Author: Louisa Cornell

A good road trip story, no matter the era, usually includes at least one good vehicle breakdown and Between Duty and the Devil’s Desires is no exception. Add the elements of roads not as well-maintained as the Great North Road, mud, snow, and sleeting rain, and it is little wonder the company sought the security and warmth of a coaching inn once they’d pushed their coach out of a ditch or two.

Excerpt from: Between Duty and the Devil’s Desires

“I hear and obey,” Lord Hadley announced as he strolled into her chamber as if it were his own. She suspected he walked into every room in the same fashion. Just as he took up all the air in any room he entered.

“When have you ever obeyed a woman, my lord?” she asked, checking the knot she’d tied in the belt of her robe, for some odd reason.

“Depends upon the woman. And what she asks me to do.” He glanced around her chamber before his heated gaze came to rest on her.

He was followed by several of the inn’s male servants. They pulled a table from the corner of the chamber and set it before the fireplace. A substantial fire burned therein, eliminating every bit of chill in the room. In moments they had the table set for two and had filled it with covered dishes of food. Once they placed the two fireside chairs on either side of the table and Elegy had taken her seat, the servants filed out, each one stopping to receive a not-so-surreptitious vale from Lord Hadley. Whilst his attention was diverted, she snatched the toweling from her hair and tied up the unbraided, barely brushed bulk of it, haphazardly, with the piece of green ribbon she found in the pocket of her robe. She wished she might see the mirror, but perhaps it was for the best she could not.

“You know this is completely improper, my lord,” Elegy said as she placed the serviette in her lap and lifted the lid on a tureen of thick beef stew.

“Will you force me to fill my plate and take my meal outside like some groom at a ball? I have had my fill of standing about in the snow and the mud for today at least.” He stood next to the chair opposite her, looking more than criminal handsome in black breeches, clean but scuffed boots, and white shirt topped with a black wool banyan. He’d shaved and his freshly washed hair hung past his shoulders.

To allow him to stay was playing with fire. Once she received her payment and left Braemar Hall forever there would be no opportunities for impropriety. Her plans demanded she live the life of a woman beyond reproach. And Elegy was so weary. She did not remember a time she had not conducted herself with the strictest attention to what was proper, what was expected, what she must do to maintain her place.

“Sit down, Lord Hadley,” she finally said. “I have never been fond of dining alone.”

 

This scene takes place at The Marlborough Arms in the village of Woodstock in the Cotswolds.

The industrious and well-informed Miss Perkins makes an excellent choice in The Marlborough Arms, which was established as a coaching inn in 1469 when it was called the George Inne. The village of Woodstock appears in the Doomsday Book in 1086 and was given a royal charter in 1179 by Henry II. Which was no accident as the village grew around the Royal Hunting Lodge which is now Blenheim Palace.

The building which would eventually become the George Inne has a royal connection as well. It was originally built as the residence for Henry II’s mistress, Roseamunde Clifford. Seems Henry’s wife objected to the woman staying at the hunting lodge. A separate house was a wise decision on Henry’s part as his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, was not known as a forgiving or gentle soul. Why would she be? It takes one badass woman to marry and bury two kings – Louis VII of France and Henry II of England.

Princess Elizabeth, who would later become Queen Elizabeth I,  frequently visited the establishment, which in her time had already become the George Inne. She was known to sneak out of her prison at the Royal Hunting Lodge where she had been placed under house arrest by her sister Mary I in order to have a little fun.

 

The George Inne became The Marlborough Arms some time after the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. It was at this point it became one of the busiest coaching inns in the area. Its proximity to Blenheim and to the scenic Cotswolds made it a hub for travel both for trade and for those who sought to take holidays outside of London. The larger door in the image below leads to the inn yard where coaches pulled in to change horses and / or to pick up or deposit passengers. 

 

 

 

 

Much of the inn is as it was in the 15th century. One interesting aspect is the fireplace on the main floor.

                 

The mantel is covered in graffiti, much of it dated as far back as the 17th century. Some things never change!

 

 

 

 

However, the comfort and views make the public rooms much as they might have been during Elegy and Devlin’s visit.

 

No history of hauntings at The Marlborough Arms. Perhaps the custom was so busy there no chance for murder or mayhem occurred. However, just a short stroll away is the MacDonald Bear Hotel, a 13th century coaching inn (I told you Woodstock was a busy hub for travelers!)

The MacDonald Bear has at least two resident ghosts. You can learn more about them here:

https://www.spookyisles.com/macdonald-bear-hotel-woodstock/

 

 

My next post will be on the third stop on Elegy and Devlin’s journey – The Howard Arms in Ilmington, Warwickshire. Should you wish to go along on their journey you will find Between Duty and the Devil’s Desires at the following links:

https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/ID153031268.html

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/between-duty-and-the-devil-s-desires

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/between-duty-and-the-devils-desires-louisa-cornell/1140132068;jsessionid=DBEC4D334169240B3FB30BF395CDE115.prodny_store01-atgap03?ean=2940164546465

https://www.scribd.com/book/523104517/Between-Duty-and-the-Devil-s-Desires-A-Legend-to-Love-5

https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1584440038

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Between+Duty+and+the+Devil%27s+Desires&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

 

A determined governess, a reluctant bridegroom, and a winter’s journey from London to Cheshire…Reputed to be the most exacting governess in England, Miss Elegy Perkins has cared for Lady Margaret, the spoiled daughter of the Marquess of Braemar, for twelve interminable years. Then she receives a life-changing offer that would bring her a prize of 5000 pounds and the chance at financial freedom. All she must do is find and escort Lady Margaret’s reluctant bridegroom to his wedding. A simple enough task, until she meets the bridegroom in question.Major Lord Devlin St. George has very little control of his life. For the past sixteen months he has done his utmost to avoid contracts, signed when he was a child, to leg-shackle him to the daughter of a wealthy marquess. Evading the efforts of his betrothed’s brothers to drag him to the altar, Devlin has successfully missed three wedding dates so far. The only thing that stands between him and missing a fourth is a pistol-wielding, strait-laced governess. A lady who is far more woman than she dares reveal.

I love a good road trip movie. From It Happened One Night to Romancing the Stone a witty battle between two people forced to travel together under the most impossible of conditions is a comfort watch for me. Everything that can go wrong usually does, and when it ends up crashing those people directly into love? Even better!

When I decided to write a road trip romance novel set in the Regency I discovered there was a great deal more research involved than I ever would have believed. A coach trip off the main roads from London to Cheshire in November of 1815? Yikes! I had to find out how far a heavy travel coach might go in a single day. (Thirty to forty miles.) I had to research which coaching inns might be available along the way. (Quite a few.) I also researched what the weather was like in November of 1815. (Cold, damp, and snowy.)

Between Duty and the Devil’s Desires ended up being one of my favorite books to write. One of the perks of researching for this story was my discovery of a series of little known coaching inns, still in operation as pubs today, with some fascinating histories. Histories which I thought I’d share in a series of blog posts. Especially appropriate for late September and early October as most of these histories involve ghost stories associated with each inn!

Excerpt from: Between Duty and the Devil’s Desires

The lady had a pistol.

Devlin had to admit it gave him pause. He’d had women throw vases at him—with and without flowers. Women often threw themselves at him. They’d thrown hairbrushes, slippers, jewelry, glasses of wine, a bottle of brandy, and even a singularly unattractive porcelain shepherdess. In all his thirty years, not a single woman of his acquaintance had ever pointed a pistol at him. He’d found it… arousing. Until she pulled the hammer back.

“Shall we, my lord?” She waved the pistol, a weapon she gave every sign she was accustomed to wielding, in the direction of the stable door and then brought it back to bear on him.

“One wonders what sort of people you keep company with, madam, that you needs must carry a pistol,” he said.

She gave him an inspective perusal, from his bare feet and legs, to his misbuttoned buckskins, over his open waistcoat and cutaway, to the neck of his shirt, agape and sans neckcloth. Her blue-green eyes, sharp and hard as polished jade, missed not a thing. And said a great deal.

“Point taken,” he said and tapped two fingers to his brow in salute.

 

This scene takes place at The Spaniard’s Inn, just outside of London. This particular establishment has already been featured on Number One London in a previous post. You can check it out here:

https://numberonelondon.net/2021/04/historic-pub-crawl-the-spaniards-inn/

 

Excerpt from: Between Duty and the Devil’s Desires

“My chamber has no windows, Miss Perkins,” he started.

“Not at all surprising, considering what happened at the Spaniard’s Inn this morning,” she replied.

“You knew?”

“I suspected. I did move your boots to the door.”

“You are a hard-hearted woman.”

“I am woman who trusts her instincts and her intellect. After all, on 12th November last year, you plied Lord Ethan Vines with enough beer, claret, and port to flood London again and left him insensible against your chamber door whilst you escaped out the window not to be seen again until the Duchess of Devonshire’s Christmas Ball at Chatsworth. Thereby missing your wedding on 18th November. Here we are, Lord Hadley. Do try and get some sleep. We have an early start tomorrow.” She’d managed to finish her entire recitation as smoothly as if she were lecturing Lady Margaret on proper ball etiquette. No mean feat when a man who exuded strength and barely contained carnal vitality at every step he took, seared her with every glance he turned on her.

“Good God, woman, does the Home Office know about you? How do you know…” He fell silent and ignored the chamber door George had unlocked and opened for him. “Miss Perkins,” he said as if for the first time. “Miss Elegy Perkins.”

Oh dear.

“You are Lady Margaret’s own governess.” His eyes widened, alight with humor and admiration. “You are Perfect Perkins, the most notorious governess in England.”

“Hardly notorious, my lord.” She’d never intended to give him her name, let alone have him recognize her by her reputation. She slipped her arm from his.

“To any man even attempting to speak with Lady Margaret you are notorious, Miss Perkins. You pushed Reggie Vandiver-Smythe into the Serpentine for attempting to kiss her hand.”

“It wasn’t her hand he was attempting to kiss. And once you and she are lawfully wed, you will be responsible for keeping rakes like Reggie Vandiver-Smythe away from her.”

“You are the reason she has not thrown me over for some other man more than willing to marry her. This is all your fault.”

 

This scene takes place at The George and Dragon in the village of West Wycombe in Buckinghamshire.

 

 

 

 

The current building dates back to 1720, but an inn has been situated on the site since the 14th century. The building, the location, and nearly the entire village are so lovely and historic that nearly all of it is owned by the National Trust. Nearby, one of the area’s most fascinating attractions is the West Wycombe Caves, better known as the Hellfire Caves due to their association with the notorious Hellfire Club led by Sir Francis Dashwood. It is said the labyrinth of caves led to passageways under West Wycombe Park, the home of the club’s infamous leader.

Here is a great gallery of photos of the caves.

https://www.hellfirecaves.co.uk/gallery

This gentlemen’s club gained infamy throughout the British Isles during the 18th and early 19th centuries for its practices of debauchery, orgies, generous imbibing of drugs and alcohol, and according to some stories the practice of pagan rituals and witchcraft-including human sacrifice, although that aspect of their activities was never actually proven.

Members of the club were known to visit The George and Dragon during their visits to Sir Francis Dashwood’s home for the Hellfire Club festivities.

For further reading on the club and its activities might I suggest:

The Hell-Fire Clubs: A History of Anti-Morality by Geoffrey Ashe

The Hell-Fire Friars by Gerald Suster

The Hell-Fire Clubs: Sex, Satanism and Secret Societies by Evelyn Lord

Of course, like any good historical inn, The George and Dragon has a couple of creatures about that go bump in the night. One is said to be the ghost of a patron who was robbed and murdered at The George. He makes himself known by his heavy footsteps going up and down the main staircase. One hears his approach from behind, but when one turns not a soul is there. Or is there?

The most famous spectre associated with the George and Dragon is that of Sukie, a servant at the inn during the 18th century. Sukie, an incredibly attractive young woman, had higher ambitions than an entire life of servitude at a country inn. She was said to be quite keen to use her beauty as a means to find a better life. Her ultimate goal? A life as a rich man’s mistress or wife. As a result she spurned the attentions of the local boys and set her sights on the wealthy patrons who stopped at the inn on their way to and from London.

According to the story, one night a quite rich and handsome young gentlemen stopped at the inn and quickly became enamored of Sukie. They began to see each other at the tavern on the first floor of the inn on a regular basis. Sukie was certain she had found her way out of a life of poverty and servitude. Unfortunately her spurned local beaus joined forces to play a trick on the young maid in order to get revenge on her for turning her nose up at their advances.

It is said they bribed another servant to tell Sukie her rich suitor wanted her to meet him, dressed in a gown for a wedding no less, at the entrance of the West Wycombe Caves from which they would elope. Of course when she arrived there was no handsome suitor waiting, only three local lads drunk as lords and mocking her. There are two versions of the story at this point. In one, they chase Sukie into the caves, smash her lantern, and leave her to stumble about in terror. When she falls in the dark and hits her head, the would-be beaus sober up quickly and carry her back to the village, but it is too late. She dies of her injuries in her bed at the inn. In another version there is an argument at the mouth of the cave that turns violent and Sukie is struck on the head. One of the boys goes for the doctor whilst the other two carry her back to the inn where she dies in her bed dressed in her wedding gown not long after the doctor arrives.

Unexplained incidents began to happen in Sukie’s old room soon after her death. Two other maids were so terrified by these incidents they demanded to move rooms. Soon visitors to the inn reported the presence of a young woman in a white dress wandering the corridors all hours of the night in search of her handsome suitor.

There is no mention of Sukie in Between Duty and the Devil’s Desires. I suspect the ghostly maid felt Miss Perkins more than had her hands full with Major Lord Devlin St. George !

My next post will be on the second stop on Devlin and Elegy’s journey – The White House, also known as The Marlborough Arms on the road between Bladon and Woodstock in Oxfordshire. Should you wish to go along on their journey you will find Between Duty and the Devil’s Desires at the following links:

https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/ID153031268.html

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/between-duty-and-the-devil-s-desires

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/between-duty-and-the-devils-desires-louisa-cornell/1140132068;jsessionid=DBEC4D334169240B3FB30BF395CDE115.prodny_store01-atgap03?ean=2940164546465

https://www.scribd.com/book/523104517/Between-Duty-and-the-Devil-s-Desires-A-Legend-to-Love-5

https://books.apple.com/us/book/id1584440038

https://www.amazon.com/Between-Duty-Devils-Desires-Legend-ebook/dp/B07GXG2F9W/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Between+Duty+and+the+Devil%27s+Desires&qid=1631028636&sr=8-1

A determined governess, a reluctant bridegroom, and a winter’s journey from London to Cheshire…Reputed to be the most exacting governess in England, Miss Elegy Perkins has cared for Lady Margaret, the spoiled daughter of the Marquess of Braemar, for twelve interminable years. Then she receives a life-changing offer that would bring her a prize of 5000 pounds and the chance at financial freedom. All she must do is find and escort Lady Margaret’s reluctant bridegroom to his wedding. A simple enough task, until she meets the bridegroom in question.Major Lord Devlin St. George has very little control of his life. For the past sixteen months he has done his utmost to avoid contracts, signed when he was a child, to leg-shackle him to the daughter of a wealthy marquess. Evading the efforts of his betrothed’s brothers to drag him to the altar, Devlin has successfully missed three wedding dates so far. The only thing that stands between him and missing a fourth is a pistol-wielding, strait-laced governess. A lady who is far more woman than she dares reveal.

 

By

Louisa Cornell

 

James Wilkinson, Gunmaker

No. 10 Ludgate Street

Established 1804

Henry Nock died in November, 1804 and listed no legal heirs in his will. He left his stock and business to James Wilkinson, his foreman. The pertinent entry in the will read:

I leave to my foreman, James Wilkinson,

my stock in trade and effects in Ludgate Hill and entreat him to carry on

the business for the benefit of my workmen in my said premises in

Ludgate Hill and I hereby give to Ann, the wife of James Wilkinson

mentioned in my said will, the sum of £100.

While Nock had no legal heirs, it is believed he had essentially adopted Ann and her brother, John, when their father, one of Nock’s workers, died. As Wilkinson frequently identified himself as Nock’s son-in-law most agree that is the case. This theory is credible as on later trade labels James Wilkinson refers to himself as “Successor and Son-in-Law to the Late Mr. Henry Nock.”

A label inside a case for a pair of pistols made after Wilkinson took over the business reads:

James Wilkinson

Gun Maker

To His Majesty

and the Hon East Indian Company

Successor to the late H. Nock

Ludgate Hill

London

James Wilkinson had been foreman and general manager of Nock’s many workshops all over London. He was, however, quite inventive himself and a superior businessman. Wilkinson became Gunmaker-in-Ordinary to the king in 1805. Contracts with the East India Company ensured the success of the business. The name became James Wilkinson & Son around 1818 when James’ son Henry joined.

Because of the company’s superior work in creating bayonets and swords it eventually became Wilkinson Sword and continued to make fine weapons until 2005. The company survives making razor blades and other products.

 

Edward James Bond

45 Cornhill

Established 1816

Took over father’s Gunmakers business at 59 Lombard Street up to 1810.

Gunmakers business at 45 Cornhill 1800 to 1816. A family business for several generations.

A 32-Bore Brass-Mounted Flintlock Pistol

1820

With two-stage barrel (light pitting overall), octagonal breech engraved with maker’s address along the top, foliate engraved tang, signed border engraved flat beveled lock lightly decorated with foliage and with stepped tail, engraved safety-catch, semi-rainproof pan and roller, figured full stock with chequered rounded butt, border engraved mounts comprising butt-cap, trigger-guard with pineapple finial and decorated with a Britannia shield and foliage on the bow, vacant brass escutcheon, slotted ramrod-pipes, and original horn-tipped ramrod with iron worm.

 

Edward London

50 London Wall, 1826-7

51 London Wall, 1828-66

Established 1826

This company appears to have had a fairly long history. There was an Edward London, gun maker of London Wall in 1734, who appeared as a witness in an attempted murder case. In 1838 there is record of Edward London, gun maker of 51 London Wall, insured with the Sun Fire Office. It is not, however, clear when the company went out of business.

Four bore percussion game rifle made by Edward London

 

 

Boss & Co. Gunmakers

73 James’s Street

Established 1812

The Boss family originated from Leicestershire and had no roots in gunmaking when William Boss began an apprenticeship in 1773, aged just 15. His commitment to becoming a gunmaker was clear, and he moved away from his family to Birmingham to be closer to his mentor; gun and pistol maker Thomas Ketland.

Excelling at his craft, and already making a name for himself, William Boss then moved to London where the finest guns were being produced. There he could further refine his skills and become a part of the dominating London gun industry.

Soon he found a new mentor: Joseph Manton, a leader in his field and a man who only employed top-rate journeymen which, by this time, William was now known.

Staying with Manton for a number of years, William fathered three sons during his time with the firm, each of whom became an apprentice to their father. Sadly, while teaching his youngest son Thomas the art of gunmaking, William died. At this time, the death of a gunmaking father marked the end of any apprenticeship for his remaining sons. But Manton made an exception for the 19-year-old Thomas and allowed him to continue with the firm as his natural talent for the craft was clear.

Eventually Thomas established a name for himself as a top gunmaker. Working mostly as an outworker, a position that saw him finishing guns for the best-known gunmakers of the time, was something he excelled at.

This way of working continued for many years and the sheer scale of the London gunmaking business at this time meant he was a man in demand. The quality of his workmanship ensured his reputation as a gunmaker of esteem across the city.

In 1812 Thomas placed adverts in newspapers addressed to gentlemen, sportsmen and others, announcing the establishment of Boss & Co. These adverts promoted ‘self-acting safety guns, constructed to remove all apprehension of danger as they cannot be discharged except when held in the shooting position’. These guns were manufactured ‘in a superior style of elegant workmanship’ by Thomas Boss of Edgware Road, London.

At this time Thomas provided home visits to potential customers by day, and at his private home of an evening, but that was soon to change.

As is true of any company wanting to make a name for itself amongst established competition, Thomas Boss knew the importance of image.

A home visit was a great way to start, but the monied gun buyers of London liked the kudos of visiting premises where they could touch and feel the product and see it being made. A move to the West End sent out the right message, and 73 James’s Street became the home of Boss & Co.

As the reputation of Boss & Co grew, so did the number of customers through the door. Soon Thomas Boss sought his own apprentices and journeyman gunmakers, needing up to ten skilled staff and two apprentices. Two of these new employees were nephews of Thomas Boss, men who would go on to play an important role in the future of Boss & Co as it developed.

 

 

By

Louisa Cornell

 

Charles Lancaster and Company

151 New Bond Street

Established 1826

 

Charles Lancaster was Joseph Manton’s barrel maker and in 1811 he went on to set up his own shop in Drury Lane, supplying barrels to Manton and the rest of the London Gun Trade and later went on to making complete guns in 1826 at 151 New Bond Street.

Barrels supplied to the trade during this period were marked with CL, now days if you can find an English gun with initials CL on the barrels then they are made by Lancaster even if they have another maker’s name on the top rib.

By 1843 Charles Lancaster had been awarded his first Royal warrant from the Prince Consort and there were many more that followed.

Lancaster died in 1847 and the business was carried on by his son, Charles William and in 1855, a second son Alfred, joined the company, but left in 1859 to set his own business as a gun maker trading as A. Lancaster, Gun & Rifle Manufacturer.

 

 

James Purdey & Sons

4 Princes Street

314 ½ Oxford Street (1826)

Established 1814

 

James Purdey was 14 when he was apprenticed to the gunmaker Thomas Keck Hutchinson. The guns of the day were flintlocks and James set his mind to learning every aspect of making them. He forged Damascus barrels out of nails from old horseshoes, heated up, hammered into strips and then beaten around rods. Horseshoes were believed to make the toughest of steels, having been hardened by trampling hooves.

James completed his apprenticeship in 1805. In seven years, he earned a place with Joseph Manton of Oxford Street – England’s greatest gunmaker. Manton had transformed the sporting gun into a thing of exquisite beauty. James Purdey was later to say: ‘but for him we should all have been a parcel of blacksmiths’.

James rose to Head Stocker at Manton’s in three years. In 1808, after learning all that he could, James left to join another famous gunmaker, Forsyth at 10, Piccadilly. Dr Forsyth had invented a new kind of lock, which worked by detonation. James spent the next four years there, as stocker and lock-filer, again learning all he could.

James Purdey founded James Purdey & Sons Limited in London in 1814 on Princes Street in a modest shop off Leicester Square, building single and double flintlock guns, dueling pistols, and rifles.

By 1824 Purdey was being called the finest gunmaker in London. In 1826 the company moved from the Princes Street location to Manton’s former premises in Oxford Street.

The founder’s son, James Purdey the Younger, took over the running of the company from his father in 1858.

By

Louisa Cornell

 

 

John Blanch

29 Gracechurch Street

Established 1809

Born in 1784, at the age of 16 John Blanch was apprenticed to London gun maker, Jackson Mortimer. After a short-lived partnership with Mortimer, who at this point had become Blanch’s father-in-law, Blanch established his own business in 1809. He worked mainly for John Manton, but he soon became well established and respected as a gun maker in his own right. Blanch’s respected standing as a businessman and gun maker is evidenced by his rapid advancement through the ranks of the Farriers Company, culminating in 1834 with the prestigious appointment of ‘Master’.

He was an early advocate of the breech loading gun.

In 1826 the business was moved from the premises in Fish Street Hill to 29 Gracechurch Street where it would stay for the next 89 years.

Physical Description

Small steel blade foresight let into 16-pointed star inlay of gold. Two gold breech bands with an engraving of game. Steel screw in vent under nipples, hand hold guard bow, wooden stock, chequered grip and cheek piece. Mounts finely engraved with game and leaf scrolls. Silver monogram plate.

 

 

Ezekiel Baker

24 White Chapel Road

Established 1775

Ezekiel Baker was apprenticed to gunsmith Henry Nock and opened his own shop in 1775. He wrote a book about his experiences making and using rifles—Twenty-three Years Practice and Observations with Rifle Guns which was published in 1804. His greatest accomplishment was the design for what became known as the Baker Rifle.

The British Army experimented with rifles after the American Revolutionary War, but found all available rifle designs either too fragile, cumbersome or slow firing to be able to use in a generalized war. On 4 February 1800, a number of leading gun makers were invited to Woolwich to trial their rifle designs by the Board of Ordinance, who were responsible for the procurement of weaponry for the army. Baker’s design was chosen, and he was given an initial order for 800 rifles. That same year the “Experimental Corps of Riflemen” was raised by Colonel Coote Mannington and Lieutenant-Colonel the Hon. William Stewart. The corps was manned by volunteer officers and soldiers from a variety of British regiments and militias. It was renamed and normalized into the army under the name the 95th Rifles Regiment of Foot.

By 1810, five British battalions, three of the 95th and two of the 60th Regiments, as well as several light companies of the King’s German Legion were equipped with the Baker rifle. The rifle was renowned for its accuracy and range. It was used throughout the Napoleonic Wars and continued in service until the 1830s.

 

A .65″ Baker type smooth bore flintlock cavalry carbine, combining elements from the 1803 pattern.