Archive · London · Mores · People
At the funeral of the national hero Admiral Nelson on 9 January 1806, I was struck by the sumptuous hearse in the form of a boat, drawn by 6 black horses: the procession made its way from the Admiralty to Saint Paul's Cathedral. On the cornice of the
Art · London · Monarchies · Mores
Sir John Melville was put in an awkward position by Queen Elizabeth: she asked the Scottish ambassador whether she was fairer than his queen. Melville replied that "Elizabeth is the fairest queen in England, and Mary the fairest in Scotland". Which of us dances better, then? Elizabeth pressed
Aristocracy · Books · London · People
In the autobiography of Baroness Trumpington, Jean Alys Barker, a prominent English political figure who sat in the House of Lords for 37 years and in her day held ministerial office, there is the sweetest episode in the whole history of memoirs:. “A few months ago I was doing my
Architecture · London · Heritage · Mores
In 1841-53 London's Percy Circus was laid out on the circus plan: 27 curved houses were built wall to wall around the square. The residential complex was conceived as good property for the lower stratum of the middle class, and local history records show that it housed
London · Science · People · Humour
The distinguished English surgeon John Hunter, the prototype of Doctor Dolittle, made a considerable contribution to the development of medicine, but also committed several errors that misled physicians of several subsequent generations, who did not dare to argue with so authoritative a researcher. For example, he believed that gonorrhoea and
NB! · Architecture · London · Humour
To Milo of Croton, the Greek wrestler who killed a bull with a blow of his fist and ate it whole. A commemorative bas-relief that once adorned the London inn The Bull and Mouth. A good appetite is the guarantee of good health.
NB! · Archive · London · Mores
NB! · Aristocracy · Art · London · Mores · Humour
Symptoms of Debauchery: Maria Anne Fitzherbert and Albinia Hobart, Countess of Buckinghamshire (the one with the larger jewellery) at the theatre, 1794. Sometimes intraspecific competition drives one to extreme measures
Faith · London · Monarchies · Heritage
According to the legend of Alfred the Great, King of Wessex, when he died (in the early tenth century), he was buried in Winchester's old cathedral, the Old Minster, but the monks all but lost their wits and began to complain of being troubled by the royal ghost.
NB! · Interviews · London · People · Humour
The actress Peg Woffington's first interview with the famous eighteenth-century theatrical manager John Rich. Mr Rich is best known for keeping 27 cats, with whom he is depicted in the illustration. Yours truly
Cinema · London · Monarchies · Mores
The execution scene from the series "Gunpowder", starring Kit Harington, about the plot against King James I
Coming Up · London · Museums · Observations · New York · People
Speaking of remains, do you remember my writing about my favourite philosopher, Jeremy Bentham, whose mummified body and head are on display at University College London? Well, for the first time in 186 years the philosopher's body will leave London and travel to the USA, where it will