Through the Keyhole: Daily Life in Georgian England Revealed

We often assume that life in 18th-century England was slow, simple, and predictable — but the diary of James Woodforde, a Winchester College educated country parson, tells a very different story. From what he ate and drank to who he met and what he spent, Woodforde documented it all. His meticulous records reveal a world of surprising mobility, diverse diets, and a deeply personal approach to charity - challenging many of our modern assumptions. Join Professor Ed Rochead for a fascinating journey through Georgian England, guided by the witty, revealing, and sometimes eyebrow-raising diary of James Woodforde. You’ll never look at the 1700s the same way again.

Professor Ed Rochead is a professional mathematical engineer and is in his spare time an historian and speaker with a particular interest in the everyday lives of people in the past. With a long-standing enthusiasm for eighteenth-century social history, he has explored a wide range of primary sources, including diaries, letters, and local records, bringing historical figures to life through their own words.

He has a particular interest in the writings of James Woodforde, whose detailed diary offers a vivid and often humorous window into rural life in Georgian England. Through engaging talks and storytelling, he enjoys sharing the textures of the past with local audiences, highlighting how ordinary experiences - food, weather, community, and habit - connect us across time.

Timings

Wednesday 16 September:

18:00

Location & directions

Adam Architecture, 75 Hyde Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 7DW

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking required

Booking conditions:

Pre-booking is required.

Booking contact name:

Hampshire History Trust

Booking email:

[email protected]

Booking website:

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/hampshire-history-trust

Booking opens:

27 Aug 2026 09:00 AM

Booking closes:

15 Sep 2026 03:00 PM

Additional information

Max number of people:

30

Estimated duration:

1 hour(s) 0 minute(s)

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