can adapt to human habitation, roosting on buildings and foraging discarded food and other refuse. Males are known as peacocks
and females aspeahens
, although both are commonly referred to aspeacocks
. -
pheasant Phasianus colchicus Phasianus Phasianidae common pheasant Large long-tailed game bird, native to Asia and with populations elsewhere naturalized as well as raised for hunting. The males are brightly-colored, with green heads, while the females are drab. Hybridization has bred types in a variety of colors. Pheasants, likely from the Caucasus, were naturalized in Britain by at least 1050 AD, and may have arrived earlier, with the Romans. The ring-necked variety was reintroduced in the 18th century. In the UK, the birds are hunted by traditional driven-shoot methods, employing beaters, and rough-shoot methods; both methods rely on gun dogs to flush and retrieve the birds. -
domestic pig Sus domesticus Sus Suidae swine hog Large omnivorous domestic animal kept as livestock primarily for meat, but pig's bristles and hide are also used. Likely domesticated from wild boar in three separate areas: first in the Near East and China and later in Europe. By the 19th century, native UK breeds included: Tamworth, Large White, Large Black, British Lop, Berkshire, and Oxford Sandy and Black. The Berkshire is considered the oldest British breed; it's a stocky, medium-sized black pig with white patches and legs. The Oxford Sandy and Black developed in Oxfordshire in the 18th century; it's a medium-sized pig with reddish, sandy-colored skin and black patches. -
pony Equus ferus caballus Equus Equidae Small breeds of horse, often with stocky and heavy body types with round heads and shorter legs as well as thicker manes and tails. In the 19th century, used for pulling light vehicles, as mounts for women and children, They were also used as ack animals, such as the pit ponies used in British mining, bred from Hills and Dales ponies of the North of England. So-called polo ponies are usually standard-sized horses. There are seventeen breeds of horses and ponies considered native to the UK, including the Shetland pony. -
pug Canis familiaris Canis Canidae Companion animal bred in China and popularized in European courts from the 16th century and later by Queen Victoria. Small dog with a wrinkly, short-haired coat, distinctive short muzzle, and curly tail. They are mostly light brown or red (fawn or apricot) with black markings. Until the 1860s, when more compact, shorter-legged Chinese pugs were imported, English pugs were longer, leaner, and less stocky. European pugs may have been bred with another popular royal lapdog breed, the King Charles spaniel, which contributed to the shorter muzzles of that breed. A fictional pug name Daphne appears in one of the Mitford's stories; this dog is described asa particularly ugly, noisy pug, that barked at every body that came into the house, and bit at most
. -
rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Oryctolagus Leporidae European rabbit coney Small, grey-brown furry mammal that lives in groups in networks of underground burrows. Same species as domesticated rabbits, and raised for meat, fur, and as companion animals. Traditionally the fur has been felted for hats as well as used to line garments. The meat was an important staple in the diet of the poorer classes, purchased, hunted or trapped, sometimes in violation of game and enclosure laws enacted from the 18th century forward. Prefer grasslands with nearby treelines or hedges. Native to the Iberian peninsula and southern France, but has been widely introduced elsewhere. UK rabbits are believed to have come with the Normans and populations increased during the eighteenth-century with changing agricultural methods such as predator control and field crop farming. -
black rat Rattus rattus Rattus Muridae roof rat ship rat house rat Medium-sized black to light brown rodent with a lighter underside and a scaly tail, an omnivorous arboreal rat that prefers dry habitats and so is well-adapted to pre-industrial human settings, including wood and thatched buildings. The most common rat in Europe and North America from the Roman conquest to the eighteenth century, likely originiating in southeast Asia. Displaced by the larger brown rat through increased urbanization, industrialization, and pest control. Now nearly eradicated in the UK. -
brown rat Rattus norvegicus Rattus Muridae Norway rat common rat sewer rat street rat wharf rat Hanover rat Large grey-brown rodent with a scaly tail, an omnivorous burrowing rat that prefers damp habitats and so is well-adapted to human habitation since the Industrial Revolution, including brick and tile buildings and sewers. The most common rat in Europe and North America, likely originiating in north or central Asia. Called the Norway rat
or theHanover rat
from erroneous beliefs about their origin outside the UK. Written evidence exists of their presence in Europe by the 1550s and in the UK by the early eighteenth century, becoming widespread by the early 19th century. Fancy (pet) rats and laboratory rats are domesticated subspecies of this wild rat. -
robin redbreast Erithacus rubecula Erithacus Muscicapidae European robin bobbie Small songbird, native to Europe, now considered a type of Old World flycatcher. In Mitford's time, believed to be part of the thrush family, along with nightingales. Not to be confused with the American robin, a new World thrush, this bird is sometimes referred to as an English robin in North America. Frequently referenced in British folk tales and popular culture, the bird became associated with the Christmas holiday in the mid-nineteenth century. The bird's name derives from the male forename Robin or Robert, which led to nicknames ofBob andBobby . Robins in Great Britain are generally less wary of humans than their counterparts in continental Europe.Mitford calls the tame robins she feeds herbobbies
. -
rock dove pigeon Columba livia Columba Columbidae rock pigeon Very common and widely-distributed dove, originally native to Eurasia and North Africa. Feral rock doves are pale grey with an iridescent green neck and two black bars on their wings. Domesticated pigeons, including racing, homing and carrier pigeons, as well as those raised for food, are all part of the rock dove family. Highly variable in color, ranging from white to pale grey and brown, with a white rump. Literary and artistic representations of doves are most often white rock doves. -
rook Corvus frugilegus Corvus Corvidae Large member of the crow family, with a distinctive light-colored bill and featherless area on the face; roosts at the tops of trees in large social groups. Historically, British farmers have considered them nuisances, as they make holes while foraging in agricultural fields and elsewhere for seeds and ground-based insects like grubs. -
sheep Ovis aries Ovis Bovidae Domesticated grazing animals kept as livestock for their fleece and milk, and as meat. One of the earliest domesticated animals, descended from the mouflon of Europe and Asia. The UK continues to be a center of sheep production, as it was in the 19th century and earlier. Sheep feature in pastoral art and literature, fables and nursery rhymes, as well as in ancient world mythology and Abrahamic religions. -
shore lark Eremophila alpestris Eremophila Alaudidae horned lark Lark native to northern Eurasia and North America; also known as the horned lark . Prefers open fields as well as seashores. -
skylark Alauda arvensis Alauda Alaudidae Eurasian skylark Eurasian songbird with gray-brown plumage above and whitish plumage beneath. Famous for its melodius warbling song while in flight, and symbolically associated with the passionate enthusiasm of love and lovers. Percy Shelley's poem To a Skylark appeared in 1820. -
grass snake Natrix Natrix natrix Colubridae European grass snake barred grass snake ringed snake Native to Eurasia, including the UK semi-aquatic non-venomous colubrid snake. Often found near water and feeds on amphibians. -
spaniel Canis familiaris Canis Canidae In Mitford's time, spaniels were classified as land or water types, and as springer (larger) and cocker (smaller) types, although springers and cockers may have come from the same litter. They are gun dogs bred to flush or spring
game birds. They were also used to hunt rabbits, sometimes alongside greyhounds. They may have solid or parti-colored coats in black, liver, red, or golden, with tan masking and trim, roan patching, orticked
spots. The most common color is liver (dark brown/chocolate) and white. The Sussex spaniel, first recorded in 1795, is a stocky spaniel with a distinctive golden-brown colored coat and hazel eyes. The spaniel,Flush , gifted byMitford toElizabeth Barrett Browning , had a golden-brown coat and hazel eyes, as described in her poemTo Flush, My Dog .Molly was a white spaniel with a wavy coat, perhaps with water spaniel ancestry. TheMitfords raised and bred spaniels kept as companion animals and for coursing; these included several dogs namedFlush .Mitford records that one brown spaniel anmed Flush accompanied her father into a Reading theatre:Flush, with his paws on the front of the box, his large earnest eyes fixed on the actors, and his long silky ears brought forward on either side of his face, as is the custom of those intelligent dogs on great occasions, looked and listened all through the piece with a sedate fixity of attention, which greatly endangered the gravity of the persons on the stage
. -
squirrel Sciurus vulgaris Sciurus Sciuridae red squirrel Tree squirrel with tufted ears native to Europe, Asia, and the UK. North American red squirrels are pine squirrels, genus Tamiasciurus, a different genus and species. -
stock dove Columba oenas Columba Columbidae Eurasian dove, pale grey above and below with a pinkish neck and iridescent green neck band, common in the UK. Similar in size and shape to the rock dove , but lacking a white rump. -
swallow Hirundo rustica Hirundo Hirundinidae barn swallow -
mute swan Cygnus olor Cygnus Anatidae domestic swan tame swan The mute swan, a large white waterbird with a distinctive orange-red and black knobbed beak, is a Eurasian species prevalent across Europe and the UK. Associated with Apollo and Venus in classical mythology. Symbolic of purity, because of their color; and faithful love, since swans are believed to grieve for the loss or death of a mate or cygnet. Mythologized as singing beautifully before their death, and thus, identified with extraordinary singers or poets; for example, referring to Shakespeare as the swan of Avon
. -
terrier Canis familiaris Canis Canidae In the 19th century, terriers were categorized as short- or long-legged, as well as categorized informally by function, such as rat terrier or fox terrier. UK terrier breeds appear in a range of sizes and coat types, and were originally bred to be fearless and agile in order hunt vermin (rats, foxes) underground. Terriers were used in blood sports such as rat-catching. Terriers and bulldog-terrier mixes were also used in dogfighting. Two notable heritage breeds, now extinct, include the black-and-tan terrier and the English white terrier. A terrer named Viper appears in one of Mitford's stories. -
brown trout Salmo trutta Salmo Salmonidae The only trout native to the UK, their native range extends from Norway in the north, west to Iceland and east to the Aral Sea. Varieties include sea-run forms, which return to fresh water to spawn; river trout, and lake trout. British angling works refer to this species. Other species of trout were not introduced into the UK until the late 19th century. -
turkey Meleagris gallopavo domesticus Meleagris Phasianidae domestic turkey Large domestic fowl raised as poultry. Breeds descend from a subspecies from central Mexico, domesticated by ancient Mesoamericans and imported by the Spanish into Europe. Brought to England in the 16th century and imported back to North America with British colonization. Remained a rare, luxury holiday meat in the UK until the 20th century; goose or beef were more common. -
turtle dove Streptopelia turtur Streptopelia Columbidae European turtle dove Small, pale brown and gray migratory member of the dove and pigeon family. Once common throughout Europe and the Middle East and wintering in southern Africa, it is now an endangered species in the UK and elsewhere. This bird is known for its mournful voice, and is therefore associated with love and loss. Mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments, in early-modern Europe the bird became mythologized as the partner of the phoenix. -
woodpigeon Columba palumbus Columba Columbidae The most common member of the dove and pigeon family in Britain, a large grey pigeon with a pinkish breast and distinctive white patches on its neck and wings. -
woodlark Lullula arborea Lullula Alaudidae Eurasian lark with distinctive black and yellow facial markings. Prefers open clearings near pine forest and heathland. -
crested wren Regulus regulus Regulus Regulidae golden-crested wren goldcrest Tiny olive-green songbird whose head has a distinctive yellow or orange stripe, frequents woodlands and gardens. Called the crested wren in Mitford's time and earlier, although this bird is not a member of the wren family, but is from the family of kinglets and firecrests. Despite its tiny size, considered the king of the birds in European folklore.
-
acacia Robinia pseudoacacia Robinia Fabaceae false acacia black locust Mitford likely refers to the false acacia orblack locust , a thorny hardwood tree in the pea family, bearing white flower clusters, native to the Eastern US and imported into the UK in the 17th century. In Mitford's time thetrue acacia , also known as theEgyptian acacia (acacia nilotica), was thought to be a relative of the mimosa orsensitive plant . -
winter aconite Eranthis hyemalis Eranthis Ranunculaceae Tuberous, low-growing yellow flowering plant native to Europe and naturalized in the UK. One of the earliest woodland wildflowers, appearing in late winter. Unrelated to aconitum (monkshood). -
alder Alnus glutinosa Alnus Betulaceae common alder black alder European alder Group of deciduous trees and shrubs with serrated leaves and woody catkins, generally found in riparian and marshy areas. Native to Europe and the UK. Alder is a relatively lightweight hardwood, used in furniture making, and the bark and wood contain tannins used to tan leather. The rot-resistant wood was also traditionally used for building foundations and making gunpowder. -
anemone Anemone Ranunculaceae Mitford may refer to the wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa), an early-spring flowering plant, native to Europe. Common names include wood anemone, windflower, thimbleweed, and smell fox, an allusion to the musky smell of the leaves. However, she may also refer to one of the cultivated varieties not native to England, such as the poppy anemone (Anemone coronaria), which is native to the Mediterranean region but was cultivated elsewhere in Europe beginning in the eighteenth century. Unlike the wood anemone, the poppy anemone appears in bright shades of red and blue. -
apple tree Malus domestica Malus Rosaceae Deciduous tree producing showy pink and white flowers and then firm round pomes, usually red and yellow-green fruit. Cultivated varieties developed from wild trees in Central Asia, and have likely been domesticated for at least four thousand years. Before the invention of refrigeration, the fruit was important for its ability to be dried, to overwinter in cold storage and to produce fermented cider. While the apple appears in many mythological and religious traditions as a mystical or forbidden object, as in the forbidden Edenic fruit in the Old Testament, the term generally referred to any edible or non-native fruit, and did not necessarily indicate fruits of the genus Malus. There are currently more than 7,000 apple cultivars and the University of Reading, in Berkshire, is responsible for the UK national apple database. Mitford mentions at least three varieties:golden rennet
or Golden Reinette also known as theEnglish pippin , a golden-yellow apple, streaked red-orange;russetting
types, apples whose smooth skin is covered all or in part by rougher brown skin, thought to have more nutty and aromatic flavors than non-russeting types and used in cider making; and acrumpling
type; an underdeveloped or deformed apple that shrivels on the tree. -
apricot Prunus armeniaca Prunus Prunus Flowering fruit tree of the plum family, believed to be native to Asia, although it has been cultivated for its fruit across Eurasia since antiquity. Formerly thought to be introduced into Greece from Armenia. Produces showy white-pink flowers that develop pinkish-yellow fleshy stone fruits. The fruits as well as the almond-like seeds are edible, and the fruits may be made into jams and jellies, syrups and cordials, and desserts. -
arum Arum maculatum Arum Araceae arum lily cuckoo pint The so-called arum lily is a native European woodland plant, not a true lily. It bears purple-spotted leaves and an inconspicuous flower stalk hidden within a spathe or leaf-like hood. The stalk later develops poisonous red berries. In Britain, plant is also called thecuckoo pint , a euphemistic reference to male genitalia that dates from Culpeper's 17th century herbal; other common names also refer to human genitalia. Arum italicum orItalian lords-and-ladies is also native to the UK. -
ash Fraxinus excelsior Fraxinus Oleaceae common ash European ash Deciduous tree with compound leaves, black leaf buds, inconspicuous purple-red flower clusters, and large and conspicuous winged seeds. Native to Eurasia, North Africa, and the UK. One of the most common trees in the UK, often found with oak andelm , although it has been affected recently byash dieback . A tough hardwood with a straight grain, used for making furniture as well as tool handles, hockey sticks, walking sticks, and oars. Also used to make the bodies of carriages and early motor cars. -
asparagus Asparagus officinalis Asparagus Asparagaceae cultivated asparagus garden asparagus sparrow grass Flowering perrenial plant whose young shoots are cultivated as a vegetable. Native to Eurasia, the subspecies Asparagus officinalis subsp. prostratus is believed to be native to coastal western Europe, north Ireland, and Great Britain. -
auricula Primula Primula auricula Primulaceae bear's ears mountain cowslip Wild member of the primrose family, bearing in spring yellow flowerets above a rosette of dark green leaves, native to the mountains of Central Europe. Garden primroses are a hybridized species developed as a cross between P. auricula and P. hirsuta. A popular garden plant in 18th-century Britain. -
azalea Rhododendron Ericaceae Flowering shrub carrying abundantly showy red, pink, or white blooms in spring, related to rhododendrons. Grow in the understory of woodlands, and have been hybridized as garden shrubs for hundreds of years. Native to Eurasia and North America. Introduced to the UK in the 19th century as a garden ornamental, it is now considered an invasive species. -
bay Laurus nobilis Laurus Lauraceae bay-tree bay laurel sweet bay Small evergreen tree with aromatic leaves, native to the Mediterranean and grown in the UK as a garden shrub. The bay leaf is be used as a food seasoning. In versions of the myth of Apollo and Daphne, Gaia turns Daphne into a laurel tree. Synonymous with the laurel in Greco-Roman culture, associated with the priestess of Apollo, the Pythia, and later, Roman Emperors. Used to make victory crowns and wreaths and therefore symbolic of honor and achievement. Mentioned in Psalm 37, verse 36 quoted in the Book of Common Prayer: I myself have seen the ungodly in great power; and flourishing like a green bay-tree
. -
common bean Phaseolus vulgaris Phaseolus Fabaceae green bean string bean Also called the green bean, the common bean is a member of a large family of herbaceous flowering plants whose seeds or legumes, and pods, are cultivated and consumed by humans and animals. Wild types are twining, as are some cultivated types, while others grow as low rounded clumps. A spring-flowering plant with white, pink, or purple scented blooms. Fava or >broad beans are also historically cultivated in England. The OED suggests that fields of this bean are those commonly mentioned in literature as fragrant. -
broad bean Vicia fabia Vicia Fabaceae fava bean Windsor bean English bean Member of the large family of herbaceous flowering plants whose seeds or legumes, and pods, are cultivated and consumed by humans and animals. Native to the Mediterranean, the plants form an erect plant with grey-green leaves carrying white flowers with a purple-black spot; it then develops a leathery pod containing several large oval edible seeds. Historically, the broad (or fava) bean was commonly cultivated in England in Mitford's time, as was the common bean . -
beech Fagus Fagaceae Fagus sylvatica common beech European beech A genus of deciduous trees, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America. Mitford likely refers to the European beech (Fagus sylvatica) which is considered native to the southern UK and introduced elsewhere for tall hedging and plantations, particularly after the eighteenth century. More recently, research suggests the beech was introduced into England around 4,000 B.C. and so is non-native. Beech woods are densely canopied with floors suitable only for shade-loving understory plants such asbluebell s. The bark is smooth and light grey and the tree bears inconspicuous flowers and catkins that develop into husk-enclosed nuts that are bitter but edible. The nuts and bark are high in tannins, used to tan leather, and the trees produce a fine-grained medium-weight wood used for indoor flooring, staircases, and small furniture. It also makes good firewood, as well as wood pulp for papermaking. -
beetroot Beta vulgaris Caryophyllales Amaranthaceae garden beet Garden plant grown primarily for its edible roots, but also for its edible leaves, sometimes known as chard or beet greens. Cultivated in the ancient world for food and for medicinal use. Other important subspecies are sugar beet, grown to make table sugar, and mangelwurzel, an animal fodder crop. -
weeping birch Betula pendula Betula Betulaceae silver birch European white birch Medium-sized birch tree with white, peeling bark, triangular leaves that turn yellow before falling, and catkins in spring. Mitford uses the termweeping birch
to refer to a pendulous variety of thewhite birch (Betula alba). A lightweight and light-colored wood used in making furniture and skis. Birch brush is used historically for racecourse jumps, the bark in tanning and traditional medicine, and wood strips for weaving small containers, baskets, and footwear. -
bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta Hyacinthoides Asparagaceae wild hyacinth English bluebell fairy flower Bulbous flowering perennial plant, native to Atlantic western Europe and the UK, and also frequently used as a garden plant. Carries fragrant violet-blue tubular flowers on a one-sided stem. In Britain, it is found in ancient woodlands, where it forms carpets of flowers in the spring, called bluebell woods .Mitford uses the termswild hyacinth
as well asbluebell
for this plant. She uses the termharebell to refer to the more papery bell-flowered campanulas. In a letter toMrs. Hoare ,Mitford explains the different terms:The Wild Hyacinth, my dear Mrs. Hoare, differs much from the flower which we call the harebell in England: a small campanula, bearing two or three exquisite, thin, bell-like papery flowers (you can hear them rustle when shaken) on a very thin and fragile stalk, growing among wild thyme, and under heather, in the month of August. There is a white variety cultivated in gardens, but no pink one. I have heard both the harebell and the wild hyacinth called blue-bells
. -
fern Pteridium aquilinum Pteridium Dennstaedtiaceae common bracken A genus of large, sturdy ferns, common throughout the world. It may be the most adaptable and oldest group of ferns. Commonly found on moorlands and hillsides and may form dense thickets of fronds, spread through its creeping roots. In the UK, moorland types are called moorland scrub
. Traditionally gathered for use in leather tanning, soap- and glass-making, and for use as livestock bedding. Today, it may be seen as a threat to biodiversity, as its spread can elbow out other ground-cover plants upon which animals and other plants depend, and decrease the size of open moorlands. -
bramble Rubus fruticosus Rubus Rosaceae common blackberry Rubus plicatus In the UK, generally refers to the common blackberry, a prickly shrub with arching branches, bearing small white flowers followed by aggregate red or black fruits. The general term may also refer to other prickly shrubs, such as dog-roses, or to the fruit of the blackberry. -
briar Historically used to refer to any thorny shrub, including the bramble , or common blackberry, and thewild rose or dog-rose. Now mainly used to refer to the latter;Mitford may use the term synonymously withwild rose , since she uses the termbramble elsewhere. -
broom Cytisus Cytisus scoparius Fabaceae common broom Scotch broom Perennial flowering shrub, member of the legume or pea family, native to Europe and the UK. Grows in meadows and heathland and propagates itself through pea-like seedpods. Symbolizes humility and neatness in floriography, because of its association with the housekeeping implement. It was common to include a decorated bundle of broom at weddings. -
common buttercup Ranunculus acris Ranunculus Ranunculaceae Meadow buttercup Perennial wildflower of medium height with small, shiny yellow flowers with prominent green or yellow sepals. Native to Eurasia but widely naturalized elsewhere. -
cabbage Brassica oleracea Brassica Brassicaceae Cultivated variety of Brassica oleracea, grows as dense-leaved round heads. Likely descended from wild varieties native to the Mediterranean region and cultivated in the ancient world. An important part of the European and British diet by the early medieval period. -
red cabbage Brassica Brassica oleracea Brassicaceae Edible arden plant, related to the green cabbage whose leaves are dark red-purple, depending on the acidity of the soil. Mitford jokingly compares herself to one in her letter to Elford of 14 May 1819 (because she is round and red). Keeps well over winter and is eaten raw or cooked. -
campanula Campanula Campanulaceae bellflower General term used for a large genus of plants with white or blue bell-shaped flowers, including the harebell .Mitford may use this term forCanterbury bells (Campanula medium), a taller bellflower than the harebell, native to southern Europe but cultivated as a garden plant in Britain. -
carnation Dianthus Caryophyllus Dianthus Caryophyllaceae Cultivated variety of the clove or clove-pink. Scentless types are used for men's buttonholes. -
celery Apium graveolens Apium Apiaceae Both wild celery and the cultivated variety are the same species. Wild varieties grow in wetlands and are most noticeable for their parsley-like leaves and white flower stalk. Cultivated varieties are grown for their fibrous stalks and their seeds, which are used as a spice. It is thought to be native to the Mediterranean region, and has been cultivated since antiquity, in winter and early spring. Further hybridization by the 19th century had extended the growing season, and celery became an increasing important raw and cooked vegetable in British, American and European cuisines. -
bird-cherry Prunus padus Prunus Rosaceae hackberry hagberry Mayday tree Large deciduous shrub native to Eurasia and the UK, smaller than the wild cherry and with fruit that is more tart and oval leaves that are less tart. Carries white flower clusters that develop into black fruits. Few European culinary uses, although the tree is planted as a flowering garden ornamental. -
wild cherry Prunus avium Prunus Rosaceae sweet cherry Deciduous hardwood fruit tree, native to Eurasia and the UK. Deeply veined oval leaves with pink-white flower clusters that develop bright red fruit clusters, which are actually a sweet pulpy drupe with a seed or pit. A valuable reddish hardwood much used in furniture and musical instrument making in the 18th and 19th century. The fruit is used in making jellies and jams, syrups and cordials, and desserts. As color descriptor, often associated with women's beauty, as in cherry-cheeked
orcherry-lipped
. -
China Aster Callistephus chinensis Callistephus Asteraceae annual aster An annual flowering plant native to China and Korea, with single or double daisy-like flowers in white, pink, or purple; unrelated to the perennial aster. Grown as a garden plant and cut flower. -
chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum indicum Chrysanthemum Asteraceae Semi-hardy fall-flowering perennial native to East Asia and to Northeastern Europe. Hybridized in China from the 15th century B.C. and in Japan from the 8th century; the flower has accumulated many symbolic meanings throughout Asian countries over time. Introduced into Europe and the UK and hybridized from the 17th century. Although thousands of hybrids exist, the plants may generally be categorized as garden hardy and exhibition or florist's types. -
gum cistus Cistus ladanifer Cistus Cistaceae common gum cistus gum rockrose brown-eyed rockrose labdanum Evergreen shrub bearing papery white flowers with a dark red spot at the base of each petal. The plant is covered with a fragrant, sticky resin used to produce labdanum, used in perfumery and medicine. Native to the Mediterranean, it prefers disturbed ground and may colonize old farmland and meadows. Mitford uses the common namegum cistus inThe Old Bachelor , and the OED cites her 1826 use. Cistus or rock-roses were a popular plant for gardens and hybridization in the 1820s, and are the subject of a horticultural volume byRobert Sweet ,Cistineae . -
clematis Mitford likely uses this term to refer to the native British species, C. vitalba, which she refers to elsewhere as Virgin's Bower . The hybridized garden plant is C. Flammula. In classical Greek and Roman literature, the term is used to refer to whatMitford callsperiwinkle , or vinca, an unrelated flowering vine. -
clove Dianthus Caryophyllus Dianthus Caryophyllaceae clove pink clove gillyflower Spicy clove-scented member of the pink family, native to southern Europe and introduced into the UK in the 16th century. Although clove and carnation are now considered botanically synonymous,Mitford uses both terms, as well as the more general termpink , to refer to types of Dianthus. -
convolvulus Convolvulus arvensis Convolvulus Convolvulaceae One of numerous species of vines with trumpet-shaped flowers. -
corn Poaceae Refers to agricultural plants whose seeds are used to produce flour, or to the seeds themselves. In the UK, the term traditionally refers to the most important cereal grain of the region; for example, wheat in England and Wales, or oats in Scotland and Ireland. The term is used in this sense in Keats'sOde to a Nightingale , which references the Biblical Ruth:Perhaps the self-same song that found a path./Through the sad heart of Ruth when, sick for home,/She stood in tears amid the alien corn
(stanza 7, lines 5-7; Ruth chapter 2, lines 2-3). This is also the sense of the termCorn Laws
debated in the early 19th century, which concerned trade restrictions and tariffs on foodstuffs, including cereal grains. -
cottongrass Eriophorum angustifolium Eriophorum Cyperaceae cotton-grass cottonsedge Sedge that develops fluffy white heads. -
cowslip common cowslip cowslip primrose Primula Primula veris Primulaceae Mitford likely refers to Primula veris (also called cowslip, common cowslip, cowslip primrose), a plant bearing yellow flowers in spring, found in woods and meadows, native throughout most of temperate Eurasia, although absent from more northerly areas. May hybridize withEnglish or common primroses . -
crane's bill Geranium Geraniaceae Common name for several different species of perennial wild Geranium native to Europe and the UK, including Meadow crane's bill (G. pratense), bloody crane's bill (G. sanquineum), and cut-leafed crane's bill (G. dissectum). Plants grow on clumps of large, hairy leaves on raised stems, with cup-shaped violet-blue, pink, or magenta five-petaled flowers. Mitford refers to the flowers aspink stars
, so she likely uses this term for bloody or cut-leafed crane's bill, which bears flowers ranging from pale pink to magenta. -
crocus Crocus Iridaceae Early spring-flowering dwarf bulbous plant with blooms in purple, yellow, or white. Not native to the UK, although may be naturalized in some areas since the 17th century. In Victorian floriography, the crocus represents youth and cheerfulness. -
cucumber Cucumis sativus Cucumis Cucurbitaceae Annual creeping vine grown for its round or cylindrical fruits. Native to India and Himalaya, western China, and northern Thailand and now cultivated as a vegetable worldwide. Cultivated in the UK from the 14th century and seemingly reintroduced in the 16th century, when they frequently appear pickled. Cultivated in North America since the 16th century, likely imported by Europeans into the Americas and embraced by Native Americans as additions to their native vining crops like squash. During the 18th century, the cucumber, along with other summer fruits and vegetables eaten raw, gained a reputation for being unwholesome and a cause of stomach disorders. Continued to be cultivated, however, and their reputation began to recover in the 19th century. Cucumbers are mentioned in Dickens's novels, associated with comic characters of questionable sanity or morals: in Nicholas Nickleby, they are a courtship overture from an unbalanced suitor to Mrs. Nickelby and in Martin Chuzzlewit, they are a favorite of Sairey Gamp. -
black currant Ribes Ribes nigrum Grossulariaceae blackcurrant Woody shrub native to northern Eurasia, grown for its fruit. Inconspicuous green-yellow flower clusters develop into clusters of purple-black edible fruit. The fruit is used to make juices, syrups, and cordials, jams and jellies, and desserts. Members of the gooseberries family, related toredcurrants , but with slightly sweeter fruit. -
redcurrant Ribes Ribes rubrum Grossulariaceae redcurrant Woody shrub native to northern Eurasia, grown for its fruit. Inconspicuous green-yellow flowers develop into clusters of bright red, translucent edible fruit. Members of the gooseberries family, related toblackcurrants , but with slightly more tart fruit. The fruit is used to make juices, syrups, and cordials, jams and jellies, and desserts. -
dahlia Dahlia Asteraceae Group of tuberous flowering plants, brightly colored and highly variable in size, color, and petal shape. Dahlias are native to Mexico and central America and were first imported into continental Europe in the 1780s and thence to England in the early nineteenth century. The first printed illustration appeared in the Curtis's Botanical Magazine in 1804 and dahlias became fashionable garden flowers in England by the 1820s. In Mitford's time, both single- and double-flowered varieties were propagated, and varieties were largely classified by flower color. Outside their native range, dahlia tubers are susceptible to frost, and must have their tubers dug over winter and replanted, if they are not grown in greenhouses.Mitford raised and hybridized dahlias. -
daisy Bellis perennis Bellis Asteraceae common daisy lawn daisy English daisy Perennial white daisy native to Europe and the UK, sometimes with pink-tinged petals. Plants are low-growing rosettes of round or oval leaves; single- and double-flowered varieties are hybridized in red, pink, and white. By the Victorian period, the flower held symbolic associations with childhood and innocence. -
dogwood Cornus sanguinea Cornus Cornaceae Woody flowering shrub which develops reddish stems in winter and carries clusters of small four-petaled white flowerets that develop black berries. Native to Eurasia, including the UK. Grows at the edges of woodlands and waterways. The fruits are valuable to wildlke, but not eaten by humans. The bark contains tannins used in leather tanning and for medicinal use. Historically the smooth, fine-grained wood was used for skewers, spindles, toothpicks, and other small domestic implements. -
elder Sambucus nigra Sambucus Adoxaceae elderberry black elder Large leafy shrub that carries umbrels of small white flowers and then tiny purple-black fruits. Native to Europe and North America, prefers hedgerows and scrubland. Both the flowers and the fruit are edible and prized for making wine and cordial. Elderberries are also used to make jellies and jam, as well as desserts. -
elm Ulmus procera Ulmus Ulmaceae smooth-leaved elm English elm field elm The so-called English elm is a deciduous tree with serrated leaves, a variety of the Europeanfield elm , introduced into England from Spain in the 16th century. Before Dutch elm disease decimated the population in the 20th century, mature elm trees were a prominent feature of mixed deciduous forests and were also frequently used in landscape gardening. In England, elms were found in mixed forests with oak and ash, often near rivers. While populations still exist, they do not grow to mature size, and so immature elms are today mainly found in hedgerows. Because of its resistance to rot, elm was frequently used to construct medieval water pipes as well as piers, jetties, and lock gates. Because of its resistance to splitting, it was also used to make chair seats, coffins, wagon wheel hubs, and bows. During the enclosure movement, elms were plants in hawthorn hedges, and avenues and groves of elms were popular features of 18th- and 19th-century landscape gardening. Wych elm, also called witch hazel or Scots elm, is also native to the UK. Ancient Roman literature spoke of amarriage between the elm and the vine, in which the elm represented the husband and the vine the wife, because of the Roman practice of planting elms in vineyards to support grape vines; in British literature, this motif appears most frequently as elm and ivy. The ancient Greek tradition of planting elms on graves has also given rise to aelm-and-death motif. They are also frequently mentioned in classical pastoral poetry, where their cool shade is praised as paradisal. -
fern Large group of vascular plants that reproduce via spores rather than flowers or seeds. In the UK, more than thirty types are native, including bracken . -
filbert Corylus maxima Corylus Betulaceae Deciduous nut-bearing tree in the birch family, native to southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia, related to the common hazel . The fruit, also calledfilberts , are produced by catkins, with the ripe nuts largely enclosed in a tubular husk, and harvested in the autumn. Filberts are elongated and the kernel is edible.Mitford employs an alternative spelling, referring to these nuts asfilberds
, and distinguishing them from thecobnut
, or nut of the common hazel. -
fir Abies alba Abies Pinaceae European silver fir Evergreen coniferous trees found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Unlike other conifers, firs bear erect cones that are raised above the branches like candles; at maturity, the cones disintegrate to release winged seeds. One of Mitford ’s favorite foraging trees; she calls her collecting activityfir topping
. Mitford would likely have been familiar with the European silver fir, which was brought to England in the 17th century. Other types of firs such as Douglas firs and noble firs, native to North America and used as Christmas trees, were introduced to the UK in the nineteenth century. -
flower Flowering plants, whether domesticated or wild. -
Forget-Me-Not true Forget-Me-Not water Forget-Me-Not Myosotis scorpioides Myosotis Boraginaceae Blue-flowered perennial plant in the borage family, with long, narrow leaves, native to Eurasia and widespread in the UK. Prefers damp or wet habitats, including riparians areas, bogs, and ditches, and can form floating rafts in water. Symbolizes remembrance. The subject of Mitford's sonnet The Forget-Me-Not , which clearly describes the habit of the true or water forget-me-not. The woodland forget-me-not is also native to the UK. -
foxglove Digitalis purpurea Digitalis Digitalideae Flowering plant native to western Europe, the Mediterranean, and the UK, and naturalized elsewhere. Cultivated in the UK since at least the 17th century as a garden plant for its large, bell-shaped purple flower spikes. A source of digitalis, traditionally used in small doses to treat heart conditions, although larger doses are poisonous. -
fuchsia fuchsia magellanica fuchsia Onagraceae fuschia hardy fuchsia Small upright or spreading flowering shrub, with showy, pendulous bi-colored blooms in combinations of red, pink, purple, and white sepals and petals. A large genus, native to the Carribbean islands, Mexico, central and South America. Now a widely grown garden shrub and pot plant. F. coccinea and F. magellanica, both from South America, were being cultivated in England by the late eighteenth century. Vineyard Gardens in Hammersmith, England introduced fuchsias to the gardening public, as well as introducing and popularizing imports such as the China rose and dahlia as garden plants. -
fungus The UK is home to more than 15,000 varieties of fungi and lichens, including yeast, moulds, and mildews; and those that produce mushrooms. -
furze Ulex europaeus Ulex Fabaceae A spiny evergreen shrub with scented yellow blooms native to the UK and western Europe. Also called gorse orwhin . Flowers from spring into summer. -
gentianella Gentianella anglica Gentianella Gentianaceae dwarf gentian UK varieties include the early gentian (Gentianella anglica) and Chiltern gentian (Gentianella germanica). -
geranium Geranium Geraniaceae In Mitford's time, a group of wild and cultivated plants that encompassed both geraniums andpelargoniums . Popular garden plants for cultivation and hybridization in Britain in the 1820s, the subject of a series of horticultural volumes byRobert Sweet ,Geraniaceae .Mitford was a serious amateur hybridizer of geraniums after she moved toThree Mile Cross . She uses the termcrane's bill to refer to the local wild plant. -
Gooseberry Ribes grossularia Ribes Grossulariaceae Woody shrub bearing spiny stems, native to Eurasia and North Africa, grown for its fruit. Inconspicuous green-yellow flowers on short stems develop into clusters of one to three bright green translucent edible fruit. Naturalized in coppices and hedgerows, as well as cultivated. Naturalists debate whether it is native to the UK or imported and naturalized before the 16th century. -
gorse Ulex europaeus Ulex Fabaceae common gorse Low evergreen shrub with yellow blooms, a member of the pea family. Synonymous with common furze orwhin . In floriography, symbolizes enduring affection. -
grass Poaceae Large and economically important family of herbaceous plants. Includes cereal grasses, grasses of native grasslands and species cultivated in lawns, hay meadows, and pasture. In the UK, cereal grasses are traditionally referred to as corn. -
greengage Prunus domestica Prunus Rosaceae A green variety of plum, thought to be a subspecies of Prunus domestica. The first greengages are believed to be bred from an Iranian wild plum, now known as the cultivar Reine Claude Verte . Imported to Britain by at least the 1720s. -
Guelder rose Viburnum opulus Viburnum Adoxaceae water elder cramp bark snowball tree European cranberrybush Flowering shrub with clusters of white flowers and red fruits, native to Europe, central Asia, and north Africa. It is not rose but a viburnum, grown as an ornamental garden plant and as hedging. -
harebell Campanula rotundifolia Campanula Campanulaceae Scotch bluebell bluebell of Scotland Perennial flowering plant in the Campanula or bellflower family, native across a wide range in the Northern hemisphere, including the UK. Prefers shady woodlands and carries papery violet-blue bell-shaped flowers on a thin stems above slender leaves. Flowers may also be pink or white. Mitford uses the termharebell for this plant, and uses the termswild hyacinth
andbluebell
for the member of the Hyacinch family. In a letter toMrs. Hoare ,Mitford explains the different terms:The Wild Hyacinth, my dear Mrs. Hoare, differs much from the flower which we call the harebell in England: a small campanula, bearing two or three exquisite, thin, bell-like papery flowers (you can hear them rustle when shaken) on a very thin and fragile stalk, growing among wild thyme, and under heather, in the month of August. There is a white variety cultivated in gardens, but no pink one. I have heard both the harebell and the wild hyacinth called blue-bells
. In the UK, the harbell may flower from July to November.Mitford also uses the termcampanula , which may be used for any member of the bellflower family, butMitford may use to refer toCanterbury bells (Campanula medium), a taller bellflower than the harebell, native to southern Europe but cultivated as a garden plant in Britain. -
common hawthorn Crataegus Rosaceae Crataegus monogyna oneseed hawthorn single-seeded hawthorn quickthorn whitethorn Flowering thorny shrub that develops a red, berry-like fruit that is actually a pome containing a single seed. Native to Eurasia and North Africa. Closely related to the midland hawthorne , also known as themayflower ; the two species hybridize. The subject of poems by Wordsworth (The Thorn ) and John Clare (Song: White Thorn Tree ). -
hay Mixed grasses or other herbaceous plants largely grown and harvested as animal fodder. In Britain, farms traditionally maintained ecologically diverse hay meadows of grasses and wildflowers, mown to provide horse fodder. -
hazel Corylus avellana Corylus Betulaceae common hazel Deciduous nut-bearing tree in the birch family, native to Europe and western Asia. The fruit, called hazelnuts orcobnuts , are produced by male and female catkins, with the ripe nuts partially enclosed in a husk and harvested in the late summer. Hazelnuts are round and the kernel edible and may be eaten fresh or dried.Mitford employs the termcobnut
and distinguishes it from thefilberd
. The shrubby trees form an important component of hedgerows, particularly in the English lowlands. The trees may also be managed by coppicing, a practice that produces the thin, curved poles traditionally used in making withy and wattle fencing, in wattle-and-daub building, and in framing coracle boats. -
heart's-ease Viola tricolor Viola Violaceae wild pansy Johhny Jump up Love-in_Idleness Wild pansy native to the UK. -
heath Erica Ericaceae common heath General term for low, flowering shrubs such as heath, heather, or ling, that cover bare or exposed uncultivated land. The OED suggests that the name comes from the south and middle of England, and thus would have been familiar to Mitford. -
hepatica Anemone hepatica Anemone Ranunculaceae Hepatica nobilis liverleaf ivy flower Low-growing flowering plant with fleshy leaves and blue, purple, or pink flowers with showy white stamens. Flowers in late winter and early spring. Native to Europe and Asia and grown as a garden plant as well as naturalized in the UK. -
holly Ilex aquifolium Ilex common European holly English holly Large evergreen tree or shrub, underplanting forest oaks or other large trees, or found in hedgerows. Native to western Eurasia and the UK. Carries dark green, glossy leaves, bunches of small white flowers that develop into clumps of bright red berries. The Holly and the Ivy is a traditional English folk song that dates from the early nineteenth century, or earlier. Associated with Saturnalia in ancient Rome, the plants have been used as British Advent and Christmas decorations since at least the 15th century, and feature in other traditional holiday carols as well. -
hollyhock Alcea Alcea rosea Malvaceae Biennial garden plant featuring many large single or double flowers in pink, red, yellow, or white, on a very tall stem, native to China and southern Europe, and garden-cultivated elsewhere. -
honesty Lunaria annua Brassicaceae Asteraceae Bushy flowering garden plant grown primarily for its decorative seed pods, rather than for its flowers. White or violet flowers give way to disc-shaped seedpods, which shed their fleshy outer covering as they ripen to reveal a translucent inner membrane which may remain on the plant through winter. The dried stems and pods are used in flower arranging. The Latin name refers to the moon-shaped seed pods. Common names in many languages refer to the pods' likeness to coins; it is called silver dollar ormoney plant and other, similar names. -
honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum Lonicera Caprifoliaceae European honeysuckle woodbine Twining summer-flowering woody shrub, native to much of Europe, Turkey, and North Africa and naturalized as well as cultivated throughout many parts of Europe and North America. One of two honeysuckles native to the UK. It produces showy creamy-yellow clusters of tubular flowers, which are highly scented, particularly at night. Mitford also uses the termwoodbine
. -
hop-bines Humulus lupulus Humulus Cannabaceae Twining plant using stiff, hairy stems (bines) to climb. Flowers of the female plants are the source of hops, used in brewing to flavor beer. -
horse-chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum Aesculus Sapindaceae European horse-chestnut Large, deciduous fruit-bearing tree, native to a small area of southeastern Europe and cultivated in gardens and parks throughout many parts of Europe and North America. The tree bears showy white flower spikes in the spring and develops spiky green fruits that contain a large tan and brown seed or nut, called a conker or horse-chestnut. They are members of the soapberry and lychee family and unrelated to other chestnut trees, which are members of the beech family. In the UK, children collect the nuts for a game called conkers. Mitford particularly mentions the trees when in flower in the spring. -
ivy Hedera Hedera helix Araliaceae common ivy English ivy European ivy Flowering evergreen vine native to Eurasia and North Africa, it has a climbing or ground-creeping habit and may grow on walls or tree trunks. It carries inconspicuous yellow-green flower clusters that develop into orange or purple-black berries. In floriography, ivy represents married love and fidelity. Associated with Bacchus and also used as a tavern sign indicating that wine is sold. Ancient Roman literature spoke of a marriage between the elm and the vine, in which the elm represented the husband and the vine the wife, because of their practice of planting elms in vineyards to support the vines; in British literature, this motif appears most frequently as elm (or oak) and ivy.The Holly and the Ivy is a traditional English folk song that dates from the early nineteenth century, or earlier. The plants have been used as British Advent and Christmas decorations since at least the 15th century, and feature in other traditional holiday carols, as well. -
jasmine Jasminum officinale Jasminum Oleaceae common jasmine white jasmine jessamine A climbing woody shrub with fragrant white flowers, native to Asia and naturalized in the UK since the 16th century. Some varieties are cultivated to produce oils for perfume. Mitford also uses the termjessamine , generally used in Britain to refer tocommon jasmine orwhite jasmine . -
laburnum Laburnum anagyroides Laburnum Laburnum common laburnum golden rain golden chain Small flowering tree with showy pendulous yellow flower clusters that later develop pea-like seed pods. Native to southern and central Europe, introduced to Britain in the 16th century or later. Cultivated as specimen trees or naturalized in damp areas and hedgerows. The wood is hard, dark, and heavy, used for making posts and turnings, and used historically for making bows; also used as a long-burning firewood. -
larkspur Delphinium consolida Delphinium Ranunculaceae Usually refers to annual varieties of delphinium, formerly categorized seuparately as Consolida, which share blue, pink, or white flower spikes with their taller perennial sisters. flower from May to August. Some varieties are native to Europe, such as the field larkspur (Consolida regalis). They may be grown as garden plants or flowers for cutting. -
lavender Lavandula angustifolia Lavandula Lamiaceae English lavender common lavender garden lavender Medium-height evergreen flowering shrub with narrow leaves and pale purple flowers, native to the Mediterranean. Despite the common name English lavender , it not native to the UK. Grown as a garden plant, the flowers as a medicinal and culinary herb, and its aromatic oils are used in perfumery and massage. -
lilac Syringa vulgaris Syringa Oleaceae common lilac Large flowering shurb native to the Balkan Peninsula, introduced as a garden plant and sometimes naturalized elsewhere, including in the UK. Fragrant lavendar, purple, mauve, or white tube-shaped flowerets are arranged in large, showy panicles. -
lily Lilium Liliaceae True lilies are flowering perennials that grow from bulbs, carrying large, trumpet- or bell-shaped flowers, distributed throughout the world and cultivated as garden plants. The quintessential lily in European culture is the white Madonna lily (Lilium candidum), native to the Mediterranean, appearing in art, literature, and religious text beginning in the ancient world. When Mitford uses the simple termlily , she likely refers to theMadonna lily . -
red lily Lilium chalcedonicumm Lilium Liliaceae scarlet Turk's-cap lily A summer-blooming true lily native to southern Europe, introduced to cultivation in Europe in the 17th century. Deep orange-red in color with recurved petals. -
tiger-lily Lilium bulbiferum Lilia Liliaceae Likely the summer-blooming true lily native to Europe and naturalized elsewhere, bearing yellow-orange petals with red-brown spots. Mitford called themThose fierce and warlike flowers the tiger~lilies
. OED cites Mitford'sOur Village , but identifies them asLilium tigrinum , now calledLilium lancefolium an orange lily with brown-black spots and recurved petals, native to Asia. However, these lilies were not naturalized in the UK in the 19th century, although they were introduced from China as garden specimens early in the century. -
lily of the valley Convallaria Convallaria majalis Asparagaceae Scented woodland flowering plant native to the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere. It was previously classified as in its own family (Convallariaceae), and before that was believed to be part of the Lily family (Liliaceae). -
lime tree Tilia Tiliaceæ linden basswood Group of large, deciduous trees called the lime tree in the UK, this family of trees and shrubs is also known as a linden in continental Europe andbasswood in the US. Not closely related to the citrus fruit tree. Produces a soft, fine-grained, light wood popular for carving and for the building of models, puppets, and some musical instruments. Mentioned in theColeridge poem,This Lime-Tree Bower my Prison . -
maple Acer campestre Acer Sapindaceae field maple hedge maple Small broad-leafed tree with yellow-green flowers producing winged seeds, which are sometimes called maple keys ; leave turn bright reddish orange before falling. Also pollarded to shrub size within hedgerows and grown as a specimen tree. Native to Eurasia, England, and southern Scotland. Source of a light-colored hardwood that is used to make musical instruments, flooring, and furniture. -
marsh marigold Caltha palustris Caltha Ranunculaceae kingcup Medium-sized plant in the buttercup family that prefers marshes, wetlands, and wet woodlands. Known by many different regional names in the UK in addition to marsh marigold and kingcup. -
mayflower Crataegus laevigata Crataegus Rosaceae midland hawthorn English hawthorn woodland hawthorn Flowering thorny shrub that develops a red, berry-like fruit that is actually a pome containing two or three nutlets. Native to western and central Europe, North Africa, and the UK. Closely related to the common hawthorne ; the two species hybridize. -
melon Cucumis melo Cucumis Cucurbitaceae Mitford likely refers to the European or common cantalope, although both the melon and the watermelon (ucumis citrullus) were cultivated in the UK since the 17th century. The origins of the plant are unclear, with different species native to Africa and to Asia. The plant was cultiated and traded in the Mediterranean ancient world. -
Michaelmas daisy Aster amellus Aster Asteraceae European Michaelmas daisy aster The Michaelmas daisy or aster is a Eurasian perennial plant that blooms in late summer with multiple purple or lavendar daisy-like flowers on a flower stalk. Hybridized varieties may have white, pink, or purple flowers. It came to symbolize farewell
. In 1820,Laetitia E. Landon published a poem entitledMichaelmas Daisy . The only member of the aster family native to the UK is the sea aster (Aster tripolium). -
garden mignonette Reseda odorata Reseda Resedaceae Tall, thin pale yellow flower spike growing from base leaves. Native to Europe, the Mediterranean region, and southwest Asia. In the 19th century, grown in gardens and windowboxes for its fragrance. Also used in perfumery, potpourri, and as a cut flower in arrangements. R. luteola, another species, was a source of yellow dye. -
moss Nonvascular, low-growing plants that prefer damp soils, part of the large group of byrophytes. More than one thousand varieties live in the UK. UK mosses include: common haircap, silky forklet, Swan's-neck thyme, common tamarisk, glittering wood, and common striated feather-moss. -
Mountain daisy Arenaria montana Arenaria Caryophyllaceae common mountain daisy mountain sandwort Low-growing evergreen perennial plant with showy white flowers. Native to south-western Europe. Grown as a rock-garden plant. -
field mushroom Agaricus campestris Agaricus Agaricaceae meadow mushroom pink bottom A gilled mushroom, commonly eaten, and closely related to the cultivated button mushroom. . -
common myrtle Myrtus communis Myrtus Myrtaceae true myrtle European myrtle Evergreen flowering shrub bearing white flowers with many showy white stamens and dark blue edible berries. Native to the Mediterranean region and western Asia to India. Associated with Jewish, Greek, and Roman ritual and myth, symbolizing honor, prosperity, hope, and love. In early-modern Europe, the flowers became traditional in bride's bouquets because of their associations with love and happiness. -
common oak Quercus robur Quercus Fagaceae English oak pedunculate oak Mitford likely refers to the common or English oak (Quercus robur), a variety of white oak, although the sessile oak (Quercus petraea) is also native to the Europe and the UK. Large, long-lived deciduous hardwood tree with lobed leaves, hanging catkins in spring, and then acorns, oval nuts with woody caps. In 19th-century English forests, oak was the predominant deciduous tree, often found with ash andelm . A hard wood with a distinctive light-and-dark grain, used since the early medieval period for making sturdy furniture, flooring, doors, household items such as chests and buckets, and for building sailing ships, particularly large naval vessels. Because the tree is large, strong and long-lived, it has accumulated numerous symbolic and national associations, particularly in the UK. In English folklore, Robin Hood hid in an oak to escape pursuers, and the oak became a national symbol after the futureCharles II reportedly hid in an oak during theEnglish Civil Wars . This tree became known as theRoyal Oak , and led to a national celebration ofOak Apple Day in May.Royal Oak
became a popular pub name, as well as the name of several Royal Navy warships. The symbolic association between Britain's military strength and the strength of its men is encapsulated in the songHeart of Oak , written in 1759 and revised in 1809:Heart of oak are our ships,/Hearts of oak are our men
. Oak leaves, like laurel, were used as ceremonial wreaths and crowns, and both oak leaves and acorns appeared as neoclassical ornaments. The proverbgreat oaks from little acorns grow
, dates from at least the 16th century, and the concept appears in Chaucer'sTroilus and Criseyde . -
onion Allium cepa Allium Amaryllidaceae -
orchid orchis Orchidaceae Flower plant member of the large family of the Orchidaceae, which contains nearly thirty thousand species and more than 100, 000 hybrids and cultivars. 52 types of orchids are native to the UK and are most common in the South of England; these include the ghost orchid, lady's slipper, red hellebore, greater butterfly orchid, early spider orchid, green-winged orchid, lady orchid, and fly orchid. Tropical species have been grown in the UK in glasshouses since the 19th century and are also cultivated for sale at florist's shops, as corsages, cut flowers, or pot plants. Scented varieties may be used in perfumery; and vanilla bean pods, with culinary uses, derive from an orchid species. 19th c. Europe and the UK saw a craze for collecting and hybridizing wild orchid species collected from elsewhere, called orchidelirium, orchidomania or orchid fever, similar to the 17th-century Dutch tulip mania. -
oxlip Primula elatior Primula Primulaceae Spring-flowering member of the Primula family related to primroses (P. vulgaris) and cowslips (P. veris); it has a taller stem like the cowslip, and larger flowers like the primrose. Native to continental Europe and Britain. During Mitford's lifetime, naturalists debated how to categorize the varied species of Primula. -
passion flower Passiflora caerulea Passiflora Passifloraceae Flowering vines, most of which are native to neotropical zones in the Americas. Several tropical varieties, including winged-stem passion flower (P. alata) and the blue passion flower (P. caerulea) were brought to Europe and the Uk in the nineteenth century to be grown as garden ornamentals. Many hybrids were later developed from these varieties, although the Blue passion flower remains the most common. -
pear Pyrus communis Pyrus Rosaceae domestic pear European pear The domestic pear tree is descended from the Eurasian wild pear, imported into Britain around 995 AD. Mitford refers to thebergamot pear
, which is another name for the domestic pear. -
pelargonium Pelargonium Geraniaceae stork's beak A group of flowering plants From the time of Linnaeus, both geraniums andpelargoniums were thought to be part of the same family of Geraniums. During the 18th century, naturalists began to propose they formed a separate genus in the same family. The genus is small leggy plant with showy flower clusters in shades of red, pink, purple, and white; native to southern Africa and Australia, and is grown as an annual garden plant worldwide, although zonal pelargoniums are perennial in their native tropical climates. The majority of pelargoniums grown as annual bedding plants worldwide originated in South Africa. -
peony Paeonia officinalis Paeonia Paeoniaceae Flowering herbaceous perennial shrub with large showy red, pink or white flowers. Native to the Northern Hemisphere in a band stretching from Spain and Morocco to Japan; most herbaceous species come from the Mediterranean region. Flower from late spring to early summer. Grown as garden shrubs and for cut flowers. -
periwinkle Vinca major Vinca Apocynaceae Spring-blooming trailing groundcover with dark green leaves and purple, blue, or white flowers, any of several members of the Vinca family. Native to the northern Mediterranean and naturalized in the UK. -
Scots pine Pinus sylvestris Pinus Pinaceae Eurasian evergreen tree bearing long needles and cones, the only pine native to the UK. Thrives in poor soils that may be sandy, rocky, or marshy; and on the margins of woodlands. Mitford refers to this tree asScottish fir
; in the 19th century and earlier, no firm distinction was made between types of evergreen conifers such as pines and firs. Source: OED. -
pink Dianthus plumarius Dianthus Caryophyllaceae Used generally for any of various members of the Dianthus family, particularly forms of D. plumarius. Spring-blooming evergreen groundcover with pink or white flowers, native to Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia and naturalized in the the UK and parts of western Europe. Also cultivated as a garden plant for its variegated pink flowers; sometimes known as the common pink ,garden pink , orwild pink . -
plum tree Prunus domestica Prunus Rosaceae European plum Tree of the family Rosaceae which bears flowers and sweet purple, red, or yellow pulpy fruit with a central seed or stone. Most cultivated varieties are related to Prunus domestica, which is now believed to be bred from the wild cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) originating in southeast Europe and western Asia and naturalized in the UK. Greengages are a subspecies of Prunus domestica that bears green fruits. -
polyanthus Primula Primula polyantha Primulaceae A cultivated variety of Primula, bearing flowers of many colors on raised umbrels. Thought to be originally derived from crosses between the cowslip and theprimrose . Such crosses are now known as Primula pruhonicensis, and the termPrimula polyantha is used for naturally occurring hybrids, such as the false oxlip. -
black poplar Medium-sized deciduous tree with heart-shaped leaves native to northwest Europe, North Africa, and the UK. A cottonwood poplar that bears catkins in the spring and cottony seed tufts later. Prefers riparian and marshy areas and floodplains, along with birch, aspen, and willow. A soft, light-colored wood suitable for carving. Although native to the UK, the tree is now rare. White poplar, a non-native species, is more common. -
poppy Papaver rhoeas Papaver Papaveraceae common poppy corn poppy field poppy Flanders poppy Annual red poppy flower with showy black stamens and hairy stems and buds, native to Eurasia and North Africa, preferring sunny meadows and disturbed ground. Historically considered an agriculatural weed, hence its common name, corn poppy . Also called theFlanders poppy after World War I, for its habit of blooming in ground disturbed by military action and later adopted as a symbol of war remembrance. The opium poppy, P. somniferum, was also known in Britain since the Middle Ages for the medicinal and sleep-inducing qualities of its milky sap and its seeds. -
Portugal laurel Prunus lusitanica Prunus Portugese laurel cherry bay Large flowering evergreen shrub in the cherry family, native to southwest Europe and naturalized elswhere, including in the UK. Carries racemes of tiny white flowers that develop into reddish-purple fruit clusters. The leaves are toxic and the fruits are generally eaten only by wildlife. -
potato Solanum Solanum tuberosum Solanaceae -
primrose Primula Primula vulgaris Primulaceae English primrose common primrose true primrose One of Mitford ’s favorite flowers, can bloom with creamy yellow flowers from late December through May inBerkshire . Native to western and southern Europe. It is not to be confused with evening primrose (Oenothera), a genus of 100+ species of herbaceous flowering plants native to the Americas.Mitford also mentions the evening primroses, which have been cultivated in Eurasia since the early seventeenth century and are now naturalized in some areas. -
privet Ligustrum vulgare Ligustrum Oleaceae wild privet common privet European privet Shrub native to Eurasia and North Africa, as well as the UK, with glossy dark green leaves and tiny white flower clusters that develop into shiny black berries. Like box, trimmed to shape for hedging since at least the early modern period, although a Japanese type (L. ovalifolium) is now preferred for that purpose since it remains more evergreen. In the wild, grows in hedgerows and the understory of woodlands. -
ranunculus Ranunculus asiaticus Ranunculus Ranunculaceae garden ranunculus Persian buttercup Single-flowered red wildlflower with cup-shaped flowers, native to the Mediterranean region. Hybridized double-flowered forms in a variety of colors are used as garden plants, grown from tubers, and as cut flowers in floristry. -
rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum Rhododendron Ericaceae common rhododendron pontic rhododendron Flowering shrub carrying abundantly showy round flower clusters in shades of mauve or lavender blooms in spring, related to azaleas. Grow in the understory of woodlands, and have been hybridized as garden shrubs for hudreds of years. Native to Eurasia and North America. Introduced to the UK in the 18th century as a garden ornamental, it is now considered an invasive species. -
rose Rosa Rosaceae Large family of flowering shrubs that may appear as upright shrubs, woody climbers, or low-growing groundcovers. Mitford mentions a number of varieties of rose, including thewild rose ,damask rose ,moss rose , andsweet-briar . -
damask rose Rosa Rosaceae Rose of Castile A tall shrub rose with curved thorns and prickled stems, bearing large double flowers that range from pale pink to light red. Known for its fine fragrance, and a sources of rose oil for perfumery and to flavor food. The petals are also edible, and may be used as a garnish, a tea, or sugared. An important Old Rose , mentioned in English since at least the 17th century as a Middle Eastern (Damascene ) species of Rosa gallica, it is now understood to be a cross between Rosa gallica and Rosa moschata native to Central Asia and is a forerunner of many modern garden roses. -
moss rose Rosa x centifolia Muscosa
Rosa Rosaceae A sport of the hybridized centifolia rose (also called the cabbage rose), known in Europe since the 17th century, noted for the sticky, scented hairs covering its flower buds. Blooms were prized in the nineteenth century as a garden novelty for their unusual bud shape and multi-layered scent. -
wild rose Rosa canina Rosa Rosaceae dog-rose Mitford uses this term to refer to the dog rose , a climbing rose native to Europe, northwest Africa, and western Asia. Its spiny stems allow it to climb over other shrubs and trees, and it carries single pink or white flowers that develop an orange-red hip. The hips may be used to make tea, jelly, pies, syrup, and cordial. This rose is traditionally used in European heraldry. -
common snowdrop Galanthus nivalis Galanthus Amaryllidaceae Galanthus Small white-flowered plant propagated by bulbs, native to Europe and the Middle East and widely naturalized elsewhere. Believed to be native to the UK since the 16th century. Flowers in late winter and early spring, around the vernal equinox and so is considered a harbinger of spring. May also symbolize purity, hope, or the Christian Holy Trinity. A frequent subject of 19th century poetry including works by Landon andWordsworth . -
stock Matthiola incana Matthiola Brassicaceae common stock cut-and-come-again gillyflower Group of more than fifty types of tall, spike-flowered plants in the Brassica family and may refer more specifically to Matthiola incana. Flowers may be a variety of colors ranging from white through pink and purple. Cultivated scented varieties are UK garden favorites. -
wild strawberry Fragaria vesca Fragaria Rosaceae wood strawberry Alpine strawberry Carpathian Strawberry European strawberry A perennial plant in the Rose family that grows naturally throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere in open meadows and woodlands, and produces white flowers and edible red fruits. Mitford calls them bothwild strawberries
andwood strawberries
.Mitford also grew garden strawberries. -
sweet-briar Rosa rubiginosa Rosa Rosaceae sweetbriar rose eglantine Species of rose native to Eurasia and also a common garden and naturalized hedge plant. A shrub with hooked thorns, aromatic leaves, and fragrant single pink flowers. The shrub develops oblong red hips that may be dried and used as a tea. -
sweet pea Lathyrus odorata Lathyrus Fabaceae Spring-blooming vine with pink, purple, blue, or white flowers, native to Italy and the Aegean Islands. Cultivated in the UK since the introduction of seeds to England around 1700. Prized for their scent, sweet peas were a nineteenth-century favorite, hybridized for use as a commercial cut flower and as a garden plant. -
Sweet William Dianthus barbatus Dianthus Caryophyllaceae Member of the pink family whose clusters of flowers grow in an upward-facing umbrel, native to the mountains of southern Europe and introduced into northern Europe and the UK in the 16th century. Wild varieties carry flowers that are variegated red with white; cultivated varieties come in shades of solid and variegated white, pink, and red. -
sycamore Acer pesudoplatanus Acer Sapindaceae Large-leaved flowering tree in the soapberry and lychee family, native to Central Europe and Western Asia, and naturalized elsewhere. Its yellow-green hanging flower heads later produce winged seeds. It was introduced into the UK by at least 1500, and perhaps as early as the Roman occupation. Its fine-grained wood is used to make musical instruments as well as furniture and flooring. -
syringa Philadelphus coronarius Philadelphus Hydrangeaceae sweet mock-orange English dogwood Flowering shrub in the hydrangea family, native to southern Europe and cultivated elsewhere as a garden specimen. Carries fragrant, showy bowl-shaped white flowers. Mitford uses the termlilac
anddogwood
elsewhere, and so likely refers to theEnglish dogwood ormock-orange by this term. -
thorn Mitford likely uses this term to refer to the common hawthorn . -
thyme Thymus polytrichus Thymus Lamiaceae wild thyme creeping thyme Evergreen ground cover with aromatic leaves and pale purple flowers, native to Western Europe and the UK where it grows on dry banks and in pastures. Not generally used as a pot herb, unlike its relative, garden thyme (thymus vulgaris), which is native to southern Europe and cultivated elsewhere. -
tuberose Polianthes xxx Polianthes Asparagaceae A perennial plant that is frequently used in perfumes. -
tulip Tulipa Lilieae Large family of spring-blooming bulbs native to southern Europe and central Asia but cultivated as a garden plant and cut flower worldwide since the seventeenth century. Some varieties naturalized in Europe and parts of the UK, particulatly in eastern England and Scotland. After the so-called tulip mania in Europe in the 17th century, tulips became associated with the Netherlands and Dutch Golden Age painters, who included them in their still-life paintings. In herJournal ,Mitford refers tofield tulips
, presumably a naturalized population in Berkshire. -
turnip Brassica rapa rapa Brassica Brassicaceae white turnip neep Grown for its fleshy root, for consumption by both humans and livestock. Other subtypes of the same plant are grown for their stems or leaves, including: bok choy and rapini. In the UK and parts of North America, the term is also used to refer to rutabagas or swedes, a larger root vegetable in the same family. -
vine Vitis vinifera Vitis Vitaceae grapevine Woody vining plants important as the source of grapes. The wine grape are native to southern Europe and southwest Asia and were likely brought to the UK with the Romans. More than 40 vineyards are recorded in the Domesday book, although wine products were also imported into the UK in quantity, as the vines were only reliably hardy in the more temperate regions of Great Britain. -
violet Viola Viola riviniana Violaceae wood violet Common dog-violet One of Mitford ’s favorite flowers (as it was of many of her contemporaries). Native to Eurasia, including the UK, it blooms from April to June inBerkshire . he termsviola
andviolet
are used for small-flowered annuals or perennials, including the species. Mentioned in the1811 Poems as well as inOur Village .Mitford likely refers to wild forms of the Viola such as the common dog-violet. Field pansies (Viola arvensis) are also native to the UK and are wild relatives of the multi-coloured, large-flowered cultivars used as bedding plants. T -
Virgin's Bower Clematis vitalba Clematis Ranunculaceae old man's beard traveller's joy Climbing woody shrub in the clematis family, with panicles of fragrant green-white flowers that later develop fluffy seed heads. Native to the UK, common in southern England and in Wales and widely planted elsewhere. Not identical to a New World flower called by the same common name (C. virginiana). -
common wallflower Erysimum cheiri Erysimum Brassicaceae Flowering plant native to the Mediterranean basin and widely used as a garden plant for its showy, fragrant clusters of yellow-orange racemes. -
wheat Triticum aestivum Triticum Poaceae common wheat bread wheat Grassy plant cultivated as a cereal grain, cultivated in the Middle East since about 8000 BCE, and the practice is believed to have reached the British Isles by 3000 BCE. After 1750, wheat and rye began to replace barley as the dominant cereal grain crop in England, and formal wheat hybridization began in the early 19th century. Hard winter wheat is now most commonly cultivated in the UK. -
willow Salix Salicaceae Group of more than 400 species of tree, ranging in size from shrubs to large trees with slender grey-green leaves and thin branches, some with a drooping habit. Flowers are pendulous yellow-green catkins that develop tiny seeds enclosed in white down. Common in riparian areas and wet woodlands, found with ash andbirch . Several varieties are native to the UK, including bay willow, as well as goat willow and grey willow, both also called pussy willow. Others are naturalized and common, including white willow, crack willow and osier willow. The wood is strong and light, used to make cricket bats; and the thin branches used in basket making. Charcoal from the wood has been used to manufacture gunpowder, and the bark used for tanning leather. The bark contains salicin, and asprin-like substance long used to treat pain and fever, and studied systematically for its medicinal properties during Mitford's lifetime. Symbolic of grief and mourning;To wear the willow
is proverbial for mourning, and weeping willow imagery was common on gravestones and other funerary art, and in mourning jewelry and arts, where, during Mitford's lifetime, willows appear with urns, broken plinths, and drooping human figures. -
wisteria 8I9a09xzsWisteria Fabaceae Group of woody climbing vines bearing cascading purple flower plu0mes, native to Asia and to the eastern US. The North American variety was catalogued in 1817; wisterias began to be imported into Europe and the UK as garden plants in the early nineteenth century. They are usually grown supported by walls, fences, or pergolas. -
wood sorrel Oxalis Oxalis acetosella Oxalidaceae Mitford likely refers to common wood sorrel, a member of the oxalis family, native to the Northern Hemisphere, including the UK. It grows in mixed woodlands and is a low-growing plant with heart-shaped trilobal leaves that bears white flowers in April and May. The plant is not related to sorrel proper (Rumex acetosa), although the two plants share an acidic taste that may have led to the similar name. -
yew Taxus baccata Taxus Taxaceae common yew English yew European yew Small long-lived evergreen conifer native to parts of Eurasia, North Africa and the UK, particularly southern England. Carries small hard cones that develop a fleshy red berry-like covering. Historically planted in cemeteries and associated with sadness and mourning. The wood is a closed-pore softwood, strong and flexible, used for making tool handles and turnings, and historically used for making longbows.
Blackwood’s Magazine, The London Magazine, and the Scott-Christie Duel.
I find Sir William Allan only in the town, he is painting a very clever picture of, as excerpted inThe Broken Fiddle . A wooden-legged sailor has broken his fiddle on the head of a young scamp for some mischievous trick; an old woman, his granddam, is shaking her fist at the sailor, who is enjoying the pain of the crying boy. . . . It promises to be a very clever thing indeed. The background in colour and effect is the best thing he has done.
a piece of quite a different cast from anything he had formerly attempted. It is a highly humorous composition, and the glow of colouring is such as perhaps Wilkie himself never surpassed.
12 ft 6 in. × 15 ft 1 in., with a frame weighing 600 lb.Exhibited at
Te Deum Laudamus.
the Literature, History, Politics, Arts, Manners, and Amusements of the Age. Early publisher of Wordsworth.
for the proprietors.Between 1823 and 1829, published as
for the proprietorsby G. & W. B. Whittaker & Co. In the 1820s the magazine increasingly focused on fashion and domestic concerns and included less material on politics and travel.
A popular and influential monthly magazine for women that ran
new series(series two), volumes 1 through 10,
improved series.In
Sources:
new series(series two), volumes 1 through 10,
new series(series two), volumes 1 through 3,
new series(second series) begun in 1820 by publisher
new series,published
from a traveller.
Founded on
M,contributed three stories to the first three issues of its short run. Source:
account of Indiain her Journal on
sad uncandid military book
pretty tale. Source: Journal
interesting. Source: Journal.
not better, that is too vain a word, but less bad than the rest.
famous.
a catch penny thing.
pretty good.
sad turncoatin her Journal entry on
a tolerable Tragedyin her Journal entry.
humdrum.
famous. Mitford may have read the later reprint published by T. Davies.
not good.
famous;
very goodand
very good indeed.
in boards,others in
half morocco.An auction catalog for Richard Valpy’s library indicates that there were
only 12 copies, printed by the author himself, who presented this to me (ie, Richard Valpy);another presentation copy appears in an auction catalogs for Samuel Rogers’s library. Periodicals and their reviewers from 1796 do not appear to have had access to the complete work in 66 cantos but instead review partial editions of cantos 41-60 (Edinburgh Magazine); canto 38 only (Analytical Review); Cantos 38-60 (British Critic); Cantos 38 and 40 only (Monthly Review). WorldCat lists an edition of cantos 37 to 60 only from 1795. Separate listings for a two-page mock title-page for the work, attributed to Horne-Took, appear as
Speedily will be published, price 3l.6s. in boards, The travels of Cyllenius: a poem. In sixty-six cantos.
not goodand
much too dismal.
not good.
Corruption itself.
famous.
good but wicked. In journal entry
My name is Norvalbecame a favorite among amateur reciters.
Miss O'Keeffe.
good.
neither seen nor sought for it.
Galicis Macpherson’s spelling.
very much amused by it. Later, she writes that she
liked it better than the first, perhaps comparing the last volume to the first. Source: Journal entry
Galicis Macpherson’s spelling.
M.
tolerablein journal entry
very stupid & dismal.
famous.
very good.
very good.
bad.
A satirical version of
very amusingand
amusing enough, perhaps referring to different volumes.
stupid and frantical.
M.
Samuel Shaw, Esq.Mitford rated it
very learned & curiousin her Journal on
stupid enough.
famous pepperingand says that there is
nothing so good now.
written in his seventy-sixth year,rediscovered and published for the first time by John Murray in 1818.
pretty little thing.
a very sweet Italian novelin journal. She speaks of it again in her letter to William Elford on 1820 June 21, saying
the only modern Italian novel. What a strange anomaly in literature, that this imaginative people, from whom almost all out old stories were borrowed, should have no original novels now, for these letters of Ortis are little other than an imagination of ‘Werther.'As MRM observes, the book is in the spirit of
Surryon title page.
famous.
very good though vulgar.
interesting. In journal entry
very good.
pretty good.
Madame Panache. Mitford rated it
a pretty thing.
by the Author of Pride and Prejudice.
liked it very much; she also says that it
made me laugh. In journal entry
liked it very much.
by the Author of Headlong Hall.
not very goodand
stupid enough. Source: Journal.
stupid.
very bad.
very entertaining.
very entertaining. Source: Journal.
a very great man & great poet!.
rather dullbut then also called it
a most interesting book.
very good.
stupid.
very good.
clever thing.
dull.
not very good,
not so good as some of his Novelsand then, presumably as she reads the final volume,
pretty good too. In journal entry
an excellent old Novel.
not very good.
good.
good.
horrible.
by the Author of Headlong Hall.
sad methodistical stuff.
farewellto the last position appears to be a common practice with editors of selected editions.
large paperedition in red cloth as well as a
small paperquarto edition bound in green cloth, some with gilt-stamped covers. The
small papergreen cloth editions featured illustrated covers and spines heavily stamped in gold, and followed a book design strategy that had been established by
stupid old Novel. Source: Journal.
very much. Source: Journal.
second editionon the title page, although it was actually the first edition. Published anonymously.
very good. In journal entry
stupid. Unsigned, author unknown.
author ofuntil Scott disclosed his authorship in 1827.Waverley
very good. In journal entry
too dismal but very good.
famous.
famous. Mitford may have read the later reprint published by T. Davies.
charmed with itin her journal entry of
famous.
not good.
an elegant Poem.
Printed for the proprietor by S.G. Fairbrother, Lyceum Print Office.The Lyceum refers to the New Theatre Royal, Lyceum and English Opera House, London.
by a Lady. Mitford rated it
very good.
new sermonsthat
good materials badly used. In journal entry
sad Methodistical stuff.
English Prairie. A second edition of Sketches appeared in 1819. In his preface, Fearon claims to be an unbiased observer and reporter and implicitly contrasts himself with other writers on the topic:
My Reports were originally composed neither with a view to fame nor profit,--neither to exalt a country, to support a party, nor to promote a settlement. I have had every motive to speak what I thought the truth, and none to conceal or pervert it.The volume is dedicated to
The Friends of Civil and Religious Liberty, and the dedication is dated
. AsPlaistow, Essex .October 2, 1818
Such [claims afford] Fearon room for statements that seem to emerge from differing, often contradictory ideological predilections. Sometimes he presents himself as an ardent convert to republicanism. At other times he is so fastidious in manners and appearance that he seems to the guardian of an older English probity Americans have recklessly abandoned
very good.In journal entry
very muchand that it is
very good.
goodand
very good.
not better, that is too vain a word, but less bad than the rest.
at the request of a near relation who wished me to compose a Tale adapted to the picturesque and enchanting scenery of the ancient domains of our family, now in the possession of Bertram Mitford, Esq. The Lord de Bertram, (one of the followers of William the Conqueror) married Sybille, the heiress of Sir Johannes de Mitford, and died, I believe, in the Holy Land.This title also published in
famous;
very goodand
very good indeed.
Black Dwarf,and
very amusing.
Galicis Macpherson’s spelling.
very entertaining indeed. In journal entry
good politics but middling writing.
very stupidin her Journal on
good.
liked it very well.
not better, that is too vain a word, but less bad than the rest.
delightful.
charming. In journal entry
old & bad.
new editionpublished in
middling. In journal entry
too dismal.
a great deal too wise to deal in books printed upon drawing paper in Atlas quarto--books merely meant to make a show.It is unknown how many copies were sold.
don't like it much--too dismal.In Journal
Madame Panache. Mitford rates it
pretty enough but too dismal. Source: Journal.
pretty but too dismal. Source: Journal.
very good.
stupid.