The Diary of Nathaniel Bryceson (Part 6)

[MaryA]

What a wonderful entry today, really gives the flavour of the architecture and the area.

Our Nat would have a shock if he could see London nowadays.

[steve_gus]

yes, one of the better entries today. I find it dissapointing when we know there are 250 entries and some are just about the birthdate of a royal. Bit of a waste.

Not sure it Nat would like or not the total change to 33 now. Guess he would like it, as 33 is now an Italian Restaurant (IL Siciliano) and 33A is a hairdresser. Would suit Nats Coffee House visiting and his attention to his appearance.

There is a blue plaque above 33 - it relates to commemorating Dr Joseph Rogers. Couldnt find out much about him.  Karl Marx lived further down the street for a time, lots about that blue plaque.

Read recently about Ms. Nicholson. If I recall, trying to kill the king was a hanging offence (not unreasonably) but he took pity on her and she spent the rest of her life in an asylum. Hanging or lifetime with lunatics, not much of a choice really.... but then she didnt have the choice.

[Ruskie]

One of the things I posted earlier was ...
I think we should try to get a blue plaque for Richmond Buildings ... " Nathaniel Bryceson diarist and generally interesting personality 1826-1911 lived in a house on this site  ..." 

How old do we think Number 33 is? It doesn't appear to bear any resemblance to the hotel Nat describes in today's entry.

[Ruskie]

" Nathaniel Bryceson diarist and generally interesting personality 1826-1911 lived in a house on this site  ..." 

Oh no! "....can only be erected on the actual building inhabited by a figure, not the site where the building once stood ..."    But I'm sure I've seen instances of 'lived in a house on this site' .... 

[Ruskie]

All is not lost!  There is always this:
http://www.westminster.gov.uk/services/leisureandculture/greenplaques/
 

[drykid]

Oh no! "....can only be erected on the actual building inhabited by a figure, not the site where the building once stood ..."    But I'm sure I've seen instances of 'lived in a house on this site' .... 

There are definitely blue plaques attached to sites of houses, rather than the actual house.  See this one (from Frith Street; close by to Richmond Buildings actually) for instance:



Not sure why the thing you've read says otherwise; unless they've revised the criteria now.

It would be great to have one in Richmond Buildings though; considering how drab it is now.

EDIT: hmmm I'm wondering if that's actually an official blue plaque, given the Association wording round the edge.  Oh well if other bodies can get "fake" ones put up then we can too

[deb usa]

hi to all

It's getting late here but I have read tomorrow's entry ...

Ann bought a book today  .... so I googled :

wiki:
The Whole Duty of Man is an English Protestant devotional work, first published anonymously, with an introduction by Henry Hammond, in 1658. It was both popular and influential for two centuries, in the Anglican tradition it helped to define. The title is taken from Ecclesiastes 12:13, in the King James Version of the Bible: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.[1]

The consensus view of modern scholars is that the likely author was Richard Allestree, but at the time of publication (towards the end of the Interregnum) the High Church tradition it represents was a politically dangerous position. The authorship was well concealed, and it has been noted that the work has been attributed to at least 27 people, beginning with Hammond himself.



was she trying to tell Nat something? 

deb

[Ruskie]

Hi Deb - that's an interesting find. Nathaniel commented on the "plates". Both Ann and Nat seem to like prints etc.

I suppose we don't know if she bought this for the content or the pictures - a fairly heavy going kind of book which probably implies that Ann was educated and literate. She paid a fair amount for the book:
In 2008, £0 1s 3d from 1846 is worth
£4.51 using the retail price index.
£46.40 using average earnings.

So does this mean that Ann is Anglican? As she attends the Tottenham Court Road Chapel we did wonder whether she may have been non-conformist. 

Nathaniel made me laugh when he wrote that he didn't like "night feats which disorder the system and break the rest". Let your hair down Nathaniel!  He's a funny lad, our Nat. 

[Ruskie]

An interesting snippet about the bean feast:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/09ju/
I think Nathaniel is too refined for this kind of celebration.