This is the Podcast which is a taster for the Roman Walk on Saturday.
To find out about the three walks this Saturday click here
ROMAN LONDON – A LITERARY AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL GUIDED WALK – PODCAST FOR THIS SUNDAY’S WALK
Why do you think Cutty Sark has been popular as a name for whiskey and sailing ships?
Is the question that Terry Cook asked me, and this is my answer.
So the Cutty Sark is twice famous. Firstly as one of the first Tea Clippers and secondly, on account of the Witch nicknamed Cutty Sark (short skirt) in Tam O’Shanter, one of Robert Burns’ greatest poems. written in 1791. And everyone knows of Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet. Burns night has become world famous for anyone interested in Scotland.
The rest of this content has been reposted to March 27th
First Published 2022, moved March 27th 2026
Making my own Cog Almanac for my Halloween Walk
So, my Halloween walks depend heavily on almanacs for at least some of their content. I explain almanacs on another page, but they were a way of helping people keep track of the year, both reviewing past events, and looking forward to future ones.
One third of books published in London in the Stuart period were almanacs, but if you could not read or did not have the money you could buy or make a cog almanac.
So, I was printing out some images to show my walkers and thought why not make one? So I did.
Bit of wood, saw off 35cms. Each edge needs to represent a quarter of the year, so each centimetre mark represents 3 days, and one day extra 30 * 3 +! = 91 days per quarter. Use bread knife or hacksaw to mark the days off. Buy wooden drawer knob and double ended screw, fit to end of the piece of wood, stain or vanish the wood.
Then I need to find out what all the symbols mean, but they represent notable days like Saint’s Days (Michaelmas, Martinmas, Candlemas etc. , equinoxes, solstices, Christmas, Easter etc. etc..
You count the days off as the year passes.
Simple.
Walks coming up this Weekend!
ROMAN LONDON – A LITERARY & ARCHAEOLOGICAL WALK
Saturday 30 October 20/22 11.30 am Monument Underground Station
This is a walking tour features the amazing archaeological discoveries of Roman London, and looks at life in the provincial Roman capital of Londinium.
To book
Myths, Legends & Halloween Walk
Sunday 30th October 2022 2.30pm Tower Hill Tube
The walk tells the story of London’s myths and legends and the celtic origins of Halloween
To book
Myths, Legends & Halloween Virtual Tour
MONDAY 31st October 2022 7.30pm
The tour tells the story of London’s myths and legends and the celtic origins of Halloween
To book
Nice to get a call out (and a photo)!
This is a project I had a small part in.