Now there’s a word for you, “Dogstones”. Gallstones found in canines perhaps, or some type of artisanal device for holding something in place? If you Google it, it appears there’s a large stone in Oban in Scotland, but that’s not it. Let me cloud the waters even further by linking the Dogstone with a Hen… Continue reading Dogstones
Tag: History
A baby, but no bath water
Whilst rooting about in A Survey Of The Cities Of London and Westminster written by John Strype in the 1720s for some information, I came across a story by accident that is too good not to tell. The story is set near to the Tower of London and centres around the Churchyard of All Hallows-by-the-Tower,… Continue reading A baby, but no bath water
Burye, Berry, Bury. A revision.
I’ve been writing and publishing self guided audio tours for four years this month, not sure where all that time’s gone! Before that I used to host tours in person. I really enjoyed meeting the people who came on the walks, but it did have it’s downside. The main object is to get the story… Continue reading Burye, Berry, Bury. A revision.
The Wheel Turns Full Circle
The London Eye has dominated the skyline of Lambeth for over twenty years. This 135 metres (443 ft) tall wheel has a diameter of 120 metres (394 ft). When it opened to the public in 2000 it was the world’s tallest Ferris wheel until it was surpassed by the 160-metre (525 ft) Star of Nanchang in 2006, and has subsequently been… Continue reading The Wheel Turns Full Circle
The Dog’s Nose
So to continue the theme of senses; touch and hearing now under the belt I start to look at taste and smell. Despite the title of this piece, it’s actually to do with taste. Now I could have gone off down the same old hackneyed route of extolling the beauties and health benefits of pie,… Continue reading The Dog’s Nose
Sounds of the past
Following on from the post last week on touch, I’m going to try the sense of hearing. I thought this might be a tricky one, how do you hear the past? Well there’s oral audio history, memories of people who were in a certain place at a certain time. These are really valuable to historians… Continue reading Sounds of the past
Touch Wood
I set myself a task today. I thought I’d try and write about London with regard to the senses. Seeing is a bit of an obvious one, but there’s always, hearing, smelling, touching and tasting to explore. I’m going to start with the tactile. There are many old bits of London that you can run… Continue reading Touch Wood
The Beavers Of Oxford Street
Whenever I walk the streets of London I try to make the effort to look up once in a while. Sometimes you can be too focussed on what’s in front of you. Take a moment to look above the horizon and you might be surprised at what you find. Many interesting and bizarre ornaments and… Continue reading The Beavers Of Oxford Street
……..AND THE BONUS BALL IS
The Nation Lottery started in the UK on the 19th November 1994, however, this was not the first nationwide lottery to be run in Britain. “The Lottery” by William Hogarth 1721 showing the two lottery wheels. The first state lottery was the idea of Master of the Royal Mint, Thomas Neale in order to raise… Continue reading ……..AND THE BONUS BALL IS
A Cock And Pye Story
To make a Peacock Pye. Pick it, and leave the Feathers on the Neck, cut the Neck off close to the Body, skin the Neck close to the Head, and cut it off; put a Stick tight into the Skin up to the Head, dry it in an Oven; cut off the Legs, and keep… Continue reading A Cock And Pye Story
A LONDON MISCELLANY 