And Did Those Feet Guided Walks

31/07/2024

interesting walk in Brixton
Victorian Society Events

Exploring Brixton’s Victorian History

During the Victorian period, Brixton was south London’s shopping capital. This walking tour, led by the Brixton Society, will explore the fascinating retail heritage of Brixton and how that impacted the development of the area. This will be followed by a walk up Brixton Hill to look inside Corpus Christi (J F Bentley, 1886).

Location: 27 Brixton Station Road, London, SW9 8QQ
Date: 11 September, 1:00pm – 5:30 pm
Booking here.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exploring-brixtons-victorian-history-tickets-940210403627?aff=Website

Stephen Roberts

Discover the shopping and market heritage of Brixton followed by a walk to visit Corpus Christi on Brixton Hill.

01/05/2024

Have a dance with the old 'obby 'orse of Padstow

02/01/2024

I keep an archive of the walks I have done each year. This is the first entry for 2024. My new year's resolutions for my walks are: Make the Virtual tours shorter. Try some new technology to make the virtual tours more like a walk. Begin publishing them. I should note that 1 and 3 have long been on my list of desired improvements....

I keep an archive of the walks I have done each year. This is the first entry for 2024. My new year’s resolutions for my walks are: Make the Virtual tours shorter. Try some new technology to …

01/01/2024

Tonight, I am giving my annual Ring in the New Year Walk for London Walks. To book, click the link below

Tonight, I am giving my annual Ring in the New Year Walk for London Walks. To book, click the link below

30/12/2023

John Stow memorial in St Andrew's Church The Roman festival of Saturnalia, held between 17th and 23rd of December, included reversing rules so that slaves, ruled and masters served. In the medieval period, the disorder of Christmas was continued with the election of Lords of Misrule, Masters of the Revels, and Boy Bishops. John Stows, London's first great historian, wrote of the Lord of Misrule in London:...

John Stow memorial in St Andrew’s Church The Roman festival of Saturnalia, held between 17th and 23rd of December, included reversing rules so that slaves, ruled and masters served. In the me…

20/12/2023

Here are some fascinating links with a seasonal theme, and at the end of the post the December posts I have reviewed, revised and reposted. And to remind you, I have a Winter Solstice Virtual Tour on Friday, and a Jane Austen Virtual Tour taking place on Saturday.. Follow the links on the www.chr.org.uk to find out more or book....

https://www.chr.org.uk/anddidthosefeet/midwinter-links-edo-in-winter-society-a-debauched-christmas/

Here are some fascinating links with a seasonal theme, and at the end of the post the December posts I have reviewed, revised and reposted. And to remind you, I have a Winter Solstice Virtual Tour …

14/12/2023

Medieval Cataract Surgery - calling couching. So, yesterday, you, being someone worried about your eyes, might have sought out an altar dedicated to St Lucy, the patron saint of eye health. (see December 13th's Post on St Lucy) Although you may be disappointed that there has been no miraculous cure, you might have been encouraged to do something about it....

And Did Those Feet is about London and history, archaeology and literary history. Also find out about guided walks, cultural study tours, blogs, podcasts and books on London. Here you will find Prehistory, Celts, Romans, Saxons, Angles, Normans. Medieval, Tudors and Stuarts.

13/12/2023

London Roman Riverside Wall This is the Podcast which is a taster for the Roman Walk on Saturday 16th December 2023 starting at Monument Tube Station. This is a London Walks Walk by Kevin Flude. To book click here.

London Roman Riverside Wall This is the Podcast which is a taster for the Roman Walk on Saturday 16th December 2023 starting at Monument Tube Station. This is a London Walks Walk by Kevin Flude. To…

08/12/2023

Monday's child is fair of face,Tuesday's child is full of grace. Wednesday's child is full of woe,Thursday's child has far to go. Friday's child is loving and giving, Saturday's child works hard for a living. And the child born on the Sabbath day Is bonny and blithe, good and gay.[1] On December, the 8th, my second Grandson was born, after a long and nervous wait....

Monday’s child is fair of face,Tuesday’s child is full of grace. Wednesday’s child is full of woe,Thursday’s child has far to go. Friday’s child is loving and giving, …

04/12/2023

Below, I give links to the Late November and early December Posts I have revised and republished. But, first, I would like to tell you about a great lecture I heard at the British Museum, this evening. It was given by Dr Emma Southon on her book about women in the Roman Empire. Her viewpoint was that a study of women in the Roman Empire gives a radically different insight into the Roman world than the traditional....

Below, I give links to the Late November and early December Posts I have revised and republished. But, first, I would like to tell you about a great lecture I heard at the British Museum, this even…

28/11/2023

Eel Pie Island . Ordnance Survey In 1871 to 1882 map series (OS, 1st series at 1:10560: Surrey (Wikipedia) Gervase Markham in his ‘The English Husbandman’ of 1635 provides instructions on how: To take Eels in Winter, Make a long bottle or tube of Hay, wrapped about Willow boughs, and having guts or garbage in the middles. Which being soaked in the deep water by the river side, after two or three days the eels will be in it and you may tread them out with your feet....

Eel Pie Island . Ordnance Survey In 1871 to 1882 map series (OS, 1st series at 1:10560: Surrey (Wikipedia) Gervase Markham in his ‘The English Husbandman’ of 1635 provides instructions on how: To t…

27/11/2023

Jimi Hendrix in Montague Place To my mind, THE genius of the electric guitar, and a great songwriter. Born Johnny Allen Hendrix in Seattle on 27th November 1942. He was spotted by ex-Animals Chas Chandler (bassist) when performing in small cafés In New York as Jimmy James. Chandler suggested he came to England. On the flight, they decided to change his name to Jimi....

Jimi Hendrix in Montague Place To my mind, THE genius of the electric guitar, and a great songwriter. Born Johnny Allen Hendrix in Seattle on 27th November 1942. He was spotted by ex-Animals Chas C…

25/11/2023

One of my favourite places to go is the Chapel of Guild of the Holy Cross at Stratford-upon-Avon. It offers a convenient place for a group to sit down and listen to further information about Shakespeare, and the fascinating story of the Guild Chapel. This is an appropriate place to look at Roodmas which is celebrated today on May 3rd and September 14th because Rood is another word for the Cross....

One of my favourite places to go is the Chapel of Guild of the Holy Cross at Stratford-upon-Avon. It offers a convenient place for a group to sit down and listen to further information about Shakes…

25/11/2023

Here, is an interesting account from the web site of the Historic Royal Palaces about marking the boundary of a Parish in the ceremony known as 'beating the bounds'.

Here, is an interesting account from the web site of the Historic Royal Palaces about marking the boundary of a Parish in the ceremony known as ‘beating the bounds’.

25/11/2023

Here is an interesting essay on Marytrdom for St Margaret's Day. Her story is a horrifying story of torture and multiple attempts to kill her. The reredos below is on display at the V&A, Kensington London.

Here is an interesting essay on Marytrdom for St Margaret’s Day. Her story is a horrifying story of torture and multiple attempts to kill her. The reredos below is on display at the V&A, …

25/11/2023

Almost 'one in three women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their life.' says the UN on its page Ending Violence Against Women Day. In writing my Almanac of the Past, I have been struck by how violent are most of the stories of the Saints of the early Catholic Church. At the bottom of this post, you will find an essay touching upon this thorny subject....

Almost ‘one in three women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their life.’ says the UN on its page Ending Violence Against Women Day. In w…

23/11/2023

St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, Musician's Chapel, St Cecilia window. 17 August 2022, Andy Scott Today, I'm publishing the stories of two Saints with London connections. The first is for November 23rd, and I have extensively rewritten it. It is all about St Clements of Oranges and Lemons fame. The second is from November 17th and is about St Cecilia and the London Proms, which you will find below:...

St Sepulchre-without-Newgate, Musician’s Chapel, St Cecilia window. 17 August 2022, Andy Scott Today, I’m publishing the stories of two Saints with London connections. The first is for …

22/11/2023

Elsynge Palace I was interested in this site because it was one of the many palaces owned by Henry VIII, and it began as a moated manor house before a transition into a small red brick courtyarded Palace, as seen above. Henry had, if my memory serves me well, approximately 57 Palaces and Manor Houses. 16 in the London area and 11 along the River Thames…...

Elsynge Palace I was interested in this site because it was one of the many palaces owned by Henry VIII, and it began as a moated manor house before a transition into a small red brick courtyarded …

18/11/2023

I have revised and updated three fascinating posts! The first on the legacy of the Anglo-Saxon princess who changed Scotland when she became Queen. The second is on the joy the Accession of Queen Elizabeth 1 gave to Protestants, with a description of the martyrdom of Thomas Tomkins of Shoreditch, London. And perhaps, less earth shattering, some things you might want to know about Sausages.

I have revised and updated three fascinating posts! The first on the legacy of the Anglo-Saxon princess who changed Scotland when she became Queen. The second is on the joy the Accession of Queen E…

15/11/2023

Almanacs and household guides of the 16th and 17th Century provide a list of seasonal things to do. These posts I have revised and reposted for your updated enjoyment. If you have to choose one, I suggest either the Old Parr post or have a look at the one on exercise, which will give you an excellent idea of early ideas of exercise.

Almanacs and household guides of the 16th and 17th Century provide a list of seasonal things to do. These posts I have revised and reposted for your updated enjoyment. If you have to choose one, I …

14/11/2023

November 15th Exercise Leaping is an exercise very commendable and healthful for the body. The Compleat Gentleman 1634 November 16th Foul privies are now to be cleaned. The chimney all sooty would now be made clearn. Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. 1573

November 15th Exercise Leaping is an exercise very commendable and healthful for the body. The Compleat Gentleman 1634 November 16th Foul privies are now to be cleaned. The chimney all sooty would …

13/11/2023

Martinmas was a very important part of the medieval Year, marking as it did the end of Summer, and the beginning of Winter. I have been updating a series of Martinmas posts which you will find below: And finally, a saintly repost:

Martinmas was a very important part of the medieval Year, marking as it did the end of Summer, and the beginning of Winter. I have been updating a series of Martinmas posts which you will find belo…

08/11/2023

Droeshout Portrait of Shakespeare from the First Folio Four Hundred Years ago, on this day, 8th November in 1623, the First Folio was registered at Stationer's Hall near the publishing district around St Pauls Cathedral in London. It was actually called Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies It was put together by his actor friends, John Heminge and Henry Condell seven years after his death, and they wanted to replace all the corrupt editions of his plays and poems that had been …...

Droeshout Portrait of Shakespeare from the First Folio Four Hundred Years ago, on this day, 8th November in 1623, the First Folio was registered at Stationer’s Hall near the publishing distri…

07/11/2023

Recent discoveries from Pompeii are being reported in a timely fashion on an interesting website – one of the recent posts is about the discovery of a Roman Electoral Poster. Please enjoy the read! electoral-inscriptions-discovered-in-pompeii Below, I enclose a short section of my book 'In Their Own Words – A Literary Companion To The Origins Of London‘ on Roman Elections, which might be of interest....

Recent discoveries from Pompeii are being reported in a timely fashion on an interesting website – one of the recent posts is about the discovery of a Roman Electoral Poster. Please enjoy the read!…

03/11/2023

This 2021 post has been updated and is about Sliding Ducks, November, Prophecy and Macbeth.

This 2021 post has been updated and is about Sliding Ducks, November, Prophecy and Macbeth.

02/11/2023

Electric Mountain Dinorwig Power Station, Llyn Peris (photo: K Flude) I have revised the post on All Souls' Day. If you follow the link you will read about 'Souling', Purgatory, and English, Mexican and Polish Customs for 2nd November. But this post is prompted by an interesting article in the Guardian about the Dinorwig Power Station in North Wales. It's a place I visit regularly....

Electric Mountain Dinorwig Power Station, Llyn Peris (photo: K Flude) I have revised the post on All Souls’ Day. If you follow the link you will read about ‘Souling’, Purgatory, a…

01/11/2023

I have just given a guided walk and a virtual tour of London in the prehistoric period. I rashly promised, as follow-up, a booklist. I have many books that I have found pivotal in shaping my own opinions, but I find myself very reluctant to recommend them in the light of the remarkable new, and recent, DNA discoveries. The cause of this 'revolution' is the Petrous Bone – a small bone in/near the ear from which scientists can extract, without too much damage to ancient skeletons, a reliable source of ancient DNA....

I have just given a guided walk and a virtual tour of London in the prehistoric period. I rashly promised, as follow-up, a booklist. I have many books that I have found pivotal in shaping my own op…

01/11/2023

I have updated my November 1st Post to include, among other improvements, new pictures of the Day of the Dead in Mexico.

I have updated my November 1st Post to include, among other improvements, new pictures of the Day of the Dead in Mexico.

31/10/2023

I have updated the following two posts: And

I have updated the following two posts: And

17/10/2023

Stratford-upon-Avon Mop Festival On my way to Stratford-upon-Avon Railway station, I saw this sign, but had no idea what on earth a Mop was. So I put it to the back of my mind as I took the train to Henley-in-Arden. My interest in the town began, as Shakespeare was born in Henley St in Stratford, and his mother was called Mary of Arden....

Stratford-upon-Avon Mop Festival On my way to Stratford-upon-Avon Railway station, I saw this sign, but had no idea what on earth a Mop was. So I put it to the back of my mind as I took the train t…