Friday 31 January 2014

Random Remnants

....being a collection of things which I meant to show you earlier but didn't get around to.


Another Man From Thetford



The gentleman above should have taken his place among the four people with connections to the town of Thetford that I introduced you to in an earlier post. Meet Dr Allan Minns. He was born in The Bahamas in 1858 where he received a good education which led him to Guy's Hospital in London, where he qualified as a doctor. He went on to become the doctor at the workhouse in Thetford. He was elected Mayor of Thetford in 1904, the first black man to become a mayor in the UK. His grandmother had been a slave in the West Indies.


Roysia's Stone


Standing in my local town of Royston, right on the cross-roads of two ancient routes, is this great hunk of rock. The routes in question are the Icknield Way and Ermine Street, two of the oldest roads in this country (we're talking BC rather than AD here!). The rock was transported here by an ice-sheet during the last Ice Age; it's Millstone Grit, which probably means it started its journey in Yorkshire or Derbyshire! It's known as the Royce Stone and there's a hole in the centre which once supported the shaft of a preaching cross set up by Lady Roysia in Norman times. The names have been shortened over the centuries - Roysia's Stone became Royce Stone and the town became Royston.


A Rural Skyscraper



A high-rise office block in the sleepy village of Hatley? Well, it does house offices these days but that's not its original purpose. It's part of a farm which was rebuilt in the late nineteenth century to incorporate all the best practices of the age. Such farms were known as "model farms" and their owners were naturally proud of their creations. So proud in fact that they didn't want anything as unsightly as a water tower to upset their idea of perfection so they disguised it as (an admittedly rather tall) dwelling.


Strange Fruit



Stone pineapples are often featured as decoration on the gateposts of large houses. When the fruit first appeared in the UK, having been discovered by Columbus, it was horrendously expensive - it was many years before they could be grown under glass in this country. It became something which was only eaten when important guests were to be received. As a result it became a symbol of hospitality.


George Lawrence's Eastern Cousin



Recently I showed you George Lawrence's hammer dulcimer which is on display in Cambridge Folk Museum. Shortly after that I encountered this man busking in the streets of Cambridge playing what I believe is an Iranian santur, a very similar instrument. There are, in fact, variations on the dulcimer in just about every country between Ireland to China. 




Bear On The Roof !



It has to be Whittlesea, of course! I've shown you all kinds of beasts rendered in straw by our local thatchers. Naturally enough in Whittlesea it had to be a straw bear! (And if you've no idea what I'm talking about you need to look at this and subsequent posts). 


Take care.

17 comments:

  1. Very cool little tidbits today. I love the "straw" bear.

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  2. A very interesting collection of "bits and pieces" :-)
    With lots of glacier in this country the Royce Stone is highly interesting, but the hidden water tower must be at the top - literally.

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  3. A wonderful collection of oddities. I particularly like th rice-are pebble.

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  4. I enjoyed these bits of information. This is the first time I've read a good explanation for why the pineapple is a symbol of hospitality.

    Oh how I wish I had the patience to learn how to play a hammered dulcimer!

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  5. Fun stuff. Particularly enjoyed the story of the doctor/mayor who made good in just two generations.

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  6. Interesting collection - love the bear on the roof. The Roysia's Stone has come from my part of the country to yours - such an exciting spot, it must have seen a great deal in its time.

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  7. What a wonderful collection. And great stories

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  8. Most interesting, - love all those bits of history and they give me such a lengthening view of Time.

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  9. A wonderful story about Dr. Minns and I enjoyed all your photos and narrative on them. All very interesting!

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  10. My hat's off to the farmers of Hatley who made such an attractive water tower.

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  11. A fine collection of fascinating facts, John. I have a necklace like the man at the top. Don't you?

    I have enjoyed your comments on my blog recently. I am just waiting for the right opportunity to call someone mad as a box of frogs. That will catch their attention!

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  12. Interesting collection of photos. I love the rural skyscraper!

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  13. I've enjoyed all your random remnants and the stories behind them, especially the Roysia's stone:)

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  14. A thatched bear on a thatched roof! Most houses are doing well if they have a chimney.

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  15. A very cool eclectic collection of images and facts. I really liked the story of the doctor who became mayor.
    And as for Roysia's Stone - if that was in Ireland, we'd have a story about it being thrown there by a giant!

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  16. Terrific collection and enjoyed the stories - especially of the good Dr. Minns and rural skyscraper!

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  17. Absolutely fascinating. I learn things from your blog!!

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Thanks for taking the time to comment. I'll try to answer any questions via a comment or e-mail within the next day or two (no hard questions, please!).