On now at nearby Shrewsbury, “The Wonderful World of the Ladybird Book Artists”, until early June 2022.
Oscar Wilde: The Complete Interviews
An unusual one, new and free on Librivox: Oscar Wilde: The Complete Interviews. 221 of them, all read aloud by Rob Marland.
The ‘Egyptian Temple’ at Biddulph – new 1920s photo
A new photo of the topiary ‘Egyptian Temple’ at Biddulph Grange, as it was in the first half of the 1920s. The card is “postally used in 1925”. The temple can be seen in the background.
It’s distant, but clear enough that one can make out the four sphinx at the entrance and see how the topiary work and formation was being done in the early 1920s.
Tentaclii returns (again)
My Tentaclii blog on H.P. Lovecraft is now back, more or less, at the new domain of https://www.jurn.link/tentaclii/
Hopefully it’ll be there to stay, this time.
New this week, on the Potteries Post
The Natural History of Tutbury – now online
Hathi now has online, in full-view, a scan of The Natural History of Tutbury. It’s not currently findable via Google Search. Appears to have come online in 2020.
Burslem Canal Arm in the 1940s
Interesting bird-eye map of Middleport, from The Burslem Port Trust. I just couldn’t figure it out, until I realised it’s not now or the future. It must show Middleport way back when the Trent & Mersey Canal Arm (‘Burslem Port’) was still flooded. Which would put it at the 1940s, and with the map presumably being drawn from the late-1940s RAF pictures of Stoke-on-Trent. The allotments above Rogerson’s Meadow are in ‘full spread’. A large chunk of them were fallow when I lived there. Interesting that the Meadow may once have had a shallow pool in the centre of it (seen on the far left of the picture). It always was a bit damp.
Re-Form Heritage is now calling for Middleport memories and objects, for their refurbished terraces in Harper Street. Especially “those authentic items that would have been in the house – ordinary items small or large”. These can be donated or given on-loan.
The week on the Potteries Post
The Man in the Moon 3.0
My musings on The “Man in the Moon” lyric from the Harley MS. 2253, and a suggested translation for-sense and a version with staging directions, is now in version 3.0 with notes. Wording of the modern English slightly improved, along with the staging directions.
Download: man_in_the_moon_mar_2022.pdf
Doctor Fergo’s Illustrated History of North Staffordshire
Some details of another Doctor Fergo show, staged in 1977. Also an Arthur Berry poem/song.
This week, on the Potteries Post
Precinct of Croxden Abbey
New on Past Track, Reconstruction of the Precinct of Croxden Abbey, circa 1340. Also its surrounding Lands.
