Category: History

Something Old, Something New

It’s usually something old on here so, for a change, here’s something new; talking statues. The first one I saw was Queen Victoria in Kensington Gardens.

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Categorised as Art, History

How About a Bacon Butty?

I expect you have often seen this or similar. At least sixty-one were built and now thirteen remain. It is, of course, a cabman’s shelter. As originally they were parked on public highways and some still are, they could be no  bigger than a horse and cart. 

Chronicles of War

Sir Alan (Tommy) Lascelles cropped up recently in a reply to a comment. He served as Assistant Private Secretary to George V, Edward VIII and George VI and then as Private Secretary to George VI and Elizabeth II, retiring in 1953 aged 66.

Two Prayers

If you read Steps of the Throne here this week you will know that I had a Blue Peter moment. Cutting and pasting is such fun and much quicker than writing an original post. I’m itching to use my electronic scissors again.

A Post About Post

I recently listed a few of the abundant, high quality crop of novels published in 1932. 1847 wasn’t so dusty either: Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Vanity Fair and The Macdermots of Ballycloran were all published. You haven’t heard of The Macdermots? Nor me until now.

Steps of the Throne

Francis Plowden has commented about privileges at the Palace of Westminster extended to the children of peers. The last word goes to the website, Parliament.uk: 1.59 The following may sit on the steps of the Throne: · members of the House of Lords in receipt of a writ of summons, including those who have not… Continue reading Steps of the Throne

Footer

The team that won the FA Cup Final in 1879 won again in 1882 beating Blackburn Rovers 1-0 at The Oval. (FA Cup Finals continued to be played at The Oval until 1892.) 1882 was the last time an amateur side won the Cup Final and that team were Old Etonians. 

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Categorised as History

Barons Court

It’s a bit of a mystery how Barons Court got its name. Here are the clues and you must play Poirot today. The area between the North End Road and Hammersmith was only built over in the last decades of the 19th century.

Let Slip The Dogs of War

Henry V was written about 400 years ago. At its centre lies Agincourt, fought about 185 years earlier, as remote for Shakespeare and his audience as Waterloo is for us today.

Mappa Mundi

The Naval Museum in Madrid originates from a proposal my ancestor, Mendoza y Rios, made towards the end of the 18th century. It is only a biscuit’s throw (a favourite expression of my grandfather) from the Prado and is worth visiting for one exhibit alone.