The Egyptian Hall

This was mentioned in To Rescue a Rogue and BBC Radio 4 has a series on it. They're mini dramas, really.

There are so many interesting programmes on BBC 4.

You can listen here.

They call it Victorian, but it isn't. It was built in the Regency.

Jo

Causes of death

Another interesting little detail about causes of death. Industrial accidents and drowning, mainly, but note that all these are men except for the baby. Of course women were less likely to have such "violent" deaths that triggered inquests, but it wasn't just women dying off.

Title Abstract of Inquests delivered at York Lent Assizes (Aug 1755-Mar 1756)
Date c.1756
Description Contains details of places taken at, times when, dead bodies and verdicts as follows:
1) Latham, 2 Aug 1755, Henry Stubbins, accidently killed by a fall from a waggon
2) Cottonworth [Cottingwith], 2 Aug 1755, Peter Wilson, killed by a waggon wheel
3) Broomfleet, 16 Sep 1755, a person unknown, cast up by the River Humber
4) Routon, 23 Sep 1755, Thomas Dails, killed by a wain wheel
5) Hotham, William Akester, killed by a fall from a waggon by accidents
6) Bridlington, 10 Sep 1755, John Webster, killed by the stroke of a horse
7) Everingham, 2 Nov 1755, Francis Rushton, by accidents fell into the boyling copper
8) Loftsam Firry, 7 Nov 1755, Peter Sergison, drowned by accidents
9) Winteringham, 8 Dec 1755, Richard Hardy, found dead in a hemp pitt
10) Water, 11 Dec 1755, William Smith, killed by a fall from a waggon
11) Scampston, 23 Dec 1755, Jo'n Beilby found dead by the Act of Providence
12) Wellwick, 29 Dec 1755, Robert Hunter, shot himself
13) Muston, 13 Jan 1756, a female bastard child, murdered and buried
14) Bridlington, 26 Jan 1755, Mathew Griffin, drowned by accidents
15) Milestone house from Hull, 8 Mar 1756, William Abblett, infant, drowned
16) South Cave, 25 Mar 1756, Robert Story, killed by accidents

soul traveling and other folklore

Yes, it's active writing and research time, so there'll probably be more posts coming through here. Today it's Yorkshire dialect, which led me to this page, which has lots of good material. It also cites this song by Steel Eye Span, which I remember fondly.

The image is from Wikipedia here.

I'm quoting the first two verses. The rest are on the site with a link to them singing it. I can't find the true URL on this computer, so you'll have to click on examples and scroll down a bit. It's wake song, that is, one sung at a funeral, and about the soul's journey over the moors, which will be hard or easy depending on their actions in life.

This ean night, this ean night Every night and awle Fire and Fleet and candle-leet And Christ receive thy Sawle

When thou from hence dost pass away Every night and awle To Whinney-moor thou comest at last And Christ receive thy Sawle

I love this not only for the song and the dialect, but for the folklore and the philosophy behind it.

Jo

People in the past weren't always stupid!

Safety through eye make-up?

Yes, it seems that heavy Egyptian eye-liner might have guarded against eye disease.

The image is from this page about Neferiti

Perhaps that's why the lady on Chalice of Roses is wearing eye-liner, too. Back in the 12th century? Assuming she's Gledys of Rosewell, from my story.

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Jo :)