Whether it’s for period dramas or modern soaps, films or popular TV series, Grim’s Dyke has long been used as the perfect backdrop and location. It’s also had an influence on popular TV drama series Outlander – but that connection is not one you may initially think it to be! Author Diana Gabaldon, the writer of the Outlander historical time … Read More
Doctor Who: The Evil of the Daleks
Known for being one of the lost episodes of Doctor Who, The Evil of the Daleks was the season finale for series four of the popular TV series. Consisting of 7 episodes, each only 25 minutes long, filming took place during the month of April.The Evil of the Daleks was then broadcast on 20th May 1967 – with the remaining … Read More
The History of Mother’s Day and Mothering Sunday
Every year children around the world show their appreciation for their mothers, by presenting them with cards, flowers and gifts. For the those in the UK, the date for this ‘Mothering Sunday’ changes every year – falling this year, on 31st March 2019. However, for many, this special celebration is frequently referred to as ‘Mother’s Day’ – but they’re actually … Read More
Grim’s Dyke and its fascinating connection to Bletchley Park
Grim’s Dyke has an expansive history and is one of the most notably active sites in Harrow. Not only does it have a connection that goes back to the first years of the very first century, it’s also an important site of historical interest, due to the Anglo-Saxon earthworks known as Grim’s Ditch, its rich architectural connections to the architect … Read More
Share in Lady Gilbert’s love of roses, with this brief history
Roses are one of the most popular garden shrubs in the world. They’ve been grown since early civilisations, being grown in ancient Babylon, as well as in Chinese, Egyptian and Greek gardens, as far back as 500 BC. Lady Gilbert had a particular fondness for roses. She created a beautiful sunken rose garden within the grounds of Grim’s Dyke and … Read More
Where to stay when you visit Harry Potter
The award-winning tour ‘The Making of Harry Potter’ is an experience not to be missed. Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, have created an experience that delights old and young alike. If you want to enhance that experience further, why not bring your children to stay at Grim’s Dyke – it’s architecture will have them thinking they’ve arrived at their own … Read More
How to cater for children at your wedding
We all love a good wedding! It’s a lovely time for celebration, plus it brings the entire family together – including the old and young. Often though, young children can find the whole experience a little overwhelming. It can be a long day for them, plus it’s often geared more for the older guests. However, with a few simple tweaks, … Read More
How the humble Typewriter changed the artistic world
In Mark Twain’s autobiography, he claimed to be the first author to submit a typewritten book manuscript for publication. He used a Remington typewriter to type out his manuscripts and, in his autobiography, he states ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’ as being the first typewritten manuscript. The year – 1876. It has since been proven that the first typewritten manuscript … Read More
The portraits of W.S. Gilbert
The National Portrait Gallery currently has 13 portraits associated to Sir William Schwenck Gilbert. What’s interesting about all of Gilbert’s portraits is how they all show him as a natural sitter. His relaxed stance is evident in all of those later years portraits and he seems to be equally at home in front of a painter or a camera. Harry … Read More
How the Victorian comic book magazine was born
Comic Cuts was the first comic to be created in Britain. It went on to inspire a host of other comic publications by rival publishing companies. Then reporter, Alfred Harmsworth, was its creator and he used the comic to grow his small publishing firm into the largest periodical publishing company in the world, Amalgamated Press. Story papers, known as Penny … Read More