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….
James de Rothschild – Public domain
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
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….
The Burnley News, 1921 – Public domain
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”….
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….
The modern-day bridge – Image : Velela – own work – Public domain
On this day in history : 4th March 1702 – The birth of Jack Shepherd – also known as ‘Honest Jack’ – a notorious criminal who escaped from prison several times, making him a hero to the public….
Attributed to Sir James Thornhill, chalk and pencil, circa 1724 – Public domain
Jack was born in Spitalfields, London – the son of a carpenter…. When his father died Jack’s mother could no longer provide for him and his brother, Thomas – and so she put them in the workhouse…. From here Jack was apprenticed out but badly treated…. Eventually he went to work as a shop boy for a draper, Mr William Kneebone – his mother’s employer…. It was Kneebone who taught Jack to read and write and then got him an apprenticeship with a carpenter….
For four years or so Jack was a decent hardworking young man….but there were those who wished to lead him astray…. Near to Jack’s workplace was a button maker’s shop belonging to Joseph Hayne, who also owned the Black Lion ale house in Drury Lane…. It was here that Hayne would entice young apprentices – as it was the hang-out of a hardened bunch of criminals always on the lookout for new blood….
Jack began to frequent the Black Lion and found himself spending time in the company of fallen women – especially one in particular – ‘Edgworth Bess’’ so-called because she hailed from Edgworth….although her real name was Elizabeth Lyon…. Soon Jack was stealing small items from the houses he worked in, trinkets, silverware and the like, to keep his new lady friend happy….
George Cruikshank – Public domain
It wasn’t long before Jack’s carpentry work began to suffer…. With only two years of his apprenticeship left to complete he quit his position…. Encouraged by Edgworth Bess he took up a life of crime, progressing on to breaking into houses to supplement his income…. He continued to work as a tradesman carpenter so he could carry on stealing from his clients….
Jack and Edgworth Bess started to live together as common-law man and wife…. When she was arrested and imprisoned in St Giles Roundhouse he was refused permission to visit her…. Undaunted, he broke into the prison and ‘rescued’ her….
He was now leading the life of a seasoned criminal – and he wasn’t the only one…. His brother, Tom – also a carpenter – already had a conviction for stealing his master’s tools and had received a branding on his hand for his trouble…. Jack, Tom and Edgworth Bess committed a burglary on a linen draper’s in Clare Market – scared he would hang this time Tom put all the blame on to his brother…. A warrant was put out for Jack’s arrest – only he couldn’t be found….
There was no honour amongst this group of thieves…. Jack was invited to an ale house for a game of skittles by fellow felon James Sykes – also known as ‘Hell and Fury’…. Sykes had laid a trap, by tipping off a constable, so that he could get his hands on the reward money…. Jack was arrested, taken before the magistrate and imprisoned in St Giles Roundhouse – only to make his escape by breaking out through the roof….
It was a short while after that Jack was crossing Leicester Fields with Benson, an associate…. Seeing a chance to steal a gentleman’s pocket watch Benson thought he would try his luck….only it wasn’t his lucky day…. The gentleman cried out “pick pocket!” – and Jack found himself back in prison, the St Ann’s Roundhouse this time…. When Edgworth Bess turned up to visit him she too was detained on suspicion of being an accomplice….
The following day, after an appearance before the magistrate, the pair were sent to New Prison…. As ‘husband and wife’ they were allowed to stay together and were housed in ‘Newgate Ward’…. They were visited by well wishing acquaintances, who smuggled in tools for Jack to attempt an escape…. A few days later he sawed through his shackles, made a hole in the wall and then using bedsheets tied together he and Edgworth Bess lowered themselves to the ground below…. They then managed to scale the prison gates and made their escape….
George Cruikshank – Public domain
By this time Jack was gaining fame for his exploits…. He was a good looking chap, with a likeable character and a cheeky line in banter…. Other thieves begged to be allowed to go a-thieving with him…. He was to go into partnership with Joseph ‘Blueskin’ Blake – but they were to be betrayed by some rival crooks and Jack was to be arrested yet again – and held at Newgate Prison…. He faced prosecution on three accounts at the Old Bailey – but was to be acquitted of the first two through lack of evidence…. However, he was found guilty of the third and sentenced to death – the date being set for Friday the 4th of September 1724….
Jack wasn’t beaten yet though…. He managed to loosen an iron bar on a window of his cell….when visited by Edgworth Bess and another female friend, Moll Maggot, the two women distracted the guards and he removed the bar…. Being of slight build and only 5ft 4” tall Jack managed to squeeze through the gap – he was then smuggled out of the prison dressed in women’s attire – once again he had escaped….
George Cruikshank – Public domain
After two weeks of freedom Jack was rearrested on the 9th of September by a posse from Newgate Prison – and he was returned to the condemned cell…. His fame had spread – he was visited by many, some out of curiosity and others wanting to help…. However his plans to escape were thwarted when a stash of files and tools were found in his cell…. He was taken to a strong room within the prison, known as ‘the Castle’…. Here he was clapped in leg irons and chained….and when he managed to pick the lock to those found himself handcuffed as well….
Public domain
Jack’s brother and Blueskin were arrested on the 9th of October and the following day Tom was transported…. Blueskin faced trial on the 14th – when evidence was given against him, by a rival, Blueskin attacked him in the courtroom with a pocket knife – slashing his throat…. The disturbance quickly spread throughout Newgate Prison, which was situated next door…. Jack took advantage of the commotion – he managed to unlock his handcuffs and broke through the ceiling…. Still wearing leg irons he continued to break through another six rooms until he reached the prison chapel, from there he managed to reach the prison roof…. He returned to his cell, fetched a blanket, which he then used to reach the roof of an adjacent house…. Jack then broke in, crept down the stairs, out of the door and onto the street…. He made his way to Tottenham, where he hid in a barn…. When discovered by the owner he convinced him that he had escaped from Bridewell Prison where he was being held for not supporting a bastard son! Telling the same story to a passing tradesman he paid him 20 shillings to remove his leg irons….
People were astonished by Jack’s escapades…. Daniel Defoe, who was then a journalist, covered his story and wrote pamphlets about him…. However, two weeks later Jack was arrested one last time…. He had broken into the establishment of a pawn broker and helped himself to a black silk suit, a silver sword, wig and all the finery of a gentleman…. He then went on a bender with two of his lady friends…. He was apprehended during the early hours of the 1st of November 1724 absolutely rip-roaring drunk…. He was taken back to Newgate and placed in a stone room where he could be watched at all times…. As an extra precaution he was chained down with 300lbs of iron weights…. Such was the interest in him that his gaolers charged 4 shillings a time to see him…. The King’s painter, James Thornhill, painted his portrait…. A pubic outcry called for his sentence to be commuted to transportation and when he was taken before Mr Justice Powis, at Westminster Hall on the 10th of November, he was offered the chance to reduce his sentence – if he informed on his associates…. But he refused and the death sentence was upheld…. The following day Blueskin was hanged and Jack took his place in the condemned cell….
Engraving by George White – Public domain
On Monday the 16th of November Jack was taken to Tyburn, to the gallows…. A last attempt at escape failed, as the penknife he had been intending to use to cut the ropes, that bound him on the way to the gallows, was discovered…. The procession of his cart through the streets had something of a carnival atmosphere – some 200,000 people lined the streets to see him go by…. Rather than the usual rotten fruit, stones and worse hurled at a cart making its way to Tyburn, the good natured crowds celebrated Jack….
Once the hangman had the noose in place sadly, for Jack, it was not to be a quick death…. Due to his slight stature he had to endure a long, traumatic strangulation…. After the obligatory 15 minutes waiting time following death, his body was cut down…. The crowd surged forward, preventing Jack’s friends from snatching his body, as was their plan – in the vain hope that by whisking him away to a doctor he may be revived….
Engraving by George Cruikshank – Public domain
Jack’s remains were buried in the churchyard of St Martin-in-the -Fields later that evening….
On this day in history : 3rd March 1985 – Miners’ leaders vote to call off the longest industrial dispute Britain had ever seen – without any deal over proposed pit closures….
Miners’ strike rally London, 1984 – Image : Nick from Bristol CC BY 2.0
Ian McGregor, Chairman of the National Coal Board – a Government body – had announced on the 6th of March 1984 that plans were being made to cut production in Britain’s coal industry, which would result in the closure of some 20 pits and the loss of 20,000 jobs…..
Some of these pits still had plenty of workable coal to offer; one such colliery was Cortonwood in South Yorkshire…. Miners at Cortonwood walked out on strike….triggering a chain reaction across the country as other collieries joined them…. However, there were some mines who opted to continue working….this prompted ‘flying pickets’ to target these pits, along with power plants and steel works…. Often violent scenes erupted….
Badge produced by Kent NUM in support of miners’ strike – Image : Simon Speed – own work – CC0
The National Union of Miners, led by Arthur Scargill, were divided but decided not to ballot its members…. Few other trade unions lent their support…. As a result the strike action was declared illegal in September 1984 as no national ballot had been held…. A breakaway union had formed in Nottinghamshire, calling itself the Union of Democratic Mineworkers….
Arthur Scargill on a demonstration rally against pit closures – Image : Tyne and Wear Archives & Museums
Just before Christmas miners were encouraged to return to work with the promise of extra pay and bonuses – approximately 19,000 took up the offer but two thirds of the workforce were still out…. Clashes between flying pickets and those working became commonplace – as did confrontations with the police…. Some 3,000 extra police officers were drafted in to deal with protests during the lifetime of the action….and approximately 10,000 arrests were made….
Clashes at Rotherham Silverwood Pit – Image : Paige via Flickr
The Conservative Government’s policy had been to stock pile as much coal as possible, keeping as many miners working as it could and use the police to break up attacks by the flying pickets on those still working…. Margaret Thatcher was known to want to reduce the power of the trade unions….
Huge stockpiles of coal meant striking miners were unable to disrupt power supplies…. This became all too evident when the Central Electricity Generating Board managed to fulfil demand on the 8th of January when it was at its all time highest…. The NUM decided there was little choice but to return to work….
Protest march at Port Talbot – Image : Alan Denney via Flickr
Arthur Scargill announced that the miners would return to work on the following Tuesday but the campaign against job losses would continue…. The final vote of the NUM had been close – 98 to 91 for a return…. The picketing miners were bitterly disappointed with the decision – Scargill was booed and jeered…. Major restructuring plans for Britain’s mining industry were still in place….
Margaret Thatcher expressed relief that the action was over…. The Treasury estimated the strike had cost the country some £1.5bn…. The total number of lost working days collectively totalled over 26 million – the biggest since the 1926 general strike…. In context most of Britain’s collieries ended up being closed….
Cottage Capers 