Monthly Archives: December 2016

Fame, what you need you have to borrow

Posted on December 29, 2016 by ActonBooks

“Died last week, at her lodgings, near the Seven Dials, the much-talked of Mrs. Mapps, the bone-setter, so miserably poor, that the parish was obliged to bury her.” London Daily Post, 22nd December 1737. Mrs Sarah Mapp had a brief flirtation … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 18th century osteopathy, Bonesetting in 18th Century, Mrs Mapp, Sarah Mapp, women | Leave a comment

You say ‘tomato’, Hester

Posted on December 26, 2016 by ActonBooks

The great observer of Norfolk and Suffolk speech patterns, Reverend Forby, back in the 1830s observed that we may have been mispronouncing Miss Prynne’s name — at least according to the East Anglian dialect of the Pilgrim Fathers:-

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Esther, Hester, Saxon goddess | Leave a comment

Sad Evening Primrose

Posted on December 22, 2016 by ActonBooks

There aren’t many practical archaeologists who are also published poets. Let us celebrate the life of Nina Frances Layard (1853-1935). She was the first elected woman Fellow of the Society Antiquaries. She was a foundation member (and President 1922-23) of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 19th century women, archaeolgist in Ipswich, children's games in 19th century, Feminist Victorians, Folk songs, Nina Layard, Victorian women | Leave a comment

The moment in the rose garden

Posted on December 19, 2016 by ActonBooks

Reading in an old archaeological journal from 94 years ago (as you do), about the discovery of a complete Neolithic bowl fished out of the River Thames, it gives a fascinating insight into the ways that historians and archaeologists impose their … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged archaeology over-interpreting finds, interpretation of religious significance, neolithic bowl in River Thames, river gods | 1 Comment

The night sheep saw an angel, maybe

Posted on December 17, 2016 by ActonBooks

The Christmas carol does not take a view about shepherds who were “watching their flocks by night”, but watching your sheep has to be a good thing. Maybe on one particular Saturday night certain English shepherds weren’t doing enough … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged sheep december 10 1893, sheep November 3 1888, sheep panic, sheep panic 1920, sheep stampede, unexplained sheep mystery | Leave a comment

Dancing your way out

Posted on December 13, 2016 by ActonBooks

Dancing your way out of poverty and oppression might seem just a bit Billy Elliott. But for at least a couple of families of East European Jews (separated by generations, but with the same impetus), it was not so much … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Bolossy Kiralfy, Earl's Court, Empire of India Exhibition 1895, Great Wheel, Imre Kiralfy, Indian Exhibition, Kiralfy Brothers, Lew Grade, Niblo's Garden, Olympia, The Black Crook, Winogradsky | Leave a comment

Marvellous… if true

Posted on December 7, 2016 by ActonBooks

“When I was younger …sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” The White Queen I’d like to think I am as cynical as one can be without being antisocial. I distrust conspiracy theories and yarns about … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged animals in stone, entombed animals, horned toad in Eastland Texas, old Rip, toads in coal, toads in stone, unexplained phenomena | Leave a comment