Joanne Major

Newspapers, plays and paintings portrayed the romance of elopement — but what was the reality?

With Wimbledon in full swing, thoughts – naturally – turn towards that perennial British summer favourite, fresh strawberries and cream.

The time for assembling is generally from ten to twelve o’clock, or even later, as many persons visit several of these places in one evening.

Around early July 1819, a pretty woman thought to be in her early 20s turned up at a lodging house in George Court off Aylesbury Street in Clerkenwell. She told the owner that she was a stranger in London, having just arrived from the country.

If you're thinking that Princess Caraboo’s story sounds far-fetched, you'd be right!

[A] Frost Fair began on the canal in St James’s park, where many thousands met, some for skaiting, others for sliding; several of whom, by the ice breaking, had the misfortune to drop in up to their armpits, which caused great diversion to most of the spectators...