Author Archives: ActonBooks

Good doctoring from 1808

Posted on July 17, 2018

A tale of an eminently practical solution to psychosomatic mental illness from August 1808. They did not call it the Age of Enlightenment for nothing… Advertisements

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged health, London history, medicine 1808, Mental illness in 19th century, Psychological illness in 19th century, society | Leave a comment

Happy Birthday Charles Mathews

Posted on June 28, 2018

If you were born on this day June 28th you are in good company. Henry VIII of England, 1491; Sir Peter Paul Rubens, in 1577; Jean Jacques Rousseau in 1712. One less famous who should be celebrated along with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Ann Jackson, Charles Mathews, Charles Mathews Comedian, English comics in 18th century, Famous English comedian of the Regency period | Leave a comment

Between the lines

Posted on June 18, 2018

In 1864 a Cambridge gentleman farmer and agricultural scientist, Philip Howard Frere by name, wrote up his experiments in feeding various combinations of fodder. He shared with the readers of the Journal of the Bath and West of England Society … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Economics of agriculture 1860s, farmworkers in 1860s Cambridgeshire, society, Stories behind stories, work | Leave a comment

Women fitter both to rule and write

Posted on June 12, 2018

“Cave” and “Aladdin’s”, not words you associate with a place to park your car. But let he (or she) who has not turned their garage into a room for the temporarily unloved and yet too precious to be parted with, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Catherine Macaulay, Catherine Macaulay Graham, History of England from the Accession of James I to That of the Brunswick Line, Letters of George Washington, pioneering women, Woman historians, Women of the 18th century | Leave a comment

Consequences; January 1812

Posted on May 7, 2018

Image | Posted on May 7, 2018 | Leave a comment

“He had no debt, no creditor”

Posted on April 11, 2018

There is a time when ‘principles’ become not a good thing but an obsession. Like jealousy or revenge, stubborn adherence to ‘principles’ taken to a point where they are self-harming can erode the mind. This old man does not sound … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Debt, Debtor in Christchurch Hants, debtors' prison, Innocent in Debtor's prison, Miller accused by Joseph Cull, William Miller locked up for 50 years | Leave a comment

Sailing too close to the wind

Posted on February 22, 2018

Eupion Oil is slippery stuff. It’s one of many hydrocarbons bearing classical sounding names that they could so easily be diaphanously-clad minor spirits partying with old Zeus disguised as a bull. Not wishing to sound like a Tom Lehrer tribute … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged corporate fraud in 19th century, corruption, Dishonesty in 19th century business, Eupion Oil, fraud, stock exchange | Leave a comment

Climate change by any other name

Posted on February 1, 2018

Global warming started early — 1869 in fact — but our foolhardy ancestors denied the obvious signs of climate change…

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Feelin’ alright? Not Feelin’ too Good Myself

Posted on January 25, 2018

Ailments can so easily be politicised. Where there is any kind of pain or suffering, weasel politicians smelling blood gravitate to the scene like the hyenas you always knew they were. It was so back in history when the British … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged British obsession with the weather, flu, health, influenza, influenza in 1933, National Health Service, NHS | Leave a comment