Earlier last year, while visiting a nearby landmark of Belvoir Castle (left in the picture below), it was brought to my attention that they claim some part in the invention of the meal known as Afternoon Tea. It was a thrill to discover such heritage to our afternoon tea hampers so close by!

According to their information, it was invented by the 7th Duchess of Bedford (close friend and lady of the bedchamber to Queen Victoria) , in the mid 1840, while visiting the 5th Duke of Rutland at Belvoir Castle. She found herself very hungry in the mid afternoon in the long gap between meals. At the time there was only 2 meals being served, a breakfast in the lady’s room late morning and a dinner, usually around 8pm, this left her quite peckish In the mid to late afternoon. 

While visiting she requested a mixture of sweet and savoury delicate refreshment items be brought to her around 4pm. The Earl of Sandwich in 1760s had created the placing of fillings between bread and butter and this was included along with light pastries and cakes. 

On her return to Woburn Abbey, she continued with this meal and started to invite friends to join her and it didn’t take long for other socialites to follow suit. 

According to articles written, today’s Queen partakes in Afternoon Tea daily, but is more partial to a salmon or cucumber finger sandwich with her Earl Grey tea (taken without crema or sugar) than a sweet morsel.