Fetch Treasure Hunt
2 lurkers |
108 watchers
Mar 2020
8:56pm, 31 Mar 2020
1,578 posts
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beebop
Right, three more to go for me - first up, a name from literature. I could have gone with a plaque on the house where poet W H Auden was born, but it’s a dull black rectangle on a very large and symmetrical house, so I thought I would instead take a picture of a fairly symmetrical house with a smaller than usual allowance of straight lines: When I moved to York, it was a shoe shop. Now it’s a gin shop, and I’ve just heard that they’ve started a local delivery service. Mmm, nice gin. 🍸 Thomas Herbert, born in this house, travelled further than most people, being part of an embassy to Persia which took just over three years and included visits to parts of Africa, Arabia, India as well as Persia, with many places besides. A visit to Mauritius means he was the first Englishman known to have sketched a dodo. He writes that the Dutch name for the bird was doed-aars, but doesn’t give the translation.* On returning home, he wrote a book about his travels, and revised it for two further editions. This is a modern reprint, but that is not his sketch of a dodo. He had a minor place at the court of Charles I after his return, which might have contributed to his being appointed as part of the guard of Charles I after the king was arrested during the Civil War. He wrote another book about this time called Threnodia Carolina, although it was not published until much later. He was given gifts by the king just before his execution at Whitehall which included a First Folio of Shakespeare, which is a more famous name from literature. Richard III is also a name from literature, because of Shakespeare’s plays, but although he might have walked along Pavement at some time, he never walked past this actual house as it wasn’t built until after his death in battle. Really reaching here, especially as I took this photo in February. Thomas Herbert, having been knighted by Henry Cromwell, was subsequently given a baronetcy by Charles II (the knighthood did not outlast the Protectorate), and after seeing out the Great Plague and the Great Fire in London he retired to York and lived the rest of his life at Petergate House, probably less than half a mile away from his birthplace. After the Herbert family moved out from the house (1618-ish), the next occupant was Sir Roger Jacques, the great great grandfather of Lawrence Sterne, the author of Tristram Shandy. A distant link to another name from literature. The Golden Fleece, the pub next door, dating back to at least 1503 (and boasting five ghosts on the premises) also has a literary connection - a young man named Matthew Todd wrote a journal, with sketches, of his Grand (European) Tour from his perspective as a servant. The Tour came to a more abrupt ending than expected when Bonaparte’s escape from Elba made Europe a bit too adventurous. Matthew Todd and his Swiss wife later ran the Golden Fleece. The journal was published later (much later), edited by Geoffrey Trease. Trease wrote a book, Violets for Bonaparte, which is the story of a young man who went as a servant on his employer’s Tour, made sketches throughout, and had an adventurous return to England with his foreign (not Swiss) future wife after Bonaparte’s escape etc. Final name from literature for this post. If you read all this, sorry for going on so long. * Translation: fat-arse. They were fairly round birds, but that’s just rude. |
Mar 2020
9:11pm, 31 Mar 2020
17,265 posts
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Chrisity
Very interesting BB, i think you win the literature prize.
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Mar 2020
9:17pm, 31 Mar 2020
1,579 posts
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beebop
Two more to go, and less than three hours to the beginning of April. Better write less. The Archers, it’s set in Kent, right? Or thereabouts, anyway. Possibly. Arable done, on to dairy: A chorus line of Jerseys in their winter quarters, waiting for the fields to dry and the grass to start growing. Having said that, they may well be out in the fields already for all I know as I haven’t been past since taking this photo. Curious cows: |
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Mar 2020
9:31pm, 31 Mar 2020
1,580 posts
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beebop
Lastly, and with plenty of time in hand, reflections in water. River Foss, getting on for sunset: Askham Bog Pond, Askham Bog Nature Reserve, with conveniently-timed sunshine: Not a euphonious name, but my favourite picture of all the ones I took for this challenge. Thanks again, BBL! A very enjoyable list. |
Mar 2020
9:33pm, 31 Mar 2020
3,996 posts
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Alice the Camel
Some superb photos there, beebop
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Mar 2020
9:48pm, 31 Mar 2020
9,288 posts
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XB
Fab pics.
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Mar 2020
11:21pm, 31 Mar 2020
8,217 posts
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BaronessBL
Great pictures there and fascinating on the literature one too.
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Apr 2020
12:01am, 1 Apr 2020
17,267 posts
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Chrisity
Oi Fetch, you are late 
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Apr 2020
12:04am, 1 Apr 2020
17,268 posts
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Chrisity
For those who have stayed up especially for this (just me then) April Treasure Hunt. (outdoors) 1. Fool 2. Bird 3. Bee 4. Punny Sign 5. The Simpsons 6. Sunlight 7. Z 8. Happy 9. Nine 10. Snow (for Alpenrose and ITG, others may need to be more creative) |
Apr 2020
6:37am, 1 Apr 2020
13,747 posts
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HowFar?
That’s a tantalising list, Christy. I have blogged my March list. fetcheveryone.com/blog-view.php?id=1057 |
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