Tours Unbound: a notice for UK-based (or bound) listeners

I received an email from a brand new tour company in Surrey a few weeks ago; Tours Unbound offers various expeditions through Surrey, exploring several thousands of years of history from the Stone Age through Henry VIII’s actions against monastic houses. The owner of the company asked if I would be willing to spread the word about this startup – since they’re dedicated to letting clients experience history firsthand, I’m more than happy to do my part to publicize for them. If you’re in the UK or have plans to travel there, I’d recommend you give the company a look and maybe take one of their tours through the area. Check out the website at the above link and tell them you’re coming via British History 101 :)

Church bells may return to Chile

From the BBC:

This is an interesting bit of international Church relations, as a church near Swansea plans to return a set of Chilean bells to the original diocese after being sold for scrap after a fire.

“Before arriving at All Saints Church they were shipped from Santiago after a cathedral they were initially housed in burned down, killing 2,500 people.

Now the Chilean government has asked if they could return to South America.

Members of All Saints Church council said it was “right and proper” that they return home.

The three bells were initially housed in the Jesuit Church of Le Campana in the Chilean capital.”

The church the bells were taken from, as depicted before the fire:

And the bells now:

Where I wish I could be

"Iain Sandison from Kilmarnock captured this image of Inveraray Castle as it is surrounded by mist." Source: BBC "Your Pictures of Scotland 22 Jan - 29 Jan"

I was in prison, and ye came unto me

The end of a three-part series in which Michael Anthony presents a paper on American POWs during the War of Independence

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A new museum for Cardiff?

From the BBC. This is  particularly interesting for me, given this semester’s course on history museums in the 21st century offered at the University of Louisville by Dr. Carol Ely, Executive Director of Historic Locust Grove in Louisville, KY:

“The millionaire head of insurance company Admiral is donating a ’substantial sum’ of his money to a museum celebrating Cardiff.”

Henry Engelhardt, head of Admiral. Source: BBC

“The Cardiff Story will open in the old library building in The Hayes this autumn with the first galleries looking at how the city was shaped by industry.

The last dedicated city museum closed 85 years ago.

Since then, exhibits have been stored across the city centre at the National Museum Cardiff in Cathays Park.

The museum, which has also received funding from Cardiff council and the Heritage Lottery Fund, will be based around a core collection of around 8,000 artefacts, along with temporary exhibitions.

It aims to tell the story of Cardiff through the eyes of its people.”

***

Interesting to see where this goes. A city like Cardiff needs a solid local museum; one wonders how involved Mr. Engelhardt will be with the museum with his own hands, or if Welsh historians will take over for him. Certainly to a story to be followed with great interest. You can also check out the website of “The Cardiff Story” by following this link.

Bridging the Gap: Coryat’s Travels and the Jacobean Mind

Thomas Coryat, Odcombian Leg-Stretcher

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Left to the Preachers

Alcohol, Morality, and Legislation in 17th-Century Massachusetts Colony

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Zadok the Priest

Michael discusses an iconic composition – albeit with a low-tech, in-the-trenches approach.

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A brief appeal

To the loyal, cherished, and wonderful fans of the show,

I have a very brief and simple appeal to make. In an attempt to slim down Ye Olde Budget as much as possible, I realize that the cost of hosting British History 101 – $9.95 per month – is a personal budget item that could perhaps be lifted through the kind generosity of just a small portion of British History 101's listenership. Therefore, I humbly request that, if you are so inclined, listeners contribute just $1 US to the show, via PayPal to BritishHistory101@gmail.com. If we do some quick calculations, one finds that a $1 donation from 120 listeners yields enough to maintain the show's hosting cost for an entire year; contributions above that amount, or more people giving $1, keep the show in business longer, and would perhaps even allow me to upgrade my microphone.

HOWEVER – if it should come to pass that this is not a viable choice at this point in time for listeners, fear not! The show will, indeed, still be hosted; I have borne the hosting cost until this point, and I can continue to do so into the future if totally necessary. With that in mind, though, it would be a great help to me to have this particular budgetary burden lifted. Also, should we end up with a substantial amount of money, I will dedicate a portion of it to the show's continued success and donate the balance to a worthy cause, such as the British Museum or the Imperial War Museum.

The listeners of British History 101 are some of the greatest people I have ever been privileged to know, and appreciate any sort of assistance that can be offered. If nothing else, though, just continuing to download the show is a generous display of support and I am incredibly grateful for the continued presence of all the wonderful people out there that join me in discussing history.

Warmest regards,
Michael Anthony

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Mark your calendars!

Just in from the Beeb:

TOLKIEN FESTIVAL PLANNED FOR TOWN

“The influence the Welsh language had on books by JRR Tolkien is to form part of a major new festival in Powys to honour the author.

The Festival in the Shire will celebrate themes inspired by Tolkien, whose novels included Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

Fans of the writer, leading academics and illustrators are expected to attend the planned event in Machynlleth.”

Read the rest of the article on the BBC Wales site (for some reason, the blog won’t allow me to link it). You can also check out the official site at www.festivalintheshire.com where you will find that the festival is planned for 13-15 AUGUST 2010. Mark your calendars – I expect to see ALL of you there!