They are an icon of London; not as famous as those famous red symbols such a telephone boxes, post boxes, double decker buses or soldiers on guard and they are certainly less common than the iconic London black taxis but if you wander around London long enough, just a short distance from many tourist attractions… Continue reading The secret green huts of London
Category: Heritage
The life and grave of Little John of Robin Hood fame.
In the ancient ballads of Robin Hood, Little John is traditionally, second in command of Robin Hood’s legendary Merry Men. Little John appears in the very earliest of the surviving Robin Hood tales including the work of Andrew of Wyntoun in 1420 and ‘A Gest of Robyn Hode’ published later that century. The ballad ‘Robin… Continue reading The life and grave of Little John of Robin Hood fame.
Cheers to pub signs!
As we near the darkest and coldest nights in the U.K. many of us will be spending at least some times in pubs. This would have been even more the case in years gone by. There have been pubs of one variety or other since at least Roman times and almost since that… Continue reading Cheers to pub signs!
Ivinghoe Beacon – From the Bronze Age to a galaxy far, far away.
Situated in the beautiful Chiltern Hills, Ivinghoe Beacon is a prominent hill and landmark in Buckinghamshire, England, in the United Kingdom, standing 233 metres or 757 feet above sea level. It’s relatively grand height has meant it has been an important point for humans for thousands of years with evidence of people living here with evidence of… Continue reading Ivinghoe Beacon – From the Bronze Age to a galaxy far, far away.
My new Nursery Rhyme Tour of London
It’s at this time of year where as near as possible I have a slightly easier life. Fewer tourists though doesn’t mean I’m not working. In an ideal world I would be using January to write books but I’m still busy with work but working from home and so I have been researching new tours… Continue reading My new Nursery Rhyme Tour of London
A slap in the face for Knights!
Now most people reading this are likely familiar with the more modern kind of knighting where a sword is ceremoniously tapped on an individual’s shoulders, preferably by a comely maiden. It wasn’t always so genteel or romantic. Yes you might have your weaponry, land and perhaps a squire, maybe even some serfs to keep your farms… Continue reading A slap in the face for Knights!
Visiting the home of Joseph Hedley whose murder in 1826 shook the world!
A few weeks ago whilst out on a 11 day tour of Newcastle. Northumbria, Durham and the Lake District, with the lovely Lorraine from Tasmania, I had the opportunity to revisit the Beamish Open Air Museum. The working and living museum is 50 years into an incredible 200 year plan to preserve and re-enact for… Continue reading Visiting the home of Joseph Hedley whose murder in 1826 shook the world!
To be on Tenterhooks in Spitalfields
Have you ever heard of the phrase “on tenterhooks”? It has come to mean being in a state of tension, uneasiness, anxiety, or suspense, and that is because tenterhooks were once very common sights indeed. Tenterhooks aren’t the big hooks you might see in a meat market or butches but are instead related to the cloth… Continue reading To be on Tenterhooks in Spitalfields
An example of how English has changed over 1200 years.
I found this poster earlier today and thought it was well worth sharing. The text contains a brief passage of one of the most famous Psalms and I think gives a wonderful insight to how language changes. I really don’t like the modern version, it sounds almost like it is written for people with learning… Continue reading An example of how English has changed over 1200 years.
The Hartley Colliery Disaster of 1862
My blog is full of disasters from beer floods in London to Grace Darling – A Victorian Heroine. burning building self-sacrifices to heroic against the odd tales of survival I Am The Army – The Incredible Story of William Brydon Many of them remain well known or at least just buried beneath the surface of public consciousness but… Continue reading The Hartley Colliery Disaster of 1862
Stephen Liddell 