When genteel manners ruled in old Southampton town

The town, as it was then, served as a vibrant stage upon which the well-heeled and the titled would parade along its waterfront and through its centre, turning the simple act of a waterside stroll into a spectacle of high society.

In the early part of King George III's reign, Southampton blossomed into a most fashionable spa resort. 

Drawn by the allure of its restorative sea air and the promise of its newly discovered mineral springs, the wealthy and the influential flocked to its shores. 

It was a time of refined leisure, where the robust could indulge in invigorating sea bathing, while those of a more delicate constitution could partake in the genteel comforts of the town's baths and partake of the health-giving mineral waters, all designed to be "commodious for people of fashion."

With this influx of affluent visitors came a demand for sophisticated entertainment. 

The grand hotels of the era, such as the Dolphin Hotel which still graces the High Street with its historic charm despite no longer being used as a hotel, became the epicentres of the social scene. 

Their ballrooms, alive with the flicker of candlelight and the strains of elegant music, hosted lavish dances and balls, providing the perfect backdrop for society's elite to see and be seen. 

Famously, the Dolphin Hotel's magnificent first-floor ballroom, with its splendid bow window, was the setting for a young Jane Austen's eighteenth birthday celebration in 1793.

These gatherings were, however, far from frivolous free-for-alls. 

A strict and unyielding code of etiquette governed the proceedings, for as the record books of the time meticulously noted, "it being absolutely necessary in all polite assemblies to have some regulations established, without which no order or a decorum can be preserved."

One of the most popular and exclusive venues was the Long Rooms on West Quay, the veritable heart of the town's fashionable entertainment. Here, visitors were bound by a precise code of conduct during the regular dances:

• Gentlemen were politely but firmly requested not to appear in the rooms on the evenings of Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday while wearing boots.

• In the interest of maintaining a peaceable and refined atmosphere, they were also always to leave their swords at the door.

• The evening's festivities were to commence as soon as possible after the stroke of 7pm and were to conclude, without exception, at precisely 11pm, even if a country dance was in mid-flow.

• A particular point of decorum for both gentlemen and ladies engaged in a country dance was that they were not to quit their places until the dance had concluded, unless they had no intention of dancing for the remainder of the evening.

• In a curious sartorial stipulation, dancing in coloured gloves was strictly forbidden.

• And to ensure the card room remained a sanctuary for its intended purpose, no tea table was to be carried within its confines.

Admission to these exclusive soirées for the entire season could be procured for the sum of five shillings (25p in modern currency). For a single night's amusement, the cost was a more modest two shillings and sixpence (12p). 

A cup of tea, a staple of any social gathering, was an additional sixpence (2p) per person, paid upon entry. 

For those inclined to a game of cards, a table complete with two packs of cards could be hired for seven shillings and sixpence (37p).

Beyond the ballroom, Southampton offered a plethora of other genteel amusements. 

The theatre in French Street was a popular haunt for an evening's entertainment, with performances staged three times a week throughout the spa season. 

On the notable evening of August 27, 1791, the auditorium was graced by the presence of both the Duchess of Bolton and Prince William, who had made the journey from his lodgings in Lyndhurst to enjoy the show.

For those who preferred the fresh air and a touch of sporting prowess, archery at Archer’s Lodge, situated near the entrance to the Avenue, was a favoured pastime. 

This, along with cricket, captured the enthusiasm of the town's visitors. 

The Royal Southampton Archers would further entice their guests with a fortnightly "cold collation," a lavish buffet to be enjoyed after a morning of friendly competition.

Of course, reaching this fashionable haven was an adventure in itself. 

Many would make the journey from London aboard stagecoaches. 

An inside seat, protected from the elements, came at the not inconsiderable price of £1 11s 6d (£1.57). 

For the hardier traveller, the often draughty and damp option of an outside seat was a more economical 18 shillings (90p).