The consumption of afternoon tea increased dramatically in popularity during the early nineteenth century, when it is said that Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford made the taking of tea fashionable. It is said that she complained of “having that sinking feeling” during the late afternoon when at the time it was usual for people to take only two main meals a day, breakfast and dinner at around 8 o’clock in the evening. A solution for the Duchess was a pot a tea and a light snack, taken privately in her room during the afternoon. Recently the Afternoon tea has been somewhat forgotten with the surge of skinny lattes and … Continue reading Armathwaite Hall