I was doing a bit of housekeeping with my audio tours the other day and came across a tour that I must admit I’d forgotten all about. Everything about the process of compiling it I remembered was easy. The research went well and the writing just flowed from the pen. This was going to be… Continue reading “Lord have mercy upon me, I am killed”
Tag: London
Amongst these dark Satanic Mills
Do you ever get a feeling about a location? It doesn’t have to be something outwardly disturbing, just a nagging notion that something historic at some time in the past might have happened on a particular spot. I know that sound a bit vague, but there is a certain piece of central London that has… Continue reading Amongst these dark Satanic Mills
Tea, Debauchery and Sewage
I recently came across a 17th century location on the banks of the River Thames called Arnold’s Outlet (if you have the same puerile sense of humour as me, you’ll have sniggered at that). This schoolboy double entendre does have an element of fact about it, as it was actually a sewer outlet that dumped… Continue reading Tea, Debauchery and Sewage
At Sixes and Sevens
Not a phrase you hear much nowadays, but I can remember my Grandmother using it quite often, “Oh you’ll have me at sixes and sevens if you don’t get from under my feet!“ I’d never really queried its origin until recently. I was researching for a new walking tour, looking into the history of what… Continue reading At Sixes and Sevens
Taken At The Flood
The Dominion Theatre stands on Tottenham Court Road. Construction of the theatre began in March 1928 with a design by W and TR Milburn with a budget of £460,000. The theatre hosted the premier of Charlie Chaplin’s slapstick comedy “City Lights” in 1931, with the star in attendance. There is a rather sad and macabre… Continue reading Taken At The Flood
Cleary Gardens
Space where you can sit and reflect, away from the noise and commotion of the City can be hard to find. One such little oasis is Cleary Gardens, nestling between the busy Queen Victoria Street an Upper Thames Street. The development of the garden into what we see today dates from the 1980’s when it… Continue reading Cleary Gardens
A small glass of Old Tom
As you may know Gin or “mothers ruin” was the scourge of the working classes in late 17th century Britain, as depicted in the famous engraving above by William Hogarth, Gin Lane. By the early part of the new century moves were afoot to stamp down on the availability of the demon drink but it… Continue reading A small glass of Old Tom
A bottle of Château Thames Embankment
Do you remember the TV series Rumpole of the Bailey, based on the stories written by John Mortimer? Hopefully you do, or the next parts not going to make much sense. The courtroom hack brilliantly played by Leo McKearn loves nothing more after a hard day at the “Bailey” to head to his favourite Fleet… Continue reading A bottle of Château Thames Embankment
Gentlemen Professors Of The Art
I’ve always loved reading the stories of E. W. Hornung about the exploits of Arthur Raffles, gentleman thief and cricketer. It’s thought that Raffles is based on George Ives, a poet, criminologist and a very good cricketer. The name Raffles seems to have been taken from the title of a novel, “The doings at Raffles Haw“,… Continue reading Gentlemen Professors Of The Art
Keeping up appearances
Theft it seems rears it’s head on virtually every street, alleyway and courtyard when you delve back through the archives. If you scrutinise the records hard enough you can even find trends of crimes for specific areas or even streets. I found in one small area of the City a very prosperous (until they were… Continue reading Keeping up appearances
A LONDON MISCELLANY 