Day 7, Irish Odyssey: Mizen Head, 2025: Me & the Shipping Forecast – nods to Robert Fitzroy and Seamus Heaney – Ireland top to bottom, Sea Areas Malin & Fastnet.
In the Beginning was the Word. I have always soaked up random knowledge like a sponge, which explains a slavish devotion to University Challenge, (pride in my infinitesimal contribution of right answers), and perhaps...
Bristol Women – Helen Blackburn, 1842-1903
It may seem strange to start with an obituary, but this is the way I first came across Helen, when I was filling in the background to our Irish holiday, April 2025. For Helen’s...
Irish Odyssey Day 6, Part 2. Valentia Island: The Slate Mines & Miss Helen Blackburn, Bristol suffragette.
This is one of those blogs which starts off with one subject and lands up with another, connected, but completely unexpected. Whilst I was drawn to the desolate beauty of the island, surrounded by...
TRANSPORTEES FROM GLOUCESTERSHIRE TO AUSTRALIA,1783-1842
During research to complete my series “Wanton Wenches & Incorrigible Rogues”, I came across this amazing and valuable piece of work. As several of my current protagonists – ones in whom I have a...
Irish Odyssey Day 6, Part 1: Valentia Island and the Richards Family of Kingswood
In our house, Valentia Island is iconic. If you knew the hair-raising, but much mocked, story of George’s first visit there, more than 70 years ago, with his Mum to buy a pig’s head...
Killed in a Coalpit updated
The picture above is me with my man George at Big Pit National Coal Museum, Wales for my birthday treat 13 June 1986. I wish we were young again, but I think I’m still...
“The railroad ran through the middle of the house………”
The railroad comes through the middle of the house. The railroad comes through the middle of the house. The trains all come through the middle of the house Since the company bought the land....
The short sad story of Harriet Guest, once of Brislington
The Newgate Calendar of Prisoners, 1785-1845 contains a notice of Harriet’s crime, the theft of three silver spoons valued at 20 shillings (£1), a sum of course, far greater in value then than today....
Irish Odyssey, Day 5: Pure Nostalgia and Family History
Having once got into hot water over the word “Bog” which was taken as a slur, I was wary about “The Kerry Bog Village – 18th/19th Century”, and doubly so when we neared the...
Irish Odyssey Day 4. The Gap of Dunloe
When it comes to the actualité of Day Four, I have a memory lapse and here, I shall commit sacrilege: I can take or leave views. I like to be in among them rather...
About Me
I have been researching the social history of the West Country for 50+ years. During this time I have collated information on a wide range of people living and working in the West Country including miners, ethnic minorities, petty criminals, sailors, tommies, benefactors, brassmakers and many more. The thing that I find amazing is that ordinary people always lived extraordinary lives. I hope you like my blog that brings together my lifetime of research.
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Bristol Women – Helen Blackburn, 1842-1903
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