Where/When No.4 (The Melandra Meander) and More

December 5, 2024 Tim Campbell-GreenLeave a comment

What ho, historical types, what ho!

So, the new Where/When ‘zine has just arrived, and just in time for Christmas! How has a year passed since I nervously unpacked Issue No.1, hoping that someone might buy it? I now have t-shirts available… but more about that in a moment. So then, Issue No.4: the lurid green cover was suggested by Master CG, so blame him for the migraines.

This one is subtitled The Melandra Meander, and, as you might have guessed, has a brief furtle around that most neglected of all Roman forts, Melandra. The Wander starts there, and then wends its probably weary way up the hill to The Hague, then up to St Michael and All Angel’s church, Mottram, and then down various trackways to Broadbottom, the viaduct, and on to Gamesleys old and new, and eventually back to the fort.

It does give a brief overview of the fort, but I think that really should be the subject of a Where/When special, as it is a hugely important site. It’s also slightly longer than previous Wanders, but it isn’t particularly difficult… although be warned it is incredibly muddy in places. You have been warned! It contains all the usual website shenanigans – history, a carefully planned wander, archaeology, psychedelically tinged photographs, bad jokes, pottery, a sense of ‘something or other’ and the obligatory snifter of the stuff that cheers… I mean, what’s not to love?

All four of the Where/Whens are now available to buy – I reordered some more of the long out of print No.1, as people have asked for it.

The price is £5 each – a mere snip to have my words droning on and on about old things ready at hand, any time day or night! They are available from the wonderful Dark Peak Books, High Street West, Glossop, or from this website (click here, you won’t regret it). Or simply drop me a line in the contact page, and I’ll get them to you ASAP. Or you could track me down, and make vague threats to me in order to get me to sign it – you won’t be the first (madness, I tell you!).

I’m also in the Glossop Chronicle, which is bizarre to say the least! Check it out here: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/781848889/10/

In other matters… I have set up an Etsy shop! This gives me a platform to sell my wares, which is amazing. At the moment it largely features A4 art prints taken from Where/When, on really good quality paper stock, perfect for framing and brightening up even the darkest of rooms (yes, Mr Shouty-Outy, I’m sure it would look good in your downstairs toilet… as always, I thank you for your input).

But also, crucially, we have some merchandise! If you fancy buying a 100% cotton t-shirt for Christmas, please feel free – I certainly won’t stop you! Now you too can recognise fellow Wanderers without having to resort to those tattoos that some of you have got. And now you too can look somewhat snazzy as you slither down a muddy bank whilst looking for pottery, or indeed simply spiffing as you tumble A over T down a ‘medieval trackway’ cursing me as you go (again, you won’t be the first).

Four slogans are available, and in a variety of colours:

‘What ho, Wanderer’

‘Wandering Where? Wandering When?’

Not Walking… Wandering’

Wander Definition

There’s also hoodies, and mugs! What’s not to love? And, of course, the ‘zine itself. And with much more in the pipeline.

Check the shop out here – DrTCG’s – you won’t regret it, and you’ll be helping me, too!

Righty, shameless self-promotion over with – I’ll have a proper December post ready in time for Christmas (probably involving pottery!). Until then, look after yourselves, and, as always, each other. And I remain, your humble servant,

TCG

Nothing in particular!

Gross Indecency… at Christmas?

December 19, 2018 Tim Campbell-GreenLeave a comment

That got your attention!

With an article on the Victorian rifle range half-written, and another on the sunken village of Derwent in the brewing stage, I thought I’d sprinkle some Christmas cheer!

I occasionally have reason to look at old newspaper articles via the British Newspaper Archive. There is always something interesting to be found, especially Glossop related, but this actually made me laugh out loud.

So, may I present to you, a Christmas special of the Glossop Cabinet of Curiosities, culled from the pages of the Manchester Times, and dated 28th April 1832.

GROSS INDECENCY

To the Editor of the Manchester Times

Sir, Permit me to bring before the attention of your readers a very gross breach of public decency, and, I fear, a rapidly increasing evil. I mean foot races in a state of nearly total nakedness. On Saturday the 14th instant, I had occasion to walk up Stayley Wood, in company with my wife, and when a short distance beyond the eighth milestone on the Mottram Road, we were met by four brutes, whose shapes, I am ashamed to acknowledge, were human, with no other article of clothing than an apology for a pair of drawers each; shouting and commanding us to leave the footpath, that they might pursue their race uninterruptedly.

Last Saturday, too, business led me to a gentleman’s house, in Glossop Dale; in passing through H______ T______ (presumably Howard Town – RH.) I observed a hat hanging from the bedroom window of a beer shop, which I understand was the prize to be contested for in this manner: a short distance further I met two candidates for this kind of fame, in the same state of nudity, surrounded by applauding crowds, amongst whom were many effigies of women (English matrons and maidens, as a Briton, I boldly deny they could possibly be).

Mr. Editor, I do assure this is a fact, I am writing a true statement. I know the names of many of the parties, but no part of your paper must be defiled with so base, so hateful a pollution as the mention of them would be. I naturally inquired of my friend “have you any constables here?” “Oh yes, many.” “Where do they reside?” “The constables for H______ T______ reside at the next door to the…” – judge my surprise – … very house where I had seen the prize exhibited.

It is not my intention, Sir, to reprove these diligent officers, but if I were to ask, with the sexton, “which be the malefactors?” Dogberry and Verges (comically inept policemen in Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ – RH.) would answer “Marry, that be I and my partner”. It is by no means my intention to interfere with popular amusements; the poor men have not too many; but against such outrages and violations of public decency I will protest to the last: a shirt would not impede the runner, and none but men lost to every sense of morality, decency, and religion, would ever sanction such proceedings. I will hope, for the honour of humanity, such proceedings will be prevented for the future. Should I be disappointed, I will beg permission to insert a castigation which shall make the authors and participants writhe in mental agony.

I remain, Sir, your humble servant, PUDENS (a Roman nickname meaning ‘modest’ – RH)

Outrage! — The actual letter, just to prove I’m not making it up!

So there you have it… there is very little I can add to that.

Expect more blogging soon, but in the meantime, should you be walking on Boxing Day, watch out for semi-naked joggers. Oh, and if anyone fancies meeting up for a drink, you’ll find me outside Wetherspoons, topless, fighting people for a hat.

Have a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

Your humble servant,

Nothing in particular!

Merry Christmas

December 25, 2017 Tim Campbell-Green1 Comment

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas, and here’s to a new Year filled with history and archaeology. To celebrate, enjoy a seasonal photograph of Mouselow taken from the SSE a few days ago.

Mouselow Detail — A closeup of the important bits. Apologies for rather poor photoograph… I really do need to invest in a decent camera.

Mouselow is an Iron Age hillfort, and a scheduled monument. It is also a hugely important part of Glossop’s history, and one that deserves a long post all to itself. This is just bit of Christmas fun.

In the photograph then. Just below and to the left of the antenna, you can see medieval ridge and furrow, a characteristic field mark derived from ploughing, highlighted in the snow. The snow, blowing in from one direction, sticks to one side of the ridge only, creating the stripes.

Also, just below that, it is possible to make out one of the massive ditches that would have surrounded the hillfort. Whether for defence, or for ritual reasons, to make the hill separate from the surrounding land, we don’t know. However, and whichever, Mouselow dominates the Glossop skyline.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Robert Hamnett.