The story of Ayuba Suleiman Diallo is one of the most interesting and incredible verified accounts of an African slave during the 18th Century, Whilst it is incredible, it also illustrates well the complexities of the slave trade and some of the injustices perpetuated upon slaves. Diallo came from a prominent Fulbe family of Muslim… Continue reading Ayuba Suleiman Diallo – The remarkable story of an African slave.
Category: history
Posts predominantly history related.
Walking Londons Canals at Camden Lock
For our next stage of walking the canals of London we leave behind the picturesque Primrose Hill and Regents Park and continue east towards the a part of London that couldn’t be more different, Camden Lock Market. As we get underway though take a look at the photo below. Does it look a little strange… Continue reading Walking Londons Canals at Camden Lock
What would have happened if the Soviet Union had nuked London?
It is hard to imagine anything worse than a nuclear war and recently a normally well-hidden document in the National Archives in Kew (West London) has come out of hiding to be the star attraction in a new exhibition. It’s seems almost a world a way but I can very easily remember as a boy… Continue reading What would have happened if the Soviet Union had nuked London?
Dead Fish raining down on London at Blow-Up Bridge
So far on this series of posts on the canals of London, you’ve probably noticed that these days they are mostly tranquil places. It wasn’t always the case and none more so than around 5am on the 2nd October 1874. It was just before 5am on this autumn morning in Regent’s Park when a small… Continue reading Dead Fish raining down on London at Blow-Up Bridge
Walking Londons canals…. Warwick Avenue to Regents Park.
My pictorial series of blog posts on my new London Canal Private Walking Tour continues eastwards along Regents Canal. Part one was about Canals in general and then we started off in the Paddington Basin and then on Monday were at Little Venice. Given that we have just left Little Venice then it is now… Continue reading Walking Londons canals…. Warwick Avenue to Regents Park.
Walking Londons canals… Little Venice
If you haven’t read my recent posts on canals in general and the Paddington Basin in particular then do feel free to go back and take a peek before coming back here. It’s amazing how much the scenery changes once you pass under the A40 flyover, the 21st century is left behind as you emerge… Continue reading Walking Londons canals… Little Venice
The age of the Canal
During February I have spent some time exploring some of Londons canals and I thought I would do a short series of posts about canals. They are are great place to enjoy some leisure time as I often do at the Grand Union canal near me but they weren’t always so sedate. It’s impossible to… Continue reading The age of the Canal
Now and then on an old London street corner
A few years ago I did a short series of then and now photos showing how places have changed since the advent of photography I’ve seen the photo below before and still think it is very evocative. This is the junction of Fieldgate Street and Plumbers Row in Whitechapel, London. The building in front is… Continue reading Now and then on an old London street corner
The Tintagel Bridge over the troubled waters of King Arthur
There are few places in the world where history and legend intermix so thoroughly and so naturally as at Tintagel in Cornwall. Following the retreat of the Romans from Britannia, from about the 5th to the 7th century AD it was an important stronghold, and probably a residence of rulers of Cornwall. Many fragments of… Continue reading The Tintagel Bridge over the troubled waters of King Arthur
Paradise Lost – Better to reign in hell than serve in paradise! – Finding the tomb of Milton.
One of the perks of doing guided tours is coming across unexpected treasures. Many of the places I visit are off the usual tourist-track but no matter how many times I go out on walks, I find new things almost every day. A few weeks ago on one such occasion I was scouting out a… Continue reading Paradise Lost – Better to reign in hell than serve in paradise! – Finding the tomb of Milton.
Stephen Liddell 