This section is mostly for the benefit of overseas readers, who may not be familiar with the geography involved.
"Had he done his duty in that respect, Lydia need not have been indebted to her uncle for whatever of honour or credit could now be purchased for her. The satisfaction of prevailing on one of the most worthless young men in Great Britain to be her husband might then have rested in its proper place."
[Chapter 50, Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen]
England, Great Britain or United Kingdom? What's the difference?
In 1795 the Kingdom of Great Britain was made up of England (including Wales) and Scotland, ruled over by King George III.
The Principality of Wales had been incorporated into England during the 16th century, while The Act of Union between England and Scotland, uniting two separate countries that had the same king, was completed in 1707.
King George III was also the King of Ireland, but Ireland remained a separate country until another Act of Union in 1801.
So when we talk about England we mean England and Wales. (An Act of Parliament in 1746 decreed that any mention of England would, by default, include Wales.)
Great Britain is the island that is home to England, Wales and Scotland.
Following the Union of 1801, the United Kingdom was made up of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. This arrangement remained until 1949, when the Republic of Ireland regained independence. Northern Ireland is still part of the United Kingdom.
Although many modern historical novels set in the Regency period concentrate on High Society in London and other parts of England, the Anglo-Irish writer Maria Edgeworth (1768-1849) set some of her stories in Ireland, and focussed on the plight of the Irish workers. Susan Ferrier (1782-1854) included vivid accounts of life in Scotland in her novels, while Jane Austen (1775-1818) liked nothing more than to write about "three or four families in a country village".
Regency England & Wales
By the first half of the 19th century England was separated into thirty-nine counties, most of which still survive today. A further thirteen counties covered Wales. Each county had a Lord Lieutenant, who was the King's representative in the area. They were also responsible for raising their county's militia in times of war.
Although Great Britain is a small island, compared to other countries, every county had its own character. While everyone spoke English, there were also a wide variety of dialects, and the farmers often specialised in growing different crops, or producing livestock. Some counties were known for mining minerals, such as coal, copper, lead and stone.
Each county was divided into smaller parts, variously called hundreds, wards or wapentakes, depending on the county. These areas were again split into parishes.
"...she had fixed on the smallest habitation which could rank as genteel among the buildings of Mansfield parish, the White House being only just large enough to receive herself and her servants, and allow a spare room for a friend, of which she made a very particular point."
[Chapter 3, Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen]
The size of a parish depended on its location. In a sparsely populated agricultural area, a large parish might cover a village or township, plus a number of hamlets and single farms or houses, while in the city of London one parish may only cover two or three streets. The populations of different parishes could vary from a few hundred to many thousands.
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Reading the Regency
Non-FictionA guide to Regency England for readers of classic literature or historical fiction set in the early 19th century. England, as it was in the early 1800's, can sometimes be as confusing to a modern reader as travelling to a foreign country. Their clot...
