Sir Felix Booth – Part Two
In my last blog I mentioned the generosity of Sir Felix Booth towards the arctic explorer Captain Ross. Sadly for Sir Felix, his philanthropy was… Read More »Sir Felix Booth – Part Two
BLOG – View and Search: “The Mostly-Mannered Musings of Richard Hall”
Lots of ice with your gin, Felix? The link between Booth’s Gin and the search for the North West passage
Researching the history of gin throws up some interesting characters associated with the distilling process, perhaps none more so than Felix Booth, whose name is… Read More »Lots of ice with your gin, Felix? The link between Booth’s Gin and the search for the North West passage
On Board the Celebrity Beyond – bringing the 18th Century into a 21st Century Setting
This particular Georgian Gent has just got back from doing three consecutive cruises on board the Celebrity Beyond – a very modern state-of-the-art vessel which… Read More »On Board the Celebrity Beyond – bringing the 18th Century into a 21st Century Setting
Amazing Grace – with words given their debut 1st January 1773
Today marks the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of a sermon given in Olney, Buckinghamshire, by firebrand preacher John Newton. He had written the words… Read More »Amazing Grace – with words given their debut 1st January 1773
Bonny Bobby Shafto
As a child I remember learning the words of the song ‘Bobby Shafto’, with the verses which start: “Bobby Shafto’s gone to sea,Silver buckles on… Read More »Bonny Bobby Shafto
Re-marriage of Richard Hall, 14 December 1780
So writes my ancestor Richard Hall about his wedding to Betty Snooke, sister to his late brother-in-law. As I have explained in The Journal of… Read More »Re-marriage of Richard Hall, 14 December 1780
From sailing serenely on the Sirena – to a new book about Gin…
I tend not to post blogs saying that I am away from home in case nefarious people in the neighbourhood take it upon themselves to… Read More »From sailing serenely on the Sirena – to a new book about Gin…
The rising menace of inflation – 1800 style.
Inflation is a recurring feature of the economy – and it is easy to forget that rising food prices have been worrying people for centuries.… Read More »The rising menace of inflation – 1800 style.
Extreme weather – nothing new there then!
I was interested in Richard Hall’s diary entry for 17 July 1797 – in other words 225 years ago. It reads: Very early this morning… Read More »Extreme weather – nothing new there then!
Another day, another Georgian Garden …
Before Capability Brown, and before rococo whimsicalities, there were gardens designed in the French style. Two names dominated the English garden scene at the start… Read More »Another day, another Georgian Garden …