Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
It was also the location of Limmer's Hotel, 'the most dirty hotel in London,' according
to Captain Gronow. Despite this, 'in the gloomy comfortless coffee-room might be seen
many members of the rich squirearchy, who visited London during the sporting season.'
Turn right to reach New Bond Street. Most early buildings have been swept away but it
remains the exclusive shopping street that it was when Jane knew it well. Priscilla Wake-
field tells us, 'Bond-street is the grand mart for fashionable items of dress, and is conse-
quently the resort of ladies of the ton, who assemble there in splendid carriages; whilst idle
beaux, distinguished by the appellation of Loungers come to gaze at them, and, in their turn
to attract attention.'
Two until five was the time for being seen during the Season and Sir Walter Scott, Byron,
Brummell and the Prince Regent were frequent 'loungers'.
One of the plaques in St George's listing the churchwardens, including
the Earl of Jersey in 1794.
Jane knew it well and placed her characters here with confidence. In
Sense and Sensibil-
ity
Marianne, miserable over Willoughby, is a poor companion on a shopping trip:
In Bond-street especially, where much of their business lay, her eyes were in constant inquiry; and in
whatever shop the party were engaged, her mind was equally abstracted… Restless and dissatisfied
every where, her sister could never obtain her opinion of any article of purchase…and [she] could with
difficulty govern her vexation at the tediousness of Mrs Palmer, whose eye was caught by every thing
pretty, expensive, or new; who was wild to buy all, could determine on none, and dawdled away her
time in rapture and indecision.
A fashionable young gentleman of 1813 wearing buckskin breeches.
Willoughby is lodging in Bond Street when he writes to Marianne, protesting that he had
never intended to court her as his affections were already engaged elsewhere.
The street was full of hotels, lodgings and eating places as well as shops. Steven's and
Long's hotels were both favourites of the ton, as members of fashionable Society were
