And the word was “Doves“. I was skimming through a book that I was given for Christmas, the excellent A Field Guide to Larking by Lara Maiklem. I’d wanted this book as it’s packed with loads of information regarding a new hobby I’m starting, that of Mudlarking on the banks of the river Thames. As… Continue reading In the beginning was the word
Tag: Death
He’s behind you!
“Oh no he isn’t, oh yes he is”. Sorry but I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to slip in a pantomime reference considering the time of year. Afraid this might be lost on anyone outside of the UK. Took some American cousins to a pantomime a few years ago and to begin with they were… Continue reading He’s behind you!
The Cock Lane Ghost
As Christmas is usually the time for ghost stories I thought I’d relay one that was the talk of London during the 1760s The ghost of Cock Lane also known as “Scratching Fanny” was a purported haunting that attracted mass public attention in 1762. The location was a lodging house in Cock Lane, a short road adjacent to… Continue reading The Cock Lane Ghost
The double life of Evelyn Hatton
James Hatton was a small unremarkable man, employed as a cinema usher at the local picture Palace, The Electric, near to his Flat in Holland Park. By all accounts he was happy with the hand life had dealt him. The main reason for this was the woman he was married to, Evelyn. In today’s parlance,… Continue reading The double life of Evelyn Hatton
The Countess of Auschwitz
Gloucester Road underground station is a rather perplexing combination of buildings. As you turn into Gloucester Road from Courtfield Road you are presented with the Ox blood tiled facade of what was once the deep line station and adjoining it is the original Victorian station building. The original station was opened in 1868 by the Metropolitan… Continue reading The Countess of Auschwitz
The church, the rocket and Round the Horne
It’s strange, you think you know somewhere and then out of the blue a fact turns up and the location takes on a different vibe. Take the area in the middle of the map above. Whitfield Gardens is a small communal space bordering Tottenham Court Road and Tottenham Street and I know it well. However,… Continue reading The church, the rocket and Round the Horne
Two stories, but which to tell?
Story 1: Too much information It often happens, while researching for my tours sometimes a glut of information turns up for for a location and you find yourself having to make the call about what to use and what to discard. Recently I had this quandary while writing a tour called The Planners Dream Goes… Continue reading Two stories, but which to tell?
Winchester Geese
It’s 1392 and you are a young Galaunt. These were young men, usually of between sixteen and twenty five years old. They were portrayed as fashion conscious to the point of peacockery, wearing embroidered caps, short gowns and long toed shoes. These fashionable young men, the forerunners of the later “Dandy” got a bad press… Continue reading Winchester Geese
A rose between the beer vats
“Khalil took the sound as a request, and soon his mouth was on hers, hot and vibrant, firm and needing. Strong, despite that terrible wound he carried.“ A bit racy for first thing on a Monday morning you might be thinking, especially as I haven’t had my cornflakes yet! Well, I’ll tell you, I had… Continue reading A rose between the beer vats
That’s one in the eye
This short story fits loosely in with the idiom theme that I’ve been perusing recently. The term is used to mean a disappointment or setback for someone or something. At the moment I’m researching a new tour, this time based in the Temple. The Temple is an area of Barristers chambers situated between the Strand… Continue reading That’s one in the eye
A LONDON MISCELLANY 