Category: history

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

Where Little Dorrit slept – A secret spot of Dickensian London

Most peoples experiences of London are packed tube trains, busy shops, bright lights and crowds of people. Mine always seem to be very different and I often feel like I am living in a Charles Dickens story. Walking around quiet lanes or alleys, church bells ringing as random people shout out greetings as I run various errands.… Continue reading Where Little Dorrit slept – A secret spot of Dickensian London

Raising a Hue and Cry

Even in the modern world with a trained police force it can be hard to catch criminals Centuries ago life was so much more vulnerable in many ways and there was a greater sense of community and with much fewer in the way of state assets. In medieval England, the best arrangement was the so-called… Continue reading Raising a Hue and Cry

Digging up patients from a medieval hospital

Last week news broke on the results of a study which was set up after the discovery of a medieval cemetery in Cambridge a few years ago that just happens to have been active during the Black Death. It is thought that London possibly suffered the worth mortality rate in the world from the Black… Continue reading Digging up patients from a medieval hospital

The History of the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree

It is said perhaps to be the most famous Christmas tree in the world and in London marks the run-in to Christmas. Every year, since 1947, the people of Norway have given the people of London a Christmas tree which finds its home in Trafalgar Square. This gift is in gratitude for Britain’s support for… Continue reading The History of the Trafalgar Square Christmas Tree

Mansion House – The official residence of the Lord Mayor of the City of London

Originally the Lord Mayor of the City of London would use their own home or livery hall in their elected position deafening up the City’s governmental, judicial and civic functions. After the Great Fire of London, the idea arose that the Lord Mayors should have their very own official home. It took almost a century… Continue reading Mansion House – The official residence of the Lord Mayor of the City of London