For the love of history

“Opening the door to her mistress’s bedchamber, the maid knew she was risking the wrath of Victorian society. Taking her upperclass lover by his hand, she drew him in. On her lady’s bed lay a lavish ball gown. Silently, Hannah Cullwick took off her drab calico uniform. Donning the splendid dress, she emerged transformed  -  only her calloused hands and hefty limbs a reminder of her below-stairs status. Her lover, Arthur Munby, would later write in diaries which  -  together with explicit photographs  -  remained hidden for 50 years: ‘I brushed out her bright hair in a lady’s fashion, and placed the rose within it… ‘He liked his women big and strong, robust and hearty. ‘He also liked them dirty and sweaty from their hard work. That was his idea of femininity.’ ‘Her make was brawny and massive, but lithe and shapely withal. The calf of her whitestocking’d leg was well seen, above her well-blacked big-nailed and enormous boots.’” Bravo, bravo, more on this historical most awesome adventure.