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 man areas of life and in 1861, a legal milestone, the Offences Against The Person… Continue reading The terrible murder of Fanny Adams which gives us a phrase we still use today.
Tag: Victorian
The secret world of Knocker-uppers!
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 up for work. If I have to get up at 5am for work I get… Continue reading The secret world of Knocker-uppers!
The forlorn church of St Mary Somerset
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 I’d never been there… at least not for 6 or 7 years and never to… Continue reading The forlorn church of St Mary Somerset
A look at my local Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association… Trough
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 Metropolitan Free Drinking Fountain Association it changed its name to include cattle troughs in 1867,… Continue reading A look at my local Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association… Trough
Safety For The Dead
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 history nerd. Whilst deep beneath the beautiful St Bride’s Church, I came across one of… Continue reading Safety For The Dead
The Restoration of the Aldgate Pump of Death!
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 the way back in the thirteenth century during the reign of King John. It possibly… Continue reading The Restoration of the Aldgate Pump of Death!
The Hartley Colliery Disaster of 1862
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 remain well known or at least just buried beneath the surface of public consciousness but… Continue reading The Hartley Colliery Disaster of 1862
The Fig Tree Tomb of Watford
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 the local authorities, one of only a handful of interesting buildings in town. Whilst walking… Continue reading The Fig Tree Tomb of Watford
Remembering Alfred, Lord Tennyson on bis birthday
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 opening time, despite 60 or 70 people being ahead of us, there were hundreds behind… Continue reading Remembering Alfred, Lord Tennyson on bis birthday
The West Brompton Time Machine in the heart of London
You can find most things in London but it might not be your first guess as to be the location of what is currently thought to be the most likely candidate for a Time-Machine in the world, if such a thing can really be. And I don’t mean the Tardis from Doctor Who which… Continue reading The West Brompton Time Machine in the heart of London
Stephen Liddell 