Category Archives: history

Posts predominantly history related.

Dancing on the Dead at Enon Chapel – The Victorian Sensation!

Posted on December 17, 2018 by Stephen Liddell

Everyone likes a Christmas party don’t they? Well except me but that’s because I’m a misery guts and couldn’t think of anything worse than, except for a New Years Eve party of course. You might think that having parties at … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, London, Religion and Faith | Tagged #WPLongform, Burials, Death, Enon Chapel, George Walker, Long reads, party, Portugal Street, Victorian | Leave a comment

When the Plague came to London

Posted on December 10, 2018 by Stephen Liddell

This time of year in Britain at least is known as the Flu season. Our highly changeably though at this time of year predominantly chilly and wet weather combined with some particularly overcrowded cities means that we are perhaps uniquely … Continue reading →

Posted in history, London, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged Bad Cold, Diary, Flu, Life, London, Pepys, Samuel Pepys, The Black Death, The Plague | 5 Comments

The original 9 principles of the police

Posted on December 3, 2018 by Stephen Liddell

There had been many attempts at upholding law and order over the centuries. Groups of Night Watchmen and organisations such as the Bow Street Runners came and went, doing the best they could but the concept of a professional police did … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life, News | Tagged Bobby, Larry The Cat, Metropolitan Police, Parliament, Police, Robert Peel, Sir Robert Peel | Leave a comment

Thomas Coram in Boston

Posted on November 28, 2018 by Stephen Liddell

Last week I took time out from touring to visit two temporary exhibitions at institutions that have very worthy reasons for visiting and yet understandably might not feature high on the list for foreign visitors. Namely the Kristallnacht exhibition at … Continue reading →

Posted in history, London, Religion and Faith | Tagged Bloosmbury, Boston, church, Congregationalist, Foundling Hospital, Foundling Museum, history, philanthropy, Puritan, Thomas Coram | 1 Comment

Words that are becoming extinct

Posted on November 21, 2018 by Stephen Liddell

Like many of us, I am a big fan of and user of words. One of my most popular blog posts is 102 great words that aren’t in English but should be102 great words that aren’t in English but should … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Heritage, history, Life | Tagged Betrumped, Endangered words, English, Etymology, Idioms, Straight from the Horse's Mouth, Words | 3 Comments

The famous farting lamp of London

Posted on November 19, 2018 by Stephen Liddell

Last week I wrote on The Great Stink of 1868. By chance todays post is on a related subject. Many people will be aware that in the Victorian age, much of London was lit with gas lamps and in deed … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, London, Science and Engineering | Tagged Carting Lane, Joseph Webb, London, Sewage lamp, Sewers, The Savoy, Webb Patent Sewer Gas Lamp | 10 Comments

The Anglo-Saxon exhibition at the British Library

Posted on November 14, 2018 by Stephen Liddell

A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to get to visit an incredible new exhibition at the British Library all about the Anglo-Saxons. Despite going past the building almost every day for 25 years, I’ve never been in it … Continue reading →