Known for muck and brass, the grim north of England was formerly a hotbed of the Industrial Revolution, rich in sweat, resources, enterprise and plutocrats. Nowadays synonymous with grim decline, my wife and I have [more…]
Before George Stephenson’s name ended up on everything, a colliery manager from Newburn settled the one argument that decided whether railways would ever work. He won it with a hand-cranked cart, two iron engines, and [more…]
Part One can be read here: The Scrapbook of Sherlock Holmes, 6/6: The Giant Rat of Sumatra. Part 1 of 2 The following afternoon, replete with Mrs Hudson’s game pie and gooseberry fool, we found [more…]
“Grim up north” reflects how Northern England is seen today —neglected after decades of decline. Previously, the region produced immense wealth through the likes of textiles, steel, coal, shipbuilding. Influential industrialists’ fortunes rivalled those elsewhere [more…]
Featured Album: In Dreams This is a series of articles looking at albums from 1960 to whatever year we end up in. I will select a featured album for each year and the link for [more…]
40 or 50 years ago the SCG was probably the best place in the world to watch cricket. Sure Lord’s was more dignified and places like the MCG and Eden Gardens were bigger but this [more…]
Born in the same village as George Stephenson, 5 years earlier. The man who saved the Stockton and Darlington when the engines kept breaking down. The man who built Russia’s first locomotive… and then vanished [more…]
Part One can be read here: The Scrapbook of Sherlock Holmes, 5/6: The Wolf Man of Mayfair. Part 1 of 2 It was fortunate for us that George lived only a few minutes’ brisk trot [more…]
The ‘Grim up north’ trope reminds of Northern England’s story of endless decline. In reality, the region produced immense wealth through the likes of textiles, steel, coal and shipbuilding. Influential industrialists’ fortunes rivalled those in [more…]
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