The devil is in the detail - historical research.
Getting the Details Right – The Orontes Voucher.
Tag: Whitehaven
Digging up the Detail – 19th Century burial fees
My current work in progress, The Shackletons of Whitehaven, has a scene where a mother and daughter - Dolly and Becky - discuss the cost of burial in Whitehaven. The customary fee for a four foot grave was a shilling (1/-) because the gravediggers only had to go down four feet. After that it was… Continue reading Digging up the Detail – 19th Century burial fees
How to avoid C. Spray – getting your names right.
My daughter asked me recently how I came up with the names for the characters in my books. Choosing them is actually something I really enjoy and I have several ways of doing it. Sometimes I just have it to hand and that's true of Stag in "New Beginnings on Vancouver Island". https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1913719383/ My hero was… Continue reading How to avoid C. Spray – getting your names right.
Mr Samuel Farrer settles his spirits account – March 10th, 1855
It would seem Mr Samuel Farrer was not a gentleman who settled his accounts promptly. He obviously enjoyed a tipple since on July 7th he took delivery of half a gallon of gin. From August 1st until December 1st he bought 6 dozen bottles of porter (dark stout). That's 72 bottles for three months. If… Continue reading Mr Samuel Farrer settles his spirits account – March 10th, 1855
Tracing Mr Whittle of 87 Church Street, Whitehaven.
This receipt is an original one made out to John Whittle of 87 Queen Street, Whitehaven, on July 4th, 1854, in payment of a lamp and paving rate. I assume it's a local lighting and street tax akin to our commercial rates. I thought I would spend a a short while seeing if I could… Continue reading Tracing Mr Whittle of 87 Church Street, Whitehaven.
Whitehaven’s Georgian Streets and Modern-Day Seagulls
Arriving in Whitehaven late Tuesday afternoon, via Wensleydale and the Hawes Creamery, nerves became a little bit frayed as we set about negotiating the one-way system for Church Street and The Georgian House Hotel. After being warmly welcomed and more than happy to say goodbye to the car (it's a long way from Lincolnshire), we… Continue reading Whitehaven’s Georgian Streets and Modern-Day Seagulls
From Lorna's Command Centre 