Now I have always liked my history with a dash of fun.
I fell across Horrible Histories when they first came out and fondly remember that much earlier lampoon of all things historical which was 1066 and All That.
But that fun extends beyond the flippant and clever to nights when the story of the past comes together with a band of local musicians who make a memorable night.
And that was the book launch at the Lloyds which drew attention to Hough End Hall The Story.*
The book tells the story of the Hall over the last 400 years and the people who have been part of its history and was written to support the campaign to buy the building and convert it into a venue for community use.
All of which is well documented on the blog, so instead I shall wander off and reflect on how folk music can bring a period to life.
Listen to a sea shanty and you could be with the men of Nelson’s navy preparing for Trafalgar.
While those bitter angry songs of handloom weavers and textile workers pitch you into the Industrial Revolution with its heady promise of a different world where all things were possible.
But a world which existed against a backdrop of poverty and the exploitation of those doomed to live out short lives in awful conditions with only the workhouse to look forward to.
And last Saturday evening that was what we got when the Beech Band agreed to perform in aid of Hough End Hall.**
The songs came quick and fast and drew in customers from other parts of the pub which was a tribute to the group and got the message of the campaign out to a wider audience.
All of which leaves me to reflect on 1066 and All That published in 1930 which claimed that it was “A Memorable History of England, comprising all the parts you can remember, including 103 Good Things,5 Bad Kings, and 2 Genuine Dates.”
Of course it relied on the fact that you knew your historical knowledge and could appreciate the gentle humour which recorded that “Henry VII was very good at answering the Irish Question, and made a Law called Poyning's Law by which the Irish could have a Parliament of their own, but the English were to pass all the Acts in it. This was obviously a very Good Thing,” and that King John was a bad King because he "lost his temper and flung himself on the floor, foaming at the mouth and biting the rushes"
Not to be out done there is a chapter headed "Williamanmary: England Ruled by an Orange" and the simple observation that “The American War of Independence was the only war the British ever lost, because the Allies were on the other side.”
So less a serious piece of history and more that bit of fun which is what a all of us should do more of.
And on that note I shall conclude with a reminder that the second Hough End Hall history walk will be this Sunday, starting at the Hall at 1 pm and will gently cross Chorlton to the Lloyds where we will end up at the exhibition telling more of the story.
Along the way this free walk and talk will cover some of the dark deeds that happened in the township a bit about the hall and lots more about the people who lived here ............. all of which will be fun.
And those who like to be prepared the guide book can be downloaded at http://www.gladtobe.in/walk/
Pictures; Saturday May 16 in the Lloyds Hotel with a band and a book and lots of fun, courtesy of Pierre Grace, and title cover from 1066 and All That Penguin edition circa 1930 from an article from Rotten Books
*A new book on Hough End Hall, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/A%20new%20book%20on%20Hough%20End%20Hall
**Folk Songs & Tunes with The Beech Band, http://www.folkatthebeech.org/
***Rotten Book, http://rottenbooks.me/2012/10/10/a-historical-classic-1066-and-all-that/
 |
| The Beech Band and the book, May 2015 |
But that fun extends beyond the flippant and clever to nights when the story of the past comes together with a band of local musicians who make a memorable night.
And that was the book launch at the Lloyds which drew attention to Hough End Hall The Story.*
The book tells the story of the Hall over the last 400 years and the people who have been part of its history and was written to support the campaign to buy the building and convert it into a venue for community use.
All of which is well documented on the blog, so instead I shall wander off and reflect on how folk music can bring a period to life.
Listen to a sea shanty and you could be with the men of Nelson’s navy preparing for Trafalgar.
 |
| A little bit of historical fun |
But a world which existed against a backdrop of poverty and the exploitation of those doomed to live out short lives in awful conditions with only the workhouse to look forward to.
And last Saturday evening that was what we got when the Beech Band agreed to perform in aid of Hough End Hall.**
The songs came quick and fast and drew in customers from other parts of the pub which was a tribute to the group and got the message of the campaign out to a wider audience.
All of which leaves me to reflect on 1066 and All That published in 1930 which claimed that it was “A Memorable History of England, comprising all the parts you can remember, including 103 Good Things,5 Bad Kings, and 2 Genuine Dates.”
Of course it relied on the fact that you knew your historical knowledge and could appreciate the gentle humour which recorded that “Henry VII was very good at answering the Irish Question, and made a Law called Poyning's Law by which the Irish could have a Parliament of their own, but the English were to pass all the Acts in it. This was obviously a very Good Thing,” and that King John was a bad King because he "lost his temper and flung himself on the floor, foaming at the mouth and biting the rushes"
Not to be out done there is a chapter headed "Williamanmary: England Ruled by an Orange" and the simple observation that “The American War of Independence was the only war the British ever lost, because the Allies were on the other side.”
So less a serious piece of history and more that bit of fun which is what a all of us should do more of.
And on that note I shall conclude with a reminder that the second Hough End Hall history walk will be this Sunday, starting at the Hall at 1 pm and will gently cross Chorlton to the Lloyds where we will end up at the exhibition telling more of the story.
Along the way this free walk and talk will cover some of the dark deeds that happened in the township a bit about the hall and lots more about the people who lived here ............. all of which will be fun.
And those who like to be prepared the guide book can be downloaded at http://www.gladtobe.in/walk/
Pictures; Saturday May 16 in the Lloyds Hotel with a band and a book and lots of fun, courtesy of Pierre Grace, and title cover from 1066 and All That Penguin edition circa 1930 from an article from Rotten Books
*A new book on Hough End Hall, http://chorltonhistory.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/A%20new%20book%20on%20Hough%20End%20Hall
**Folk Songs & Tunes with The Beech Band, http://www.folkatthebeech.org/
***Rotten Book, http://rottenbooks.me/2012/10/10/a-historical-classic-1066-and-all-that/
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