Category Archives: history

history, ramblings, science

Coming up in August

Interesting events an anniversaries in the month ahead. But yet again there isn’t a lot going on this month, probably because it is holiday season. Anyway, here’s what we have …
1 August
Lammas Day which is the festival of the wheat harvest, and is the first harvest festival of the year. On this day it was customary to bring to church a loaf made from the new crop, which began to be harvested at Lammastide. It coincides with the Christian feats day of St Peter ad Vincula (St Peter in Chains). Lughnasadh (Lammas) is also one of the eight sabbats observed by Pagans and is the first of their three autumn harvest festivals, the other two being the autumn equinox (Mabon) and Samhain.
1 August
This day also marks the Accession of George I in 1714 following the death of Queen Anne. He reigned until his death in 1727 and was also Elector of Hanover from 1698 to 1727. It was during George’s reign that the powers of the monarchy diminished and Britain began its transition to the modern system of cabinet government led by a prime minister.
3 August
Friendship Day. Celebrated on the first Sunday in August, Friendship Day is a worldwide opportunity to celebrate the joys of friendship. Find out more at www.friendshipday.org.
4 to 10 August
National Allotments Week. Once again the National Allotment Society is encouraging allotment sites across England and Wales to open their gates to celebrate the enduring nature of the allotment movement and hold a party for their plot-holders and the wider community. More details at www.nsalg.org.uk/news-events-campaigns/national-allotments-week/.


13 August
Birth in 1814 of the Swedish Anders Jonas Ångström who is generally accepted to be the father of spectroscopy — study of the interaction between matter and radiated energy (light, radio waves, x-rays etc.) — on which so much of modern science and medicine is dependent.
20 August
In 1864 JAR Newlands (1837–98) produced what many consider to be the first periodic table. Although Dmitri Mendeleev is given all the credit for the periodic table, Newlands got a large part of the way to Mendeleev’s solution some five years earlier. However the Chemistry Society in Britain ridiculed Newlands’ ideas and declined to publish his papers, thus possibly denying him a prior claim.
28 August
The 1914 Battle of Heligoland bight between Britain and Germany in the SE North Sea. The battle was won by the British and restricted the movements of the German Navy.

history

Oddity of the Week: Kray Twins

Last week’s “oddity” mentioned the Krays, London’s notorious gangster twins. And Ronnie and Reggie hold an interesting unique achievement … They are the only people to have been both imprisoned in the Tower of London and to have performed at the Royal Albert Hall.


In 1951, the pair fought in a boxing tournament at the Royal Albert Hall. The following year they were locked up overnight at the Tower for being absent without leave during their compulsory National Service.
Gleaned from The Londonist at http://londonist.com/2014/07/five-more-odd-facts-about-london.php

history

Oddity of the Week: Chiswick Flyover

Chiswick Flyover in west London was apparently opened in September 1959 by Hollywood actress Jayne Mansfield (picture below). No, I don’t know why either, but you can find more details at www.stmgrts.org.uk/archives/2009/09/jayne_mansfield_and_the_chiswick_flyover.html


Perhaps more worryingly the nearby Hammersmith flyover (currently the subject of on-going strengthening work after the discovery of concrete rot) has its own, much darker, celebrity connection. Underworld legend has it that the body of Ginger Marks, slain by the Kray gang, is buried in the foundations.
Gleaned from The Londonist at http://londonist.com/2014/07/five-more-odd-facts-about-london.php

history, ramblings, topographical

Lines on Maps

Yesterday I came across this map on Twitter …

africa

It shows Africa with its national boundaries (black lines) as they were in 1959 and (shaded) the continent’s division into ethnic/linguistic areas — ie. basically tribal areas.
Note just how many of the national boundaries are (a) straight lines and/or (b) cut straight across tribal areas. Every country contains multiple tribal/ethnic/linguistic areas.
Yet, we expect these peoples to be able to get on with each other as nations and embrace our democratic traditions. And we’re surprised when they can’t!
Is it any wonder they can’t get on, there is continual civil war and countries wanting to break themselves asunder. It is basically all the result of us, white man, drawing “arbitrary” lines on maps.

environment, history

Coming up in July

Interesting events an anniversaries in the month ahead. Not a lot this month, probably because it is the end of the school year and the start of summer holidays.
4 July
This day 60 years ago in 1954 saw the final end of WWII rationing. According to the Imperial War Museum meat was the last item to be taken off ration. I would have been three, so I don’t quite remember it.
4 July
American Independence Day. In 1776 the US congress proclaims the Declaration of Independence and independence from Britain.
14 July
90th birthday of James Whyte Black (1924-2010), Scottish doctor and pharmacologist who invented the beta-blocker Propranolol and synthesized Cimetidine (forerunner of Zantac) for both of which he received the 1988 Nobel Prize for Medicine.


26 July to 10 August
National Marine Week (which is actually a fortnight!).
The UK’s marine areas are home to a number of amazing creatures like dolphins and basking sharks, as well as iconic birds like puffins. Organised by The Wildlife Trusts, this National Marine Week celebrates these, and many other, marvellous animals and encourages us to go out and explore our local seashores. Find out more at www.wildlifetrusts.org/living-seas/get-involved/national-marine-week.
27 July
Battle of Bouvines, 1214, which ended the 1202-1214 Anglo-French War consolidating the grip of the French royals on French lands. King John of England was so weakened by the defeat he eventually had to succumb to signing Magna Carta.

history, photography

Weekly Photograph

This panoramic view shows the King’s Men stone circle which is a part of the Rollright Stones complex in Oxfordshire.
The photo was taken on our recent trip round the villages around Chipping Norton in search of ancestors. It was a glorious sunny early May day (with just a quick shower while we were having lunch in the pub at Broadway); England at its best.

Click the image for larger views on Flickr
Rollright Stones King's Men Stone Circle
Rollright Stones King’s Men Stone Circle
Little Rollright, May 2014

environment, history, uncategorized

Coming up in May

Some interesting events an anniversaries in the month ahead.
23 April to 21 June
British Asparagus Festival. The Vale of Evesham is the asparagus growing centre of the UK and each year they hold a 2 month-long festival during the asparagus season, starting with the first crop on St George’s Day. English asparagus is the best and has to be enjoyed during its short season, hence the festival. Find out more at www.britishasparagusfestival.org.
1 to 31 May
Local and Community History Month. The aim is to increase awareness of local history and promote history in general. There are activities across the UK which include trips, library exhibitions and local lectures. It is a great way for groups to highlight local history and for local people to get involved. Find a database of events at www.history.org.uk/resources/general_resource_1567_55.html.
1 May
May Day and the ancient Pagan festival of Beltane celebrate Spring in the northern hemisphere. This is a time when there will be ancient festivals taking place around the country, with maypoles, morris men and the like. If you are in London there is the Deptford Jack in the Green. See Wikipedia for a quick introduction to both May Day and Beltane.
4 May
International Dawn Chorus Day . This is a worldwide celebration of the daily miracle of birdsong. More details and a events in your area at www.idcd.info/.
6 May
On this day in 1954 Roger Bannister ran the first sub-4 minute mile.
8 May
Furry Day, Helston, Cornwall is a Spring festival to celebrate the end of winter and mark the arrival of the new vitality and fertility with the trees and flowers bursting into life. The houses and shops of the town are decorated with greenery and floral arrangements to express the spirit of renewal. From 7AM some eighty couples dance through the streets, entering houses and shops to drive out the darkness of winter and bring in the light of spring. Much more detail at www.helstonfloraday.org.uk.
10 & 11 May
National Mills Weekend. The annual festival of our milling heritage which provides great opportunities to visit mills — both windmills and watermills — many of which are not usually open to the public. Find out what’s happening near you at www.nationalmillsweekend.co.uk.
14 to 25 May
Be Nice to Nettles Week. We’re all familiar with the stinging nettle having experienced its ferocity. Unfortunately many see it as only a troublesome weed to be eradicated, whereas it is a valuable wildlife habitat and resource — you can even eat young nettle shoots! Find out more about the humble nettle at www.nettles.org.uk/.
14 May
On this day in 1264 the armies of Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, and King Henry III engaged at the Battle of Lewes which de Montfort’s men won and which was he height of his power. There is more about the battle on Wikipedia and at Simon de Montfort 1264.
22 May
World Goth Day is a day where the goth scene gets to celebrate and make its presence known to the rest of the world. Find out everything about the day at www.worldgothday.com.
25 May
Towel Day. The annual celebration of the life and work of Douglas Adams, author of The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. More about the day at towelday.org.


Oak Apple Day celebrations at Castleton, Derbyshire

29 May
Oak Apple Day. This day was established by Parliament in 1660 as a public holiday to commemorate the restoration of the English monarchy, it being the birthday of Charles II.

Parliament had ordered the 29 of May, the King’s birthday, to be for ever kept as a day of thanksgiving for our redemption from tyranny and the King’s return to his Government, he entering London that day.
[Samuel Pepys, Diary, 1 June 1660]

This is another day on which many ancient festivals take place; it is also kept as Founder’s Day by the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. Why is this not still a public holiday?
31 May & 1 June
Asparafest 2014. Held at Ashdown Farm, Evesham this is Worcestershire’s asparagus themed music and food festival and all part of the British Asparagus Festival. Full details at www.asparafest.co.uk.

history

Not St Shakespeare's Day

Today is the feast day of St George in the Tridentine Calendar and he is celebrated on this day as the patron saint of, inter alia, England. Why a Palestinian-born, probably ethnically Greek, Roman soldier is patron saint of England is shrouded in mystery, although he has been celebrated since the 13th century.
Today is also celebrated as William Shakespeare’s birthday, with this being allegedly his 450th. But there is no evidence that he was born on 23 April 1564. We do know he was baptised on 26 April 1564, for such is recorded in the parish records of Stratford upon Avon. In Tudor times (and earlier) the date of birth was not generally recorded — it was baptism that counted — so birth records are rare.
Yes, Shakespeare could have been baptised 3 days after his birth. Or three minutes. Or 3 months. We don’t know. Assigning 23 April as his actual birthday is merely a modern convention.
What we do know is that Shakespeare died on 23 April 1616. So in two years time we shall be celebrating the 400th anniversary of his death.
Pace Wikipedia, 23 April as Shakespeare’s birthday “which can be traced back to an 18th-century scholar’s mistake, has proved appealing to biographers, since Shakespeare died 23 April 1616”.
So, pedant that I am, I shall drink the bard’s health this Saturday (26th) and on St George’s Day in two years time.

environment, food+drink, history, ramblings

Coming up in April

Interesting events an anniversaries in the month ahead.
1 April to 5 May
National Pet Month has been promoting responsible pet ownership and helping pet charities across the UK for the last 25 years. This year’s theme is Celebrating Our Pets and there events across the country. Find out more at www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk.
1 April
All Fools Day is widely recognized and celebrated in various countries as a day when people play practical jokes and hoaxes on each other. The earliest recorded association between 1 April and foolishness is an ambiguous reference in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.
4 April
International Carrot Day. Who said Bugs Bunny was only a cartoon character? Find out more at www.carrotday.com.


5 April
American Indian Princess Pocahontas married John Rolfe on this day in 1614.
5 April
International Pillow Fight Day when there will be massive pillow fights in cities around the world. The events are organised under the umbrella of the Urban Playground Movement who organize free, fun, non-commercial public events. Again you can find more on their website at 2014.pillowfightday.com.
20 April
Easter Day. As well as being a major festival of the Christian church there will be traditional events (egg hunts, egg rolling, simnel cakes …) in many countries around the world.
22 April
Earth Day is an international project to encourage us all to do more to protect the planet and secure a sustainable future. This year the emphasis is on education an schools are being encouraged to join in. You’ll find lots of information over at www.earthday.org.
23 April to 21 June
British Asparagus Festival. The Vale of Evesham is the asparagus growing centre of the UK and each year they hold a 2 month-long festival during the asparagus season, starting with the first crop on St George’s Day. English asparagus is the best and has to be enjoyed during its short season, hence the festival. Find out more at www.britishasparagusfestival.org.
25 April
Guglielmo Marconi, the Italian pioneer of long-distance radio transmission was both on this day in 1874.
26 April
On this day in 1564 William Shakespeare is baptised in Stratford-upon-Avon.
28 April
On this day in 1789 the Mutiny on the Bounty is led by Fletcher Christian against Lieutenant William Bligh.

history, photography

Weekly Photograph

This week’s photograph is one from my perambulations of the Romney March Churches in Kent. Well actually this one, East Guldeford just outside Rye, is just in East Sussex; it is the only of the of the Romney March churches which isn’t in Kent and the only one not in the Diocese of Canterbury.
These are the Arms of Richard de Guldeford (died circa 1507) patron of St Mary’s, East Guldeford. They are on the north wall of the church and may be contemporary with the building of the church (consecrated 1505). The photo was taken during the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust members’ tour in July 2010.

Click the image for larger views on Flickr
Guldeford Arms
Guldeford Arms
East Guldeford, July 2010