[BigMovies]

Drake.

Tungsten filaments.

Drake Tungsten.

[MichaelfromSpace]

Originally posted by Dauphin
Drake.

Tungsten filaments.

Drake Tungsten. France

[Tamawaipsemek]

Originally posted by Dauphin
There is a replica of the Golden Hinde by a pub I frequent.

http://www.eyerevolution.co.uk/virtu...p?location=212 Nice. Is that the pub there on the right?

[psbiuigw]

Originally posted by Cort Haus


Nice. Is that the pub there on the right? Yep. Old Thameside Inn. It's right next to 'the Clink' on the southbank between London Bridge and Cannon Street Bridge.

[Rurcextedutty]

The George Inn, Norton-St-Philip.

One of the oldest pubs in Britain, and unlike most of the other claimants to the title it's largely unchanged and has been continuously licensed (and in use as a pub) since 1270.

In 1688 it was commandeered by the Duke of Monmouth during the Pitchfork Rebellion, and used as his headquarters in the run-up to the Battle of Sedgemoor- the last pitched battle fought on English soil. You can stay in the room Monmouth lodged in, where he survived an assassination attempt (a sniper narrowly missed him as he shaved by the window).

[CitsMoise17]

If you ever feel up to writing an article, the Battle of Stamford Bridge would make a great story.

[avappyboalt]

I grew up in Coventry, which used to be in Coventry and Warwickshire, and then someone decided that Birmingham needed an inferiority complex with regards heritage, so Coventry was included in the new area of the West Midlands.

Near Coventry is the reconstructed Lunt Roman fort:

Lunt Roman fort is in Baginton, near Coventry and is partial reconstruction of the fort that was established there in AD60 following the Boudiccan rebellion. In 1960 initial excavations uncovered the remains of the defensive ditches of the Roman fort which led to extensive excavations between 1965 and 1973. The goal was to completely uncover the site as well as reconstruct the defences and internal buildings. The investigations have shown that the fort survived three major changes of face over the course of its first twenty years, and was then abandoned for 180 years before construction of a new gateway and defensive ditches.

Visitors entering the fort do so by the reconstructed Eastern Gateway which is built entirely of timber and is based on depictions from Trajan's column. The most interesting feature in the fort is a unique large circular construction identified as the gyrus, which was the cavalry training ring.

The outlines of other important buildings can be seen including the principia, or headquarters building, and six barrack blocks. Each block would have been occupied by a century, a unit of 80 soldiers commanded by a centurion whose quarters were at the north end of each block. Three horrea, or granaries, have also been found at Lunt. One of these has been reconstructed in timber and now serves as the site's Interpretative Centre and Museum of the Roman Army.
http://www.romans-in-britain.org.uk/...roman_fort.htm


Coventry in Anglo-Saxon times is perhaps most renowned (infamous ?) for the naked ride of Lady Godiva and the fate of Peeping Tom:

The earliest surviving source for the legend is the Chronica of Roger of Wendover for the year 1057. He wrote that Godiva pleaded with her husband to relieve the heavy burden of taxes he had imposed on the citizens of Coventry.

Weary of her persistence, Leofric said he would grant her request if she would ride naked through the town.

The rest of the story is not documented at all, but it is said that so great was her compassion for the people of Coventry that Godiva overcame her horror of doing this. She ordered the people to remain indoors with their windows and doors barred. Loosening her long hair to cover her as a cloak, she mounted her waiting horse.

Then she rode through the silent streets unseen by the people, who had obeyed her command because of their respect for her.

'The story tells how Godiva pleaded with her husband to relieve the heavy burden of taxes he had imposed upon the citizens.'
Only one man, called Tom, was unable to resist the temptation to peep at the Countess (hence the term 'Peeping Tom'). He unbarred his window, but before he could satisfy his gaze he was struck blind.

Her ordeal completed, Godiva returned to her husband, who fulfilled his promise to abolish the heavy taxes. According to Ranulf Higden's Polychronicon, Leofric freed the town from all tolls save those on horses. An inquiry made in the reign of Edward I shows that indeed, at that time, no tolls were paid in Coventry except on horses.

A pageant is held annually in Coventry to re-enact Lady Godiva's original route through the town.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient...odiva_02.shtml


In Mediaeval times, Coventry was wealthy, a centre for the manufacture of textiles and hosted a Mystery plays' cycle:

The plays began life as church dramas performed by the clergy, but the idea was soon taken over by various craft guilds, who each held pageant houses (store rooms) in various parts of the city.

The earliest mention of one is that of the Drapers' Guild in Little Park Street in 1392.


The Mystery Plays were usually played on Corpus Christi Day, beginning at the break of day with Creation followed by the Deluge and Birth of Christ.


At this point a Mary held the infant in her arms and a chorus of Lullay lullay, thou little tiny child, the Coventry Carol was sung, a carol in the original sense meaning simply a song.


The plays would be performed by Coventry's various craft guilds on their own pageant wagons, huge mobile stages on wheels, the top being the stage with the dressing and prop room below.


These were dragged around the city to different locations such as Gosford Street, the corner of Much Park Street, by New Gate, Broadgate, Cross Cheaping, near Greyfriar Gate, Bishop and Spon Gates and St Michael's churchyard.
http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/08...name_page.html

The plays were seen by Richard II and (more than likely) a William Shakespeare of Stratford.

Tudor drama was performed in the courtyards of inns and hospitals, such as Ford's Hospital in the city's centre:


Ford's Hospital, Greyfriar's Lane

From the Manor House, you can cross New Union Street into Greyfriar's Lane and on the right you will arrive at Ford's Hospital.

This hospital or "almshouse" provided sheltered accommodation for elderly people and was founded in 1509 by William Ford. Originally it housed five aged men and one woman, but was further endowed in 1517 to provide shelter for six couples, and again in 1529 by William Wigston for five more old couples with a small weekly allowance.

On the night of 14th October 1940 it was struck by a single bomb which killed the warden, a nurse and six residents.

The structure itself was quite severely damaged but not totally beyond repair.
http://www.historiccoventry.co.uk/tour/fords.php

In the 17th Century, Coventry declared for Parliament, and on his ascension to the throne, Charles II decided that Coventry should be rewarded by having its surviving city walls knocked about a bit.

The imprisonment and shunning of Royalist prisoners sent there during the Civil Wars gives rise to the common phrase: 'sent to Coventry'.

In the Industrial Revolution and after, Coventry again produced textiles especially silks and ribbons, but after the crash of this industry, changed to the production of bicycles, motorbikes and cars:


Thomas Stevens And His Silk Ribbon Pictures.

The Coventry weavers who made silk ribbon pictures could scarcely have imagined how eagerly their products would be sought after today by collectors in Britain and America. Although several Coventry manufacturers were producing very fine examples of these novelties it was Thomas Stevens whose name was to become most closely associated with this type of work. Silk ribbon weaving had been carried on in Coventry for more than 150 years, and was providing a livelihood for nearly 45% of the population, when, for an accumulation of reasons, the industry crashed in 1860.

When the industry collapsed in 1860, Stevens determined to make use of his experiments by producing pictures in such variety as to appeal to all tastes and, by pricing them within reach of the most modest purse, to stimulate a demand that would keep his workers in employment. He is sometimes stated to have patented the process while he was still working at the loom, but, in fact, none of his patents were for pictures. The earliest productions seem to have been bookmarkers, although Valentines, Christmas and birthday cards and scent sachets were available at an early date, as also were badges for schools, Masonic and Friendly Societies, festivals and clubs, woven to order. It is evident from reports in trade journals that the bookmarkers were put on the market in August 1862. They ranged from small ones at sixpence each to large ones for use in pulpits at as much as fifteen shillings.

The pictures included portraits of celebrities and local scenes, scriptural texts, hymns and psalms, and verses from the poets. Stevens also introduced to the Admiralty a hat ribbon with the name of the ship woven in gold wire. This he patented; it was adopted and for many years the firm was the sole supplier to the Admiralty Contracts Department.


It is the mounted pictures that provide a special interest for collectors. These vary in size, some being as small as 1 ½” x 4" and others as big as 7 ½ x 13". Subjects are very diverse; they include portraits of Royalty and other celebrities, such as George Washington, Buffalo Bill and Fred Archer, the jockey; scenes from history, as the Death of Nelson and the Signing of the Declaration of Independence and well-known buildings like Kenilworth Castle, the Crystal Palace and the Forth Bridge. There is a series of sports, including football, tennis, cricket, rowing, hunting, and horseracing and cycling.
http://www.stevengraphs.com/thomstevandh.html


The courtyard at Ford's Hospital:

[TudareWQT]

Originally posted by TheStinger
Is true Coventry would look much like York if it hadn't been for the Luftwaffe's efforts at urban redevelopment Coventry's planning department and the urge to turn a city in the moist West Midlands into a post-war concrete version of an Italian city in Tuscany I blame much more...



Still, I like the modern cathedral (though many don't).

[mosypeSom]

Originally posted by jkp1187
Around Pittsburgh there are a few battlefields/forts left over from the French and Indian War (a/k/a Seven Years War), and occasionally we pay tribute to all those brave chaps from England who gallantly died to keep Pittsburgh British! (And, somehow the war was won despite the fact that 'our side' lost most of the battles -- I'm still not clear on how that worked.... )
A bit like Vietnma really

[newpiknicker]

Originally posted by molly bloom
Coventry's planning department and the urge to turn a city in the moist West Midlands into a post-war concrete version of an Italian city in Tuscany I blame much more... Yes, I know Coventry folk who also blame the council. Spon Street used to be nice when I lived there.

What I never understood was the feeble "The City in Shakespeare Country" that they had on signs. I always thought the city did itself down with that.

[aNoBVsUW]

Lederhosen???

[Loopyjr]

Originally posted by Sir Ralph
Around the city, where I was born, the biggest battle in Europe prior to WW1 took place. Over half a million troops, resulting in about a hundred thousand deads and injured. The stench of so many rotting bodies infested the city for weeks. Umm, what city, what battle, what war, what year?

[lomonel]

Originally posted by Cort Haus


Yes, I know Coventry folk who also blame the council. Spon Street used to be nice when I lived there.

What I never understood was the feeble "The City in Shakespeare Country" that they had on signs. I always thought the city did itself down with that. You want they should brag about Vince Hill and Larry Grayson ?


I suppose they could have mentioned George Eliot, Clive Owen, Billie Whitelaw, Nigel Hawthorne, Frank Whittle, Philip Larkin, Jerry Dammers...

...'Philip Larkin Country' sounds impossibly depressing though.

Coventry and Warwickshire made geographic and cultural sense. Lumping Coventry in with Birmingham was a ghastly idea.

[valiumcheepval]

Originally posted by Cort Haus


They could have bragged about the motor industry :shrug:. Jaguar Country ?


Big game hunters only need apply....


It's not like Stratford-upon-Avon was in Coventry No, but they were both in Warwickshire originally.

And there is the Shakespeare link (however tenuous)...

Using information from the fascinating book 'Shakespeare the Player' by John Southworth, it seems quite likely that the first appearance of William Shakespeare in Coventry was in 1580, when he was almost certainly a sixteen year-old apprentice player with the group known as Worcester's Men. It is known that they performed in Coventry on the 22nd November of that year.
http://www.historiccoventry.co.uk/tour/guildhall.php

[tuszit]

Originally posted by Cort Haus

That's like Maidstone selling itself as the "Er, town in Dickens Country" because Rochester is up the road.
Given the places Dickens lived, worked or visited, where isn't 'Dickens Country' in the South East ?

My old school:

[22paseabelldaps]

Originally posted by Cort Haus


Yep. He used to live on Bayham Street - just down the road from me. The Dickens Museum in Camden is jolly super.

Sit at the desk that Dickens farted at.

What a treat.