Happy May Day! Here is May Day on the village green in Luddington, Warwickshire, England in 1933.
Tag Archives: English
On this day: Edwardian London from the air
7th November 1909: English scientist Norman Lockyer photographed London from the air with a use of a helium balloon. This image shows Sloane Square, on the boundaries of the Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Chelsea districts.
Lockyer, who – along with French scientist Pierre Janssen – was credited with discovering helium, was seventy-three at the time the photograph was taken.
On this day: A King’s Coronation
The Coronation of Edward VII took place in London on Saturday the 9th of August, 1902, more than a year and a half after the death of the King’s mother and predecessor, Queen Victoria. The event had been postponed due to the King’s ill health.
In this photograph Sir Marcus Samuel, Lord Mayor of London, travels to Westminster Abbey from Guildhall for the event.
He travels in the Lord Mayor’s State Coach, which was built in Holborn in 1757.
The new King reigned until his death in May, 1910.
Happy 201st Birthday, Emily Brontë!
English novelist Emily Brontë, of Wuthering Heights Heights fame, was born on the 30th of July, 1818.
Happy Birthday, Charles Dickens!
I definitely have my issues with the man himself, but there’s no denying Charles Dickens’ incredible influence on the world.
The English author was born on this day 207 years ago.
You can see some pictures from my 2017 visit to his London house HERE.
On this day: a Crime in North East England
On the 25th of September, 1906 in North East England a young man named James Waters was arrested for housebreaking.
The story that appeared in the Shields Daily News is below. It should be noted that the word “prosecutrix” – a word relating to female victims who prosecute – is no longer recognised by spell-checks.
HOUSEBREAKING AT NORTH SHIELDS. ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.
At North Shields Police Court today, James Turnbull, alias Waters, a young man, was charged with breaking and entering the dwelling-house, no. 2 Camp Terrace, and stealing a silver serviette ring, a lady’s silver watch, a silver spoon, a ring, bracelet, and locket, the property of Eliz. Jackson.
Richard Appleby-Jackson, an articled clerk and estate agent residing at no. 2 Camp Terrace, said that on the 29th Aug. last he and the other members of the family left home and returned on the 12th Sept, finding that it had been broken into, and that a number of articles valued at £4 8s had been stolen. On the 20th inst., from what he was told, he went to the police station and there identified a serviette ring, a watch, a spoon, and other articles as the property of his mother.
Anna Ramsey, residing in Howard Street, said that while the prosecutrix was from home she kept the keys of the house. On the 4th Sept she went there for the purpose of watering the plants and found everything in order. She locked the house up before she left, everything then being secure. She returned three days later and found the house in a state of disorder.
Mary Isabel Davies, a cook in the employ of the prosecutrix, said that while her mistress was away she went to live in Bedford Street. On the 6th Sept she obtained the keys from the last witness in order to do some cleaning. She went next day, and was unable to open the front door because the chain on the inside had been put on, and she was obliged to get assistance in order to force an entrance. When she went into the house everything was in a state of disorder and she immediately informed the police.
Michael D. Hart, dealer in second-hand goods, 120 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle, stated that on the 7th inst. the prisoner came to his shop and offered to sell the locket, bracelet and ring produced, which he said belonged to his wife, and upon which he wished to raise some money, that he was out of employment. Witness gave 5s for them. Accused also offered to sell a silver serviette ring, a spoon, and a brooch, which witness declined to buy.
A watchmaker and jeweller, belonging to West Hartlepool, said that on Sept 8th the prisoner came to his shop and offered the serviette ring, photo frame and spoon for sale, saying he was “hard up”. Witness bought the articles for 4s. Later in the day he returned with a lady’s silver watch and offered to dispose of it for 10s. It was, however, defective and he accordingly declined to buy it.
Detective Radcliffe deposed to visiting the house in Camp Terrace on the 7th inst and finding the house in a state of disorder. The door leading from the front to the back of the house was fastened and he had to climb through the serving aperture in order to get to the kitchen.
Detective Inspector Thornton said that on the 14th inst. he went to West Hartlepool Police Station, where the serviette ring, spoon, photo frame, and watch were handed to him in the presence of the accused, who said they were the things he got from a house in North Shields. Witness told him there was a ring, a locket and bracelet missing from the same house. Prisoner replied that he sold them to a second-hand dealer in Pilgrim Street, Newcastle. On being charged this morning the prisoner made no reply.
Formally charged by the Clerk (Col. R. F. Kidd), prisoner had still nothing to say. He was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions.
Happy 200th Birthday, Emily Brontë!
The only undisputed portrait of Emily Brontë, painted by her brother.
English writer Emily Brontë, famous for her only novel, Wuthering Heights, was born on the 30th of July, 1818.
Her famous book was first published in 1847. Brontë died the following year, at only thirty years of age.
On this day: Dambusters in Britain
This photograph is dated the 22nd of July, 1943, and shows members of Britain’s Royal Air Force 617 Squadron “dam busters” at Scampton, Lincolnshire.
All of the men in the picture were killed a few weeks later, when they were shot down during the raid on the Dortmund-Ems Canal in September.
Their names are:
- Flight Sergeant J H Payne, gunner
- Pilot Officer T W Johnson, engineer
- Sergeant W E Hornby
- Sergeant L G Mieyette, wireless operator
- Pilot Officer C H Coles, bomb-aimer
- Flying Officer J A Rodger, navigator
- Flight Lieutenant W H S Wilson
On this day…
Her Majesty, The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh greet crowds in Whitefriargate in Kingston upon Hull, England, during celebrations for her Silver Jubilee. 13th July 1977.
On this day: a Queen and a future Queen
The 12th of May, 1937 marked the coronation of King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth. This photograph was taken on the balcony of Buckingham Palace afterwards.
The new Queen’s daughter, the future Queen Elizabeth II, stands with her. She had turned eleven a couple of weeks before the coronation.
In Times Gone By... 
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