Julian Fellowes' Belgravia - starts tonight, ITV1

[QueenOfTheAndals]

Anyone planning on watching? I loved Downton so I'm looking forward to this. It might be just the sort of escapist drama featuring posh people in nice frocks that we all need right now!

They would literally have to boil wash their rags immediately because there's no way that bloodstains are removed after much time. I suppose soaking in cold salt water straight away helps (I remember dm saying that's what to to do with stained sheets too.)

Yes, they might boil wash and I think a few bloodstains would probably be accepted on menstrual rags. Once it got too bad it might be burned.

The process of cutting rags, sewing pads and burning old ones is described in the diary ‘Gentleman Jack’.

We are so lucky today. Think it’s also described in Longbourn.

God, this is boring!

I'm enjoying it.

Just waiting for the butler to say "lovely bit of squirrel" I prefer him in FND.

Gynaecology was already developing in Victorian times - the speculum and the vibrator were both inventions of the era!

There are gynae instruments found in the ruins of Pompei on display the Naples museum. The display includes a speculum and it’s very obvious what everything else is also. Absolutely amazing.

Sorry, meant to attach this

Dh decided last night that it: 'wasn't that great, a bit poor.' I agree. It's ok. Just. A bit weak.

Oh! I thought it picked up a bit last night. New plot lines and the dreadful nephew now knows his inheritance is at risk.

The plot twist of the reverend major was a bit hilarious but obviously necessary for a happy ending.

I am loving this

What a load of (enjoyable) tosh! The dialogue is incredibly anachronistic and for a series called Belgravia, we see little of its streets. As for the plot that you can predict a mile off... but of course I’ll be tuning in again

I had missed the start of this thread so o must have several on catch up. I don't care how shit it is, I am craving something I haven't already seen.

Still enjoying it here. I reckon the false testimony from Manchester is probably due to Charles Pope's opposition to the slave trade.

Thinking about the bribes, I had a quick look at a website about Victorian servants and their wages. In 1890, so quite a bit later than the programme:

Butler of a large house: £40 - £60 per year
Footman: £30 per year
Lady's Maid: £25-30 per year

So the bribes that John B. is handing over are pretty substantial.

Susan is clearly getting fed up with his off-hand treatment and I think she will turn against him pretty soon - not to mention that she needs to keep her bread buttered with her DH...

P.S. I am strangely pleased by her ill-gotten pregnancy. She displayed the kind of resentment that only comes from being fairly miserable, so I hope she enjoyed her vigorous tumble in the hay with John B and will hopefully now perk up and make a go of things with Charles, her baby and her nice in-laws.

So, all along Sophia/her maid had a marriage certificate???

But Sophia thought that it was fake??

But at least it would have shown that she believed herself to be married?

Seems she was as daft as her brother!

It all just came across as sour grapes from those other businessmen didn't it, yet he's leaping on it as a chance to get his father to stop investing??

I feel sorry for him to a point, but he's just too happy to live off his father's wealth without showing any interest in anything.

Re the rags. Servants periods were monitored. I'm betting that maids knew when something was amiss with their mistress too. My great great aunt ended up being dismissed from domestic service when her "lack of laundry" was noticed. This was during WW1 and she'd had a last night with her boyfriend before he went away.

Do tell the rest of the story @DrCoconut! Did she have a baby? Did the father return from WW1? —it might be more interesting than the plot of Belgravia—

imposters The reason we see little of Belgravia's streets is because the exterior was filmed In Edinburgh, and some of it's interiors, also other places which were not near London!! According to the Radio Times.

@cheapskatemum it's a big story. Lots of sadness, loss and betrayal unfortunately and we only found out the truth recently. My great great aunt did have a baby. Her family were horrified but she was allowed to remain in the family. She helped at their small holdings during did what she could to earn a bit of money alongside. She wasn't entitled to any allowance for the baby as she was unmarried. She never heard from her boyfriend again and heard that he'd been killed not too long after. She was advised not to contact his family and just leave the past alone as an illegitimate child was shocking and anxious not to displease anyone further she did as she was told. Her child was disabled and had a weak heart. Some people said it was judgement on her (the mother) for what she'd done. Others just sort of accepted it and they did become part of their community. We actually have a photo of the little girl that was passed down and i suspect she had Down's syndrome from her appearance. She lived to be 12 or 13, I can't remember without the files in front of me. My great great aunt was broken by her loss and never married or had more children. She doted in the younger members of the family and I just about remember going to see her when I was little. She had a very Victorian style front room for best with hard armchairs and floral china for tea. She's been dead a long time now but years after she passed away we used the Internet to research it all as the details were a bit sketchy. We found no evidence of her boyfriend being killed. In fact he survived the war and married someone else, and they only lived about an hour away from his original home. I guess there just wasn't the information and people didn't travel. I wonder if her family wanted to keep them apart and thought it best to pretend he was dead. Maybe they intercepted letters and no wonder they advised against contacting his family. We will never know all of it and I suppose it was a different time and society, they must have meant well. It's like the plot of a novel and very sad.

During did should say and did.

Oh that's a really sad story.

I wonder if it was his family that told her that he had been killed?

And was that based on the daughter having Down's syndrome I wonder?

How sad Dr But at least her family didn't turn their backs on her. Thank goodness we live in more enlightened times.

I am really enjoying it and thought Sunday's episode was miles better than the previous episodes - but it is all extremely predictable.

DrCoconut what an incredible story! Your poor great great aunt and little girl. Their story is far more original and interesting than the Belgravia plot.

It's predictable but lovely. I'm still really enjoying it despite usually liking things a bit more edgy! Don't know the story but am rooting for a very happy ending.

Yes I enjoyed last Sunday's more too. It's all falling into place. I liked Lady Brocklebank (Harriet W) much more too, less mealy mouthed than poor frightened Mrs Trenchard (Tamsin G.) Is she so frightened because they are 'new' money?

I LOVED the look on Bellasis's face when he realises that Charles Pope is legitimate!!!!!