Category Archives: history

Posts predominantly history related.

To be on Tenterhooks in Spitalfields

Posted on October 9, 2019 by

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life, London | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Restoration of the Aldgate Pump of Death!

Posted on October 2, 2019 by

I’ve no doubt included photos and mentioned in passing the old Aldgate water pump which used to be right next to an eastern gate of the old Roman wall surrounding the city of London. Aldgate Well was first mentioned all … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, history, Life, London | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A 1915 piece of fake news… with good intentions

Posted on September 30, 2019 by

When German Naval Airship Zeppelin L9 appeared over Blyth on the evening of 14 April 1915, it was only the second time bombs had been dropped on England. Although nobody was killed, it marked the beginning of a series of … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, WW1 | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

I wonder what he meant by that!

Posted on September 25, 2019 by

Everyone likes a good quote don’t they.  I particularly adore historical quotes and admire anyone who as was said of Churchill, mobilised the English language and sent it into battle. I was always quite a fan of Donald Rumsfelds infamous … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An example of how English has changed over 1200 years.

Posted on September 11, 2019 by

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Heritage, history, Religion and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Hartley Colliery Disaster of 1862

Posted on September 9, 2019 by

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life, Northumberland and Durham | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Changing with the tide – how newspapers reported Napoleon’s march on Paris

Posted on September 4, 2019 by

I was doing a bit of research on some French related history and the following made me smile so I thought I would share it. I don’t often write on French history (except for WW1 or my trips to Paris) … Continue reading →

Posted in Funny & Humour, history, Life | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments