Bridgerton: Regency dance enthusiasts at Claydon House

The founder of a society where people dress up in historical costumes to dance around stately homes said a recent trip was a "dream come true".

Georgettes of Oxford is a group of enthusiasts who bring the Bridgerton vibe to dances and parlour games.

They visited Claydon House in Buckinghamshire - a location for the third series of the Netflix hit which was released on Thursday.

Helen Davidge said the experience was "amazing".

Georgettes members are in love with the fashions, music and history of the 18th and early 19th Centuries.

Helen Davidge and Prof Anna Nekaris escape their busy day jobs by entering the Regency era

Dr Davidge, who works as a data scientist, said the National Trust's Claydon House was where her heroine Florence Nightingale had lived for a short time.

She was five years old when she saw a film about founder of modern nursing, which kickstarted her interest in the era.

She sought out the Regency romance novels of Georgette Heyer, and later historical dance classes, but noticed a "dearth" of similar troupes in Oxford.

"This is a really nice way to carry on that passion of mine and also enthuse other people, and get them to have their dreams come true as well," she explained.

"We're not a historic enactment, so I don't expect clothes to be hand sewn, and if there's a zip up the back I don't mind.

"I want it to be as inclusive as possible."

Anastasia Kowryha said Jane Austen made a big impact on her life

Also at the dance at Claydon House was Prof Anna Nekaris, who was awarded an OBE in the New Years Honours for her work towards the conservation of slow lorises.

She told the BBC it could be a "really intense, difficult job" so she liked activities that allowed her mind "to be completely absorbed away from work".

Another Georgettes member, Anastasia Kowryha, 18, is a Ukrainian refugee from Kharkiv.

She said: "I'm a big fan of Jane Austen and Pride and Prejudice.

"It has a big impact on my life and I never thought I would be Regency dancing, and it's really wonderful to have this opportunity.

"I feel like Elizabeth when she's dancing with Mr Darcy."

The dances were accompanied by harpsichordist Charivari Agréable.

Dr Davidge, who hopes to one day run an events business around her passion, said if her five-year-old self saw what she was doing today she would be "so amazed that she's now wearing the clothes in Florence Nightingale's house, dancing".

She added: "I don't think I would have even believed that. It's definitely a dream come true."

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