Last autumn I signed up for a 10-week course run by BFHS and titled “Victorian Sources for Historians”. The tutor was Dr Margaret Simons.
We were a small group, the majority of whom wanted to learn more about their own ancestors as they were researching their family trees and wanted a broader background knowledge to help them understand what it was like to live in Victorian times.
However, my reason for doing this course was mainly because I’m a writer and love writing historical novels. I studied history at university, although not the Victorians.
So far, I’ve had about 100 short stories published worldwide in women’s magazines, 14 pocket novels (novellas), and 10 large print novels available from libraries. About two thirds of my books are historical, mainly set in Victorian times. There are fewer markets for historical short stories so most of them are contemporary.
For some time, I have been working on a series loosely based around Victorian Reading. The prequel, Biscuit Wars, was published as a D C Thomson pocket novel in February and is now being considered by Ulverscroft as a large print novel. These novels are all linked by their setting but are stand-alone stories. I’ve currently got another one being considered and am working on the next, whilst the others have been planned out.
Each story focuses on one character and a different aspect of Victorian and later Edwardian life. I’ve got an idea for each which I keep adding to.
Some writers just sit down and write; I’m a planner. I like to map out my plot and begin to develop my characters before I even start to write.
I was pleased to receive information beforehand from Dr Margaret Simons on what topics we’d be learning about each week. These covered many areas of Victorian life such as society and class, health and hygiene, travel and education. Knowing what was coming up made me think, often subconsciously, what I’d be listening out for, or specific facts I needed to know more about. Often, the brief mention of something would spark another idea, for example, in week 2 I noticed a reference to the first female factory inspector and decided she’d make a splendid secondary character.
Over the course, we learnt about how the country was changing from being mainly rural to the growth of large communities such as Reading. It made me wonder how easy it would be for a young person to adapt to such a different way of life.
My characters are not the rich and famous; they are the ordinary, everyday people who make up a community. Normal they might be, but they are achievers, prepared to take risks and fight for what’s right.
Margaret’s course helped give me a good insight into housing arrangements that would have been available, health issues that were relevant at the time as well as the impact of the railway on our area. Hopefully, all these little extra details will make my stories more believable and enjoyable for my readers.
We are so fortunate, not only to have access to the wealth of material that the Berkshire Family History Society has for us, in person and online, but there is so much information available via the Internet. Thanks to Margaret, I now note down the source and date of my research, should I need to refer back.
I admit, I could happily spend hours on my research, and enjoy every minute, but that doesn’t get a first draft written! I’ve had to train myself to write the story and ONLY look up specific things as and when they crop up.
Not surprisingly, I picked up another couple of ideas for future stories from doing Margaret’s course. I also discovered other areas that I know I need to learn more about, such as the development of photography in the late Victorian period and into the twentieth century.
Undertaking courses such as this and listening to many of the excellent talks hosted by the Berkshire Family History Society, are not the only ways in which I develop my stories.
I’m lucky enough to have spent time in the enormous costume department of a local theatre group – Twyford Drama. I was amazed how different I felt, and moved, when I was dressed for the part. For a start, I had to slow down when wearing a long dress and my posture improved, even though I wasn’t wearing a whale bone corset!
Other research I’ve done, for different novels, has been equally interesting. I once went to the Maidenhead Heritage Centre and, with the help of a fully qualified pilot, flew a Spitfire! Ok, so it was a simulation but it just made me admire those ATS girls all the more. In fact, the more I learnt about their real-life stories, the more I realised I had to write about something different, because the truth was better than fiction!
I have also lived on war-time rations which was quite an eye-opener. Much to my surprise, I was allowed more butter and milk than I usually eat but there was much less variety. Fortunately, I love vegetables and this was winter, so there were plenty of root vegetables around. One day, I’ll try rations again in the summer for a different experience.
Over the years, my husband and I have had allotments and at one time my ambition was to become self-sufficient but the reality is that we would probably starve!
I’ve also sewn my own clothes and used a variety of natural dyes to dye different fabrics. My mum was a skilled dressmaker, but I didn’t inherit her skills. I was always better at cooking than sewing.
I once did a workshop with Adrienne Henry, a milliner in the Harris Arcade in Reading and learnt how to make my very own, bespoke 1920s style cloche. I’m very proud of the hat I made and admire the skill of the milliners.
You won’t be surprised to find I’m an avid reader, and love many of the historical dramas we have on television. I do like them to be accurate and to reflect the actual culture of the period, rather than be modernised to bring them in line with what’s currently more acceptable.
I would like to extend a huge thank you to Dr Margaret Simons and also to Vicki Chesterman for putting on this excellent course and many similar ones. I, for one, have been entertained and have learnt a lot which has been put to good use.
If you are interested in reading any of my novels, you can read the blurbs on my website www.sarahswatridge.co.uk. You can also sign up, via my website, for my one-page, monthly newsletter.
And, if you’d like to buy my collection of 20 Feel-Good Stories, several of which are historical, then go to Amazon or order direct https://www.thebridgetowncafebooksshop.co.uk/
