Tag: History
Cobblers! No it’s a true story
This year saw the 358th anniversary of the Great Fire of London. The whole event is shrouded in misinformation, untruths and supposition. What the fire did is pretty well documented, but how it affected the lives of those that lived through it is more difficult to come by. I recently came across a story of… Continue reading Cobblers! No it’s a true story
Wordless Wednesday
PC49 was ‘ere
Graffiti is part of everyday life it seems. It annoys some and delights others. It can we witty and insightful or plainly banal and pointless. Recently on a trip up to Hadrian’s Wall I marvelled at some graffito dating back to the Roman occupation. One was a disparaging comment about a roman soldier by a… Continue reading PC49 was ‘ere
Wordless Wednesday
Mr Brundsen, Mr Platts & Mr Crapper
I’m currently researching a walking tour along the Thames path between Putney and Battersea Park. The route has thrown up a lot of interesting facts, not surprisingly given it’s location, many based around it’s industrial past. I always try and weave a human element into the tours with stories or facts that show what life… Continue reading Mr Brundsen, Mr Platts & Mr Crapper
Thursday Doors
The Willies of Westminster Bridge
This post is going to be short, to the point, trivial and above all puerile. (Sorry) Westminster Bridge was designed by Thomas Page and opened in 1862. I think we can all imagine the complexity in designing such a structure and it seems Page wanted the bridge to look appealing as well as functional and… Continue reading The Willies of Westminster Bridge
Trivialising Matters
Trivia seems to be the lifeblood of any good tour. Back in the day when I used to take actual people on actual tours and actually talk to them I could go into an interesting ramble about pre stressed concrete construction and at the end get barely a flicker of appreciation. However, deliver a decisive… Continue reading Trivialising Matters
The Strange Tale of Mr Fribourg and Mr Treyer …….. and Mr Fribourg and Mr Pontet
Friborg and Treyer were fashionable snuff sellers in the 18th century. Based at 34 Haymarket their clientele included King George IV, the actor David Garrick and all-round dandy Beau Brummell. The Fribourg’s had originally come to England from Switzerland and the claim is that the firm was started in 1720 by P. Fribourg, although the… Continue reading The Strange Tale of Mr Fribourg and Mr Treyer …….. and Mr Fribourg and Mr Pontet
A LONDON MISCELLANY 