pocket watch

This intricate object on display in Lynn Museum is a watch and chatelaine. It was given to famous Lynn novelist and letter writer Frances ‘Fanny’ Burney in 1791. Fanny was famous for her witty and perceptive novels concerning Georgian society. In 1778, at the age of 26, she published her first novel 'Evelina, or the History of a Young Lady's Entrance into the World', in which the heroine stumbled through the pitfalls of polite society, before overcoming them and happily marrying. Burney examines how high society gathered at certain events and venues in London, such as the playhouse and popular pleasure gardens, particularly Vauxhall Gardens. Despite efforts to keep the garden exclusive to polite society, Vauxhall had dubious reputation and its woodland and alleyways were known to be frequented by prostitutes. These features also made the gardens a common meeting place for LGBTQ people to meet with each other discreetly. One notable night in the history of Vauxhall Gardens was an outdoor masquerade ball held in June 1732. Among those in attendance was ‘Princess Seraphina’, a trans person also known as John Cooper, who borrowed a gown, cap and smock to join the party and who appears to have danced until the early hours!