Monthly Archives: November 2018

A Bizarre Story

Posted on 30/11/2018 by carolinemmurray

Thompson Cooper (1837–1904) was the son of Charles Henry Cooper (1808–66), the distinguished Town Clerk of Cambridge, whose historical and biographical works on the city are still a major source of information. From 1842 to 1853 he published four volumes … Continue reading →

Posted in Bibliography, Biography, Cambridge, History, Italy, Literature, London, Museums and Galleries, Printing and Publishing, Venice | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Plant of the Month, November 2018

Posted on 28/11/2018 by carolinemmurray

This is an unlikely pick for the time of year: an aloe which looks as though it ought to be under glass but none the less is thriving (so far, in this unnaturally warm autumn) outdoors, in front of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Botany, Cambridge, Gardens, Natural history | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Commuting in Cycle City

Posted on 20/11/2018 by carolinemmurray

Those of my readers old enough to remember the craze for Citizens’ Band Radio in the 1980s will probably know that the ‘call-sign’ (if that’s the right word) for Cambridge was ‘Cycle City’. If you google ‘cycle city’ these days, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambridge, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Scots Welshman

Posted on 07/11/2018 by carolinemmurray

… or possible the Welsh Scot? John Pryse Campbell, first Baron Cawdor of Castlemartin (1755–1821) was a member of the famous Scots clan, but two marriages in different generations to the daughters of Welsh landowners had brought their huge estates … Continue reading →

Posted in Archaeology, Art, Biography, Classics, Gardens, History, Italy, London, Museums and Galleries | Leave a comment

The Paston Treasure

Posted on 04/11/2018 by carolinemmurray

Devoted readers (ho ho) will recall that one of the things I was NOT going to do after retirement was to miss exhibitions, or to arrive panting on the last day. Since the retirement has turned out not to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Biography, History, Museums and Galleries | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

I Blame Walter Pater

Posted on 03/11/2018 by carolinemmurray

‘She is older than the rocks among which she sits’ is one of those much repeated quotes which really needs a bit of context. Pater’s full paragraph on the subject of the Mona Lisa is positively rococo in its ramblings, … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, History, Italy, Museums and Galleries | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments