Tag Archives: buildings and structures

The Royal Exchange

Posted on June 20, 2017 by

The Royal Exchange, a trapezoid-shaped structure, was opened by Queen Elizabeth I in 1571. Cornhill and Threadneedle Streets flank the exchange. The original building was destroyed by the Great Fire in 1666. It was rebuilt in 1669 and again destroyed … Continue reading →

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Half-Timbered Architectural Elements, a Tudor Construction

Posted on June 14, 2017 by

One of the most prominent features of Tudor and medieval architecture is what is called “half-timbered houses.” The editors of the Encyclopedia Britannica describes “Half-timber work” as a, “…method of building in which external and internal walls are constructed of … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, British history, buildings and structures, Tudors, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Crafting a Thatched Roof

Posted on June 1, 2017 by

We all admire the idea of a cottage with a thatched roof, but what are the practicalities?  History: Thatching roofs can be traced to the Bronze Age. In Dorset, one can observe the remains of a round hut that displays … Continue reading →

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Georgian Commerce: The London Docks, Part V

Posted on May 17, 2017 by

In Roman and medieval times, ships tended to dock at small quays in the present-day  city of London or Southwark an area known as the Pool of London. However, this gave no protection against the elements, was vulnerable to thieves and suffered from … Continue reading →

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The Ceremony of Quit Rents

Posted on May 11, 2017 by

Have you ever heard of this tradition? The Ceremony of Quit Rents is the oldest legal ceremony in England (other than the coronation). It occurs between St Michael’s Day (October 11) and St Martin’s Day (November 11). On October 17, … Continue reading →

Posted in Age of Chaucer, British history, buildings and structures, customs and tradiitons, kings and queens, Living in the UK | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Places We Visit in Jane Austen’s Novels

Posted on February 16, 2017 by

Oh, the Places We Will Go…in Austen Novels Through Jane Austen’s novels, I was first introduced, at the age of 12, to beautiful English estates and a land beyond my imagination. I fell in love with the time, the homes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Austen actors, books, buildings and structures, film adaptations, historical fiction, Jane Austen, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Georgian Architecture: University of London, a Metropolitan, Nonsectarian University

Posted on March 15, 2016 by

  In 1820, the Scottish poet, Thomas Campbell, put forth the idea of a metropolitan, nonsectarian university. With others he launched a movement in 1825 to found the University of London, for students excluded from Oxford or Cambridge by religious tests … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, British history, buildings and structures, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, Living in the UK | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment