A Slice of History: The Duchess, the Castle, and the Birth of Afternoon Tea
From a simple tray of tea and cake to a national institution, afternoon tea is a British ritual steeped in tradition - and it all began in a historic house still open to the public today: Belvoir Castle.
The Afternoon Slump That Started It All
In the early 19th century, the structure of British mealtimes looked very different to today. Breakfast was hearty, lunch (then called “luncheon”) was light, and dinner wasn’t served until as late as 8 or 9pm - leaving a long, hunger-filled gap in the day.
Enter Anna Maria Russell, the 7th Duchess of Bedford. In around 1840, while staying with her close friend Elizabeth Manners, the Duchess of Rutland, at the magnificent Belvoir Castle - a grand historic house in Leicestershire - Anna Maria began experiencing what she called a “sinking feeling” in the late afternoon. Her solution was simple, yet revolutionary: she requested a tray of tea, bread and butter, and cake to be served to her privately in her room at around 4 o’clock.
What began as a personal pick-me-up would soon become a social phenomenon.
From Boudoir Ritual to Society Staple
So pleased was the Duchess with this light refreshment that she continued the habit on her return to Woburn Abbey, another celebrated historic house. There, she began inviting friends to join her for this new tradition. The event became a daily occasion - elegant, relaxed, and increasingly elaborate.
The afternoon tea was typically served in the drawing room on low tables, hence the name “low tea” (contrasting with the more substantial “high tea” served later in the evening at the dining table). These gatherings offered the perfect blend of light food, stylish presentation, and social catch-ups - an irresistible combination in Victorian high society.
Royal Endorsement and a Cultural Boom
As one of Queen Victoria’s Ladies of the Bedchamber, the Duchess of Bedford’s habits soon reached the monarch herself. Queen Victoria became an advocate for the afternoon tea ritual, even recording references to tea parties over 7,000 times in her diaries. With royal approval secured, afternoon tea rapidly spread through court and aristocratic circles.
By the 1860s, afternoon tea had become an entrenched part of the day for fashionable society. The menu expanded to include:
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Crustless finger sandwiches (often cucumber or smoked salmon)
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Scones with clotted cream and jam
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Pastries, cakes, and petit fours
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All served with fine loose-leaf tea poured from ornate teapots
Hotels and tearooms across London and beyond, such as The Langham and Claridge’s, began to offer afternoon tea as a public event - democratising what had begun as an intimate ritual inside Britain’s finest historic houses.
Looking to take tea where history was made?
Explore exclusive afternoon tea experiences at Britain’s most beautiful historic houses on the HeritageXplore platform — and if you're feeling inspired, you can visit Belvoir Castle and see the very Grand Saloon where afternoon tea was first served. A truly delicious slice of British heritage.
