Cottage Capers

On this day in history….9th March 1566

On this day in history : 9th March 1566 – David Rizzio, private secretary to Mary Queen of Scots, is murdered at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh – in front of the Queen….

17th Century portrait, said to be of David Rizzio – Public domain

Rizzio was born near to Turin, Italy around 1533…. He came to the Court of Mary initially in his capacity as an accomplished singer and musician….becoming her private secretary around the time that she was embarking on her courtship with Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley – who on the 29th of July 1565 became her second husband….

In the beginning Mary was infatuated with Darnley – but it was soon to all go wrong…. Darnley was not a nice man – he was vain, arrogant, violent, a womaniser and a heavy drinker…. He also wanted all the power for himself…. Mary had been prepared to rule jointly with her husband – but he expected her to step aside…. This angered Mary – and by the end of 1565 the pair were estranged – even though by now she was pregnant….

Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley – Public domain

As well as wanting the crown to himself, Darnley also wished to change the religion of Scotland from Catholicism to Protestantism…. Mary, obviously, was a devout Catholic…. He began to plot and scheme, with the help of his Protestant associates…. These were to include his father – the 4th Earl of Lennox – William Maitland – who was angered that Mary had chosen Rizzio as her private secretary and Lord Ruthren…. Also involved were the Earl of Moray, Lord Lindsay, the Clerk Register James Balfour, the Lord Justice Clerk John Bellenden and many other noblemen….

Mary and Rizzio, a fellow Catholic, became close friends – their closeness began to raise a few eyebrows within the Court and Darnley was insanely jealous…. Encouraged by his Protestant friends he came to believe that Mary and Rizzio were having an affair – he was convinced the baby she was carrying was not his but had been fathered by Rizzio….

Mary Queen of Scots – Francois Clouet – Google Art Project – Public domain

At around 8pm on Saturday the 9th of March Mary, Rizzio and a small group of friends were taking supper in a room next to the Queen’s bed chamber… After overpowering the royal guards around 80 men, led by Lord Ruthren, made their way to Mary’s rooms…. Darnley entered first and addressed his wife…. His accomplices then burst in and Lord Ruthren demanded that Rizzio go with them…. Mary, realising that he was in danger, ordered them to leave “under pain of treason”…. Ruthren told Darnley to seize Mary – and a struggle broke out as her friends and servants intervened…. Rizzio took refuge behind Mary as more of Darnley’s assassin squad appeared and attempted to stab him…. Mary was pushed aside and she was restrained by Darnley…. She could have done nothing to help Rizzio anyway – as a gun was aimed at her six- month pregnant belly…. She thought they intended to kill her too….

Rizzio was dragged screaming from the room into the adjoining audience chamber…. He was stabbed over 50 times…. After being stripped of jewellery and clothes Rizzio’s body was then thrown down the stairway….

The Murder of Rizzio, 1787 by John Opie – Public domain

On this day in history….8th March 1909

On this day in history : 8th March 1909 – The birth of Beatrice Shilling – aeronautical engineer and amateur racing driver – who during WW2 designed and developed ‘Miss Shilling’s Orifice’…!

Beatrice Shilling – Woman Engineer Journal, vol.10, Summer 1969 – Public domain

Beatrice, a butcher’s daughter, was born in Waterlooville, Hampshire….and at the age of 14 bought her first motorbike, which she loved to tinker with…. She already knew that she wanted to be an engineer….

On leaving school in 1926 she went into an apprenticeship at an electrical engineering company run by Margaret Partridge, a founder member of the Women’s Engineering Society…. Here Beatrice installed and wired generators but Margaret, keen for women to progress in engineering, encouraged her to go to university – even giving her an interest free loan to cover her tuition fees….

Margaret Partridge – Woman Engineer Journal, vol.10 Spring 1968 – CC BY-SA 4.0

Beatrice attended Manchester’s Victoria University to study electrical engineering, for which she gained her bachelor’s degree in 1932…. She was one of only two women engineering undergraduates at the university…. She then went on to attain a Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering…. It was whilst at university that she took up racing after joining the motorcycle club….

After working briefly as a research assistant at Birmingham University Beatrice joined the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough, initially as a technical writer…. She later worked in an engineering role, then becoming a Senior Technical Officer…. She worked at the RAE until her retirement in 1969….

When she wasn’t working she could often be found racing…. She won many races, including against professional riders – and won Brooklands’ Gold Star – after lapping the Brooklands circuit at over 100mph…. She was later to lap it at 106mph – making her the fastest woman to ever go around the track….

Beatrice on her Norton motorbike, 1930s – Fair use

In September 1938 Beatrice married George Naylor, a colleague at the RAE…. He was to serve as a bomber pilot during WW2, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross…. It was also during the War that Beatrice designed her ‘orifice’….

During the 1940 Battle of Britain pilots commonly experienced and complained of serious problems with fighter aircraft with Rolls-Royce Merlin engines – such as Spitfires and Hurricanes…. When embarking on a nose dive and experiencing negative gravity the engine’s carburettor would flood, causing the engine to stall…. German aircraft used fuel injection and so did not have the same problem…. They soon started to take advantage – Britain needed to find a solution….

Rolls-Royce Merlin engine – Public domain

Beatrice developed a restrictor to solve the problem…. A type of brass, thimble shaped device with a hole in it, that could be simply fitted into the carburettor…. It would then limit the fuel flow and prevent flooding…. She then led a small team of engineers and they travelled between RAF bases fitting the devices into the Merlin engines – meaning the aircraft did not have to be taken out of service…. It served as an effective stop-gap until the introduction of the pressure carburettor in 1943…. Pilots affectionately named it ‘Miss Shilling’s Orifice’ – or even more simply as ‘Tilly’s Orifice’….

After the War Beatrice and George became involved with car racing….modifying and maintaining their vehicles in their own home workshop…. They started out with a Lagonda Rapier, which was heavily modified….and then between 1959 and 1962 they raced in an Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite – often at Goodwood….

Beatrice was awarded an OBE in 1947 in recognition of her work and in 1970 she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Surrey….

British History

On this day in history….7th March 1895

On this day in history : 7th March 1895 – The birth of Dorothy de Rothschild – English philanthropist and activist for Jewish affairs, who’s husband bequeathed Waddesdon Manor to the National Trust….

Baroness Dorothy de Rothschild with Knesset speaker Kadish Luz – Image : Israeli National Photo Collection – Public domain

Dorothy Mathilde. Pinto, known as ‘Dolly’ to her friends, was born in London…. In 1913, at the age of 17, she married 35-year-old James Armand de Rothschild (Jimmy) – the son of Edmond James de Rothschild, a member of the French side of the Rothschild international banking dynasty…. In 1922 James inherited Waddesdon Manor, near to Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire….and it became their country home…. (They also had a London home in St James’s Square)….

Waddesdon Manor – Image : DeFacto – own work CC BY-SA 4.0

James served as Liberal MP for the Isle of Ely from 1929 to 1945; he also carried on supporting his late father’s Zionist causes, donating 6,000,000 Israeli Pounds towards the building of the Knesset in Jerusalem…. Dorothy actively supported and helped her husband…. After his death in 1957 she carried on his Zionist interests, giving her own gift of the Supreme Court of Israel building and she became Chairman of Yad Hanadiv – the Rothschild family charities in Israel….

After James’s death Waddesdon Manor, its contents and 120 acres of grounds were bequeathed to the National Trust…. Dorothy retained the rest of the estate, including a mansion house at Eythrope…. She became very involved in the preservation and development of Waddesdon, chairing the Management Committee – and had a very strong influence….

The Morning Room – Image : National Trust, John Bigelow-Taylor, own work CC BY-SA 4.0

Waddesdon Manor was built for Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, who wanted a house suitable to house his collections and to entertain his fashionable guests…. He bought the Waddesdon Estate from the Duke of Marlborough in 1874…. His desire was to have a home in the style of a Renaissance chateau – and he chose architect Gabriel-Hippolytus Destailleur, who had overseen the restoration of many chateaux in the Loire Valley region, to design it…. The gardens were laid out by French landscape architect Elie Laine…. The foundation stone was laid in 1877 and after its completion many an important guest was entertained there, including Queen Victoria herself, in 1890….

Dining Room – Image : Glen Bowman via Flickr CC BY 2.0

Ferdinand died in 1898 and the manor passed to his sister, Alice de Rothschild…. She was to add many significant pieces to its collections, including furniture, textiles, artwork and Meissen porcelain…. It was after her death in 1922 that it was to pass to James and Dorothy….

East Gallery – Image : National Trust, John Bigelow, own work CC BY-SA 4.0

After its bequeathment to the National Trust Waddesdon has never since been used as a residential home…. It opened to the public in 1959 and around 27,000 visitors were received in the first year…. Dorothy died on the 10th of December 1988 at the age of 93; she left £94,117,964 – equating to over £254m in today’s terms – which was the largest probated estate in England and Wales at that time….

Grey Drawing Room – Image : National Trust, John Bigelow-Taylor, own work CC BY-SA 4.0

After her death Dorothy’s nephew, Jacob 4th Baron Rothschild, inherited her estate and took over her responsibilities to Waddesdon Manor…. A major restoration project took place between 1990 – 1997….

Nowadays the Rothschild Foundation, which was established in 2010, is a consolidation of three Rothschild charitable trusts – including The Alice Trust, to preserve, protect and improve the estate…. the foundation manages Waddesdon on behalf of the National Trust….

Tower Drawing Room – Image : Chris Hoare via Flickr CC BY 2.0

Many films have been made using the estate as a location – including Ladies in Lavender (2004), The Queen (2006), Sherlock Holmes; A Game of Shadows (2011) and The Infiltrator (2016)…. It has also been used extensively for TV productions, such as Howard’s Way, Downton Abbey and The Crown…. In 2018 over 466,000 visitors were received, it is one of the National Trust’s most visited properties…. In 2017 it was awarded the visit England’s Large Visitor Attraction of the Year category….

South Fountain – Image : National Trust, Mike Fear – own work CC BY-SA 4.0

British History

On this day in history….6th March 1961

On this day in history : 6th March 1961 – George Formby, the Ukulele King and one of Britain’s most loved entertainers, dies after suffering a heart attack….

George in France during WW2 – Photo : War Office – Photographer Lt. L A Puttnam – Public domain

George Hoy Booth was born in Wigan, Lancashire on the 26th of May 1904…. His father, James Lawler Booth, was a successful music hall comedian and singer, who performed under the name of George Formby….

Young George did not do so well at school, he failed to learn to read or write…. At the age of seven he was taken out of school and sent to be a stable boy, firstly in Wiltshire and then Yorkshire…. He was then apprenticed to Thomas Scholfield at Epsom and at the age of ten rode in his first professional horse race…. But as he grew it became all too evident he was going to be too heavy to pursue a horse racing career….

George as a jockey, aged 10 in 1915 – Original publication Daily Mirror – Public domain

On the 8th of February 1921 George’s father died of a bronchiole condition…. To help him combat his grief his mother, Eliza, took him to London…. Whilst there they visited the Victoria Palace theatre, where his father had starred….to watch a show by comedian Tommy Dixon – who was performing the late George Formby’s act…. He was even using the same costumes and calling himself ‘The New George Formby’…. George and his mother were furious – and it was then that young George vowed to follow in his father’s footsteps….

On the 21st of March 1921 George gave his first professional performance in a two week run at the Hippodrome, Earlestown, Lancashire…. He used the name ‘Hoy’ – his mother’s maiden name – and was then to go on tour as a support act….

In 1923 he began to play the ukulele and introduced it into his act…. As his popularity grew he changed his stage name to George Formby…. In 1934 his film career began…. He was to star in some 21 films, made over 230 records and made hundreds of stage appearances in his career – in his heyday of the 1930s and 40s he was one of the UK’s highest paid stars, earning up to £35k per film…. But for George it wasn’t all about the money – during World War 2 he turned down a lucrative Hollywood deal in order to boost morale by entertaining the troops….

Entertaining the troops in the ruins of a village in Normandy – from the collections of the Imperial War Museums

In early 1952 his health began to decline…. On the 28th of April he suffered a heart attack, for which he was treated and recovered…. He announced his retirement and returned home to Lancashire to recuperate…. During his recuperation he had a run of health issues including gastroenteritis, a suspected blood clot on his lung and had an operation to remove a fish bone stuck in his throat…. However, by April 1953 he felt well enough to make some public appearances, including turning on the Blackpool Illuminations in the September…. By October 1953 he was back working, at the London Palladium….

In February 1961 he suffered a severe heart attack at the home of his fiancée, Patricia Howson; it was an engagement that had surprised the public, as his wife of 36 years had only died two months before it was announced…. On reaching hospital George was given the last rites – but he was revived…. Only on the 6th of March he was to suffer another major heart attack – he died in hospital at the age of 56….

George and his wife on HMS Ambitious, 1944 – Public domain

George had made a new will just a few days before he died – leaving most of his fortune to Patricia – and nothing to his family…. The will was contested and six years of legal dispute followed…. Eventually an out of court settlement was reached; £5k was awarded to his mother and each of his three sisters received £2k…. According to Patricia she had to sell some of the jewellery that George had bought her to pay her legal fees…. She died in 1971, leaving £20k in her will….

George Formby remains today a cult figure around the world ~ “Turned out nice again”….

British History

On this day in history….5th March 1850

On this day in history : 5th March 1850 – The completion of the Britannia Bridge – linking the island of Anglesey and mainland Wales across the Menai Strait….

Original box section bridge circa 1852 – Public domain

The Menai Strait is a narrow stretch of tidal water, approximately 16 miles long separating Anglesey from the mainland…. Access across it had been solely provided by a road bridge – the Menai Bridge – a mile to the east and which had opened in 1826…. However, with the rise of rail travel a direct link to London was required – particularly to ease the journeys of MPs travelling from Ireland to Westminster, so a second bridge became necessary….

Postcard of the bridge circa 1902 – from the private collection of Jochem Hollestelle – Public domain

Initially consideration was given to using the existing bridge but it was the opinion of George Stephenson – ‘Father of Railways’ – that this particular type of suspension bridge would be unsuitable for locomotive use…. Consent for the new Britannia Bridge was granted on the 30th of June 1845…. Stephenson’s son, Robert Stephenson, was appointed Chief Engineer for the project, his design team included William Fairbairn and Eaton Hodgkinson…. They came up with a revolutionary tubular design; giant wrought iron tubes – two central main spans 140m long and two more spans at each end of 70m long…. It was thought initially that suspension chains would be needed but after careful consideration it was realised that this was not the case…. Compression force and tension would be dissipated as a train travelled across the tubes, enabling a heavy load to travel across the distance of the span….

1868 engraving showing Robert Stephenson with his team of engineers who designed the bridge – which can be seen in the background – Engraver James Scott – Public domain

Construction started on the 10th of April 1846 when the foundation stone was laid – the bridge was completed within four years…. On the 5th of March 1850 Stephenson himself fitted the last rivet into place, officially marking completion of the bridge…. On the 18th of March a single tube opened to rail traffic and by the 21st of October it was fully operational….

The bridge was decorated by four large limestone lion sculptures by John Thomas – two at each end…. Local poet John Evans wrote “Four fat lions, Without any hair, Two on this side, And two over there”…. And for 120 years those four lions oversaw the save passage of travellers across the Menai Strait….

One of the four stone lions – Image : Velela – own work – Public domain

On the evening of the 23rd of May 1970 a group of boys were playing inside the tube structure when they dropped a burning torch…. The wooden, tar coated roof caught fire and because of the nature of the construction of the bridge it was impossible for the emergency services to bring the blaze under control…. It spread from the mainland side all the way across to Anglesey before eventually burning itself out…. The structure was still standing but declared unsafe – tubes were visibly sagging and some had split open….

Section of the original wrought iron tubular bridge – which now stands by the modern crossing – Image : Velela – own work – Public domain

Four years later the bridge came back into use having been reconstructed – but it looked very different…. The tubes had gone and arches spanning between the retained original towers now provided support for the rail deck…. In 1980 a further road deck was added above the railway to carry the main A55 across….