The Victorians were both an amazing and slightly weird lot. They pioneered the science and engineering almost everyone in the world takes for granted whilst being extremely strong on morals and keeping ankles covered and where a morbid curiosity about death clashed with the fledging modern medicine. **It should be noted this post does contain 2… Continue reading Mummy Unwrapping Parties
Month: January 2024
2024 Elections
In 2024, more than half the planet will vote in elections. However not all elections are equal and whilst the better ones can completely change the course of a country or even the world, others are little more than a farcical sham. The dark burgundy circles represent good and almost ideal democracies despite the best efforts… Continue reading 2024 Elections
The betrayal that ended the old British kingdom of Rheged
One of the eras of history I most enjoy is that bit of British history after the Romans and before the arrival of those pesky Normans. When the land was split between numerous kingdoms who battled for control and eventual a land of many kingdoms became one of few. It seems at least some of these… Continue reading The betrayal that ended the old British kingdom of Rheged
Wild about babies!
18 months or so ago I wrote about some wonderful public art in Paternoster Square near St Pauls https://stephenliddell.co.uk/2022/06/16/the-wildlife-table-of-love-in-paternoster-square/ which led to a further post on https://stephenliddell.co.uk/2022/06/27/rabbitwoman-and-dogman/#:~:text=As%20unlikely%20animal%20kingdom%20companions,as%20well%20as%20an%20individual. Over the last year or two, I’ve seen Rabbitwoman and Dogman appear temporarily in new places around London but last week and actually the first day after their… Continue reading Wild about babies!
Sword Rests in the City of London.
The historic churches of the City of London contain many unusual and interesting furnishings and fittings. Among the most intriguing are the sword rests. You don’t really find Sword Rests in the rest of the country, perhaps because bringing a sword into a church may seem rather incongruous but in the City, the Lord Mayor… Continue reading Sword Rests in the City of London.
Floods re-create Athelney Island – Refuge of King Alfred The Great vs the Vikings
The last few weeks and indeed months have seen much of the southern Britain inundated with big storms and seemingly incessant storms. At one point over 600 flood warnings were in place as rivers burst their banks, fields and plains flooded and houses evacuated. The floods of course are awful for everyone involved but people… Continue reading Floods re-create Athelney Island – Refuge of King Alfred The Great vs the Vikings
The Rutland of Jutland – WW1 Flying Ace to WW2 traitor
There aren’t many things that connect WW1 Battle of Jutland to The Beatles and Pearl Harbor but if such things float your boat then this post is for you and it is all about a man called Frederick Rutland. Rutland’s 300-page FBI dossier describes an almost James Bond type figure “Square jaw; well poised; highly… Continue reading The Rutland of Jutland – WW1 Flying Ace to WW2 traitor
James Sharman – Photo of a man who fought with Lord Nelson
I hope everyone had a nice Christmas and New Year. Maybe like myself you managed to squeeze in your 50th birthday on the 28th December. Whilst on my way to work a few days ago I found this wonderful old photo which caught my eye. This is the only known photograph of James Sharman. He was… Continue reading James Sharman – Photo of a man who fought with Lord Nelson
Stephen Liddell 