Parlour games were incredibly popular during the Victorian era, as Iām sure Sir and Lady Gilbert would attest! They were played primarily by the middle and upper classes, as a means to entertain dinner party guests and small family gatherings. Parlour games were designed for indoor entertainment and were primarily played in the parlour; hence the name āparlour gameā. They … Read More
5 Victorian inventions that inadvertently helped shape the British landscape
The Victorian era was a time of great inventions and discoveries. Numerous Victorian inventions have shaped how we live and work, but there are several that impacted on how the country looked too. Here are 5 of the best-loved ones. The postage stamp Sir Rowland Hill, an English teacher and social reformer, came up with the idea for the adhesive … Read More
Sir John Betjeman
Sir John Betjeman CBE, was the writer and narrator behind the critically-acclaimed BBC documentary āMetro-landā. It celebrated suburban life in the northwest of London and featured Grimās Dyke and Harrow Weald during the 50-minute, 1973 documentary. But what do we know about Sir John Betjeman? Born in London on 28th August 1906, Betjeman was born into a prosperous family. His … Read More
How to organise a funeral
Organising a funeral isnāt something we want to necessarily be prepared for, but it is something most of us will have to face, at some point in our lives. It can be incredibly difficult to get your head around what you need to organise, so hereās an overview of our top tips. Find out if thereās any guidance already in … Read More
The Champions & Grimās Dyke
British adventure TV series The Champions may only have had 30 episodes broadcast, but it was one of the manyĀ programmesĀ that usedĀ GrimāsĀ Dyke as a filming location. It starred Stuart Damon, Alexandra Bastedo and William Gaunt as agents for a fictional United Nations Law EnforcementĀ organisationĀ called Nemesis, based in Geneva. The premise of the show was that the heroes had perfected human abilities, … Read More
W.S. Gilbertās Dulcamara
Dulcamara, otherwise known as The Little Duck and the Great Quack, was W.S. Gilbertās first piece of stage-work. It came about through a chance conversation between Tom Robertson and Miss Herbert, lessee of Saint Jamesās Theatre in London. Miss Herbert was after a Christmas piece – the only downside was she needed it written in a fortnight!Ā Dulcamara, or The … Read More
Grimās Dyke and The Cry of The Banshee
Grimās Dyke has a rich history. Not only has it been home to several influential people, including W.S. Gilbert, itās architecture has a rich history too. Itās unique blend of Victorian, Tudor and Gothic styling, along with its remote location, make it an ideal location for several different film niches ā including horror. The Cry of The Banshees Filming for … Read More
Pen pals of W.S. Gilbert
W.S. Gilbert loved writing letters. From the short to long, plain to illustrated, he loved to put his thoughts and opinions down on paper to share with friends and confidants. He would always show a notable, if ironic, courtesy to the recipient of his words, regardless of whether they were friend or foe. His letters gave a glimpse into his … Read More
Grim’s Dyke and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Starring Maggie Smith, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie was a 1969 British Drama film, based on the novel by Muriel Spark and distributed by Twentieth Century-Fox Productions Limited. Although it only achieved moderate success, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie was nominated for several awards and won several others. Telling the story of a liberated young school teacher teaching … Read More
Gilbert & Sullivan Reunited over Utopia, Limited
Following on from the infamous ācarpet quarrelā, Gilbert and Sullivan had gone their separate ways. However, Carte and his wife worked unsuccessfully, to reconcile the pair. In 1891. Tom Chappell stepped in to mediate and, two weeks later, they reconciled. This resulted in two more operas – Utopia, Limited being one of them. Production on Utopia, Limited Work didnāt immediately … Read More