It was only 2 or 3 years ago where much of the world, or at least those perhaps lacking in sartorial elegance, was obsessed with an item of clothing known as a Onesie. Usually made for people who want a comfortable, cosy evening on the sofa or perhaps for those not going out on a… Continue reading Winston Churchill style icon? Siren Suits – the precursor to Onesies.
Tag: history
The history of 10 Downing Street and a peek behind its famous black door.
A few weeks ago I posted about a ‘fake’ Number 10 Downing Street and so I thought it would be timely to write about the actual Number 10 Downing Street especially as having written about historic and political situations for 6 years that not having yet done so is something of an aberration. After all,… Continue reading The history of 10 Downing Street and a peek behind its famous black door.
The Great Beer Flood of London
Like many ancient cities, London has suffered its fair share of disasters, perhaps unduly so but whilst history is full of fires, wars, pestilence and biblical downpours, few places in the world can have suffered what is known as The Great Beer Flood of London. It happened over 200 years ago on Monday 17th October… Continue reading The Great Beer Flood of 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
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
Thomas Coram in Boston
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 the Weiner Library and a special exhibition on Thomas Coram at the Foundling Hospital. Thomas… Continue reading Thomas Coram in Boston
Æthelflaed – Lady of the Mercians
Every now and then I like to write a post about one of the important and often overlooked women in history and British history in particular. Sometimes they appear in the most unexpected places such as the Wrestling Mongolian Princess Khutulun or a very Grace Darling who became a heroine around the world in Victorian times. We… Continue reading Æthelflaed – Lady of the Mercians
A Brief History of the Penny
As the modern era of a cashless society rolls relentlessly onwards and due to inflation the value of it ever decreasing, the Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has raised the prospect that like the half pence in the 1980’s the Penny be removed from circulation. The fact that the banking chief claims to rarely… Continue reading A Brief History of the Penny
The London Colosseum
We’re all familiar with the Coloseum in Rome, one of the architectural wonders of both the ancient world and Italy but though the Colosseum is by far the most iconic, there are actually Roman amphitheatres to be found across North Africa and the Middle East, much of Europe and also the British Isles. There is… Continue reading The London Colosseum
A drive through London in 1946
I came across this video today when I was mean’t to be working on one of my worik in progress manuscripts. It shows that traffic has always been bad in London though it seems quiet at first. I really enjoyed watching this video and seem to know all of the streets the video takes us… Continue reading A drive through London in 1946
Stephen Liddell 