Tag Archives: Victorian

Is eating people always wrong?

Posted on June 7, 2021 by Stephen Liddell

In my 3rd and final post on this wacky world of Victorian legal cases related to murders, we travel back to September 1884 in Falmouth on the SW coast of England when three rather emaciated sailors disembarked from their ship, … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged Cannibal, Crime, Murder, Victorian | 1 Comment

The terrible murder of Fanny Adams which gives us a phrase we still use today.

Posted on May 31, 2021 by Stephen Liddell

Last I wrote about the attempted murder of Victorian Prime Minister Robert Peel that led to the concept that people suffering from extreme mental illness, may not be responsible for their acts. This was a time of great reform in … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life | Tagged Crime, Fanny Adams, Murder, Sweet FA, Victorian | 2 Comments

The secret world of Knocker-uppers!

Posted on August 24, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

We all know how job roles can become obsolete overnight but this isn’t something new. Have you ever given thought to how people would get up on time for work in the old days? I’ve never had a problem getting … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life | Tagged Beamish Open Air Museum, Jack The Ripper, Knocker-upper's, Mary Smith, Sleep, Victorian | 3 Comments

The forlorn church of St Mary Somerset

Posted on July 6, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

When I was out in London last week, I went on a walk of discovery. As is often the way in London, I ‘discovered’ several places but also got the chance to visit somewhere I knew perfectly well even though … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, history, Life, Travel, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged church, churches, City of London, London, Secret Gardens of the City of London, St Mary Somerset, Upper Thames Street, Victorian | 1 Comment

A look at my local Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association… Trough

Posted on April 20, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

The Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association was an association set up in London by Samuel Gurney, a Member of Parliament, and philanthropist and Edward Thomas Wakefield, a barrister, in 1859 to provide free drinking water. Originally called the … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life, London, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged Bushey Heath, Cattle Trough, Drinking Fountain, Russell Square, The Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association, Victorian, Water, Ye Olde England Tours | 1 Comment

Safety For The Dead

Posted on January 27, 2020 by Stephen Liddell

On the 29th December I arrived in London a little early for my tour that day so spent an hour or two exploring and sight-seeing myself , at least what passes for sight-seeing if you are a bit of a … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Life, London, Ye Olde England Tours | Tagged Burial, churches, Death, Fleet Street, Iron Coffin, St Brides Church, Victorian | Leave a comment

The Restoration of the Aldgate Pump of Death!

Posted on October 2, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

I’ve no doubt included photos and mentioned in passing the old Aldgate water pump which used to be right next to an eastern gate of the old Roman wall surrounding the city of London. Aldgate Well was first mentioned all … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, history, Life, London | Tagged Aldgate, Aldgate Pump, Death, Victorian, Whitechapel | 5 Comments

The Hartley Colliery Disaster of 1862

Posted on September 9, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

My blog is full of disasters from beer floods in London to Grace Darling – A Victorian Heroine. burning building self-sacrifices to heroic against the odd tales of survival I Am The Army – The Incredible Story of William Brydon Many of them … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life, Northumberland and Durham | Tagged Coal Mine, Death, Hartley Colliery Disaster, Hester Pit disaster, Northumberland, Victorian, Video | 6 Comments

The Fig Tree Tomb of Watford

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

Last week whilst on a little diversion in my local town, I took the time to visit the beautiful and ancient St Marys Church. It is the oldest building in Watford and in truth following decades of wanton destruction by … Continue reading →

Posted in Heritage, history, Life, Religion and Faith | Tagged Cemetery, church, Death, Fig Tree Tomb, Legends, Victorian, Watford | Leave a comment

Remembering Alfred, Lord Tennyson on bis birthday

Posted on August 7, 2019 by Stephen Liddell

This morning as I write this, or yesterday when this is posted, I was giving an all day tour to a family from New York and we went inside the incredible Westminster Abbey. As we were there 15 minutes before … Continue reading →