May Day: Early 19th Century Traditions
Laying May branches Whilst many associate traditional celebrations of May Day with maypoles and Morris dancers, one early nineteenth century custom featured ‘Mayers’ (those included in May Day celebrations) arising at dawn to place branches of May outside neighbouring dwellings. Performed as a symbolic gesture, the larger the branch placed at the door, the greater […]
Lifting and Heaving: An Easter Custom
For all the Easter traditions that have been passed down to us over the centuries, there are a few that are have fallen by the wayside. Writing on the subject of “Ancient Customs” in the July 1783 issue of the Gentleman’s Magazine, the correspondent H.T. noted, A custom, which ought to be abolished as improper […]
The Archives and Special Collections Internship
By Rebecca Couchman-Crook, Archives Assistant I applied for the Graduate Gateways scheme that the University’s Career Service runs for students who graduated that year, after I had just graduated from Geology. One of the many internships listed was the one offered by the Archives and Special Collections within the Library, which seemed a great fit for me, having […]
![Plate illustrating the delights of Sussex, including Brighton Pavilion. From: SCM 06517, Reuben Ramble, pseud., Reuben Ramble’s Travels Through the Counties of England, (London, [1845?])](https://staffblogs.le.ac.uk/specialcollections/files/2015/12/SCM06517p12amended-150x150.jpg)
‘Bizarre and unintelligible’ or ‘unique and splendid’?
Prompted both by some research I am doing for an exhibition on the early history of the British in India and by a recent visit to the extraordinary Brighton Pavilion (in which, of course, the ‘Mogul’ style is very much in evidence) , I wanted to investigate some 19th century reactions to the building, as […]
Frost Fairs on the Thames
‘The weather continuing intolerably severe,’ John Evelyn wrote on 1 January 1684, ‘streetes of booths were set upon the Thames; the aire was so very cold and thick’.* This was by no means the first time the Thames had frozen over. The bed of the river was much wider than today, so ice tended to […]
The University’s History Told in Pictures
By Rebecca Couchman-Crook, Archives Assistant The photograph collection from the University of Leicester’s history is now more accessible than ever before! You can view them from the comfort of your sofa by simply visiting Special Collections Online and scrolling down to The University of Leicester Archives. In a move to make our collections easier to find and reach a wider […]
Who owned the Wicked Bible?
It’s been reported in the news this week that a copy of the so called “Wicked Bible” is to be auctioned at Bonhams in November. This edition of the King James Version was printed in 1631 and then hastily withdrawn after a printing error was discovered in the Ten Commandments. A crucial word was omitted from […]
John Evelyn and the war with the Dutch
On 27 October 1664, John Evelyn was appointed one of four Commissioners charged with the care of the sick and wounded and prisoners of the Dutch War. One of his core beliefs was that it was the obligation of a gentleman to participate directly in public life, to be ‘usefull to the publique’* and he […]
Discovering Collections Discovering Communities
This week I attended the Discovering Collections, Discovering Communities conference in the impressive Lowry Centre at Salford Quays. Now in its third year, the gathering is designed to foster collaboration between archives and academic research. This year’s theme was exploring new digital destinations, which attracted a bumper crowd of 500 delegates from national libraries and […]
Protesting against the Vietnam War in October 1965
Fifty years ago, in October 1965, mass demonstrations against the Vietnam War took place in the US and pacifist David J. Miller burnt his draft card, becoming the first person to be convicted and eventually imprisoned for doing so. For anyone interested in making a study of the protest movement, the Special Collections at Leicester […]
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