1. Welcome to Regency Somerset, in Argyle Antiquity, SL.It is the year 1814, andRegency Somerset depicts the land ofthe Bristol Seaport of Port Austen, the social scene and spa at Bath, and the County of Somerset during the English Regency.

2. This is the time period of the reign of the Prince-Regent George the IV, Prince of Wales, who holds the throne for his ailing father King George the III,and of Beau Brummel who is setting male style as the leader of the fashion Dandies and is a good friend of the Prince. Beethoven and Schubert are composing music, and a Classical Revival has influenced design, both in architecture and clothing. The newly-published Pride & Prejudice is all the rage among novel readers, whose mysterious author in later years would be known to be Jane Austen.

3. Politically,Lord Liverpool, head of the Tory party, is now leading the English government. TheEmperor Napoleon of France is creating havoc in Europe, though the Duke of Wellington is having success against the French in the Peninsula of Spain. We are still a year before from the later famous Battle of Waterloo.

4. This is the world of the English Regency.

5. Because of the conflict in Europe, people the well-heeled of Britain cannot travel to the spas and coast of Europe, and so look to develop there own recreational resources. The Ancient town of Bath, with its Roman ruins and hot springs, become the place to go for one's health, and to see and be seen. Architects John Woods Sr. and John Woods Jr., assisted byThe Master of the Baths,Richard Beau Nash,designed and supervised many of the iconic buildings in their Neo-Classical Revival/Palladian architecturestyle, resulting in the Pump Room, the Assembly Room, the Circus and Royal Crescent,and the Florentine-style Pulteney Bridge

6. We have here our version of the Royal Crescent,started in 1767 bySir. John Woods the Younger. Among it many residents, were at one time the Prince of Wales, the Prince Fredrick of York. Ours has the feel, but is a bit smaller that the Original (we have 6 town house, the RL version has 32).

6. Directly across from the Royal Crescent is Burton Green, a open space which offers views down to the River Avon.

7. Two of Jane Austens novels, `Northanger Abbey and `Persuasion, are partly set inRegency Bath and give a good picture of the social life there. Box Hill in 'Emma' is a favorite picnic site to the East of Bath in the hills. Our Box Hill is set across from the Crescent.

8. To the side of the Crescent is a Box Hedge Maze, a popular garden feature of the era, and the Estates Gardens of Somerset and Devonshire are famous for these. Behind that, as it was in those days, is grazing land and farm land because the Royal Crescent was built in what was called the Upper City, and represents the end of town. Farming and Mining are mainstays of this part of the country.

9 Now heading up the hill we come across a Folly, built after a Roman Temple. It serves here as the local leading Library and Welcome Center.

10. Then as we descend to the sea, we have an Orangery. These elegant green houses were popular during this era for growing citrus indoors.

11. People who could afford these like to show them off, and would have teas and discussions in them. In ours we have tables and chairs and musical instruments, a nice place to sit and relax.

12. Out on the point we see a round tower known as a 'Martello Tower'. There where 198 of these built between 1793 and 1803 along the Southern cost of Britain to defend against a French Invasion.

13. From here we look out on Port Austen. It is based partially on the coastal town of Lyme Regis at the border between Devon and Dorset on the England's Jurassic Coast. The harbor wall there, known as "The Cobb", is featured in Jane Austen's novel 'Persuasion'and in 'The French Lieutenant's Woman', a novel by British writerJohn Fowle. The other English harbor we used as a model is Porkerris in Cornwall (to the West of the Bristol Channel)

14. Facing the Harbor along the stone walk of the cay is the shopping district.

15. The Stone Cay is a lovely promenade to stroll on, or to sit and watch the waves, the sea gulls, and the sunsets. Overlooking the harbor in Port Austen we have a number of wonderful shops which provide an exciting regency shopping experience. Please do take time to come by and see them. The shops include:

Chez Giroux by Sybil Vawdrey, No. 24 Port Austen

Cherie House of Design by Joandarc Ninetails, No. 23 Port Austen.

Sophia by Sophia Treusia, No. 22 Port Austen.

Timeless Dcor by Sere Timeless, No. 21 Port Austen

Regency Piecework by J.E.W.L.S., (Jewelia Blessed) No. 11 Port Austen

BHD by Renata Constanine, No. 12 Port Austen

LeGrenier Du Chateau (GC) by Trasgo Beaumont, No. 13 Port Austen

The Music Box by Cara Cali, No. 14 Port Austen

16. Our final stops on the tour are the Nelsons Blood Tavern and the Trafalgar Arms Inn.

17. A Tavern is far more than a Bar in this era. It is a center of community where the news of the day is exchanged, where people eat, where visitors first stop, where stories are told, and dances are held.

18. Nelsons Blood is based on photographs of hundreds of taverns in the South of England and Cornwall. It built to look and feel like one. Items are hung on the wall. A nice fire to warm one self by and hot food served from the kitchen. It also the stop for the Royal Mail Stage, and in the Mews out back one can mount your horse or rent one, or catch the Omnibus.

19. Up above the tavern is the Trafalgar Arms Inn.

20. Built to service the carriage trade, the Trafalgar Arms offers finer dinning without the need to mix with the lower classesand provides clean rooms. Many come and stay for the season.

20. The Tidal Salt Water Marsh

21. This little creation is actually one of my favorites, Because of the way the English channel and the Bristol Channel act as funnels, capturing storm surges from the Atlantic they get huge tide and storm surges ( the phrase Ship-shape and Bristol fashion, refers to a ship able to stand the storms and a hull which can be left high and dry at low tide, and still be seaworthy.)

So we created an estuary where the fresh waters and seawaters mix, where birds live and wiled grasses grow. It makes for Lovely pictures.

22. The Builders: I receive a Lots of praise on this sim, but really, it not me, I am simply the Conductor of a really Great Orchestra, I chose the music, we talk about how to preform it, how it will fit in to the space and the time allotted, they create, I critique. I really own a great deal of thanks to them, the unseen creators of Regency Somerset.

Crotian Egerton de Bexar

HRH Jacon Cortes de Bexar

Baroness Cara Cali

Baroness Marry Chase

Sere Timeless

23. How we design, well, it is collaborative, we start by talking about what we think we need, or is missing, we have a Pintrest account, where we each go thru and fine pictures and painting of the subject we looking to create. So we have a page on Regency Hair, Regency Clothing -Womens, Men. The Roman Baths in Bath, The Royal Crescent, the Landscapes and Garden. Country Fairs. Seaside resorts. Ports and Harbors. Pubs and taverns. Inns, Shops Lyme-Regis, .. We then compare notes and talk about it.

So theyre a lot of research that goes in to it.

I when thru a lot of discussions early on, I first wanted to do exact reproductions, but what I learned was to try and capture the spirit, the feeling was more Important.

What we have is, the world of Jane Austen, it not the drudgery of the working classes, it not the glitzed of the high nobility, it is the Middle gentry as described in her books.

24. How did Regency Somerset come to be.

Well, the Regency era all ways been fascinating to me, and when I first came to SL, I was surprised to fine that there was No Regency sim.

As time went on, I meet more and Moor people in SL, with such Interest. Jane Austen Book Club, Jane Austen Fans, Napoleonic Association, Friends of the English Regency, Georgian Roll play Theyre plenty of Interest inn the Regency era, just no one group or place. A group was formed, which came to be known as the 1800Project, which was to bring all the groups and Interest together to build a sim. Well, for various reasons, that fell apart, but I continued with the ideas we talk about in those meetings.

25. I hope you've enjoyed your tour and will come to visit us often. If you'd like to stay abreast of events I can offer your membership in the Regency-Somerset group. We would also welcome student groups and other educational activities. So please do contact me if you would like to use our facilities here for your teaching.

Progress on Regency Somerset.

We have a new Breakwater at Port Austen, and we have boats for people to sail.

Rumors have reached us that Mermaids may have move in to the Sea near the Port.

The Orangery has been rebuilt, and is now filled with Citrus and tropical plants and caf table sets. A wonderful place to get out of the wind and enjoy a cup of tea and good conversation.

A Few finishing touch of the Shops and we will soon have Merchants of fine clothing and furnishing. Over in Bath, work continues on the Royal Crescent and it looking Great.

The Life and times of Lieutenant Laird BrendonPatrick MacRory, Esq. , Count of Regency Sommerset, (Late of the Royal Navy, as you shall soon learn) To Begin I shall begin at the beginning, for that where all good storys should begin.

I was born (well, nothing unusual there, most people are) In late spring in the year of our lord, 1764 in the Reign of His Most Britannic Majesty King George the III. in my fathers house in Castle bay, isle of Barra. (you must remember, in those days, it was common to be born, and to dye in ones house and not in some strange building surrounded by strangers) I was fortunate to be born the First child of minor landed Gentry , the MacRorys descend from the Kings of Norway, and are recognized Sept of both the MacDonalds, Lord of the Isles and the MacNeills.

These where the days of Peace, Britain had won in the world wide conflict known as the Seven Years war, but it was not a total win, France was wounded, not Vanquish.

Most of my early education was at home, but some time the local Prist did tutor me, taght the basics of Latin, English, Gramer, mathamatics, he also lent me books, which is a good thing, for there where so few on this small island.

Also, one of the last of the Jokies would come around, an old mendicant who went by the name of Auld Edie Ochiltree, dressed in patched up cloak of sky blue, addored by a pewter creat, once issued by the King of Scotland to these wandering sages and he walked with a support of a heavy walking stick (thou I convinced he could as easily held his own and used it for defense) usually ussally arriove in the spring, and when asked how long he might stay, he say, maybe a day, maybe a fortnight, I can nye say, only the wind and the Gowpens will determine. He was a Great wandering Bard, as true to his ilk.

In the evenings, we all gather around and listen intentlly as he recite great epic poems and tales of Great deeds, of travel, of foirien places and long ago history..

He recite tales of the 45 and list the honors of the clans. He could list the kings of Scotland, from the time of MacAlpine on and tell of there deeds. He also new the tales of Antiquity, and could recite Homer's Iliad and the Odyssey as well as talk of the wonders that where Rome, and its leaders. The wars with Cartage and the fall of the Republic, the empire and it Eperiors, Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius....

My Uncle was fortunate for in the War, he both gained Wealth and position and was now a Captain in the Royal Navy, something which would lead to great benefits for me. At 6 months of Age, my Uncle, who had risen to the rank of Captain during the Seven years War in the Service of the Royal Navy, placed my name on the Ships log as Ships Boy. (a common practice at the time) Thou I never saw a deck of a Ship till I turned 14. Two years latter I was a Midshipman, Ensign at 19 and stood for examination as an officer at 23.
Somerset house, as is well know from the Rants of Lord Thomas Cochrane, 10th. Lord of Dundonold, is not high on promoting Scots as officers nor Catholics, I as both, and unwilling like some to change my religion simply for promotion, So where I showed promise, did well in my duties and was trusted with command, the ranks promotion which should have followed was slow in coming.

In the year of our loard, 1792, we once agin fining ourself at war with France. I was 2^nd on HMS Ferret, a 14 gun sloop of War charged with bloackaiding the Ports of France to which we where allowd to stop and captuer French Ships and those of Spain, and the Dutch in the area, which would then be taken to port and sold, the proceds shared ( a very profitable time) In 1798, with the Royal Navy needed to decide to eather reliquish the Meditrianian sea to the French, and thereby controll of all borderinglands, or to go in and Stop them, Thus I found myself trasferd on to HMS Vangard under a newly appointed Vice-Admerial, who name would become ledgen. Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson. Thus found me in the battle of the Nile, or as the French call it, Bataille d'Aboukir- on August 1st to the 3rd.

On the 10th. Of August, Lietunat Thomas Duval, of HMS Zealus and myself, where sent with a Message of the battle from Admiral Nelson aquainting Govonor-Generalof India, Visacount Wellesly of the situation in Egypt. We traveld by Camel to Aleppo to Basra, where we then caught the British East India company ship Fly to Bombay.

I thrive in this, but in the year 1809, as we where once again at War with France, a severer case of Pneumonia struck me down, nearly killed me, and sent me home, to die or recover. (I obviously recovered, for I write this now, but it was a long, long time to regain my health.) So having recovered and My Doctor advising me that a continued Life at Sea may not be advisable, I settle down to living the Life of a Country Gentlemen, for which I am fortunate to have the now the bounty to enjoy.

I resides these days mainly in a little Cottage over looking the Vast Atlantic Ocean in Fair Head, Co. Antrim, Ireland Antiquity Irish Cost 1790. I also have a Nice Estate in Argyle, Rochester Manor As well as one of the New Georgian style town house over looking the bay in the Fashionable part of Dublin Harbor for when I am in town.

So, with a fortune secured, with a good place to call home, I know fine how Universally accepted by the women of this world the truth of Miss Jane Austens words It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.
May be true, But, I would add Good in front of Wife, to be my friend, to share my interest, etc. As is, I am never really sure who is the hunter and who is the hunted, I fear I am the fox of the day.


1813 turned out to be a very good year, First I was offered the Post of President of the Royal Bank of Antiquity, then I went on to Develop Somerset Regency and Port Austen.
In recognition of my works, Princess Cathryn awarded me the Antiquity Medal of Freedom and made me a Baron of the Realm.


Note from the Personal Secretary of Lieutenant Laird BrendonPatrick MacRory, Esq.
For those who have not figure this out yet, this is a page for my avatar, my persona, for exploring life during the Age of Nelson and the English Regency. He is a Child of the Age of Enlightenment, but all so shaped by the events of his times, in most cases, his and mine ideas are the same, but at times, he dose surprise me with thoughts which are his own.

He experiences are often limited to his times, and effect those thought.

He dose have some of the qualitys of personality of Fitzwilliam Darcy and Col. Christopher Brandon, but he owns much of his background to the life of Admiral Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, 1st Marquess of Maranho, GCB, ODM, the Inspiration for both C.S. Forresters Horatio Hornblower and Patrck OBrains Jack Aubrey. He is less inpatient and more calm in character. He is a Gentlemen, a Loyal friend, and he is more adventuresome and out going than my own.

I have always ben fascinated by the Flying boats, Particularly those of Pan-American Airways and there Famous Flying Clippers Boeing Model 314 Flying Boat. Flying in only 60 hours from San Fran cisco to Honk Kong, with stops in Honolulu, Midway Island, Wake Island, Guam Island and Macao.

This where Luxurious plans, there interiors more closely resembling a fine ocean liner than a plane. Fine meals where served, passengers had compartments, not just a chair. The Pan-Americans Clippers where all first class, and only the very well held could afford to travel by it.

In 1939, Hong Kong, a British protectorate on the edge of chaotic China is a lot like the way Casa Blanca was, but in the South Seas, Oriental instead of Colonial French Desert. It was filled with Many Europeans as will as refugees. China was in a 3 way civil war, Japan had invaded Manchuria.

Now for a O.C.C. the Hugh Hercules H-4, a truly magnificent Seaplane, I happened upon this, as I was looking for either the Boeing B-314, or the Martin M130 Flying Boat ( neither have I found.)

I saw this plane in Real Life, and this version is very good, and it let me play and do a few pictuets.

My idea was to create a set of pictures of the Pan-American Clipper, say as it is in Hong Kong, in the Bay, the Malory boats faring passages and supplies to and from it, while junks travel to and foe and fishermen fish. On the dock is a Pan-American Office, a Wireless Station, a Post Office, a Hotel and Bar, and a gathering of local shops.

Well heeled passengers waiting to board

Others, who for one reason or another, would like to board, but may need to get out of Hong Kong, but do not have there Fair, or a visa which would allow it.

The worries about all of the strife in the region.

The Exotic local, the thousand story , the romance of a journey.... This would make a great background, for a story, a picture , a sim.

As the Legend goes, Lord Nelson, who died on the deck of HMS Victory, shot by a member of Le Troupes de marine, French Marine with a .69 caller round fired from an opposing ships mast, Nelson, on deck, in his full dress uniform, with all his medals, made an easy mark. He had wished to be taken back to England to be berried, not berried at sea as was the custom. So they place his body in a Barrel of Rum to preserve it for the return to England ( It was actually a Barrel of the Ships Brandy)

The story goes that the Sailors would sip off this barrel some of the rum, after all, what harm would a little bit of blood do. Thus the reference of Rum and Grog as Nelson's Blood

On the 21^st. Day of October in the Year of our Lord, Eighteen-Hundred and Five, During the War of the Third Coalition (Part of the Napoleonic Wars, which culminated in the Battle of Waterloo on the 18^th. Of June, 1815) off the South-West cost of Cap Trafalgar, the Combined Fleets of France and Spain under the command of French Admiral Pierre-Charles Villenuve engaged in a Battle with the Main Fleet of Britain, under the command of Vice Admiral, the Right Honorable Lord Horatio Nelson, 1^st. Viscount Nelson, KB. The British Fleet had 27 Ships of the Line plus 8 others (total of 33) vs. the Franco-Spanish Fleet of 41 ships.

Lord Nelson Flag Ship was HMS Victory (still around to day, and may be visited at Portsmouth, England where she now a Museum Ship.)

Lord Nelson ordered a un orthodox maneuver, one where if he had lost and lived, he would have been court martial for, the now Famous Crossing the T, where by the British Fleet, having the Weather edge (a coveted position in Sail Age Warfare, one not to be sacrificed easily) at a signal, each ship in the Line turns, to cross thru the Enemies line, Sacrificing the Weather edge position, but in the process is able to wreck great damage to the enemy, in that the full strength of the Ships batteries can be unleashed in to the Rear of the Enemy's ship as they cross, which is the most venerable and lest defend position of the ship.

The Result of this decisive victory was, that Napoleon had to abandon all hopes of an Invasion of Britain, She now in full controls of the Sea lans.

(the 198 Martello Toweers built in the early part of the Napoleonic conflicts along the South and Eastern Cost of England are a testament to the very real threat of Invasion.)

Now to the Naming of the Fine establishment in Port Austen

It is said that one of the Sailors who served Lord Nelson was also in-firmed by the Heroic battle, He returned home to South Dorset on the Jurrasic coast in the port village of Port Austen, and purchased an old, carriage Inn, this he renamed the Trafalgar Inn, and the Tavern Nelson's Blood Tavern.