When I learned that the Duke and Duchess of Kent and their baby daughter, (Princess Alexandrina Victoria, the future Queen Victoria) visited Sidmouth—the town where my ON DEVONSHIRE SHORES series is set and in the same year I set the first book, I knew I wanted to include them in Book Two, A Winter by the Sea.
The royal couple and their entourage rented Woolbrook Cottage (on the same lane as fictional Sea View) for the cold and snowy winter of 1819-1820. They arrived with too many attendants to accommodate in the house they’d rented, so some of their staff had to be lodged elsewhere. That part is true, and I thought it would be fun to send a few of the duke’s staff to stay at Sea View.
As the book opens, the Summers family are expecting a quiet winter. Instead the Duke and Duchess of Kent and their baby daughter rent the neighboring house, and the sisters are called upon to host three of the royal couple’s male staff. And they soon realize they’ve invited secrets and the sweet possibility of romance into their home.
The duke’s time in Sidmouth was brief and punctuated by dramatic events, which I hope you will find as interesting as I did. One of those events was that a local lad out shooting birds shot through the nursery window where Victoria was sleeping, narrowly missing the baby and showering glass down onto her cot (or onto her nurse, depending on the account). In my fictional version, rough-and-tumble youngest daughter, Georgiana, plays a part as well.
In 2022, my husband and I stayed at Woolbrook Cottage, now the Royal Glen Hotel. We slept in the room the Duke of Kent himself used, and saw the nursery window where Victoria slept and the local lad shot through, now marked with a colored pane of glass. In this video, I am attempting to indicate the window while I talk, and my poor husband did his best to adjust so I almost pointed to the right spot. 😊 You can see it better in the next image, courtesy of the hotel website.
We enjoyed our time there, and this small brush with history. When was your last brush with history? Do you enjoy visiting historic places?
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How fun that you got to stay there! It looks like such a lovely place. The kind that invites you to sit and enjoy some tea while reading. I enjoy visiting historical places. Living as close as I do to Valley Forge, I brush up against history quite a bit. And of course, Philadelphia is just around the bend (I say that as if the traffic doesn’t make it take forever to get there HA!). I’d like to visit some more historical places in Europe though.
Yes, it was lovely. Wow–you live near some history-rich places! Hoping to visit Philadelphia this autumn. And hope YOU get to Europe one day soon.
Joy, I didn’t realize you lived on the east coast. Have been to Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Philadelphia, and love Lancaster!
Gettysburg is one I’d like to visit and explore a bit more. I’ve driven through it many times but would like to stop and see some things! I’ve been to Lancaster many times!
Julie, I loved this book and the way you wove the Summers family into these real events. I was surprised at how many things in the book were from real people and events when I read your note at the end. No spoilers, but a poignant scene with the Duke brought me to tears. You are the perfect example of why I love historical fiction.
I probably have been interested in history because there is so much around me. I was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia and took school trips as a child to Jamestown and Williamsburg. My husband’s last duty station was in Norfolk, before retiring from the Marine Corps, and we made our permanent home in Virginia Beach. As a Virginia Beach 5th grade teacher for 23 years, we took our students to Colonial Williamsburg many years. There is so much history in Virginia!
I read your books with my friend Lynne in Washington state. We are anxiously awaiting book 3!
I loved this part of the story! How fun to get to incorporate so much real history. And to get to stay at the cottage! Love it!
Fascinating post!! I love that you incorporated this juicy bit of history into your books.
This is great, Julie! Thank you for sharing.
I love to visit historic places!
Thanks for sharing this with us blog readers!
I read and enjoyed a library copy of the novel and looking forward to the 3rd novel. I appreciated the update you wrote at the end of the book.
You should add the photos and video to your website for readers and visitors to enjoy.
Of interest, the current Duke of Kent is named (wait for it!) Prince Edward. Both he and his wife, the Duchess of Kent, are among the current British working royals after the senior ones.
I SO want to stay at Woolbrook
Cottage… or Royal Glen Hotel! The story of the lad shooting out the window in the Princess’s room is interesting and it’s a perfect addition to ‘A Winter By The Sea’. I love it that you got to stay in the Duke of Kent’s room. Visiting historical places is one of the things I really like to do. Kensington Palace was a highlight of a recent London trip. Glensheen Mansion and the James J. Hill house are among my favorite Minnesota historical places to visit, both which I’ve had the pleasure of visiting with you!
Julie, I loved the video and being able to see the actual cottage in the story. Betty and I both agreed that this was one of your best books – I had a very hard time putting it down and can’t wait until the next installment comes out. We also agreed that one of the things you do so well (and it shows in this series) is your character development. You have filled Sidmouth with plenty of warm, funny and interesting people.
I so enjoyed the history you weave into your stories, Julie. Thank you for sharing these pictures & video with us!
My recent brush with history was on a vacation to Florida. On a particularly rainy day, we took a trolley ride up to the coastal city of Tarpon Springs, FL which is considered the “Sponge Capital of the World”. Many Greek sponge divers moved there in the early 1900s so there is a large Greek influence in the area, especially near the sponge docks. We enjoyed dining at Hellas Restaurant & Bakery (delicious) should you ever find the time to visit!
How fascinating! I can’t wait to read this book!