I always like finding what’s beneath the surface in London, whether it is getting locked in with Roman ruins, snooping around for an ancient friary Finding the ruins of Whitefriars beneath the streets of London, getting up close and personal with the underground tomb of General Wolfe… it happens surprisingly often. One of the places I’ve… Continue reading Putting the well into Clerkenwell
Category: history
Posts predominantly history related.
A bit of historic detective work on a young Victorian hero – Solomon Galaman
The book I have been working on recently is one of those labours of love that I sometimes do if only for myself that quite often seem to catch the imagination of others. Researching places relating to the heroes of Postman’s Park near St Paul Cathedralcan be a time consuming process in more ways than… Continue reading A bit of historic detective work on a young Victorian hero – Solomon Galaman
Nicholas Breakspear – the only English Pope
Not far from where I used to live until recently, in the small Hertfordshire village of Abbots Langley stands St Lawrence Church. The small church is located just off the high street and like many small parish churches is rich in history that is all but forgotten by many. Inside the church, a tablet on… Continue reading Nicholas Breakspear – the only English Pope
Bumping into John Keats at St. Guy’s Hospital
Sometimes when I am out and about in London I find that for a few days or even weeks my paths cross with that of a famous or historical figure on numerous and sometimes unexpected occasions and recently I have been bumping into the romantic poet John Keats who died just over 200 years ago.… Continue reading Bumping into John Keats at St. Guy’s Hospital
Getting Snug With Box Beds
If you’ve ever browsed properties for sale in expensive and over-crowded cities such as London, Tokyo or New York you may have seen some creative descriptions from estate agents that are only surpassed by the ingenious if often very unsatisfactory layouts that some developers try and make a quick profit to sell a home that… Continue reading Getting Snug With Box Beds
Going to my first Opera at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
Last Saturday I managed to bag a small ambition that I had wanted to do for decades, experience a real life opera and I managed to do so in one of the very finest venues in the world, the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London. I always like live theatre but for all sorts… Continue reading Going to my first Opera at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
50 sayings that are off to the knackers yard!
A few years ago I wrote a book called My New Book – Straight from the Horse’s Mouth : 100 Idioms, their Meanings and Origins which always sells quite by my standards, especially at Christmas. Words and sayings have been such a rich source of our culture and often inspired by history, even if it is… Continue reading 50 sayings that are off to the knackers yard!
Visiting the State Apartments at Speaker’s House at the Palace of Westminster
Two weeks ago I wrote a post on how I randomly met Jeremy Corbyn on the London Underground. I met him when I was on my way into Parliament, not as a guide myself this time but as a tourist or at least I wasn’t actively working. I was one of the first group of… Continue reading Visiting the State Apartments at Speaker’s House at the Palace of Westminster
The death and resurrection of Margorie McCall
If you’re anything like me then there is nothing that quite tickles your fancy like a historic ‘resurrection’ story. This one took place in Ireland in 1705 when after succumbing to a fever Margorie McCall was hastily buried to prevent the spread of whatever had sent her to her maker. Margorie was buried with… Continue reading The death and resurrection of Margorie McCall
Ernest Shackleton and the Third Man (an Angel)
Not long after after starting my blog, I once wrote on The Angel of Mons an event dating back to WW1 which often captures the imagination of those who know if it. A very contemporary event to this happened to Ernest Shackleton who I have written about last week, South Georgia might not seem a very… Continue reading Ernest Shackleton and the Third Man (an Angel)
Stephen Liddell 