Alexander Parkes is another one of those people from the Victorian Age that is forgotten despite him changing the world and his story is being told in a new exhibition in Bow, East London. The fact the the exhibition is in East London may give something of a clue that Alexander Parkes is the man… Continue reading Alexander Parkes – The man who changed and poisoned the world
Tag: Victorian
The secret underground road right in the heart of London
It’s hard to believe that just a few minutes walk from the iconic Trafalgar Square or the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden, there is an almost forgotten and entirely buried street in the very centre of London. It’s rarely used by anyone these days save for those of us who know London like the… Continue reading The secret underground road right in the heart of London
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
Dancing on the Dead at Enon Chapel – The Victorian Sensation!
Everyone likes a Christmas party don’t they? Well except me but that’s because I’m a misery guts and couldn’t think of anything worse than, except for a New Years Eve party of course. You might think that having parties at overcrowded and somewhat dodgy venues are a modern phenomena but you might be surprised to… Continue reading Dancing on the Dead at Enon Chapel – The Victorian Sensation!
Alice Ayres – A Victorian Heroine
A few weeks ago I wrote on Postmans Park – The Memorial To Heroic Self-Sacrifice and I’d taken it upon myself to look some of the names whose valour has been memorialised her. At random I picked the unassuming sounding Alice Ayres. I picked Alice in particular because I’m familiar with Union Street in Borough, it… Continue reading Alice Ayres – A Victorian Heroine
Christmas through the ages
It seems unavoidable, the big day has almost arrived. Whereas last year I wrote a post on debunking myths surrounding Christmas and in 2015 on the history of Father Christmas and Santa Claus this time around I thought I would write a little on what Christmas was like through the ages. I like Christmas but I… Continue reading Christmas through the ages
The Limehouse Golem – Film Review
I haven’t spent much time at the cinema this year, that is mostly because I have been so busy but also due to the proliferation of those dreadful in my opinion comic book movies which rather take over the big screen. It seems I’m not alone as attendances have been way down but in the… Continue reading The Limehouse Golem – Film Review
When to take the Christmas decorations down? Or When Christmas used to last until February!
Many people are back at work or at least thinking of doing so whilst for me, this is actually my first day off of Christmas and it is sooooo nice! Whilst I am enjoying my Christmas lights in the morning and evening, I have seen more than the odd newspaper report on taking down… Continue reading When to take the Christmas decorations down? Or When Christmas used to last until February!
Cross Bones Graveyard – A resting place for the ‘Single women’ of London
Today whilst conducting a private Charles Dickens Walking Tour with a colleague, I took a little detour through the back streets of Borough and Southwark to visit two very special and unique places. This area of London lies just south of the River Thames and since Roman times (like Whitechapel) has been something of the armpit… Continue reading Cross Bones Graveyard – A resting place for the ‘Single women’ of London
Mary Seacole – The Greatest Black Briton
Many of us are familiar with the accounts of Florence Nightingale, the British nurse who worked tirelessly and in the most trying of circumstances during The Crimea War and who in many ways pushed forward and pioneered modern day healthcare and nursing. She is rightly remembered as one of the greatest figures in history and… Continue reading Mary Seacole – The Greatest Black Briton