Dead Historical Girlfriends

To belatedly celebrate International Women’s Day, I have compiled a list of my ‘Dead Historical Girlfriends’ and why they inspire me. Artemisia Gentileschi Artemisia Gentileschi was an incredible artist who often depicted herself as Greek characters or historical figures in her self-portraits. In 1611 she was raped by Agostino Tassi who worked with his father. …

For the Love of Bovril

Ah, Bovril. The viscous, salty, elixir that comforts, nourishes and sustains. The love for Bovril has stretched from kitchen cupboards to football stands and the coldest realms of the Antarctic. To celebrate almost 150 years of this magical medicine, here are some interesting facts from its history. Created by John Lawson Johnston, from Edinburgh, as …

St Mary le Strand

In the middle of the Strand, just before the entrance way to the City, established on an island surrounded by hordes of traffic on either side, proudly stands St Mary le Strand. Referred to as the “jewel in the Strand”, today this church has recently reopened to the public prior to a major restoration and …

On This Day in History: The Death of George V

On 20th January 1936, just before midnight, King George V passed away at Sandringham, Norfolk. Legend has it that his last words were, ‘bugger Bognor’, after he was told that he would soon be well enough to retreat to the seaside town to recuperate. The passing of a monarch, quite obviously, instigates a period of great …

Belle Boyd – Cleopatra of Succession

“War will exact its victims of both sexes, and claims the hearts of women no less than the bodies of men” Born Isabella Maria Boyd, May 1844 in Martinsburg, Virginia, Belle Boyd, was a Confederate spy who fed intelligence to Stonewall Jackson and P.G.T. Beauregard through 1862 till Jackson’s death in 1863. Her upbringing reflected …

Letter to my 23 Year Old Self

Dear 23 year old Lucy, Woah Nellie; are you in for big ride. You’ve just finished watching How I Met Your Mother from the beginning and all I can say is that Marshall would find the current situation more than problematic. Congratulations on finishing your TEFL course. It was an investment, but unfortunately we only …

Robert Hooke’s Monument

The Great Fire of London began on Sunday 2nd September at Thomas Farriner’s bakers shop, Pudding Lane, and raged across the City until Wednesday 5th September 1666. Exactly 202ft. from its origins, symbolising its 202ft. spread, sits The Monument at the bottom of Fish Street Hill. The location has further significance because it sits on …

Religion Fluidity

My first understanding of what Ramadan entails actually came from Coronation Street, when two Muslim characters quipped, “no, not even water”, with amazing eye-roll action to another character’s ignorance as to how their fasting during the Islamic Holy Month works.  I start with this, because I used that very same line, and by the end …

Embracing Religions

"I do not consider myself to be particularly religious but..." This is usually how the conversation starts when I am describing my role as a Church Watcher in the City of London and the religious forays I am making this year, yet, it is not entirely true. In the past I have been deeply religious. …

In Defence of Admiral Nelson

Vice-Admiral Horatio Viscount Nelson is my history crush. The one-eyed, one-armed, short, bad tempered, big nosed seaman is not the type of man I usually go for but, just like countless British women in the early nineteenth century, Nelson has charmed me. In the Queen’s House at Greenwich there is a bust of Nelson. Looking …