Not many people have heard of John Clayton but most of us have enjoyed his farsighted benevolence even if from a distance. There is a saying that a person is truly generous when they plant a tree that they will never live to see mature. If that is the case then there are few better… Continue reading John Clayton – The man who planted the most famous tree in the world!
Tag: Roman
The newly unearthed Roman Mausoleum in Southwark
Fast on the heals of the remains of some Roman docks being found by Upper Thames Street in London, last weeks another Roman find made the news in the U.K. What the archeologists involved call a “Completely unique” Roman mausoleum. Though the news sites have just mentioned them, it is something that I’ve known about… Continue reading The newly unearthed Roman Mausoleum in Southwark
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
There is a rule in Star Trek films that the even numbered ones are usually considered better than the odd numbered ones. With Indiana Jones it seems to be the other way round. Everyone loves Raiders of the Lost Ark, except for some epic chase and action sequences, the Temple of Doom doesn’t seem to… Continue reading Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
The Statue of King Alfred The Great that isn’t all it might appear.
Every where you go in London, it is hard to move without bumping into statues and the politics behind who is worthy of a statue, where it should be and how high a status it has in comparison to other figures especially in statue-dense areas are things that get the proponents and opponents quite worked… Continue reading The Statue of King Alfred The Great that isn’t all it might appear.
Coronavirus Diary 75 – Finding a Holy and Magical Well in St Albans.
I’ve been to a few Holy Wells in my time, some ancient pagan wells and some slightly less ancient but still extremely old Christian ones. The problem with wells in cities and particularly near to London is that they are either blocked up or entirely built over. Some times is simply due to the rise… Continue reading Coronavirus Diary 75 – Finding a Holy and Magical Well in St Albans.
The Roman Wall in an Underground London Car Park
In those few days between Christmas and New Years Day when it seems I am about the only person at work in London, I gave myself extra time to get into the city before meeting my tourists. Normally busy roads or roads where traffic is at a perpetual standstill were so empty that I… Continue reading The Roman Wall in an Underground London Car Park
Queen Elizabeth I – Linguistic genius?
There are many things we may associate with the great Queen Elizabeth I from her famed private life, glorious victories at sea particularly over the Spanish Armada and that famous speech at Tilbury. As she put it, she may have had the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and… Continue reading Queen Elizabeth I – Linguistic genius?
The 9 times Britain has left Europe and why the cycle will happen again.
Much of the world and indeed the country is looking on at ever ongoing Brexit situation. What many don’t realise is that Britain has always had a love-hate relationship with Europe and it’s largely due to geography and history. Around the world and through the millennia, nations on the edge of a sphere of influence… Continue reading The 9 times Britain has left Europe and why the cycle will happen again.
Vindolanda Writing Tablets
When I was recently walking Hadrians Wall, there were countless Roman sites to visit either on or just off the wall. Having visited many all ready, the one I most wanted to visit was Vindolanda. You can see my blog post on Vindolanda here. Out of everything in Vindolanda, the objects I most wanted… Continue reading Vindolanda Writing Tablets
Holding a nearly 2,000 year old Roman shoe at Vindolanda
I’ve been so busy with my tours that I haven’t had a day off since April 16th and so my blog posts are currently a bit shorter than usual. Even last week when I would be walking for up to 11 hours a day, I still had to start and finish my day with what… Continue reading Holding a nearly 2,000 year old Roman shoe at Vindolanda
Stephen Liddell 