set in Regency London during the early 1800s Netflix's Bridgerton follows the Romantic escapades of the titular aristocratic family living in a social World known as the ton Regency High Society families like the bridgertons lived in a world governed by rules that if broken could ruin a family's fortunes though the series imagines a period of rakes arises debauchery virtue glittering parties seedy dens of vice and at least one guy's very cute butt there is still a glimmer of reality within the streaming hit so how accurate is Bridgerton and his depiction of the early 19th century well
today we're going to discover what it was really like to live in Bridgerton but before we get started be sure to subscribe to the weird History Channel after that leave a comment below and let us know what other period piece deep Dives you'd like to hear about all right young Nobles let us make our way through the social [Music] season the Regency period in Great Britain technically lasted from 1811 to 1820 when the Prince of Wales ruled as Regent in place of his father King George III though officially only 9 years long the Regency as
a social and cultural era extended beyond that chronology and was part of the larger Georgian period 1714 to 1837 it was the era of Jane Austin and waterl imperialism and Romanticism slavery and the Industrial Revolution though some of Bridgerton World building is based on the historical record however Loosely it doesn't present the past exactly as it was rather the show plays with historical details to reinvent what the past could have been a candied Wonderland free from the harsh realities that darkened the era a world preoccupied solely with Intrigue Scandal and beautiful people falling in and
out of love probably better than slavery yeah Bridgerton takes place over a season and we don't mean the weather the season known historically as a social season was a time of year that dominated the upper R of Regency London from roughly February to June the upper classes came to the city to participate in a lively social scene of exclusive balls parties and various entertainments but aside from Libations and happy go-lucky Affairs these social Seasons provided major opportunities for love and politics because so many young socialites from the ton were a foot during these balls and
parties the season enabled Elite families to broker marriages for their eligible sons and daughters while many of London's highclass Lords and Ladies simply cavorted around the social scene many saw these Affairs as the place to found a future family the season was so notorious for betrothal among the ton that rogish poet Lord Byron nicknamed London's party scene the marriage Mart and for good reason though much of the Western World now views marriage as an act of passion things were not so in the 19th century in those days to wet another was more like starting a
business and The Business of marriage was the business of reproducing familial wealth kind of makes sense right marry the rich and the rich get richer produce a worthy Heir and the wealth stays in the the family allegiances are forged and the roots of family trees intertwine and love why that's just table setting my dear as historian Hannah Greg explains marriage brokering during the season was all about keeping the money and the power within a fairly small circle of society by controlling the pool of suitors that's what gives it the market aspect love isn't blind it's
capitalist in the Netflix show lead hunk Colin Bridgerton loses his heart to Marina Thompson un notes to Colin Marina needs to marry in a hurry to conceal her extramarital pregnancy so when she laments that they can't get married quickly enough in episode 6 Colin suggests they run away to a lope somewhere special a place for young lovers to finally take those big steps down the aisle a place where marriage comes quickly and few questions are asked the destination for those with money to share some Hasty vows and take in the sights sound familiar no there
aren't any Elvis impersonators here although Las Vegas wouldn't be founded for another Century the young lovers of the tong had another quicky wedding destination Greta green an idilic Village in Scotland was Regency London's go-to alotment site because engaged couples of the English persuasion had to wait weeks to marry many found a loophole in Gretna Green thanks to Lauren Hardwick's marriages Act of 1753 getting married in the Church of England was a major headache filled with hoops and hurdles with long waiting lists and steep Rules of Engagement the church wasn't an option for those in need
of quick vows but fortunately for couples like Colin Bridgerton and Marina the law did didn't apply in Scotland in a rush to Mary the pair headed to gretag Green a short and Scenic trip that took them across the Scottish border so the next time the Vegas drive-through Chapel is busy consider a trip across the [Music] Atlantic in episode three of Bri richardton the characters Daphne and Simon the Duke rendevu at a lovely establishment known as gunter's tea shop the scene is a fan favorite and the tea shop has become something of a white whale for
televised Foodies and who can blame them the setting is lavish the conversation divine and the Duke really really seems to be enjoying his ice cream in reality gunter's tea shop was a popular Regency Era establishment well positioned on London's fashionable Berkeley Square gunters became the Ton's favorite go-to sweet spot because gunters specialized in cold treats like ice cream this destination provided hot commodities for the wealthy social lights of 19th century London who doesn't love an ice cream date with they soon to be betrothed or a steamy Conversation Over AA further embedded in the big business
of ton marriages gunter's tea shop even came food for High Society events yes during The Season's many balls and classy functions one might see the familiar treats and Delicacies of London's favorite sweet spot at the end of episode one The Bridgerton go to voxal Gardens where Daphne and Simon agreed to con Society into thinking they are a match in the scene the gardens are depicted as an extravagant destination full of light and life a struck by the aair set for the show audience's imaginations ran and wild in reality box Hall was one of the so-called
pleasure Gardens that entertained Regency londoners pleasure Gardens offered something for everyone among the ton illuminated Pathways Gardens fountains fireworks concerts masquerades and plenty of food to go around ooh do we smell gunter's ice cream aside from goodies and Gardens chances for Mischief were also abundant at voxhall off the Gilded Pathways beyond the lantern light dark corners of the gardens provided opportunities for illicit Rendevous and those these Fays into the Shadows put entire family legacies at risk many could not resist the urge to step off the chosen path Foxhall Gardens was theoretically open to anyone who
could pay the price of admission and was a prime example of urban social mixing in its day but perhaps to the surprise of no one aristocratic and Royal visitors tended to keep to themselves as historian Amanda vicory put it voxhall might have resembled an enchanted wood but Prince and popper knew their place even in Fairyland [Music] in episode 6 lady Danbury a black Noble woman explains the origins of Bridget's racially mixed Regency world look at our queen look at our King look at their marriage look at everything it is doing for us allowing us to
become we were two separate societies divided by color until a king fell in love with one of us love your grace conquers all with its color conscious casting Bridgerton depicts a racially diverse inclusive British past though the aristocracy of the Regency may not have been as diverse as the the show portrays British history itself was less homogeneous than most people imagine folks from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds converged on late Georg and London residents and visitors included Persian students Indian nurses and sailors black cabinet makers and abolitionists in 1810 the country even got
its first Indian restaurant when Dean Muhammad a former East India Company Soldier set up the Hindustan coffee shop in London but unfortunately diversity didn't translate to Acceptance in High Society far from it many upper class Britain in the Regency got their wealth From Slavery which officially existed in the British Empire until 1833 and by the late 18th century racial attitudes had hardened to the detriment of people of color Dao Elizabeth Bell for example was a mixed race arys who grew up in the household of her powerful great uncle Lord Mansfield though privileged connected and well-
loved by those who knew her Bell still wasn't fully accepted as a member of high society although Bridgeton serves audiences an imaginative world of peace and hope the unfortunate reality of the Regency era's racial divide is one of undue hardship and [Music] cruelty throughout the hit Netflix show Leading Lady Daphne Bridgton narrowly avoids several scandals like when lowly Nigel burbrook aggressively proposed to her at the lavish Vox Hill Gardens only to be socked for his poor behavior and who could forget when she scandalously made out with the Duke of Hastings in those Moonlight Gardens free
from chaperon or inhibitions whether punching her desperate sailor or Snogging with the dashing Duke the stakes for Daphne were incredibly High though young men had more leeway with their behavior young ladies of the ton had to abide by a stricter moral code historian Amanda vicory writes Chastity modesty and obedience were the preeminent female virtues her sexual virtue had to appear unimpeachable or she would be ruined on the marriage Market unmarried lady stepped out with chaperons who acted as Guardians who protected surveilled and vouched for their virtue this too served a purpose assuring a future husband
the children his wife would bear belong to him how romantic although the Netflix series portrays its loved craze characters as charmingly cautious they are often predisposed to acts of romantic fancy but the real world of 19th century Regency London paints a darker portrait of life among the ton and romance was no exception whether ruined by devious rumors are destroyed by the Heat of the Moment love and lust often dismantled highclass Society families like the Bridgeton anyway can't wait for the next season so what do you think of bridger's betrayal of the 19th century let us
know in the comments below and while you're at it check out these other videos from our weird history
