And Did Those Feet

So English Heritage is to become the National Trust Mark 2 looking after the 'National Collection' and will be a Charity with no Government support (80m a year to begin with declining to 0) The listings, buildings at risk aspects will become Historic England a separate organisation. Government details English Heritage split | Museums Association

This projects allows you to explore St Pauls Cathedral, London, during the 17th Century and hear a sermon by John Donne. http://vpcp.chass.ncsu.edu/listen-the-sermon/

Cheapside Bath House Very enjoyable Roman London Walk for London walks, yesterday. We started at Moorgate, which was a very good choice geographically. historically. I used a lot of Martial, Ovid, etc to make it more interesting. Of what does the happy life consist, My dear friend Julius? Here's a list: Inherited wealth no need to earn, Fires that continually burn, And fields that give a fair return, No lawsuits, formal togas worn Seldom, a calm mind, the freeborn Gentleman's health and good physique, Tact with the readiness to speak Openly, friends of your own mind, Guests of an easy-going kind, Plain food, a table simply set, Nights sober but wine-freed from fret, A wife who's true to you and yet No prude in bed, and sleep so sound It makes the day come quickly round. Be pleased with what you are, keep hope Within that self-appointed scope: Neither uneasily apprehend Nor morbidly desire the end. Martial,...

LAMAS Transactions Vol 63 2012 reports on the discovery of a possibly defensive ditch to the north of a site in Keeley Street near the Aldwych. This is thought to be part of the anti-viking defenses of the new port of Lundenwic.  Other ditches have been found at Bruce House, the Royal Opera House, and Maiden Lane - suggesting not one defensive circuit but a series of defensive enclosures.

Excavations reported by Sadie Watson in LAMAS transactions Vol 63 2012 show that the "western stream" which flowed to the West of St Pauls was probably built in the 7th/8th Century and is likely to be part of the precinct that was built with St Pauls in 604AD.  The suggestion is made that the Western Ditch which is now NOT thought to be Roman, was built as a boundary ditch of the early St Pauls and it is now the oldest Saxon remains from the City of London. In summarizing, the archaeological evidence for Mid Saxon London in the City she makes the point that the evidence is only from residual pottery but the 'consensus is a predominantly ecclesiastical settlement to the south of St Pauls'.  Sites at Knightrider St 29-33 and 223/4 Upper Thames St/St Peters Hill have a few sherds of imported ware and chaff tempered sherds.  Similar finds have been found at Baynards Castle and Mermaid Theatre. London & Middlesex Archaeological Society

LAMAS transactions Vol 63 2012 has an article by Sadie Watson which makes a possible link between an assemblage of high quality 15th-16th Century Glass found in a pit in the Paternoster Sq area with the wedding of Arthur and Catherine of Aragon.  It is merely mentioned as a possibility or as an example of the type of high status event that might have required such a posh set of international glassware. Wedding of Prince Arthur and Catherine of Aragon | History Today

This was much better than I thought it was going to be!  There are a couple of images that make the journey to the Millbank and the renovated Tate Britain worthwhile. For example, 'A protestant allegory' by Girolamo_da_Treviso,  which shows the 4 evangelists stoning a prostrate Pope. He  is sheltering Hypocrisy and Avarice and it just about sums up the Reformation - I am astonished it is not used more in books on the period (by which I mean I have not seen it before!).  Girolamo_da_Treviso_cat01.jpg (JPEG Image, 1040 × 837 pixels).   The painting is monochrome but has gold paint used very delicately for halos and decoration on the clothes of the Pope. Strange, that the gold is used for both - on the Pope it would be part of the story of Avarice, but this interpretation is confounded by the fact that it is used for the halos.  So, just decoration.  There is also a huge candle on the flat mountain top in the distant, obviously symbol...

Saw the Tate Britain Renovations last night. They were very successful - not awesome or amazing, but they fit in and make Tate Britain more comfortable. They have revealed at their best vistas through the building - the main columns beautifully lit making the classical columns look almost Egyptian.  Had a very quick run through the chronological hang which was interesting.  It meant, for example, that there were far fewer pre-raphaelite star paintings on duty but then you could see the 'opposition' out in force. So, gives a much 'truer' picture of the art of the period. Meet Tate Britain | Tate

I have begun a family history project - recording my family's life in London. Here is the first page http://thefludes.blogspot.co.uk/

My next project is about Rainham Hall, built by John Harle and now run by the National Trust.  The unusual aspect of this house is that the grand house is next door to Harle's coach house part of his trading activities based on Rainham Wharf. So, the most interesting thing, so far for me,  is the exploration of the trading on the smaller Rivers of London - which was also a factor in the study of Ilford. This is the best source for Rainham I have found. Rainham - Economic history and local government | A History of the County of Essex: Volume 7 (pp. 134-138)

I have been working on a project on Ilford High Road. Wikipedia says the name is in the  Domesday Book of 1086 as Ilefort and means ford over the Hyle ; an old name for the River Roding that means "trickling stream". Ilford is part of the new London Borough of Redbridge which was created in 1965 with the amalgamation of Ilford with Woodford and Wanstead.  Ilford was an important rural settlement to the East of London on the junction of the River Roding and the Roman road from London to Colchester.  Archaeologists have found Uphall Camp  one of the most important centre's in Prehistoric London nearby on the banks of the River Roding at Ilford Lane. Uphall camp is nearby and it is a very significant part of pre-historic London - http://www.molas.org.uk/ projects/ELG/ssilford.asp .This site shows where it is http://www.pastscape.org/hob. aspx?hob_id=408130 The text shows it also has Roman and later settlement. http://www.finestprospect.org. uk/Iron%20A...

The Liberal Democrats have launched a scheme to revive local high streets.  It was launched by Simon Hughes in Southwark. These are the proposals The Lib Dem proposals Simon Hughes MP & the Southwark Liberal Democrats will: 1. Revitalise high streets and markets giving community councils more control, creating a new 'I'm shopping locally' parking scheme and introducing a levy on large supermarkets. 2. Offer business loans through the council to help start-up companies in Southwark obtain the financial support they need to start trading. 3. Use new powers to reduce business rates to support struggling businesses and encourage regeneration where it is most needed 4. Create 1,000 new apprenticeships in the borough to help to revitalise the local economy and create lasting jobs. 5. Open a new 'Jobs & Enterprise Hub' offering information and support on jobs and training, as well as providing desk space for start-up businesses ...

I have just updated the links page on the Old Operating Theatre Museum web site.  What was interesting (apart from how many of them were 'broken' - about 40%)  was that these were mostly academic sites - particularly university sites. Its as if the IT departments have no stability and keep changing things around, while Museums and visitor orientated sites seem to be stable - they have an interest in people finding them! Links to history of medicine, London and Southwark concerned with the Old

Here are some sites where you can exchange boats. www.magentaboat.com   www.facebook.com/aqaequipment   www.boatswap.info seemysea.com

 Lawyer Fiona Woolf has become the second woman to be Lord Mayor of london - the first since Lady Donaldson in the Thatcher era. New Lord Mayor's first banquet | London - ITV News

Jane Austen mostly stayed with her brother, Henry, who was a banker before becoming a bankrupt banker.  He lived in Sloane St, Hans Place, Upper Berkeley St, Henrietta St. His bank was in Henrietta Street, Albany, and Cleveland Court off St James St. Jane also stayed in the Bath Hotel, Arlington Street - near where the Ritz now is, which she found 'dirty' and in Cork Street off Burlington Gardens. She loved shopping, and shopped in New Bond St at Grafton House, Grafton St, and around the area between Leicester Square to Piccadily.  There are quite a few shops still in existence in this area that survive from her time - however, the ones that survive are mostly 'men's' shops - wine merchants, barbers, tailors. But there there is Fortnum and Mason's and Hatchard's but the former provided the Duke of Wellington with provisions for his campaigns so maybe the 'rule' applies. Royal Opera Arcade - finished just after Jane Austen's death She w...

I am attempting to change the template for the blog - the problem being that none of the templates seem to list past pages, except with a yearly archive - not good enough!

Local Shops in Jane Austen's part of the town - south of Henry Austen's, Mrs Jennings, and John Dashwood's Houses, but north of Willoughby's, the Middleton's, and Colonel Brandon's The Jane Austen walk was so enjoyable!  I now feel I know her work and life pretty well - well enough not to worry about not knowing enough.  The route was: Green Park, Ritz, Arlington Street, Dover Street, Albemarle St; Grafton Street, Upper Bond Street, Conduit Street, Burlington Gardens, Old Bond St; Sackville St, Piccadilly, the Albany, Piccadilly Arcade, Jermyn St, Pall Mall. I wanted to get to St James Sq and the Royal Opera Arcade  but next time! Very good audience, lots of them too - it has to be done again! I think next time I might start from Marble Arch, or Covent Garden. What I did not expect was that studying for this walk would gain me so much in terms of my knowledge of London.   I had not fully realised my knowledge of Mayfair was such  a hole in my ...

This will be a very useful sources of information on public health in London. Wellcome Library | London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

Two hr route March Green Park to henry's Austen's House in Upper Berkeley st. Down New Bond St to Henry's office in Piccadily.

I am preparing for Saturday's Jane Austen's Walk (10.45 Green Park Tube 2nd Nov 2013).  After struggling for a while I found a very good book 'Walking Jane Austen's London'  by Louise Allen. I have now bought the kindle and the physical volume.  It is almost too good because, instead of making up my own walk, I am following Louise's. What is good about the book is that she has written it from the novels and from contemporary guides/directories and some really good information about shops in Jane Austen's time. On the other hand there is a lot of background information I can add to the walk which, should begin to make it my own. Preparing for a walk, is a great way to get to know an author because it means you need to do a close reading- normally you just consume a novel - driven onwards by involvement with the story, but for a walk you have to read carefully to work out what can be used on a walk and what it means about the author - and life and times. ...

Medieval Walls Burrough walls - just by junction with Trim Street. The circuit presumable follows the line of the late Roman Walls - a piece of which was foundin 2013 in Burton St.  BBC News - Sewer workers in Bath reveal part of Roman city's walls The wall circuit is fairly obvious from any street map but it is as follows Borough walls - east to Bridge Street. Turnns South just before Pulteney Bridge  (east Gate was here and some remains here to be seen). Goes south through the east end of the Butter Market, East of the Orange Grove,  an angle at Terrace Walk.  It runs SW just to and parallel to Orchard Street Turns west at junction with Henry Street. Southgate at junction of Southgate Street and Stall Street - this was the main road out as the only bridge until Pulteney Bridge was on this road. Wall heading west along south side of Lower Borough Walls , beginning to head north along Westgate Buildings, wall to the West of the the Road. Westgate ...

This building is clearly too tall for its position next to the Church. Brandon House redevelopment approved [4 September 2013]

The South Bank in 10 years time? Revealed: the SE1 skyline in 2023 [8 September 2013]

An excellent short documentary on the pronouciation of shakespeare's plays 22 Words | Performing Shakespeare’s plays with their original English accent

1262429 - The National Heritage List for England | English Heritage

Israeli App Brings Archeological Landmarks Back To Life | Technology News

Historical chart of the world - a huge compromise but must have been hard to do. The 1931 Histomap: The entire history of the world distilled into a single map/chart.

This is a very interesting article about the death of Dr Lopez, accused of trying to murder Queen Elizabeth and for some people, the archetype of Sherlock Imagining and Detecting Conspiracy, 1571-1605 | The Tudors

Exellent map of the Zepplin Raids over London Zeppelins over London - Google Maps

This week is my 'Archaeology Walks' weekend for London Walks Saturday 'The origins and Archaeology of the City of London'  Tower Hill underground - 10.45am Sat Aug 3rd  The archaeology and History of Southwark'  London Bridge Underground Tooley St Exit - 2pm Sat Aug 3rd ' Sunday 'Londinium, Lundenwic. Lundonburgh - archaeology from the City to Westminster'  Blackfriars Underground station 10.45 am Sun Aug 4th 'Chelsea - the archaeology, origins and life of Chelsea from prehistory to the Swinging 60's'  Sloane Square underground 2pm Sun Aug 3rd http://www.walks.com/London_Walks_Home/London_Walks_by_Date/default.aspx

Interesting idea that the Coffee house was the social networking tool of the 17th Century Social Networking in the 1600s - NYTimes.com

Today, I am leading a London Walks' walk on Roman London. I intend to read a lot of Ovid and Martial.

the Tunnel was built in 1820 - sadly without a towpath - which is really annoying for all the cyclists wishing to travel safely from Islington to Camden. Tunnel Boat Trips from London Canal Museum

This is a surprise but I do think it has made the place a really good visit - not entirely sure I felt I was in Morris's home but then they avoided the option of creating a pastiche, and museum, park and cafe are really well worth a visit William Morris Gallery wins Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year | Culture | The Guardian

Jane Austen was right: Her characters were known for falling ill... but historians say 19th century people WERE prone to disease | Mail Online Other articles http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ culture/books/10105843/Solved- Why-Jane-Austens-characters- get-ill-from-the-rain.html   http://www. cheltenhamfestivals.com/ science/whats-on/2013/pride- prejudice-and-the-doctor/ http://www.ls.manchester.ac. uk/people/profile/?personid= 1765

I have just received a most gratifying email from one of the people on my Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy Tour It says: 'I've sent off a rave review of your knowledge and guiding skills to Road Scholar and ordered two of your books.  I'm appreciative of Road Scholar choosing you as our literary mentor on the Literature on Site southwest England trip recently completed.   What is most impressive from my point of view is that it is from a professor of English and of Women's Studies '   The tour takes in Steventon, Bath, Wincester, and Chawton. The Hardy Section is based in Dorchester and visits the Birthplace, Max Gate, Stinsford, Puddleton, Sherborne, Marnhull, Sturminster Newton, Maiden Castle, Maumbury Rings and Dorchester. In between we spend a couple of days with Agatha Christie in Torquay, and on Dartmoor with Sherlock Holmes.  We end with a Dickens and Holmes Day in London Exhausting but very rewarding.

Showing the Temple of Mitras 1954 ROMAN TEMPLE IN THE CITY aka ROMAN TEMPLE IN LONDON - British Pathé

I was asked to keep a blog of my literary tour.  So here goes. Jane Austen's Bath.  She didn't like the place - she would find it weird that we now revere it on her behalf.  The local Waterstone's has a long shelf stuffed with books based on the afterlife of her characters.  What Darcy, Elizabeth, Caroline, Emma etc did next.  There is a Jane Austen attraction in a house which she never lived in.  I'm up at 5, as I cannot sleep in my big Hilton Room, because we seem to have decided to sell our house,  and I have a Lecture on Gilpin, Austen and Landscape to revise (or remember!).  Did I mention that there were no biscuits in this Hotel room?

Watch Empires ebb and flow! This is really interesting - as my friend Jon  says it needs a time display and it needs a slow down button LiveLeak.com - Map of Europe: 1000 AD to present day

This is a very interesting article about the inventor of the Tin Can which took place in 1813 in Bermondsey. The article shows that the invention was a development of pioneering work in France. BBC News - The story of how the tin can nearly wasn't

Some interesting places to visit near Jane Austen's House Chawton Britain Magazine | The official magazine of Visit Britain | Best of British History, Royal Family,Travel and Culture - A jaunt into Jane Austen country

I am attempting to link my facebook, twitter and blog accounts. This is a test twitterfeed.com : feed your blog to twitter

Products through the ages - slideshow | Life and style | The Guardian

These are the 'Ekarv' Guidelines for writing readable texts. Generally, the principles seem to make sense, though too strict and too unlike real English Ekarv text | Mouseion: artists' reflections on museums : Guidelines One idea expressed per line Line breaks placed at natural pauses in a sentence No more than 3 lines per sentence Simple sentence structures, no complex clauses Use active forms of the verb where possible Conversational rhythms, easily spoken out loud Maximum 52 characters per line (including spaces) Maximum 8 lines per paragraph Maximum 15 lines for labels, 22 lines for panels (including spaces) This framework provides a strict discipline for writing and is initially quite difficult to work within. It also has significant implications for design, as the placing and spacing of text is absolutely crucial and the short line length imposes a portrait format on the final label. It is therefore extremely important to work closely with d...

Grotesque Mummy Head Reveals Advanced Medieval Science - Yahoo! News

This is how weird a society we are - there is a Halloween & Scare Attractions network - and no the Old Operating Theatre will not be joining. The Halloween and Scare Attractions Show

 Or at least is considering demolishing it - but it is already closed. Furore over Geffrye's expansion | Museums Association

▶ BBC Radio 3 - The Essay, Anglo-Saxon Portraits, Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians

 If there is one fire-station that should be saved it is the one in Southwark Bridge Road - it is associated with the foundation of the London Fire Brigade and Massey Shaw and James Bradshaw - hero firemen. Boris orders fire authority to press on with Southwark Fire Station closure consultation [30 January 2013]

Internet Archaeology: open access articles-  much of the archive is now free

From Salon 291 - interesting stuff on stately homes: 'Thus our Fellow Pamela Sandbrook (in her paper on ‘“The Servants’ Friend”? Country house servants’ engagement with new technology’) tells the story of Virginia Woolf’s inept attempts to sack her cook. Woolf’s use of modern technology in order to achieve a servant-free life at Monk’s House in Sussex reflects her personal desire for privacy, but in a minor way it also stands for the impact of new technology, which was to make redundant an army of servants: whereas in the early days of technology it was cheaper to use servants than to install modern plumbing, by the 1920s and 1930s, technology had ...