The Jobbing Historian

  Five Historic things you never thought you needed to know.#3 Stonehenge in 1916:  Presumably the sub contractor said it would be ready very soon and almost on budget It is claimed that when Cecil Chubb bought Stonehenge he stipulated people should have free access. Actually what he said is they could visit but this was ‘on the payment of such reasonable sum per head not exceeding one shilling for each visit and subject to such conditions as the Commissioners of Works in the exercise and execution of their statutory powers and duties may from time to time impose’. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Chubb ‘A Marvellous Drunk Woman’ This is Sir Walter Stonore’s description of Margery Cowpland in 1535. She had called Henry VIII an ‘extortioner and a knave’, Queen Anne a ‘strong harlot’ and ‘strong whore’ and told Henry’s man, Richard Heath ‘the Devil’s turd’. Sir Walter Stonor, who had been knighted on the field of Flodden, was sent to investigate. He wrote to Cromwell ...

 I really set up this blog to publish the essays / original research I was doing and wanted to share with others.  So far the things I have failed to write include the Plight of the Flight P Convoy [1944]; A brief history of pineapples in Britain to 1750 and an account of the changes in Luddington between 18760 and 1890. The 'Five Things' appeared because of rabbit holes. It became five, because ten might me too big a gap between publishing.  I have set myself rules. I mustn't 'go looking', these are all things that appeared on my feed, friends found or turned up when I was looking for other things and I thought were interesting. Farming provided the evolutionary push to make Europeans switch from darker to lighter skins.  The switch to a plant based diet meant early farmers were getting enough vitamin D.  Those with light skins in the sunless north of Europe got more of the vitamin, were healthier and so had more offspring - thus passing on the genes for a ligh...

 The first in an occassional series of stuff I found out when looking for other things and have a pressing need to share. Elizabeth Leybourne, wife of Thomas, 4th Baron  Darce and, more secretly, Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk was known as Bess of the Broad Apron because of the land she had inherited.  She died in 1567. Aged 31, from complications resulting from   childbirth. She was survived by five children. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Leyburne   In 1748 Sarah Piggan was sent to the Tothfield Bridewell for assaulting Mr Robert Bell.  The assault consisted of biting his thumb. Queen Anne had a First Lady of the Bed Chamber, called Flower Backhouse.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flower_Backhouse,_Countess_of_Clarendon   The first named trans person in English History was Eleanor Rykener. [1394] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John/Eleanor_Rykener Despite being the foundation of the Hawaiian Pizza, the pineapple was not introduced to...

Why this blog and why this picture. In the late 90s I began playing the part of Robin Hawkins, yeoman farmer in Suffolk.  I did some reading with the hope I could say some wise things like 'that is the sharp end of a cow.'  Having found this sort of thing out I thought other people might like to know of it.  Thus was born the Hogwash Press - a not for profit, we had no illusions, even then, enterprise.  Goodman Hawkins' Farmyard Crib sold some copies. It was followed by other titles designed to spread knowledge and was set at a price which meant we barely made costs back but the contents were more likely to be valued than if they had been free. The trouble with a rabbit hole mind is that you keep finding things out and it seemed a shame not to share those things with others.  The printed word is harder to sell but setting up a blog seemed to be a good place to continue to share.  Some of the things will be great matters of weight, with knowledge mined out o...