I'm a 2016 graduate, who is still interested in historical research on different subjects which take my fancy. For me learning never stopped when I left University, although I'm quite a late bloomer, I still have much reading to do and I hope to attend University again when funds come available.
An overview of German-born Erica Glaser Wallach's. Political prisoner and alleged American Spy in... more An overview of German-born Erica Glaser Wallach's. Political prisoner and alleged American Spy in the Cold War.
The Druids, Priests and Hermits of Rowter Rocks, Birchover, Derbyshire, 2014
The Reverend Thomas Eyre, a prominent Birchover vicar, was known for his significant antiquarian ... more The Reverend Thomas Eyre, a prominent Birchover vicar, was known for his significant antiquarian interests, a trait many of his peers shared in the eighteenth century.
The parish was surrounded by megalithic monuments in Birchover, with at least four stone circles within walking distance. He associated the Druids with the megalithic monuments. He wanted the Druids' romanticism, so he set his workforce to work building stone monuments, which he could Christianise, overlain with eighteenth-century idealism.
The Reverend Thomas Eyre's creativity extended to creating a venerable sage, a Druid who supposedly lived as a Hermit in the caves. This Druid, with his unsullied mind, was clothed in a dazzling white garment and adorned with spirituality, which left his gentlemen friends and parishioners dumbfounded, a testament to Eyre's storytelling skills.
But more than his storytelling, it was his influence on the perception of Druids that left a lasting mark. Between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, a lively interest existed in antiquarian matters both in the Continent.
The prehistoric past of the Celts was the subject of Britain and one of much debate and guesswork. Antiquaries used the perfunctory references in classical literature as a nucleus around which they gave a fantasy of Druidic attributes and functions.
At their extreme, these Druid-seekers assigned them all virtues and most ancient monuments. This lively interest filtered through the other reverends when Thomas Eyre died in 1717.
Rowter rocks became legendary in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, and the Druid Inn became the meeting place for thrill seekers, and tours became popular.
The stories of the Druids swopped and changed depending on the audience. In some circumstances, the Druids became the Hermits of Rowter or the meeting place of the Freemasons.
Inevitably, in the absence of a scientific classification system to construct a chronological framework for the past, enquirers compressed the material remains of the ancient inhabitants of Europe so that anything demonstrably pre-Roman belonged to the same cultural horizon.
The reverend, having found cup and ring art at the site, glorified him in circles across Britain, and so he held outside sermons on the mount, with baptisms and crosses being features on Rowter.
He must have been one famous reverend for many faiths. So Rowter Rocks and the Druids became inextricably (and erroneously) intertwined; for some, they remain so to the present day.
Having worked in an office environment before, I've noticed some company policies don't allow muc... more Having worked in an office environment before, I've noticed some company policies don't allow much evidence of "real normal" people working in their offices. They prohibit any signs of their employees' private liveslike family photographs, plants, artwork or memorabilia, keeping the appearance of that of a work environment of impersonal and sterile workplace? This begs the question: do companies and employees benefit from focusing on the role of a worker and suppressing other aspects of an employee's identity? Or does office personalisation allow workers to see their workplace as their space and thus make them feel more involved? Can this have a detrimental effect on coworkers? Do they see this personalisation in the workplace as office clutter? This core study aims to find this balance and ask employees why they consider bringing personal items into the workplace as an important element in their working life and photographing these items; these photographs will be more of a still-life experiment but without the use of studio lamps or on-camera flash. This will be photographs of well-lit offices, cabs of trucks, personal items hidden away in lockers, and decorative values of an under-lit factory environment. I captured the darks and the shadows, the people's personality, and their personal stuff.
When we think of witch trials, we tend to think of the Salem witch trials first and foremost. Yet... more When we think of witch trials, we tend to think of the Salem witch trials first and foremost. Yet in Finnmark, 135 people were accused of witchcraft in the 1600's. The majority of these cases took place in Vardø and Vadsø.
I spent a few weeks in Vardø researching the witch trials which took place there.
Henri Matisse was born and raised in Bóhain-en-Vermandois, where his parents had a thriving tradi... more Henri Matisse was born and raised in Bóhain-en-Vermandois, where his parents had a thriving trading business. He graduated in law in Paris in 1887, and until that moment, he had shown no particular interest in art. Back in his hometown he worked as a lawyer intern, but bored by the office routine, he began attending drawing classes and perspectives at the School of Decorative Arts. In 1892, Matisse was invited to be part of the study of Gustavo Moreau, who obtained the title of professor of Fine Arts that same year.
Three years later, he entered the School of Fine Arts but did not abandon the study of his former teacher, whose teachings attracted him more than the academic classes he received at the School. He particularly detested the insistence on teaching skills to copy the appearance of things mechanically.
During a recent flying visit to Rome, I came across such an exciting door that I had to research ... more During a recent flying visit to Rome, I came across such an exciting door that I had to research the mystical and magical atmosphere surrounding it. What I discovered blew my mind.
Palombara's door is flanked by alchemical insignia, and various Latin devices describe the alchemical process. The seven signs are taken from Johannes de Monte-Snyder, Commentatio de Pharmaco Catholico (Amsterdam 1666 ) and are in sequence: Saturn-lead, Jupiter-tin, Mars-iron, Venus-bronze, Mercury, Antinomy and Vitriol. The door still stands to be seen on Piazza Vittorio Emanuele in Rome.
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele (for the locals, simply Piazza Vittorio) is one of the most extensive and animated parts of Rome, located in the heart of the Esquilino district. Built and arranged in the current forms around 1890, it is enclosed on all four sides by large buildings in the typical style of the late nineteenth century and, at street level, is surrounded by an unbroken series of arches, crowded with shops, many of which are managed by members of the large Chinese community."
"A legend circulates that the door was raised to commemorate a successful transmutation in Christina's chambers. This version of events was first told in 1804 in an Italian description of Rome in which it is said that a northern youth, a "Giovane Ultramontane," came to Christina's court and produced some scraps of gold, but that he then disappeared.
What makes a text literary? The literary ability confers the way of narrating and ordering events... more What makes a text literary? The literary ability confers the way of narrating and ordering events. In the Prague Circle [1], the concept of literaryness arose for the first time; R. Jakobson affirmed that the "literary thing is not in the ornaments of the text, but in the revaluation of the same, because the purpose of the author is aesthetic.
Are cemeteries a place of memory or only used to dispose of a body? What significance attaches to... more Are cemeteries a place of memory or only used to dispose of a body? What significance attaches to a culture of memory? Cemeteries penetrate deeply into cultural studies and the question of human action. Dealing with death is thus a cultural phenomenon and, accordingly, complex. When I visit a cemetery, I like to browse around and look at graves. I'm always interested in graves that house photographs of the dearly departed. This aids the spectator with a living memory of who was actually buried there. You might call me a Tombstone tourist or a Taphophile, whatever you call me, I will still continue to pay my respects.
So what is spiritualism and spirit photography?, 2021
According to a definition adopted by the National Spiritualist Association of America, spirituali... more According to a definition adopted by the National Spiritualist Association of America, spiritualism "is the science, philosophy and religion of continuous life, based upon the demonstrated fact of communication, using mediumship, with those who live in the spirit world." [1] So what is spiritualism and spirit photography? The basis of many ancient religions is the idea that disembodied spirits of the dead are able and willing to communicate with the living under certain conditions. Its theme re-occurs in myths, fables, legends and anecdotes from all cultures at all periods in man's history. But it is also fair to say that modern spiritualism, as a social phenomenon, had its origins in a small house in Hydesville, New York, on Friday night 31 March 1848.
A 10 day adventure, we explored more or less the 25 filming locations used, HBO Game of Thrones. ... more A 10 day adventure, we explored more or less the 25 filming locations used, HBO Game of Thrones. From the lush valleys of the Riverlands where Catelyn Stark watched her father’s funeral boat sail down the river Trident to the great grass sea where Daenerys first rode with Khal Drogo and the Dothraki. Honour the drowning God where Theon Greyjoy returned to the Iron Islands and walk the halls of Winterfell where the whole story began. Maps and secret doors.
On your adventure, you will also journey along the trail of the Doors of Thrones, ten intricately crafted bespoke doors made of wood salvaged from the world-famous Dark Hedges. Each door tells the story of Season 6 Game of Thrones. These doors are housed in 10 significant pubs and hotels close to locations used in the film.
Ut Pictura Poesis: The Humanistic Theory of Painting, 2024
The comparison of the arts is a literary genre that developed during the Renaissance and has cont... more The comparison of the arts is a literary genre that developed during the Renaissance and has continued throughout the classical age. It is expressed in many forms. The first and most important involved a parallel between the arts and those of visible speech: painting and sculpture first, poetic arts the other. From this comparison, generically, we have deployed more specific shape comparisons between painting and sculpture, painting and music. The Italian word paragon, meaning "comparison" in general, is used in all language's comparison between painting and sculpture, which has led to much debate in the sixteenth century. The comparison between painting and music (analogy between sound and colour, reflections on the notion of harmony) is also present in the Renaissance and the Classical Age. She will experience a revival in the twentieth with the birth of abstraction.
The Mottes, a moated Site just outside of Shottle, Derbyshire, is a scheduled monument. It lies o... more The Mottes, a moated Site just outside of Shottle, Derbyshire, is a scheduled monument. It lies on an unused pathway from Shottle.
This site has had little attention since the 1950's and even archaeologists are unsure what was on the sight.
From an aerial perspective, the unique man-made rise is clearly visible, a testament to the platform with a square moat and the intriguing history of our local area.
Since it is within the borders of Duffield Frith, I have concluded that a watchtower once stood on this site. Was the purpose of the watchtower to defend or act as a communication post?
Where would we be today without so many things that we take for granted-the phone, television, st... more Where would we be today without so many things that we take for granted-the phone, television, steam power, oil, medicines and medical things, the Clyde shipping industry, etc.? I could go on with a long list, not only of Scottish inventors and inventions but also of Scottish people who have enriched our lives and the world with their abilities in many forms. However, today, I shall concentrate on merely a very few. Perhaps some you already know, and others may surprise you.
There is no existing account of the first Christmas tree. In fact, it was in the sixteenth centur... more There is no existing account of the first Christmas tree. In fact, it was in the sixteenth century that the earliest historical references appeared.
Surprisingly enough, the two oldest pieces of documentation are not from Germany, a country associated in most people's minds with the Christmas tree, but from Latvia and Estonia.
In the old Baltic port cities of Riga in 1510 and Reval in 1514, two tree celebrations were recorded: in each town on Christmas Eve, after a festive dinner, black-hatted members of the local merchant's guild carried an evergreen tree decorated with artificial roses to the market-place, where, in a seeming vestige of paganism, they danced around the tree and then set fire to it.
Nevertheless, it is to Germany that I must look to for the development of the Christmas tree tradition
The History of Trinity Chapel, Brackenfield, Derbyshire, 2023
In the 13th century, a small chapel was written about in the Darley Abbey chronicles. Yet this ru... more In the 13th century, a small chapel was written about in the Darley Abbey chronicles. Yet this ruined chapel in the woods date back before ten hundreds.
Why write about a ruin chapel, I let you read my research and see if you will fall in love with this once loved chapel.
Many of us have crossed the bridge at Cromford and not considered the bridge's history or its sur... more Many of us have crossed the bridge at Cromford and not considered the bridge's history or its surroundings.
You may think the small building on the bridge was a toll house. You would be thinking wrongly this building was for the water bailiff, who patrolled the banks of the river searching out illegal poachers.
Walking along the bridge, there is also an easily overlooked feature: on the southern parapet, a stone inscription “THE LEAP OF MR B H MARE JUNE 1697.” This marks the spot where Benjamin Hayward leapt on horseback from the bridge into the river.
All this is interesting; however, on the southern side of the bridge is a ruined chapel, and this is where the true adventure starts.
Historical view of Horsley Castle, Derbyshire, 2023
My first question is, why build a castle here at Horsley? Was it chosen in preference because of ... more My first question is, why build a castle here at Horsley? Was it chosen in preference because of its ease of access to the ancient roadway called the Portway? Could it be because there is a good supply of Millstone Grits, which is ideal for castle building because it hardens on later exposure? This supply of ashlar stone was used for county houses such as Kedleston Hall from the 16th century through to the railway works and other extensive developments of the Industrial Revolution.
Aliénor d'Aquitaine Aliénor d'Aquitaine is undoubtedly one of the most significant female figures... more Aliénor d'Aquitaine Aliénor d'Aquitaine is undoubtedly one of the most significant female figures of the Middle Ages. And for a good reason: the heiress of the immense and powerful Duchy of Aquitaine, she was twice queen (of France than of England). Thus, she tilts twice European geopolitics during political trouble.
A woman of character and independence, mother of ten children (including the famous Richard the Lionheart), a character of incredible longevity for the time (she probably reaches the age of eighty), endowed with health and an iron temperament.
Aliénor cannot go unnoticed as her personality is out of the ordinary. Whether it is decried by its detractors or magnified by the poems of the troubadours, it leaves indifferent neither its contemporaries nor the historians or chroniclers of the following centuries.
In modern times where digital life is king, and a simple command on the keyboard sends instant me... more In modern times where digital life is king, and a simple command on the keyboard sends instant messages, a handwritten letter carries the scent of the past, nostalgia, relic, rarity, and paradoxical innovation. Receiving a letter by mail can have an impact and surprise value. Letters can be extremely therapeutic and transformative and are a way of transferring to paper (or computer screen) matters weighing on the head and heart. They allow emotional catharsis which is important for mental and physical well-being. In addition, the letter allows its’ writer to organize thoughts and ideas, thereby clarifying, organizing, reflecting, and realizing important insights. Letter writing can also be confessional allowing the working through of conflicting relationships; words not easily said in person can be written more clearly on the page and without fear of censorship. This helps bring relief, growth, and strength, and can contribute greatly to the therapeutic process. If there is one positive thing that has come out of the pandemic and lockdown, it is the importance that relationships have for our overall sense of well-being. It is as if the sheet of paper holds the essence of the person who handled it, and for a moment, as we open the envelope, unfold the letter, feel the paper and smell its’ aroma, the sender is there beside us. We may have difficulty deciphering the text at times but this is a challenge that repays our efforts as we gain the joy of understanding. That same joy is shared by the author of the letter in choosing the best paper, the softest pen, a search for the most appropriate words, and an attempt at the neatest handwriting. This thesis focuses on the positive aspects of the handwritten letter, starting from presenting epistolary as an evocation of the absent through to the psychological benefits of communication through letters which include boosting mood and creativity, socialization, sharpening memory, and reading skills, reflection, empathy and much more. The handwritten letter as an art form is considered, followed by an analogy of letter writing with portrait making. The idea of the letter as a bridge between the visible and invisible and as a portrayal of the personality of the writer is also touched on. In conclusion, letter writing is declared to be effective, beneficial, and relevant to the modern age.
Back in 2019 I visited Belfast and the main reason was to see the political murals and the street... more Back in 2019 I visited Belfast and the main reason was to see the political murals and the street art which are on every available free wall. From Falls Road to Shankill Road to Bank Street to Talbert Street; walls filled with colourful political and non-political messages. This article takes stock of nationalist murals in the city of Belfast. Their essential function is to active and perpetuate the national identification process. Public policies for the transformation of murals only superficially curb these conflicting dynamics. The questionnaires and quantitative data point to a negative perception - even rejection - of murals more frequent within moderate organizations and among the most qualified population.
Conversely, supporters of radical parties view the murals more positively. The radicals of the two communities thus have a common popular and militant culture - and it seems reciprocal respect for these works - on which they sometimes try to build inter-community reconciliation. Much more than an instrument of mass communication, these paintings are tools of class communication.
An overview of German-born Erica Glaser Wallach's. Political prisoner and alleged American Spy in... more An overview of German-born Erica Glaser Wallach's. Political prisoner and alleged American Spy in the Cold War.
The Druids, Priests and Hermits of Rowter Rocks, Birchover, Derbyshire, 2014
The Reverend Thomas Eyre, a prominent Birchover vicar, was known for his significant antiquarian ... more The Reverend Thomas Eyre, a prominent Birchover vicar, was known for his significant antiquarian interests, a trait many of his peers shared in the eighteenth century.
The parish was surrounded by megalithic monuments in Birchover, with at least four stone circles within walking distance. He associated the Druids with the megalithic monuments. He wanted the Druids' romanticism, so he set his workforce to work building stone monuments, which he could Christianise, overlain with eighteenth-century idealism.
The Reverend Thomas Eyre's creativity extended to creating a venerable sage, a Druid who supposedly lived as a Hermit in the caves. This Druid, with his unsullied mind, was clothed in a dazzling white garment and adorned with spirituality, which left his gentlemen friends and parishioners dumbfounded, a testament to Eyre's storytelling skills.
But more than his storytelling, it was his influence on the perception of Druids that left a lasting mark. Between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, a lively interest existed in antiquarian matters both in the Continent.
The prehistoric past of the Celts was the subject of Britain and one of much debate and guesswork. Antiquaries used the perfunctory references in classical literature as a nucleus around which they gave a fantasy of Druidic attributes and functions.
At their extreme, these Druid-seekers assigned them all virtues and most ancient monuments. This lively interest filtered through the other reverends when Thomas Eyre died in 1717.
Rowter rocks became legendary in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, and the Druid Inn became the meeting place for thrill seekers, and tours became popular.
The stories of the Druids swopped and changed depending on the audience. In some circumstances, the Druids became the Hermits of Rowter or the meeting place of the Freemasons.
Inevitably, in the absence of a scientific classification system to construct a chronological framework for the past, enquirers compressed the material remains of the ancient inhabitants of Europe so that anything demonstrably pre-Roman belonged to the same cultural horizon.
The reverend, having found cup and ring art at the site, glorified him in circles across Britain, and so he held outside sermons on the mount, with baptisms and crosses being features on Rowter.
He must have been one famous reverend for many faiths. So Rowter Rocks and the Druids became inextricably (and erroneously) intertwined; for some, they remain so to the present day.
Having worked in an office environment before, I've noticed some company policies don't allow muc... more Having worked in an office environment before, I've noticed some company policies don't allow much evidence of "real normal" people working in their offices. They prohibit any signs of their employees' private liveslike family photographs, plants, artwork or memorabilia, keeping the appearance of that of a work environment of impersonal and sterile workplace? This begs the question: do companies and employees benefit from focusing on the role of a worker and suppressing other aspects of an employee's identity? Or does office personalisation allow workers to see their workplace as their space and thus make them feel more involved? Can this have a detrimental effect on coworkers? Do they see this personalisation in the workplace as office clutter? This core study aims to find this balance and ask employees why they consider bringing personal items into the workplace as an important element in their working life and photographing these items; these photographs will be more of a still-life experiment but without the use of studio lamps or on-camera flash. This will be photographs of well-lit offices, cabs of trucks, personal items hidden away in lockers, and decorative values of an under-lit factory environment. I captured the darks and the shadows, the people's personality, and their personal stuff.
When we think of witch trials, we tend to think of the Salem witch trials first and foremost. Yet... more When we think of witch trials, we tend to think of the Salem witch trials first and foremost. Yet in Finnmark, 135 people were accused of witchcraft in the 1600's. The majority of these cases took place in Vardø and Vadsø.
I spent a few weeks in Vardø researching the witch trials which took place there.
Henri Matisse was born and raised in Bóhain-en-Vermandois, where his parents had a thriving tradi... more Henri Matisse was born and raised in Bóhain-en-Vermandois, where his parents had a thriving trading business. He graduated in law in Paris in 1887, and until that moment, he had shown no particular interest in art. Back in his hometown he worked as a lawyer intern, but bored by the office routine, he began attending drawing classes and perspectives at the School of Decorative Arts. In 1892, Matisse was invited to be part of the study of Gustavo Moreau, who obtained the title of professor of Fine Arts that same year.
Three years later, he entered the School of Fine Arts but did not abandon the study of his former teacher, whose teachings attracted him more than the academic classes he received at the School. He particularly detested the insistence on teaching skills to copy the appearance of things mechanically.
During a recent flying visit to Rome, I came across such an exciting door that I had to research ... more During a recent flying visit to Rome, I came across such an exciting door that I had to research the mystical and magical atmosphere surrounding it. What I discovered blew my mind.
Palombara's door is flanked by alchemical insignia, and various Latin devices describe the alchemical process. The seven signs are taken from Johannes de Monte-Snyder, Commentatio de Pharmaco Catholico (Amsterdam 1666 ) and are in sequence: Saturn-lead, Jupiter-tin, Mars-iron, Venus-bronze, Mercury, Antinomy and Vitriol. The door still stands to be seen on Piazza Vittorio Emanuele in Rome.
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele (for the locals, simply Piazza Vittorio) is one of the most extensive and animated parts of Rome, located in the heart of the Esquilino district. Built and arranged in the current forms around 1890, it is enclosed on all four sides by large buildings in the typical style of the late nineteenth century and, at street level, is surrounded by an unbroken series of arches, crowded with shops, many of which are managed by members of the large Chinese community."
"A legend circulates that the door was raised to commemorate a successful transmutation in Christina's chambers. This version of events was first told in 1804 in an Italian description of Rome in which it is said that a northern youth, a "Giovane Ultramontane," came to Christina's court and produced some scraps of gold, but that he then disappeared.
What makes a text literary? The literary ability confers the way of narrating and ordering events... more What makes a text literary? The literary ability confers the way of narrating and ordering events. In the Prague Circle [1], the concept of literaryness arose for the first time; R. Jakobson affirmed that the "literary thing is not in the ornaments of the text, but in the revaluation of the same, because the purpose of the author is aesthetic.
Are cemeteries a place of memory or only used to dispose of a body? What significance attaches to... more Are cemeteries a place of memory or only used to dispose of a body? What significance attaches to a culture of memory? Cemeteries penetrate deeply into cultural studies and the question of human action. Dealing with death is thus a cultural phenomenon and, accordingly, complex. When I visit a cemetery, I like to browse around and look at graves. I'm always interested in graves that house photographs of the dearly departed. This aids the spectator with a living memory of who was actually buried there. You might call me a Tombstone tourist or a Taphophile, whatever you call me, I will still continue to pay my respects.
So what is spiritualism and spirit photography?, 2021
According to a definition adopted by the National Spiritualist Association of America, spirituali... more According to a definition adopted by the National Spiritualist Association of America, spiritualism "is the science, philosophy and religion of continuous life, based upon the demonstrated fact of communication, using mediumship, with those who live in the spirit world." [1] So what is spiritualism and spirit photography? The basis of many ancient religions is the idea that disembodied spirits of the dead are able and willing to communicate with the living under certain conditions. Its theme re-occurs in myths, fables, legends and anecdotes from all cultures at all periods in man's history. But it is also fair to say that modern spiritualism, as a social phenomenon, had its origins in a small house in Hydesville, New York, on Friday night 31 March 1848.
A 10 day adventure, we explored more or less the 25 filming locations used, HBO Game of Thrones. ... more A 10 day adventure, we explored more or less the 25 filming locations used, HBO Game of Thrones. From the lush valleys of the Riverlands where Catelyn Stark watched her father’s funeral boat sail down the river Trident to the great grass sea where Daenerys first rode with Khal Drogo and the Dothraki. Honour the drowning God where Theon Greyjoy returned to the Iron Islands and walk the halls of Winterfell where the whole story began. Maps and secret doors.
On your adventure, you will also journey along the trail of the Doors of Thrones, ten intricately crafted bespoke doors made of wood salvaged from the world-famous Dark Hedges. Each door tells the story of Season 6 Game of Thrones. These doors are housed in 10 significant pubs and hotels close to locations used in the film.
Ut Pictura Poesis: The Humanistic Theory of Painting, 2024
The comparison of the arts is a literary genre that developed during the Renaissance and has cont... more The comparison of the arts is a literary genre that developed during the Renaissance and has continued throughout the classical age. It is expressed in many forms. The first and most important involved a parallel between the arts and those of visible speech: painting and sculpture first, poetic arts the other. From this comparison, generically, we have deployed more specific shape comparisons between painting and sculpture, painting and music. The Italian word paragon, meaning "comparison" in general, is used in all language's comparison between painting and sculpture, which has led to much debate in the sixteenth century. The comparison between painting and music (analogy between sound and colour, reflections on the notion of harmony) is also present in the Renaissance and the Classical Age. She will experience a revival in the twentieth with the birth of abstraction.
The Mottes, a moated Site just outside of Shottle, Derbyshire, is a scheduled monument. It lies o... more The Mottes, a moated Site just outside of Shottle, Derbyshire, is a scheduled monument. It lies on an unused pathway from Shottle.
This site has had little attention since the 1950's and even archaeologists are unsure what was on the sight.
From an aerial perspective, the unique man-made rise is clearly visible, a testament to the platform with a square moat and the intriguing history of our local area.
Since it is within the borders of Duffield Frith, I have concluded that a watchtower once stood on this site. Was the purpose of the watchtower to defend or act as a communication post?
Where would we be today without so many things that we take for granted-the phone, television, st... more Where would we be today without so many things that we take for granted-the phone, television, steam power, oil, medicines and medical things, the Clyde shipping industry, etc.? I could go on with a long list, not only of Scottish inventors and inventions but also of Scottish people who have enriched our lives and the world with their abilities in many forms. However, today, I shall concentrate on merely a very few. Perhaps some you already know, and others may surprise you.
There is no existing account of the first Christmas tree. In fact, it was in the sixteenth centur... more There is no existing account of the first Christmas tree. In fact, it was in the sixteenth century that the earliest historical references appeared.
Surprisingly enough, the two oldest pieces of documentation are not from Germany, a country associated in most people's minds with the Christmas tree, but from Latvia and Estonia.
In the old Baltic port cities of Riga in 1510 and Reval in 1514, two tree celebrations were recorded: in each town on Christmas Eve, after a festive dinner, black-hatted members of the local merchant's guild carried an evergreen tree decorated with artificial roses to the market-place, where, in a seeming vestige of paganism, they danced around the tree and then set fire to it.
Nevertheless, it is to Germany that I must look to for the development of the Christmas tree tradition
The History of Trinity Chapel, Brackenfield, Derbyshire, 2023
In the 13th century, a small chapel was written about in the Darley Abbey chronicles. Yet this ru... more In the 13th century, a small chapel was written about in the Darley Abbey chronicles. Yet this ruined chapel in the woods date back before ten hundreds.
Why write about a ruin chapel, I let you read my research and see if you will fall in love with this once loved chapel.
Many of us have crossed the bridge at Cromford and not considered the bridge's history or its sur... more Many of us have crossed the bridge at Cromford and not considered the bridge's history or its surroundings.
You may think the small building on the bridge was a toll house. You would be thinking wrongly this building was for the water bailiff, who patrolled the banks of the river searching out illegal poachers.
Walking along the bridge, there is also an easily overlooked feature: on the southern parapet, a stone inscription “THE LEAP OF MR B H MARE JUNE 1697.” This marks the spot where Benjamin Hayward leapt on horseback from the bridge into the river.
All this is interesting; however, on the southern side of the bridge is a ruined chapel, and this is where the true adventure starts.
Historical view of Horsley Castle, Derbyshire, 2023
My first question is, why build a castle here at Horsley? Was it chosen in preference because of ... more My first question is, why build a castle here at Horsley? Was it chosen in preference because of its ease of access to the ancient roadway called the Portway? Could it be because there is a good supply of Millstone Grits, which is ideal for castle building because it hardens on later exposure? This supply of ashlar stone was used for county houses such as Kedleston Hall from the 16th century through to the railway works and other extensive developments of the Industrial Revolution.
Aliénor d'Aquitaine Aliénor d'Aquitaine is undoubtedly one of the most significant female figures... more Aliénor d'Aquitaine Aliénor d'Aquitaine is undoubtedly one of the most significant female figures of the Middle Ages. And for a good reason: the heiress of the immense and powerful Duchy of Aquitaine, she was twice queen (of France than of England). Thus, she tilts twice European geopolitics during political trouble.
A woman of character and independence, mother of ten children (including the famous Richard the Lionheart), a character of incredible longevity for the time (she probably reaches the age of eighty), endowed with health and an iron temperament.
Aliénor cannot go unnoticed as her personality is out of the ordinary. Whether it is decried by its detractors or magnified by the poems of the troubadours, it leaves indifferent neither its contemporaries nor the historians or chroniclers of the following centuries.
In modern times where digital life is king, and a simple command on the keyboard sends instant me... more In modern times where digital life is king, and a simple command on the keyboard sends instant messages, a handwritten letter carries the scent of the past, nostalgia, relic, rarity, and paradoxical innovation. Receiving a letter by mail can have an impact and surprise value. Letters can be extremely therapeutic and transformative and are a way of transferring to paper (or computer screen) matters weighing on the head and heart. They allow emotional catharsis which is important for mental and physical well-being. In addition, the letter allows its’ writer to organize thoughts and ideas, thereby clarifying, organizing, reflecting, and realizing important insights. Letter writing can also be confessional allowing the working through of conflicting relationships; words not easily said in person can be written more clearly on the page and without fear of censorship. This helps bring relief, growth, and strength, and can contribute greatly to the therapeutic process. If there is one positive thing that has come out of the pandemic and lockdown, it is the importance that relationships have for our overall sense of well-being. It is as if the sheet of paper holds the essence of the person who handled it, and for a moment, as we open the envelope, unfold the letter, feel the paper and smell its’ aroma, the sender is there beside us. We may have difficulty deciphering the text at times but this is a challenge that repays our efforts as we gain the joy of understanding. That same joy is shared by the author of the letter in choosing the best paper, the softest pen, a search for the most appropriate words, and an attempt at the neatest handwriting. This thesis focuses on the positive aspects of the handwritten letter, starting from presenting epistolary as an evocation of the absent through to the psychological benefits of communication through letters which include boosting mood and creativity, socialization, sharpening memory, and reading skills, reflection, empathy and much more. The handwritten letter as an art form is considered, followed by an analogy of letter writing with portrait making. The idea of the letter as a bridge between the visible and invisible and as a portrayal of the personality of the writer is also touched on. In conclusion, letter writing is declared to be effective, beneficial, and relevant to the modern age.
Back in 2019 I visited Belfast and the main reason was to see the political murals and the street... more Back in 2019 I visited Belfast and the main reason was to see the political murals and the street art which are on every available free wall. From Falls Road to Shankill Road to Bank Street to Talbert Street; walls filled with colourful political and non-political messages. This article takes stock of nationalist murals in the city of Belfast. Their essential function is to active and perpetuate the national identification process. Public policies for the transformation of murals only superficially curb these conflicting dynamics. The questionnaires and quantitative data point to a negative perception - even rejection - of murals more frequent within moderate organizations and among the most qualified population.
Conversely, supporters of radical parties view the murals more positively. The radicals of the two communities thus have a common popular and militant culture - and it seems reciprocal respect for these works - on which they sometimes try to build inter-community reconciliation. Much more than an instrument of mass communication, these paintings are tools of class communication.
Judith & Holofernes through the eyes of painters, 2017
A few months ago, I visited The National Gallery London. One of my favourite paintings had been b... more A few months ago, I visited The National Gallery London. One of my favourite paintings had been borrowed from another gallery and was on display. The painting in question was Johann Liss (about 1595 - 1631), "Judith in the Tent of Holofernes." (1622). I was struck by its brutal nature and blood-curdling rendition of a simple Bible story.
I wondered if other painters of this story depicted Judith and Holofernes in the same way?
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The parish was surrounded by megalithic monuments in Birchover, with at least four stone circles within walking distance. He associated the Druids with the megalithic monuments. He wanted the Druids' romanticism, so he set his workforce to work building stone monuments, which he could Christianise, overlain with eighteenth-century idealism.
The Reverend Thomas Eyre's creativity extended to creating a venerable sage, a Druid who supposedly lived as a Hermit in the caves. This Druid, with his unsullied mind, was clothed in a dazzling white garment and adorned with spirituality, which left his gentlemen friends and parishioners dumbfounded, a testament to Eyre's storytelling skills.
But more than his storytelling, it was his influence on the perception of Druids that left a lasting mark. Between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, a lively interest existed in antiquarian matters both in the Continent.
The prehistoric past of the Celts was the subject of Britain and one of much debate and guesswork. Antiquaries used the perfunctory references in classical literature as a nucleus around which they gave a fantasy of Druidic attributes and functions.
At their extreme, these Druid-seekers assigned them all virtues and most ancient monuments. This lively interest filtered through the other reverends when Thomas Eyre died in 1717.
Rowter rocks became legendary in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, and the Druid Inn became the meeting place for thrill seekers, and tours became popular.
The stories of the Druids swopped and changed depending on the audience. In some circumstances, the Druids became the Hermits of Rowter or the meeting place of the Freemasons.
Inevitably, in the absence of a scientific classification system to construct a chronological framework for the past, enquirers compressed the material remains of the ancient inhabitants of Europe so that anything demonstrably pre-Roman belonged to the same cultural horizon.
The reverend, having found cup and ring art at the site, glorified him in circles across Britain, and so he held outside sermons on the mount, with baptisms and crosses being features on Rowter.
He must have been one famous reverend for many faiths. So Rowter Rocks and the Druids became inextricably (and erroneously) intertwined; for some, they remain so to the present day.
I spent a few weeks in Vardø researching the witch trials which took place there.
Three years later, he entered the School of Fine Arts but did not abandon the study of his former teacher, whose teachings attracted him more than the academic classes he received at the School. He particularly detested the insistence on teaching skills to copy the appearance of things mechanically.
Palombara's door is flanked by alchemical insignia, and various Latin devices describe the alchemical process. The seven signs are taken from Johannes de Monte-Snyder, Commentatio de Pharmaco Catholico (Amsterdam 1666 ) and are in sequence: Saturn-lead, Jupiter-tin, Mars-iron, Venus-bronze, Mercury, Antinomy and Vitriol. The door still stands to be seen on Piazza Vittorio Emanuele in Rome.
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele (for the locals, simply Piazza Vittorio) is one of the most extensive and animated parts of Rome, located in the heart of the Esquilino district. Built and arranged in the current forms around 1890, it is enclosed on all four sides by large buildings in the typical style of the late nineteenth century and, at street level, is surrounded by an unbroken series of arches, crowded with shops, many of which are managed by members of the large Chinese community."
"A legend circulates that the door was raised to commemorate a successful transmutation in Christina's chambers. This version of events was first told in 1804 in an Italian description of Rome in which it is said that a northern youth, a "Giovane Ultramontane," came to Christina's court and produced some scraps of gold, but that he then disappeared.
Maps and secret doors.
On your adventure, you will also journey along the trail of the Doors of Thrones, ten intricately crafted bespoke doors made of wood salvaged from the world-famous Dark Hedges. Each door tells the story of Season 6 Game of Thrones. These doors are housed in 10 significant pubs and hotels close to locations used in the film.
This site has had little attention since the 1950's and even archaeologists are unsure what was on the sight.
From an aerial perspective, the unique man-made rise is clearly visible, a testament to the platform with a square moat and the intriguing history of our local area.
Since it is within the borders of Duffield Frith, I have concluded that a watchtower once stood on this site. Was the purpose of the watchtower to defend or act as a communication post?
Surprisingly enough, the two oldest pieces of documentation are not from Germany, a country associated in most people's minds with the Christmas tree, but from Latvia and Estonia.
In the old Baltic port cities of Riga in 1510 and Reval in 1514, two tree celebrations were recorded: in each town on Christmas Eve, after a festive dinner, black-hatted members of the local merchant's guild carried an evergreen tree decorated with artificial roses to the market-place, where, in a seeming vestige of paganism, they danced around the tree and then set fire to it.
Nevertheless, it is to Germany that I must look to for the development of the Christmas tree tradition
Why write about a ruin chapel, I let you read my research and see if you will fall in love with this once loved chapel.
You may think the small building on the bridge was a toll house. You would be thinking wrongly this building was for the water bailiff, who patrolled the banks of the river searching out illegal poachers.
Walking along the bridge, there is also an easily overlooked feature: on the southern parapet, a stone inscription “THE LEAP OF MR B H MARE JUNE 1697.” This marks the spot where Benjamin Hayward leapt on horseback from the bridge into the river.
All this is interesting; however, on the southern side of the bridge is a ruined chapel, and this is where the true adventure starts.
A woman of character and independence, mother of ten children (including the famous Richard the Lionheart), a character of incredible longevity for the time (she probably reaches the age of eighty), endowed with health and an iron temperament.
Aliénor cannot go unnoticed as her personality is out of the ordinary. Whether it is decried by its detractors or magnified by the poems of the troubadours, it leaves indifferent neither its contemporaries nor the historians or chroniclers of the following centuries.
Receiving a letter by mail can have an impact and surprise value. Letters can be extremely therapeutic and transformative and are a way of transferring to paper (or computer screen) matters weighing on the head and heart. They allow emotional catharsis which is important for mental and physical well-being. In addition, the letter allows its’ writer to organize thoughts and ideas, thereby clarifying, organizing, reflecting, and realizing important insights. Letter writing can also be confessional allowing the working through of conflicting relationships; words not easily said in person can be written more clearly on the page and without fear of censorship. This helps bring relief, growth, and strength, and can contribute greatly to the therapeutic process.
If there is one positive thing that has come out of the pandemic and lockdown, it is the importance that relationships have for our overall sense of well-being. It is as if the sheet of paper holds the essence of the person who handled it, and for a moment, as we open the envelope, unfold the letter, feel the paper and smell its’ aroma, the sender is there beside us. We may have difficulty deciphering the text at times but this is a challenge that repays our efforts as we gain the joy of understanding. That same joy is shared by the author of the letter in choosing the best paper, the softest pen, a search for the most appropriate words, and an attempt at the neatest handwriting.
This thesis focuses on the positive aspects of the handwritten letter, starting from presenting epistolary as an evocation of the absent through to the psychological benefits of communication through letters which include boosting mood and creativity, socialization, sharpening memory, and reading skills, reflection, empathy and much more.
The handwritten letter as an art form is considered, followed by an analogy of letter writing with portrait making. The idea of the letter as a bridge between the visible and invisible and as a portrayal of the personality of the writer is also touched on. In conclusion, letter writing is declared to be effective, beneficial, and relevant to the modern age.
This article takes stock of nationalist murals in the city of Belfast. Their essential function is to active and perpetuate the national identification process. Public policies for the transformation of murals only superficially curb these conflicting dynamics. The questionnaires and quantitative data point to a negative perception - even rejection - of murals more frequent within moderate organizations and among the most qualified population.
Conversely, supporters of radical parties view the murals more positively. The radicals of the two communities thus have a common popular and militant culture - and it seems reciprocal respect for these works - on which they sometimes try to build inter-community reconciliation. Much more than an instrument of mass communication, these paintings are tools of class communication.
The parish was surrounded by megalithic monuments in Birchover, with at least four stone circles within walking distance. He associated the Druids with the megalithic monuments. He wanted the Druids' romanticism, so he set his workforce to work building stone monuments, which he could Christianise, overlain with eighteenth-century idealism.
The Reverend Thomas Eyre's creativity extended to creating a venerable sage, a Druid who supposedly lived as a Hermit in the caves. This Druid, with his unsullied mind, was clothed in a dazzling white garment and adorned with spirituality, which left his gentlemen friends and parishioners dumbfounded, a testament to Eyre's storytelling skills.
But more than his storytelling, it was his influence on the perception of Druids that left a lasting mark. Between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries, a lively interest existed in antiquarian matters both in the Continent.
The prehistoric past of the Celts was the subject of Britain and one of much debate and guesswork. Antiquaries used the perfunctory references in classical literature as a nucleus around which they gave a fantasy of Druidic attributes and functions.
At their extreme, these Druid-seekers assigned them all virtues and most ancient monuments. This lively interest filtered through the other reverends when Thomas Eyre died in 1717.
Rowter rocks became legendary in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, and the Druid Inn became the meeting place for thrill seekers, and tours became popular.
The stories of the Druids swopped and changed depending on the audience. In some circumstances, the Druids became the Hermits of Rowter or the meeting place of the Freemasons.
Inevitably, in the absence of a scientific classification system to construct a chronological framework for the past, enquirers compressed the material remains of the ancient inhabitants of Europe so that anything demonstrably pre-Roman belonged to the same cultural horizon.
The reverend, having found cup and ring art at the site, glorified him in circles across Britain, and so he held outside sermons on the mount, with baptisms and crosses being features on Rowter.
He must have been one famous reverend for many faiths. So Rowter Rocks and the Druids became inextricably (and erroneously) intertwined; for some, they remain so to the present day.
I spent a few weeks in Vardø researching the witch trials which took place there.
Three years later, he entered the School of Fine Arts but did not abandon the study of his former teacher, whose teachings attracted him more than the academic classes he received at the School. He particularly detested the insistence on teaching skills to copy the appearance of things mechanically.
Palombara's door is flanked by alchemical insignia, and various Latin devices describe the alchemical process. The seven signs are taken from Johannes de Monte-Snyder, Commentatio de Pharmaco Catholico (Amsterdam 1666 ) and are in sequence: Saturn-lead, Jupiter-tin, Mars-iron, Venus-bronze, Mercury, Antinomy and Vitriol. The door still stands to be seen on Piazza Vittorio Emanuele in Rome.
Piazza Vittorio Emanuele (for the locals, simply Piazza Vittorio) is one of the most extensive and animated parts of Rome, located in the heart of the Esquilino district. Built and arranged in the current forms around 1890, it is enclosed on all four sides by large buildings in the typical style of the late nineteenth century and, at street level, is surrounded by an unbroken series of arches, crowded with shops, many of which are managed by members of the large Chinese community."
"A legend circulates that the door was raised to commemorate a successful transmutation in Christina's chambers. This version of events was first told in 1804 in an Italian description of Rome in which it is said that a northern youth, a "Giovane Ultramontane," came to Christina's court and produced some scraps of gold, but that he then disappeared.
Maps and secret doors.
On your adventure, you will also journey along the trail of the Doors of Thrones, ten intricately crafted bespoke doors made of wood salvaged from the world-famous Dark Hedges. Each door tells the story of Season 6 Game of Thrones. These doors are housed in 10 significant pubs and hotels close to locations used in the film.
This site has had little attention since the 1950's and even archaeologists are unsure what was on the sight.
From an aerial perspective, the unique man-made rise is clearly visible, a testament to the platform with a square moat and the intriguing history of our local area.
Since it is within the borders of Duffield Frith, I have concluded that a watchtower once stood on this site. Was the purpose of the watchtower to defend or act as a communication post?
Surprisingly enough, the two oldest pieces of documentation are not from Germany, a country associated in most people's minds with the Christmas tree, but from Latvia and Estonia.
In the old Baltic port cities of Riga in 1510 and Reval in 1514, two tree celebrations were recorded: in each town on Christmas Eve, after a festive dinner, black-hatted members of the local merchant's guild carried an evergreen tree decorated with artificial roses to the market-place, where, in a seeming vestige of paganism, they danced around the tree and then set fire to it.
Nevertheless, it is to Germany that I must look to for the development of the Christmas tree tradition
Why write about a ruin chapel, I let you read my research and see if you will fall in love with this once loved chapel.
You may think the small building on the bridge was a toll house. You would be thinking wrongly this building was for the water bailiff, who patrolled the banks of the river searching out illegal poachers.
Walking along the bridge, there is also an easily overlooked feature: on the southern parapet, a stone inscription “THE LEAP OF MR B H MARE JUNE 1697.” This marks the spot where Benjamin Hayward leapt on horseback from the bridge into the river.
All this is interesting; however, on the southern side of the bridge is a ruined chapel, and this is where the true adventure starts.
A woman of character and independence, mother of ten children (including the famous Richard the Lionheart), a character of incredible longevity for the time (she probably reaches the age of eighty), endowed with health and an iron temperament.
Aliénor cannot go unnoticed as her personality is out of the ordinary. Whether it is decried by its detractors or magnified by the poems of the troubadours, it leaves indifferent neither its contemporaries nor the historians or chroniclers of the following centuries.
Receiving a letter by mail can have an impact and surprise value. Letters can be extremely therapeutic and transformative and are a way of transferring to paper (or computer screen) matters weighing on the head and heart. They allow emotional catharsis which is important for mental and physical well-being. In addition, the letter allows its’ writer to organize thoughts and ideas, thereby clarifying, organizing, reflecting, and realizing important insights. Letter writing can also be confessional allowing the working through of conflicting relationships; words not easily said in person can be written more clearly on the page and without fear of censorship. This helps bring relief, growth, and strength, and can contribute greatly to the therapeutic process.
If there is one positive thing that has come out of the pandemic and lockdown, it is the importance that relationships have for our overall sense of well-being. It is as if the sheet of paper holds the essence of the person who handled it, and for a moment, as we open the envelope, unfold the letter, feel the paper and smell its’ aroma, the sender is there beside us. We may have difficulty deciphering the text at times but this is a challenge that repays our efforts as we gain the joy of understanding. That same joy is shared by the author of the letter in choosing the best paper, the softest pen, a search for the most appropriate words, and an attempt at the neatest handwriting.
This thesis focuses on the positive aspects of the handwritten letter, starting from presenting epistolary as an evocation of the absent through to the psychological benefits of communication through letters which include boosting mood and creativity, socialization, sharpening memory, and reading skills, reflection, empathy and much more.
The handwritten letter as an art form is considered, followed by an analogy of letter writing with portrait making. The idea of the letter as a bridge between the visible and invisible and as a portrayal of the personality of the writer is also touched on. In conclusion, letter writing is declared to be effective, beneficial, and relevant to the modern age.
This article takes stock of nationalist murals in the city of Belfast. Their essential function is to active and perpetuate the national identification process. Public policies for the transformation of murals only superficially curb these conflicting dynamics. The questionnaires and quantitative data point to a negative perception - even rejection - of murals more frequent within moderate organizations and among the most qualified population.
Conversely, supporters of radical parties view the murals more positively. The radicals of the two communities thus have a common popular and militant culture - and it seems reciprocal respect for these works - on which they sometimes try to build inter-community reconciliation. Much more than an instrument of mass communication, these paintings are tools of class communication.
I wondered if other painters of this story depicted Judith and Holofernes in the same way?