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Famous Londoners – William Marshal (part II)…
February 17, 2020
We published part I of this two-part article last week. Part II follows…
Marshal had made his name as a knight and, was still in the retinue of Henry, the Young King, heir of Kind Henry II, when he again rebelled against his father (and brother, the future King Richard I).
This was despite a brief rift with the Young King following an accusation that Marshal had slept with Henry's wife Marguerite (the truth of which remains something of a mystery). Despite their falling out, William and Henry had repaired their relationship to at some degree when, still in rebellion against his father, on 7th June, 1183, the Young King died of dysentery at just the age of 28.
In a dying wish, Henry had asked William to fulfil his vow to go on crusade to the Holy Land. This Marshal duly did, undertaking a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and spending two years in the Middle East before returning to England at around the end of 1185.
On his return, he entered the household of King Henry II and was on campaign with him in France in 1189 when the King died at the age of 56.
Marshal's allegiance was now with his son and heir, King Richard I, the "Lionheart". He subsequently confirmed his father's permission for Marshal to marry his ward, the wealthy heiress the 16-year-old Isabel of Clare which Marshal, now 42, quickly did, returning to London to claim his bride who was then living at the Tower of London. It's believed they may have married on the steps of St Paul's.
Somewhat controversially, when Richard I set off on the Third Crusade, Marshal remained behind in England, appointed as co-justiciar to govern in the king's absence. Thanks to his marriage, Marshal was now a major landholder with his base at Striguil Castle (now Chepstow) in the Welsh Marches and he assembled a household befitting of his status. In 1190 his wife Isabel gave birth to a son, 'Young' William.
Marshal managed to successfully navigate the dangerous politics of the time as, in the absence of King Richard, his younger brother John manoeuvred to gain power and, following news that Richard had been captured on the way home from the Holy Land and was now imprisoned in Austria, went so far as to open ally himself with the French King Philip Augustus.
Richard was finally released for the exorbitant ransom of 150,000 silver marks and when he arrived back in England, Marshal returned to his side, joining the King as he dealt with the fallout, both in England and France, from John's treachery (John, meanwhile, was back in his brother's camp, having begged his forgiveness).
His kingdom largely restored, Richard died in April 1199 after being struck with a crossbow bolt while campaigning in Limousin. Following his death, Marshal supported John's claim to the throne over his ill-fated nephew Arthur and at John's coronation he was rewarded by being named, thanks again to his marriage, the Earl of Pembroke – the title of earl being the highest among the English aristocracy.
Pembroke in southern Wales now became his base but following John's coronation Marshal spent considerable time fighting for the King on the Continent in an ultimately unsuccessful campaign that ended with the English largely driven from France. When Marshal then tried to keep his lands in Normandy by swearing an oath to King Philip, not surprisingly he fell from John's favour.
Marshal then turned his attention to his own lands in Wales and in Ireland which he visited several times to assert his claim by marriage to the lordship of Leinster. But he again crossed John when he visited in early 1207 without the King's permission and when John summoned Marshal back to England to answer for his impudence, his lands in Leinster were attacked by the King's men. John's efforts to seize Marshal's Irish domains, however, failed and the King was eventually forced to back down, leaving Marshal to strengthen his position in Ireland.
John and Marshal's relationship deteriorated even further in 1210 after Marshal was summoned to Dublin to answer for his role in supporting William Briouze, a one-time favourite of the King who had dramatically fallen out him (and who eventually died in exile in 1211 while his wife and eldest son were starved to death in Windsor Castle on John's orders).
Despite the fact Briouze's had apparently been on his lands in Ireland for 20 days after they'd fled England to escape the wrathful King, Marshal managed to come out relatively unscathed by the affair – but he was forced to relinquish a castle and place some of his most trusted knights and eldest sons in the King's custody.
By 1212, however, Marshal was back in royal favour – his sons were freed the following year – and in 1213 he led his forces in support of King John who was facing revolt in England and a possible invasion from France (Marshal subsequently remained in England to guard against attack from the Welsh while the King was in France).
In 1215, Marshal was involved in the creation of the Magna Carta – his name was the first the English lords to appear on the document – and some have even suggested he was one of its principal architects (although this may be overstating his role).
He remained loyal to John in the subsequent strife but he was in Gloucester when King John died in 1216.
Marshal subsequently supported the claim of King John's son, King Henry III, to the throne and, named as a 'guardian of the realm' (a role which was essentially that of a regent), he played an instrumental part in taking back the kingdom for Henry, including successfully leading the royalist forces against a French and rebel force on 20th May, 1217, at Lincoln – a battle which brought about a quick resolution to the ongoing war.
Marshal spent the next couple of years working to restore the King's rule but in early 1219, at the age of 72, fell ill and retreated to his manor house at Caversham.
He died around noon on 14th May. His body was taken to London via Reading and after a vigil and Mass at Westminster Abbey, he was interred in the Temple Church.
Marshal's place of burial was due to an agreement he had made with the Templars back in the 1180s in which he agreed to enter their order before his death in exchange for the gift of a manor. The master of the Templars in England, Aimery of St Maur, had apparently travelled to Caversham before his death to perform the rite.
Marshal's wife Isabel died the following year and sadly, while he had five sons, the Marshals gradually faded from history, the lack of male heirs in the family eventually leading to the break-up of the family lands.
A towering figure of his age – seen by many as the epitome of what a knight should be, Marshal's story – despite a minor mention as Pembroke in Shakespeare's King John – has largely been forgotten. But his influence on the world in which he lived – and hence the shaping of our world today – was significant.
With thanks to Thomas Asbridge's The Greatest Knight: The Remarkable Life of William Marshal, the Power Behind Five English Thrones…
PICTURES: Top – An effigy believed to be that of William Marshal in the Temple Church, London (Michael Wal – licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0). Lower – The Temple Church in London in which William Marshall was buried. PICTURE: David Adams
10 (lesser known) monuments featuring animals in London – 8. The elephants of the Tower…
February 5, 2020
Sadly, we don't know the name of this pachyderm – if it had one – but we do know that a couple of elephants lived in the Tower of London during the Middle Ages.
The first elephant to arrive was presented to King Henry III as a gift by King Louis IX of France.
The animal was apparently shipped across the Channel in 1255 and brought to the Tower of London by boat. A special 40 foot long wooden elephant house was built to accommodate it at the Tower.
It's no surprise that such an exotic species attracted widespread interest. The medieval chronicler Matthew Paris was so intrigued he travelled from his monastery in St Albans to see it, noting that it was "the only elephant ever seen in England" (although it's said that the Roman Emperor Claudius, when he arrived in Britain, came with elephants).
The elephant didn't survive long – it died just two years after arriving in England and was buried in the Tower's bailey. Its bones were apparently later dug up; it's speculated this was so they could be made into receptacles for holy relics.
The elephant depicted could also represent one sent to King James I by the Spanish King in 1623 along with instructions that the poor creature should only drink wine between the months of September and April.
Made with galvanised wire, the sculpture of the elephant's head – located in the courtyard between the Lantern and Salt Towers – is one of 13 representing some of the animal inhabitants of the Tower over the centuries. On display until 2021, 'Royal Beasts' is the work of artist Kendra Haste.
WHERE: Tower of London (nearest Tube station Tower Hill); WHEN: 9am to 4.30pm, Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4.30pm Sunday to Monday; COST: £24.70 adults; £11.70 children 5 to 15; £19.30 concessions (family tickets available; discounts for online purchases/memberships); WEBSITE: www.hrp.org.uk/toweroflondon/.
Lost London – St Stephen's Chapel…
November 29, 2019
The chapel, which served as the House of Commons from the mid-16th century until it was destroyed in the fire at the Palace of Westminster in 1834, was first recorded as part of the palace in the reign of King John (1199-1216).
It was rebuilt in the late 13th century, on the orders of King Edward I. The king, apparently impressed by the Sainte Chapelle, built as a royal chapel by King Louis IX in Paris, ordered the chapel rebuilt to rival it.
The two storey, richly decorated stone chapel featured two levels, the upper floor for use of the Royal Family (it could only be entered from the Royal Apartments), the lower for courtiers and the Royal Household – was largely complete by 1348.
The then 15-year-old King Richard II married Anne of Bohemia in the chapel in 1382 and the ill-fated Richard, Duke of York (the younger of the two so-called Princes in the Tower) married Anne Mowbray here while still young children. Richard's father, King Edward IV, had laid in state here for eight days after his death in 1483. Thomas Cranmer was consecrated as Archbishop of Canterbury here in 1533.
The Palace of Westminster was no longer used as a royal residence following the death of King Henry VIII in and in 1547 it was deconsecrated under the Abolition of Chantries Act instituted by King Henry's son, King Edward VI, after which it was used as a debating chamber for the House of Commons (which had hitherto been meeting in xxx).
During the Commonwealth, Oliver Cromwell had the chapel's crypt white-washed and, so the story goes, used it for stabling his horses.
The chapel's architecture was amended several times over the ensuing centuries to better accomodate MPs – it included the addition of extra seats and among the architects who worked on it was Sir Christopher Wren – before the fire of 1834 while completely destroyed the main chapel, leaving just the crypt below and adjoining cloisters.
The crypt, now known as the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft, was subsequently restored to its original use as a place of worship (it had been used for various purposes over its life). Interestingly, women's suffragist Emily Davison had spent the night in a broom cupboard in the crypt in 1911 so, as woman banned from the premises, she could address the House of Commons the next day.
The site of the chapel is now covered by St Stephen's Hall and its porch, constructed as part of the rebuild after the fire.
To see modern revisualisations of what the chapel may once have looked like, head to www.virtualststephens.org.uk.
Where's London's oldest…door?
November 18, 2019
Yes, London has an officially dated oldest door. In fact, it's the oldest door in Britain.
The door is located in Westminster Abbey and is believed to date from the time of King Edward the Confessor, who founded the abbey which was inaugurated in 1065.
Made of five vertical oak planks – all cut from the same tree, most likely felled on abbey lands, possibly in Essex – and held in place by three horizontal iron straps, it opens from the Abbey Cloisters into the octagonal Chapter House's outer vestibule. In 2005 it was dated, using ring-patterns in the wood, to around 1050.
The door now stands six-and-a-half feet high and four foot wide but it has been cut down. It's believed the original door was nine foot high and slightly wider.
It's thought to be probable that both faces were originally covered with animal hide (the iron straps are, unusually recessed into the wood on both sides to enable this, and were covered with decorative iron straps and hinges – only one of decorative straps remains today).
The door may have originally served as the door to the chapter house built for Edward the Confessor's abbey. It is believed to have been moved into its current location in about 1250 when King Henry III's Chapter House was built as part of extravagant reconstruction of the abbey.
WHERE: Westminster Abbey (nearest Tube stations are Westminster and St James's Park); WHEN: Times vary – see the website for details; COST: £23 adults/£20 concession/£10 children (discounts for buying online; family rates available); WEBSITE: www.westminster-abbey.org
PICTURE: Pjposullivan1 (licensed under CC- BY-SA 2.0)
LondonLife – Westminster Abbey marks 750th anniversary of Henry III's rebuild; new mental health awareness tour at National Gallery; and, Rembrandt at Kenwood…
October 17, 2019
• Two 13th century manuscripts from Westminster Abbey's collection have this month gone on show in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries at the abbey to mark the 750th anniversary of King Henry III's rebuilding of the church originally constructed on the orders of Edward the Confessor. Believed to have never before been displayed to the public, the manuscripts – which feature ink script on vellum and have wax seals on silk cords attached – include a royal charter dated 1246 in which King Henry III announces his intention to be buried alongside Edward the Confessor in Westminster Abbey and an inventory of Edward the Confessor's Shrine dating from 1267 which shows how much gold, precious stones and jewels were taken from it and pawned to provide the king with much-needed money. The documents can only be seen until 28th October. Admission charge applies. For more, www.westminster-abbey.org/visit-us/plan-your-visit/the-queens-diamond-jubilee-galleries. The display is one of number of special events taking place to mark the anniversary of the third consecration of the abbey church which took place in the presence of King Henry III on 13th October, 1269. While Queen Elizabeth II and the Duchess of Cornwall attended a special service to mark the occasion on Tuesday, other events aimed at the public include a special family day next Wednesday (23rd October) featuring medieval re-enactors in the cloisters, the chance to meet some of the abbey staff and to take part in a family-friendly Eucharist as well as a late opening for amateur photographers to take photographs inside the abbey (23rd October), and special family tours of the abbey (22nd and 24th October). Meanwhile, this Saturday, the abbey will host the National Pilgrimage to the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor. For more on other events at the abbey, head to www.westminster-abbey.org/events.
• The National Gallery launched its first mental health awareness tour to mark World Mental Health Day last week. The tour, which is available as a smartphone app, aims to improve understanding of mental health among gallery visitors with an alternative perspective on the collection which draws on young people's experiences of mental health – gleaned through workshops with 16 to 25-year-olds – and connects visitors with the gallery's paintings to challenge common myths about mental health. The tour includes a focus on paintings by Van Gogh, Cima, Crivelli and Joseph Wright of Derby as well as the gallery's architecture and figures from its portico entrance mosaic flooring such as Virginia Woolf and Winston Churchill. The tour – co-created by researchers from King's College London, the McPin Foundation, a group of young people affected by mental health issues and members of the Gallery's Young Producers programme and funded by Medical Research Council and the British Academy – is available free to visitors for six months. For more, see nationalgallery.org.uk.
• Kenwood House in Hampstead is hosting a special display commemorating 350 years since Rembrandt's death on 4th October, 1669. The exhibition – Rembrandt #nofilter – centres on the artist's Self-portrait with Two Circles which has been taken from its usual place in the former dining room and represented in the dining room lobby alongside a digital photo mosaic of the painting made of "selfies" taken by visitors to Kenwood. Entry is free Runs until 12th January. For more, see www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kenwood/.
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Lost London – Domus Conversorum…
January 11, 2019
Located in Chancery Lane, this "House for Converts" – for Jews who converted to Christianity – was founded in 1232 by King Henry III.
The buildings, which included a chapel as well as living quarters, provided a communal home for residents – needed because when they converted, they forfeited all their possessions to the king.
Chaplains were employed to teach the new converts and a warden appointed to manage their day-to-day living.
The Royal Treasury bore the expenses of the institution which included paying its residents a small income (although the annual grant from treasury apparently wasn't always forthcoming leaving the residents destitute) and it was supplemented with a poll tax called the "chevage" levied on all Jews over the age of 12.
In 1290, King Edward I expelled the Jews from England. Residence here was officially the only way Jewish people could remain and some 80 residents apparently did so.
It's said that apart from these original 80 residents (the last of whom – said to be a woman called Claricia of Exeter – died in 1356), only some 50 further converts were admitted between 1331 and 1608.
By the early 17th century, records of the buildings' use as a house for Jewish converts had come to an end. The main residential building was destroyed in 1717 to make room for a new house for the Master of the Rolls – the chapel was at this stage being used as a storehouse for the rolls of Chancery.
Subsequently known as the 'Rolls Chapel', it was eventually largely demolished to make way for an extension to the Public Records Office which had been built on the site in 1851.
But some monuments from it are preserved in part of the former PRO known as the 'Weston Room' (pictured below).
In the late 1990s, the PRO moved out to Kew where it formed part of the National Archives. The building was acquired by King's College London in 2000 and is now the Maughan Library.
PICTURES: Top – The Maughan Library (FormerBBC; licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0); Below – The Weston Room in what is now the Maughan Library (Cmglee; licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0)
10 historic London hotels…2. The Savoy…
January 2, 2019
The first purpose-built luxury hotel built in Britain (and often referred to as London's "most famous" hotel), The Savoy opened its doors on 6th August, 1889.
Located on the river side of the Strand on the site of what had been the medieval Savoy Palace (its most famous resident was John of Gaunt), the hotel was built by theatre impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte using profits made from his staging of Gilbert and Sullivan operas, some of which were performed in the neighbouring Savoy Theatre.
The now Grade II-listed building, which apparently had no overall architect in its initial design process, exuded opulence and its interiors included the latest in modern amenities such as electric lighting and lifts, en suite bathrooms in most of the guest rooms and constant cold and hot running water.
César Ritz, who would later rise to fame as the owner of The Ritz Hotel in Paris and then London (see our recent post), was hired as the manager and Auguste Escoffier as the chef. Together they oversaw the introduction of a new, unprecedented level of hotel service which would set the standard for future enterprises. This included keeping a comprehensive index of guest's tastes and preferences and saw Escoffier revolutionise the restaurant industry in the country with the creation of various "stations" in the kitchen (his pots and pans are apparently still at the hotel).
The hotel was expanded in 1903-04 under the eye of architect Thomas Edward Collcutt (the designer of Wigmore Hall) with new east and west wings and the main entrance was moved from the river side of the building to Savoy Court running off The Strand. The Front Hall is a survivor of this period while the Lancaster Ballroom dates from 1910.
The hotel underwent further remodelling in the 1920s – it was during this period that the famous stainless steel sign over the Savoy Court entrance, designed by art deco architect Howard Robertson (later Sir Howard), was created (Savoy Court incidentally is the only street in the UK where traffic must keep to the right – more on that another time). The sign is topped with a gilt statue of Peter of Savoy, the uncle to King Henry III's wife, Eleanor of Provence (pictured below). It was Peter who first built the Savoy Palace on the land where the hotel now stands. The sign, meanwhile, was created for the 1904 extension but placed here during the 1920s works.
Further modifications – including the introduction of air conditioning – followed in later decades. The hotel now boasts some 267 rooms and suites (the latter include the Royal Suite which spans the entire riverside of the fifth floor), many of which feature panoramic views of the River Thames.
Famous guests over the years have included royalty such as King Edward VII (when Prince of Wales) as well as more recent royals, French actress Sarah Bernhardt, Oscar Wilde, Charlie Chaplin, Sir Henry Irving and Sir Laurence Olivier. It's also hosted a who's who of Hollywood – everyone from Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland to Frank Sinatra, Humphrey Bogart and John Wayne – and US President Harry S Truman.
Others associated with the hotel include opera singer Dame Nellie Melba – the dessert known as a Peach Melba was created here in her honour, and artist Claude Monet, who painted Waterloo Bridge from a position on one of the balconies.
Among other significant events to take place within its walls was a 1905 "Gondola Party" hosted by American millionaire George A Kessler which saw the central courtyard flooded as part of a recreation of Venice with guests dining on an enormous gondola and entertainment featuring singer Enrico Caruso.
In 1953, to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the hotel hosted a ball attended by 1,400 of the rich and famous with special touches including 16 Yeoman Warders from the Tower of London who lined the entrance staircase.
Films shot here include Kipps (1921), based on a HG Wells novel (Wells was in attendance during the filming), The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981) and Notting Hill (1999).
The Savoy remained in the Carte family until it was bought by an American private equity house in 1998 and eventually sold, in the mid-2000s, to become part of Fairmont Hotels and Resorts of Canada.
Closed in late 2007 for a complete renovation (the cost of which has been put at £220 million), it reopened in October, 2010. Among restaurants and bars now in the premises are the Thames Foyer restaurant – hosted in a glass atrium, it's where afternoon tea is taken, the American Bar – described as the oldest cocktail bar in Britain, the Beaufort Bar, and the restaurant Kaspar's.
The latter is named after the hotel's oldest "employee" – Kaspar the Cat. Carved in 1927 by Basil Ionides, the cat was created to act as a 14th guest in the private dining rooms when 13 guests were present, a figure which was considered unlucky and which, tradition held, meant the first person to leave the table would one the first to die.
Its origins go back to 1898 when a wealthy South African by the name of Woolf Joel apparently scoffed at the idea of 13 being an unlucky number at the table and volunteered to leave it first. He was shot dead back in South Africa just a few week's later. In the wake of his death, management at the hotel decreed that any table of 13 would be joined by a staff member.
But this was only a short-term solution – not only there was there the privacy of diners to consider, the fact staff would be a person down when this was required was a problem. So when Ionides redecorated the private dining room 'Pinafore' in the 1920s, he created the cat, complete with napkin, to fulfil the role of the 14th diner. And so he has ever since. Kaspar, the subject of a children's book written by Michael Morpugo in 2008, can these days be found in Kaspar's or, when not working, in the Front Hall.
For more, see www.thesavoylondon.com
Lost London – Merton Priory…
May 11, 2018
Little remains of this priory which once stood on the banks of the River Wandle in Surrey (and is now encompassed in Greater London).
The priory, which was founded as an Augustinian house in the early 12th century, rose to become one of the most influential in all of southern Britain.
The institution was created thanks to Gilbert, the Sheriff of Surrey, Huntington and Cambridge, who was granted the village of Merton by King Henry I. Gilbert came to live in Merton and there established a priory, building a church and small huts on land thought to be located just to the west of where the priory was later located.
Gilbert had been impressed with what he'd seen of the Augustinians, also known as the Austin friars, at Huntington and so gave control of the new church to their sub-prior, Robert Bayle, along with the land and a mill.
It was based on Bayle's advice that the site of the priory was then moved to its second location and a new, larger wooden chapel built with William Gifford, Bishop of Winchester, coming to bless the cemetery. The canons – there were now 17 – moved in on 3rd May, 1117.
Among the high profile people to visit the new priory was Queen Matilda, who brought her son William with her. In the early 1100s, a certain Thomas Becket (later the ill-fated Archbishop of Canterbury) received an education here as did Nicolas Breakspeare (later the first English Pope, Adrian IV).
The priory expanded considerably over the next century and in 1217 its chapter house was the location of a peace conference between King Henry III and Louis, the Dauphin of France. The Statutes of Merton – a series of legal codes relating to wills – were formulated here in 1236.
The connection with royalty continued – in the mid-1340s, King Edward III is thought to have passed the Feast of the Epiphany here while King Henry VI apparently had a crowning ceremony here – the first outside of Westminster Abbey for more than 300 years – in 1437.
The priory remained in use until the Dissolution of King Henry VIII. The demolition of the buildings apparently started even before the priory had been formally surrendered to the commissioners – stones from its building was used in the construction of Henry's new palace – Nonsuch – as well as, later, in the construction of local buildings.
The site came to be referred to as 'Merton Abbey' and, passing through various hands, was used to garrison Parliamentarian troops during the Civil War. It later became a manufacturing facility, works for the dying and printing of textiles, one of which became the workshops of William Morris.
Some of the priory buildings survived for some years after but the only remains now left as sections of the perimeter wall (the arch which now stands over the entrance to Merton parish church is reconstructed – there's another ornamental gateway in the outer court wall which was also replaced with a replica in the 1980s).
The foundations of the unusually large chapter house, meanwhile, have been excavated and are now preserved in a specially constructed enclosure under a roadway. Construction is now underway to build better public access to the remains.
PICTURE: A ceiling boss from Merton Priory which still bears traces of its original red paint and guilding. It was found during excavations at Nonsuch Palace in 1959-60 is now on display in the Museum of London. Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net) (licensed under CC-BY-SA-4.0).
10 subterranean sites in London – 5. Whitefriars Priory crypt…
November 15, 2017
Located in the basement of a modern office building (and visible through glass) are the remains of a 700-year-old crypt that once lay beneath Whitefriars Priory.
Reached via Magpie Alley (off Bouverie Street which runs south from Fleet Street), the remains are all that is visibly left of the priory, founded here in the 13th century.
Known as 'White Friars' because of the white mantle they wore over their brown habits, the Carmelites (their proper name) were founded in what is now Israel in the mid-12th century. After the region fell to the Saracens in the mid-13th century, some members of the order made their way to England with the aid of Richard, Earl of Cornwall, brother of King Henry III. In 1241, Sir Richard Grey of Codnor founded the Priory of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on this site.
The priory – which counted towering medieval figure John of Gaunt among its patrons – once stretched from Fleet Street to the Thames and to the Temple in the west and what is now Whitefriars Street in the east. It included a church – enlarged in the 14th century – as well as cloisters, a garden and cemetery.
The priory survived until the Dissolution after which King Henry VIII granted various buildings to the King's Physician and the King's Armourer and the great hall become the famous Whitefriars Playhouse.
Whitefriars became part of the rather infamous slum known as Alsatia, a 'liberty' seen as a place of sanctuary for those fleeing the law. The priory was gradually subsumed into the slum – there's a suggestion that the crypt may have been used as a coal cellar.
The remains of the 14th century vaulted crypt, which had been located beneath the prior's house on the east side of the former priory site, were apparently found in the late 19th century and restored in the 1920s when the now defunct newspaper News of the World was expanding. During a redevelopment in the 1980s (which came after News International moved out to Wapping), the remains were moved to their current location.
WHERE: Whitefriars Crypt, Ashentree Court, City of London (nearest Tube stations are Temple and Blackfriars); WHEN: Daily; COST: Free; WEBSITE: None.
PICTURE: The crypt at seen at this year's Open House London event. (Andrea Vail licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.)
It was 950 years ago as of 28th December – Holy Innocents Day – that Westminster Abbey was consecrated following its construction on the orders of King Edward the Confessor.
The minster – popularly named 'west' minster to distinguish it from St Paul's Cathedral (the 'east' minster) – was rebuilt when King Edward refounded the abbey between 1042-52, ostensibly to provide himself with a royal church in which he could be buried.
An abbey had apparently originally been founded on the site in the 7th century during the time of Bishop Mellitus, first Bishop of London (see our earlier post here).
The abbey church isn't believed to have been completed when it was consecrated – this it's suggested didn't take place until 1090, well after the Norman Conquest. Unfortunately Edward was too ill to attend the consecration – he died on the 5th January and was buried a week later in the church (his wife Edith followed nine years later).
King Harold Godwinson – King Harold II – was apparently crowned in the church the day after Edward's death but the first recorded coronation is that of King William the Conqueror on Christmas Day, 1066.
Very little survives of Edward's church – most of what was see now is the Gothic masterpiece constructed in the mid 13th century by King Henry III with later additions such as King Henry VII's Lady Chapel.
Lost London – The Great Conduit…
September 11, 2015
Located at the junction of Cheapside and Poultry, the Great Conduit, also known as the Cheapside Standard, was a famous medieval public fountain.
The Great Conduit (the word conduit refers to column fountains fitted with 'cocks' or taps for dispensing the water) gave access to water piped using gravity four kilometres from the Tyburn into the City largely via lead pipes.
It was constructed by the City Corporation from the mid-13th century after King Henry III approved the project in 1237. It was rectangular-shaped timber building with an elevated lead tank inside from which the water was drawn.
It took the name 'Great' after further conduits were built further west in Cheapside in the 1390s. There were at least 15 conduits or standards scattered about the City by the time of the Great Fire in 1666.
It was rebuilt several times over its life, notably in the reign of King Henry VI, but after being severely damaged in the fire was deemed irreparable and orders were given for it to be taken down in 1669 (many houses by then had alternate water supplies, notably from the New River project). From the 1360s, management of the conduit was the responsibility of four wardens, maintaining the pipes and charging professional water carriers and tradesmen who required water by allowing free
The Cheapside Conduit was a notable landmark – some executions and other punishments were carried out here, speeches were made from here and the conduit building itself was used as a place for posting information. And to celebrate special occasions it was made to flow with wine – this took place in 1432 when King Henry VI marched through London after being crowned King of France, at the coronation of Queen Margaret in 1445 and at the wedding procession of King Henry VIII's queen Anne Boleyn in 1533.
The substructure of the Great Conduit was rediscovered at the end of the 19th century and again in the 1990s. A plaque marking the location of the Great Conduit at the eastern end of Cheapside was unveiled in late 1994 by Thames Water and the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators. There's also a memorial set into the pavement over the substructure.
Daytripper – Rochester Castle…
July 3, 2015
We've visited Rochester before but given it's the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta we thought it would be good to take a more in-depth look at Rochester Castle and the events that took place there after the sealing of the "Great Charter".
Rochester Castle was first built in the aftermath of the Battle of Hastings as a Norman stronghold to control the Medway and the Roman road – Watling Street – which crossed it at that point. There was a Roman-era town on the site and it's likely the first castle – surrounded by a deep ditch and featuring walls of earth topped with timber – was built within the town's walls – possibly on the site of the existing castle.
Work on a stone castle was started in the late 1080s by Gundulf, the Bishop of Rochester (he also built the first Tower of London), and the castle precincts outer walls still largely follow the line of his original curtain walls. The keep was built by William de Corbeil, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was granted the castle by King Henry I in 1127. It remained in the custody of the archbishops until the events of 1215.
Following the sealing of the Magna Carta in May, relations between King John and the barons soured again into outright civil war with the castle declared for the rebels. In October and November, 1215, it was held for some seven weeks by a force of knights – accounts suggest between 95 and 140 – against the forces of King John. These eventually breached the south curtain wall and after the forces of the knights – who were led by William de Albini and Reginald de Cornhill – retreated to the keep, the king ordered his sappers to work.
The miners were successful in undermining the south-west tower which collapsed along with a large section of the keep (the fat of 40 pigs were apparently used to make sure the fire in the mine was hot enough). The defenders nonetheless kept fighting, retreating further into the remains of the keep, until they were eventually forced to surrender when faced with starvation. King John's fury at their resistance was said to be great but while some of the defenders lost their hands and feet when they were apparently lopped off on his orders after surrendering, he was convinced to spare the holdouts from being hanged on the spot and merely had them imprisoned.
The tower was later rebuilt by King John's long ruling son, King Henry III, and you can see its distinct round shape (in contrast with the earlier, square towers) when looking at the keep today. (Incidentally, King John's siege was the castle's second major siege – the first had taken place in 1088 when the forces of King William II (Rufus) had besieged the castle which was then held by the rebellious Odo, Bishop of Bayeaux, who was involved in an attempt to put William the Conqueror's eldest son, Robert, Duke of Normandy, on the throne in place of William (who was the second son). Odo was forced to come to terms and exiled as a result of the siege).
In the hands of the Crown after King John's siege, the castle was again the site of a siege in 1264 – this time unsuccessful when rebels under the command of Simon de Montfort failed to take it from those of King Henry III (although the garrison was later forced to surrender following events elsewhere).
It was rebuilt and repaired a number of times, including during the reigns of King Edward III and that of King Richard II (during whose reign it was also ransacked in the Peasant's Revolt of 1381). Other kings to visit it over the years included King Henry VII and King Henry VIII.
Already much deteriorated and neglected, in 1610, King James I gave the castle to Sir Anthony Weldon whose family sold off some of the timber and stone to local builders. It survived the Civil War without incident and was used as a public pleasure garden from the 1870s onward before, in 1884, it was sold to the City of Rochester. In 1965 responsibility for its care was given to the Ministry of Public Building and Works. Current managers, English Heritage, took over the site in 1984.
The castle remains an imposing site in Rochester and the outer walls of the keep remain intact even if it's no more than a shell. Worth the climb to the top simply to take advantage of the spectacular views of the town and cathedral below!
WHERE: Rochester Castle, Rochester, Kent – nearest train station is Rochester (half a mile); WHEN: 10am to 6pm daily (until 30th September); COST:£6.20 adults/£3.90 children (aged 5-15) and concessions (free for English Heritage members); WEBSITE: www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/rochester-castle.
Both Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster (these days better known as the Houses of Parliament – pictured) pre-date 1215 but unlike today in 1215 the upon which they stood was known as Thorney Island.
Formed by two branches of the Tyburn River as they ran down to the River Thames, Thorney Island (a small, marshy island apparently named for the thorny plants which once grew there) filled the space between them and the Thames (and remained so until the Tyburn's branches were covered over).
One branch entered the Thames in what is now Whitehall, just to the north of where Westminster Bridge; another apparently to the south of the abbey, along the route of what is now Great College Street. (Yet another branch apparently entered the river near Vauxhall Bridge).
The abbey's origins go back to Saxon times when what was initially a small church – apparently named after St Peter – was built on the site. By 960AD it had become a Benedictine monastery and, lying west of what was then the Saxon city in Lundenwic, it become known as the "west minster" (St Paul's, in the city, was known as "east minster") and a royal church.
The origins of the Palace of Westminster don't go back quite as far but it was the Dane King Canute, who ruled from 1016 to 1035, who was the first king to build a palace here. It apparently burnt down but was subsequently rebuilt by King Edward the Confessor as part of a grand new palace-abbey complex.
For it was King Edward, of course, who also built the first grand version of Westminster Abbey, a project he started soon after his accession in 1042. It was consecrated in 1065, a year before his death and he was buried there the following year (his bones still lie inside the shrine which was created during the reign of King Henry III when he was undertaking a major rebuild of the minster).
Old Palace Yard dates from Edward's rebuild – it connected his palace with his new abbey – while New Palace Yard, which lies at the north end of Westminster Hall, was named 'new' when it was constructed with the hall by King William II (William Rufus) in the late 11th century.
Westminster gained an important boost in becoming the pre-eminent seat of government in the kingdom when King Henry II established a secondary treasury here (the main treasury had traditionally been in Winchester, the old capital in Saxon times) and established the law courts in Westminster Hall.
King John, meanwhile, followed his father in helping to establish London as the centre of government and moved the Exchequer here. He also followed the tradition, by then well-established, by being crowned in Westminster Abbey in 1199 and it was also in the abbey that he married his second wife, Isabella, daughter of Count of Angouleme, the following year.
Not much remains today of the original early medieval home of the Templar Knights which once existed just west of the City of London. While the area still carries the name (as seen in the Underground station, Temple), most the buildings now on the site came from later eras. But there are some original elements.
First though, a bit of history. The Templar precinct which become known as the Temple area of London was the second site in the city given to the military order, known more completely as the Knights of the Temple of Solomon (thanks to their Jerusalem HQ being located near the remains of the Temple of Solomon).
The first was in Holborn, located between the northern end of Chancery Lane and Staple Inn, and was known as the 'Old Temple' after which, in the latter years of the 12th century, the Templars moved their headquarters to the new site – 'New Temple' or Novum Templum – on unoccupied land on the bank of the River Thames.
This new precinct included consecrated and unconsecrated areas. The consecrated part was a monastery and was located around what is now Church Court with the monastic refectory built on the site of what is now Inner Temple Hall – the medieval buttery is the only part of the original building which survives.
The lay or unconsecrated part of the precinct lay east of Middle Temple Lane, where a second hall was built on the site of what is now the Middle Temple Hall (you'll find more on that here) which was used to house the lay followers of the order.
The original buildings also included the still existing Templar Church (pictured, along with a monument depicting the Templars outside the church), which was consecrated in 1185 during the reign of King Henry II by Heraclius, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, on a visit to London. Like all other Templar churches, its circular design was based on the design of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem (the chancel was added later and consecrated in the presence of King Henry III in 1240 – for more on the Temple Church, you can see our earlier post here.
The New Temple become an important site in London (and the kingdom as a whole – the Masters of the Temple were the heads of the order in England) and was used by many of the nobility as a treasury to store valuables (and to lend money). It also had close connections with the monarchy and was, as we saw earlier this week, a power base for King John and from where he issued what is known as the King John Charter in 1215. He also used it for a time as a repository for the Crown jewels.
In an indication of the Temple's prominence in state affairs, some of the great and powerful were buried here during this period including William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, who died in 1219, and his sons William and Gilbert (for more on those buried in the Temple, see our earlier post here). There were also apparently plans to bury King Henry III and his Queen here – this apparently spurred on the building of the chancel on the church – but they were eventually buried in Westminster Abbey instead.
Numerous relics were also apparently housed here during the Templar times including a phial believed to contain Christ's blood and pieces of the true Cross.
The Templar era came to an end in 1312 when the order was dissolved on the authority of Pope Clement V amid some heinous allegations of blasphemy and sexual immorality which had the support of King Philip IV of France. While the pope awarded their property to the rival order, the Knights of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem (also known as the Hospitallers), King Edward II had other ideas and ignored their claims with regard to the London property and instead, claimed it for the Crown (a dispute which went on for some years).
It later became associated particularly with lawyers, although lawyers would have certainly been at work in the New Temple given its role as banker to the wealthy (but more on its later associations with lawyers in later post).
For more on the history of the Templars, see Malcolm Barber's The New Knighthood: A History of the Order of the Temple.
This week we're starting a new series in honour of the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta in which we look back at the London of 1215. First up we take a look at the Tower of London which was a smaller version of the complex of buildings which today exists on the site.
By 1215, the Tower of London – the fortress first constructed on the orders of William the Conqueror – had already existed for more than 100 years, nestled into a corner of the city's walls which had existed since Roman times.
Then, as now, the White Tower – initially itself known as the Tower of London, it was later dubbed the White Tower thanks to the whitewash used to cover the Kentish limestone to protect it from the weather (and for its visual impact) – stood at the heart of the complex. Unlike today's building, it lacked the large windows which date from the early 18th century, and while the towers were believed to be capped with cones, the present cupolas date from the reign of King Henry VIII.
While it had long been surrounded by a palisade and ditch, in 1189, King Richard I's chancellor William Longchamp, the Bishop of Ely, had begun to extend the castle's defences while the king was on crusade (in fact, the first siege of the Tower took place in 1191 when the then Prince John did so in opposition to Longchamp's regime – it only lasted three days before Longchamp surrendered).
This extension, which was completed by King John following his accession to the throne in 1199, saw the size of the bailey around the White Tower doubled and a new curtain wall and towers – including the Bell Tower – built around its outer perimeter with a ditch below (the ruins of the Wardrobe Tower, just to the east of the White Tower show where the original Roman-era wall ran).
But it wasn't until the reign of King John's son, King Henry III, that the royal palace which now stands on the river side of the White Tower was constructed. Until that point – and at the time of the signing of the Magna Carta – the royal apartments remained within the White Tower itself, located on the upper floor.
Like those of the garrison commander known as the constable (located on the entrance level), the king's apartments would have consisted of a hall and a large chamber, which may have been divided into smaller chambers with wooden partitions as well as a chapel (on the upper level this was the still existing Chapel of St John the Evangelist, although it would have then been more more richly decorated). Unlike the lower levels, the king's level was of double height with a gallery (this level now has its own full floor).
The royal apartments had a variety of uses – as well as a residence and refuge for the king, they were also at times a place to keep high profile prisoners such as the Bishop of Durham, Ranulf Flambard, who was imprisoned on the orders of King Henry I (and who escaped from an upper window on a rope which had been smuggled in to him and fled to Normandy).
It is also worth noting that while King John apparently kept exotic animals at the Tower, it is his son, King Henry III who is usually credited with founding the Royal Menagerie there.
And it was his son, King Edward I, who expanded the Tower to its current size of about 18 acres by rebuilding the western section of the inner ward and adding the outer ward.
WHERE: Tower of London (nearest Tube station Tower Hill); WHEN: 9am to 5.30pm, Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5.30pm Sunday to Monday; COST: £24.50 adults; £11 children under 15; £18.70 concessions; £60.70 for a family (discounts for online purchases/memberships); WEBSITE: www.hrp.org.uk/toweroflondon/.
It was in 1265, 750 years ago this month, that a parliament convened by English rebel leader Simon de Montfort, took place in Westminster Hall (exterior pictured below).
The French-born De Montfort, who led a group of rebel barons, was riding high after defeating King Henry III at the Battle of Lewes on 14th May, 1264. While he ruled in the king's name through a council – having captured both the king and his son Prince Edward, the monarch was no more than a figurehead. De Montfort was effectively the man in charge.
In a bid to solidify his hold on the country, he summoned not only the barons and clergy but knights representing counties to a parliament along with – for the first time – representatives from major towns and boroughs like York, Lincoln and the Cinque Ports (the representatives were known as burgesses).
It's this latter move which led this three month-long parliament to be described as the first English parliament and which has led de Montfort to be described by some as the founder of the House of Commons.
Presided over by King Henry III, the parliament was held in Westminster Hall in London – a city loyal to de Montfort's cause. It dealt with a range of political matters including the enforcement of a series of government reforms known as the Provisions of Westminster which had been aimed at strengthening baronial rights and the role of courts.
Prince Edward (later King Edward I) managed to escape from de Montfort's clutches later in 1265 and led forces against de Montfort. The rebel leader was killed at the Battle of Evesham on 4th August, 1265.
The UK Parliament is marking the 750th anniversary of De Montfort's Parliament with a series of events (along with the 800th anniversary of the sealing of the Magna Carta) – check out www.parliament.uk/2015 for more.
What's in a name?…Chancery Lane
October 6, 2014
This central London street, which runs between Fleet Street and High Holborn, has long been associated with the law and government, and still is so today with the Royal Courts of Justice standing close to its southern end and Lincoln's Inn – one of the four Inns of Court – located on the lane's western side.
Its name is a corruption of the original Chancellor Lane – a moniker which apparently dates back to at least the 14th century – and which referred to the buildings where the official documents of the Lord Chancellor's Office, known as the Rolls of the Court of Chancellory (Chancery), were stored.
The street was apparently first known as New Street and later as Converts Lane; the latter in reference to the House of Converts (Domus Conversorum) King Henry III founded here in the 1272 for the conversion of Jews to Christianity.
When King Edward I expelled all the Jews from the kingdom in 1290, the 'house' continued in use as such for foreign-born Jews, albeit with very small numbers of residents until the early 17th century.
In the meantime, in 1377 King Edward III gave orders that the complex of buildings used by the Domus Conversorum also be given over to the Master of the Rolls for the storage of chancellory documents and it was this move which led to the lane gaining its new name.
The buildings – which included a chapel which had become known as the Chapel of the Master of the Rolls or the simply the Rolls Chapel which had been rebuilt several times including to the designs of 17th century architect Inigo Jones – were finally demolished around the turn of the 20th century and subsumed into the Public Records Office complex on Chancery Lane (this was formerly housed in what is now the Maughan Library of King's College London).
The lane these days is also home to such august institutions as The Law Society and the London Silver Vaults. It also lends its name to an Underground Station located to the east of the lane entrance in High Holborn.
Lost London – St Paul's Cross…
October 11, 2013
Located in the north-east corner of the churchyard of St Paul's Cathedral, St Paul's Cross – also known simply as Paul's Cross – was a large free-standing cross which served as an open-air pulpit for at least 500 years.
The history of the Cross goes back to at least the 12th century and it long served as a public gathering place for Londoners to hear sermons or matters of public importance. King Henry III met Londoners here in 1259 so they could swear their allegiance, people like 15th century chaplain Richard Walker appeared here to plead guilty for crimes against the church (in his case to charges of sorcery) and it was here that William Tyndale's testaments were burnt in the 16th century.
Conversely, it was also from here that the English Reformation was preached (there's a painting in the Houses of Parliament of King Edward VI listening to a sermon preached from the Cross by reformist Bishop Latimer). It has been said that if all the sermons preached here had been collected, they would effectively make a history of the Church of England.
The cross and pulpit were destroyed during the English Civil War in 1643.
These days there's a plaque marking the original site of the cross (above). In 1910, the St Paul's Cross Memorial – a column topped with a gilt statue of St Paul designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield (pictured top), was installed nearby (as ordered by the will of HC Richards, according to a plaque on the site) and remains there today.
The Virtual Pauls Cross website, led by Professor John N Wall of North Carolina State University in the US, reconstructs what the site would have looked like when John Donne gave his Gunpowder Day sermon on 5th November, 1622.
What's in a name?…Barbican
December 3, 2012
Though it's these days associated with a Brutalist housing estate and performing arts centre based in the north of the City of London, the name Barbican has been associated with the area on which the estate stands for centuries.
The word barbican (from the Latin barbecana) refers to an outer fortification designed to protect the entrance to a city or castle. In this case it apparently referred to watchtower which may have had its origins in Roman or Saxon times (or maybe both). The City of London website suggests it was located "somewhere between the northern side of the Church of St Giles Cripplegate and the YMCA hostel on Fann Street".
When-ever it was built, the watchtower was apparently demolished on the orders of King Henry III in 1267, possibly as a response to Londoners who had supported England's barons when they had rebelled against him. One source suggests the tower was rebuilt during the reign of King Edward III but, if so, the date of its subsequent demolition remains unknown.
Later residents of the area – which become known as a place to trade new and used clothes – included John Milton and William Shakespeare.
The area known as Barbican was devastated by bombing raids in World War II. Discussions on the future of the site started in 1952 and for more than 10 years plans for redeveloping the area were debated until finally, in the early 1960s, work began on what is now the Barbican Estate including three tall residential towers (part of the residential estate is pictured above). Completed in the mid 1970s, the Brutalist design of the complex, which features buildings named after historical figures associated with the area, means it meets with strong reactions from those who encounter it whether love – or hate.
Construction of the arts centre – known as the Barbican Centre – the largest performing arts centre in Europe and home to the London Symphony Orchestra – was started in the early 1970s. The £156 million centre was eventually opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1982.
Other buildings within the Grade II listed complex include the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the City of London School for Girls and a YMCA.
Lost London – Greyfriars…
October 26, 2012
A now long gone Franciscan friary located in the north-west of the City of London near Newgate (just to the north of St Paul's Cathedral), Greyfriars, so known for the color of the friars' clothing, was the second Franciscan religious house to have been founded in England.
The foundations of the friary date from the early part of the 13th century – the Franciscans, as members of the Order of Friars Minor were known, had arrived in 1224 and are recorded as settling on land granted to them by a rich mercer, John Iwyn, just inside the City wall, in 1225, in the butcher's quarter of the city.
King Henry III apparently gave them some oak to build their own friary in 1229 and by the mid 1200s, there were more than 80 friars living on the site which was gradually extended over the ensuing years to the north and the west.
Using funds given them by Sir William Joyner, Lord Mayor of London in 1239, they built a chapel which was later extensively enlarged and improved in the late 13th and early 14th centuries – the new church was said to be 300 feet long – with much of the work funded by Queen Margaret, second wife of King Edward I, and later in the 14th century, Queen Isabella, wife of Edward III. It apparently suffered some damage in a storm in 1343 but was restored by King Edward III.
When it was finally completed in 1348, the church is said to have been the second largest in London. A library was later added to the buildings, founded by the famous Lord Mayor of London, Richard "Dick" Whittington.
Such was the fame of the church that, the heart of Queen Eleanor, wife of King Henry III, was buried here after her death in 1291 while, despite dying at her castle in Marlborough, Queen Margaret was also buried here in 1318 (apparently wearing a Franciscan habit).
But perhaps the most notorious person to be buried here was Queen Isabella, wife of King Edward II and known by many as the "She-Wolf of France", after her death in 1358. In fact, it's said that the ghost of Isabella still haunts the former location of Greyfriars, driven forth from the grave for her role in deposing her husband.
Other non royal luminaries said to have been buried here include the 15th century writer Sir Thomas Mallory, author of Le Morte d'Arthur and 16th century Catholic nun Elizabeth Barton, the so-called 'mad maid of Kent' who was executed for her rather unwise prophecies predicting King Henry VIII's death if he married Anne Boleyn.
The end of the friary, pictured above in the sixteenth century, came in 1538 when it fell victim to King Henry VIII's policy of dissolving monasteries and was surrendered to his representatives.
Some of the houses were subsequently converted for private use and the church, which was somewhat damaged during this period with many of the elaborate tombs destroyed, was briefly closed before it and other buildings were given to the City of London Corporation who reopened it again in 1547 as Christ Church Greyfriars, a parish church serving the now joined parishes of St Nicholas Shambles and St Ewen.
Only a few year's later King Edward IV founded a school for poor orphans in some of the old friary buildings known as Christ's Hospital or informally as The Bluecoat School thanks to the uniforms students wore. Some of the school buildings, along with part of the church which was also used by the school, was destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666, but the school was rebuilt and remained in use until the late 1800s when the last of the students were relocated to a new facility in Sussex (where the school still exists today).
The church (also known as Christ Church Newgate Street), meanwhile, was also rebuilt after the Great Fire – it was one of Sir Christopher Wren's designs and was completed in 1704. The church remained in use until World War II when a firebomb struck it during a German raid on 29th December, 1940, all but destroying it.
The church was not rebuilt and the parish merged with the nearby St Sepulchre-without-Newgate – the largest parish church in London – and eventually what's left of the church – the tower with rebuilt steeple and the west and north walls – were converted into a public garden (rose beds were planted where the pews once stood and there are wooden towers representing the church's pillars). Pictured right, it's now a terrific place to sit and have lunch pondering the past which the bustle of the city goes on about you.
PICTURE: (top) Wikipedia
For a great biography of Isabella, the She-Wolf of France, see Alison Weir's Isabella: She-Wolf of France, Queen of England. For more on Sir Christopher Wren's churches in London, see John Christopher's Wren's City of London Churches.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Job Information
C.and.W FACILITY SERVICES INC. Industrial Cleaning Technician in EDDYVILLE, Iowa
JOB TITLEIndustrial Cleaning TechnicianJOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARYJOB DESCRIPTION * Team member must be able to work in a team oriented and safety conscious environment. * Safety First expectations include, but are not limited to, PJHA process, Observation process, and compliance with all company / site safety guidelines and procedures. * Assigned tasks list to include, but not limited to, sanitation and cleaning of assigned areas following master cleaning schedules and procedures. Sanitation and cleaning consists of washing down, shoveling, de-junking, vacuuming, and sweeping. * Assist in formulating sanitation standards / work procedures while performing those duties and provide work order feedback on discrepancies noted in service delivery. * Must have working knowledge and be able to operate the following: skid steer loaders, scissors lifts, boom lifts, fork lifts, and hand / power tools. * Effectively communicate with team lead, supervisor and customer to accomplish assigned tasks and develop sound customer relations. * Maintain adherence to the published work schedule and be available to work overtime as required by demands of the job. * Work from elevated areas such as ladders, platforms, scaffolding, etc. utilizing fall protection equipment when required by the job * Maintain communication with supervisor regarding unresolved work issues, personnel issues, and employee complaints. * Work all shifts including holidays and weekends when demanded by the job. * Perform other work as defined by company and/or customer. CC- Caustic Cleaners clean process screens with a concentrated solution daily OTHER ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS: * Ensures compliance with all company / customer regulations, policies, and procedures. * Achieve performance expectations set forth as part of performance appraisals to include employee development planning. * Communications with all team members to assist the development of short and long range planning in assistance of the company s goals. * Meet physical requirements of the job. * Physical requirements of the job will be provided to you prior to employment. * Perform assigned tasks in a safety, effective, and efficient manner. * Accurate and timely administrative duties to include, but not limited to, time accounting and work order completion. * Must maintain positive customer and employee relations. CandW Services is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.Employer's Job# R100530Please visit job URL for more information about this opening and to view EOE statement.


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About the Author
Eric Litwin is a guitar-strumming, song-singing, banjo-picking, tale-telling, song-writing, national-award-winning, music-producing, fun, folksy type of guy. He loves to blend song and story together and is inspired by the depth and simplicity of folk songs and folktales. Eric is a popular performer, delighting thousands of children and families every year. He has recorded two award-winning children's music CDs.
In 2004, Kimberly & James Dean sat down at their kitchen table to work on a children's book together. Their dream became a reality with the release of Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses. Both left corporate jobs in the late nineties (James was an electrical engineer; Kimberly worked in the press office of the governor of Georgia) to pursue their passion for art, and they have experienced a life made up of strange and wonderful coincidences ever since. Pete the Cat has brought magic into their lives. They work in side-by-side studios in Savannah, sharing their home with five cats and Emma the pug.
Eric Litwin with illustrations by James Dean
Bring the world's coolest feline to life with this Pete the Cat gift set, based on the bestselling series created by James Dean. Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand new white shoes. Along the way, his shoes change from white to red to blue to brown to WET as he steps in piles of strawberries, blueberries, and other big messes! But no matter what color his shoes are, Pete keeps movin' and groovin' and singing his song... because it's all good. Just like in the book, the companion doll has big feet, floppy legs, a wry smile, and a big heart. He's pillow-soft and snuggly, ready to cuddle up, stroll through town, or swing around and sing a song. Both fun and educational, Pete the Cat is loved by all.
- Hardcover
- 8.5 x 11 inches
- 40 pages
- Published: 2010
- Recommended for ages 4–8
- Plush:14.5 inches; surface wash only; safe for all ages


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So here's the deal. I have been eyeing this headband at Anthropologie for months. (Okay, maybe months is a little dramatic… But a long time.) Here it is.
I didn't get it, because according to the budget of this currently job-seeking actor, it's a little pricey. BUT! After much perserverance, I found a gorgeous substitute at the home of the fashionable job-seeking actor's friend: Forever 21. (Yeah, I said it. I shop there.)
So, Chelsea, what's the problem? Conundrum solved, right? WRONG. The fact that I found it leads me to an even larger conundrum. How much larger can we really get than finding the perfect headband? To this question, I answer: how to wear said headband. I know, I just blew your minds.
See, the deal is, I really wanna wear it like this:
{image via Stylehog}
Get it yet? My conundrum is that I know that in about 3-5 years, I'll look back and judge myself for ever giving in to the forehead-headband trend, but right now, I kind of want to dive right in. I know, crisis, right? These are the things I have to keep myself occupied with as I'm waiting in line to sing at an audition or waiting for the A train.
Advise me, my lovelies! To trend or not to trend? What would you do? xoxo


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Ed Chervenak on WWL 870 AMEd Chervenak, director of the Survey Research Center, was interviewed on WWL 870 AM about mail-in voting in Louisiana.
Read more
The University of New Orleans increased its overall enrollment by nearly 2%, marking the first time in 15 years that the University has grown enrollment in three consecutive years. Fall 2020 enrollment is 8,375 students, uplifted by a 20% increase in new freshmen students, a 21% increase in new graduate students and significant growth in the number of local and African American first-time freshmen.Read more


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As the virus spreads through droplets and aerosols, it is important that the mask filter can repel water. IIMASK filter is hydrophobic with size large enough to cover both nasal and oral openings, hence provide maximum protection on any cloth mask
attractive & ergonomic
The printed masks use interactive designs especially for kids and preschoolers to raise their awareness of using mask as daily habit of new-normal. The mask covers nose to chin area, ensures a fit use through elastic fabric. The printed mask is equipped with IIMASK filter inside. Available for three sizes: adult, kid, and toddler
blow test
While most cloth mask users utilizes 5-6 plies of tissue as their filter, IIMASK offer a breathable-thin filter with BFE 99% as tissue replacement. It is proven effective during blow test of a lighted candle. Forget the bulky tissues.
Our Mask Collection
Aside of production of mask filter, we also provide printed mask for preschoolers, kids, and adults. Custom printed masks are also possible by request. Kindly contact our customer service to do so
follow iimask and order here ^^
What People Say
Welcome to IITOYA
Membrane based water filtration, made in Indonesia
Tap Water Fitration
The filter is directly connected to water faucet through plastic hose with easy set-up
Excellent Result
The membrane is able to remove colloids and other harmful substances through physical separation process
Self-made Membrane
The filter is made at IITOYA's workshop, ensuring its availability anytime
Drinking water quality standards describes the quality parameters set for drinking water. Despite the truth that every human on this planet needs drinking water to survive and that water may contain many harmful constituents, there are no universally recognized and accepted international standards for drinking water.


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Audiobook Genres
Unabridged Audio Book
Download or Stream instantly more than 55,000 audiobooks.
Listen to "Anita Roddick - The Mind of a Leader Legends" on your iOS and Android device.
Don't have an iOS or Android device, then listen in your browse on any PC or Mac computer.
Anita Roddick
Anita Roddick
0 Hours 56 Minutes
April 2014
Audio Book Summary
Experience a first-hand interview with the legendary Dame Anita Roddick, Founder of 'The Body Shop', human rights activist and environmental campaigner. Dame Anita Roddick is an example of an inspirational modern female leader and entrepreneur that was able to think outside the box, walk the talk and achieve tremendous corporate success while upholding humane values. Throughout her career, her personal and corporate reputation followed her actions. The Body Shop, a cosmetics company producing and retailing natural beauty products, was one of the first to prohibit the use of ingredients tested on animals and one of the first to promote fair trade with third world countries. The Mind of a Leader Legends is an outstanding training and development tool offering practical hands-on advice in regards to both individual and organizational success. A fascinating journey to the inside of successful modern organizations and leadership minds.


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Quartier Sainte Anne, 764 avenue des Mexicains, 04850 Jausiers, France Show on the map
- WiFi
- Car park
- Rural
- Accessible
- Family
- Sports
Excellent location
Choose your room
Hôtel Bel Air features a restaurant, bar, a shared lounge and garden in Jausiers. This 2-star hotel offers ski storage space. There's a terrace and guests can use free WiFi and free private parking. At the hotel, all rooms are equipped with a desk, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. All guest rooms feature a closet. Hôtel Bel Air offers a continental or buffet breakfast. Guests at the accommodation will be able to enjoy activities in and around Jausiers, like hiking, skiing and cycling. Pra-Loup is 11 miles from Hôtel Bel Air, while Vars is 17 miles away.
Check-in and check-out
Check-in starts at: 16:00
Check-out ends at: 10:00
Useful information:Other names for Hotel Hôtel Bel Air:
Bel Airport Logis
H�tel Logis Bel Airport
Hotel Restaurant Bel Airport


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B & T World Seeds
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Click here for the
Abies grandis inland strain information page
germination advice, shopping cart,
all the sublists (specialist catalogues) Abies grandis inland strain is included in,
some description and snippets of information.
If seeds of
Abies grandis inland strain
are not available in the quantity you need
Please click here.
The average, annual, minimum temperature zone where Abies grandis inland strain is cold hardy
USDA Zone:6 -10° to 0°F (-23.5° to -18°C)
Approximately 27.00 seeds per gram
seed-counts are only a guide, not to be used for accurate calculations.
Click a button to add that quantity to your cart
seed quantities can be multiplied once added to the cart


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January 30, 2001 - February 13, 2020
January 30, 2001 - February 13, 2020
Kathleen, GA – William Andrew Collins, 19, passed away unexpectedly at his residence on Thursday, February 13, 2020. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Saturday, February 15, 2020 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at Burpee-Scott Memorial C...
To read the full obituary, please visit the memorial website for William Andrew Collins at Burpee-Scott Memorial Chapel & Crematory.
To send flowers to the family of William Andrew Collins, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.
In the event that there is an error in the information presented, please contact the funeral home by clicking here.


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Hannah Brown is a former beauty queen from Alabama. When she went onto Colton Underwood's season of The Bachelor, she put all her emotions on the table and ended up falling for him. But Colton's heart was set on another woman, and Hannah was sent home brokenhearted. When she was given the coveted role of this seasons star of The Bachelorette, she knew she didn't want to have any regrets. She intended to take the process seriously, give it her all, and hopefully find the person she was meant to spend the rest of her life with. What she probably didn't know was just how challenging the journey would be, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Every season of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette has drama. If it didn't, the show likely wouldn't be as popular as it is across the nation. But this season, in particular, seemed to be more focused on drama than any other in the past. On night one it came to light that one of the men there had a girlfriend waiting for him at home. Brown promptly sent him home. After that, controversial contestant Luke Parker was the focus of fight after fight, drawing the attention away from Brown who simply wanted to get to know the men who had supposedly put their lives on hold to pursue a relationship with her.
Brown did eventually see Luke's true colors and sent him home. It seemed that perhaps the drama and distraction would end there. However, it wasn't until after the show had finished filming that the former girlfriend of Jed Wyatt came forward to claim that they were in a relationship until right before the show began filming. She alleged that Jed had only gone onto the show to gain media attention and boost his career. He had no intention of falling in love with Brown.
Later on, a woman claiming to be Peter Weber's ex-girlfriend came forward to make similar accusations about him. In addition to Tyler Cameron, Jed, and Peter are the only remaining men fighting for Brown's heart. Thus, it seems doubtful that she might actually find the happy ending she's looking for.
Hannah is the hero we never knew we needed. #TheBachelorette https://t.co/NEdWJKJw49— E! News (@enews) July 22, 2019
Brown hasn't given much away in terms of what we can expect from the finale episode, but she has said that the ending is unexpected.
"With me, I think everything's unpredictable. This whole experience has been emotional and my journey will end emotional, and I think that's why we need two nights — to unpack that and see how this thing is all going to go down," she said.


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Different types of plywood
The words 'best' and 'most affordable' do not normally go hand in hand. Because when you are compromising on the budget, the quality does take a hit.
Luckily, when making kitchen cabinets today, there are a number of options available (depending on your budget) like solid wood, plywood, veneer, PVC, steel, etc. However, before using any of the materials, remember that apart from aesthetic appeal, the kitchen is an area where heat and water often come into play. Plus, you will be using this space regularly, where often things are roughly handled. So, choosing material for making kitchen cabinets is crucial.
Now talking about plywood, it is a preferred choice for many due to their durability, convenience, flexibility and for being cost-effective. Among plywoods, the three popular types of plywoods that are preferred in making kitchen cabinets and shutters are,
1) MR Grade Plywood: Also known as commercial plywood, this plywood is the cheapest among the three. MR (moisture resistant) grade plywood is resistant to water to a certain degree but it is not waterproof. Hence, this plywood works best, when you are planning a semi-modular kitchen or when the kitchen cabinets that you intend to fit are not near a water source like tap/sink or you are getting any indoor furniture made and/or when you have budget constraints.
2) BWR Plywood — BWR (Boiling Water Resistant) plywood is a bit costlier than MR Grade plywood but cheaper than Marine Grade Plywood. In terms of resisting water/moisture level, they are far better than commercial plywood.
In addition to BWR Plywood, you will also come across another similar abbreviation BWP grade plywood. Here, BWP stands for Boiling Water Proof. Both these variants, i.e. BWR and BWP are similar in quality. Hence these plywoods are often used in home interior and outdoor furniture where there are more chances of exposure to moisture. Ideal and popular material for kitchen cabinets and home furniture.
3) Marine Grade Plywood — It is the strongest from the above two plywoods and is far better in resisting water exposure compared to other plywoods. In fact, it is not prone to damage even after keeping it submerged for 72 hours. These are the primary reasons why Marine Grade Plywoods are costlier than other plywoods and used chiefly in marine applications.
Now when you compare all the three, then MR Grade Plywood is the 'most affordable' and Marine Grade Plywood is the 'best'. However, if you ask us which plywood would you choose from the above, then we would say go for BWR/BWP grade plywoods. Though they are not the cheapest, they are definitely high in quality and reasonable to the pocket. With regards to the brand, the top plywood brands in India are CenturyPly, Greenply, Archid Ply , Purple ply, Pureplus Ply .
As far as laminates go, there are several brands available in the market that offer decorative laminates in 1mm thickness. Again, instead of going for a 'not-heard', local brand, it is advisable to go for known brands like Formica, Greenlam, Century Lam or Merino, Amulya, Bell Laminates,Brown Paper.
Courtesy : https://rollinglogs.com/blog


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Best WordPress hosting services (by WordPress.org)
7.99 3.95 USD/month
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What is WordPress hosting?
If you are faced with the choice of which hosting to choose, general web-hosting or more expensive WordPress optimized service – this article is for you. In it, we tried to describe the main differences between these services, and help you to make a knowledgeable choice of hosting services.
What is the difference between web hosting and WordPress hosting?
At a basic level, shared web-hosting and WordPress optimized hosting, are not different. Both services use the same set of technologies: a web server, a database and storage for your data, and almost equally well perform the tasks assigned to them.
Shared web hosting is characterized by the fact that its server can simultaneously contain a large number of websites built on different platforms, it is configured to support various kinds of applications.
WordPress hosting is optimized for working with WordPress applications. The technical support team is trained in the specifics of supporting your website, so it can always tell you why a particular plugin is not working, and also help solve the problem with the performance of your website.
Why does my website need WordPress hosting?
If you have a dynamic project, with steadily growing traffic, most likely you should pay attention to WordPress hosting, the key features of this service are listed below:
- Installation and configuration of popular web technologies can be accessed from the admin panel of your site. For example Cloudflare.
- Creation and synchronization of staging sites
- All accounts on the server receive the same specialized support and service.
- Servers are specially configured to protect against known WordPress-specific vulnerabilities.
- Automatic updates and security patches can be applied to all sites simultaneously
- Technical support provides a WordPress-oriented service, helping to solve the problems that most owners of WordPress projects are facing
- Most hosting services provide easy-to-use website builders, template and plugins directories, and also installing free SSL certificates
How much does WordPress hosting cost?
Today, in the market of hosting services, the price of a WordPress hosting service starts from 2.88 USD / month. Almost all hosting providers give an opportunity to save your money on hosting services, for example, by paying one year in advance. This form of payment makes it possible to reduce the price tag by more than 50%
What type of hosting is required for WordPress (minimum server requirements)
Technical requirements usually depend on the type of your project and the logic that it implements. The level of attendance of your project also plays a very important role, which determines how powerful the processor should be and the amount of RAM and the requirement for specialized services to reduce the load on the database. However, if you have a personal blog with relatively little traffic, it will probably be enough for the hosting to meet the minimum requirements stated by the WordPress developers
This is a service for hosting websites on a server that use shared resources: processor power, RAM, disk space and a shared IP address
Pricing plans differ from each other in server capacity and resource availability. If you are just launching your website, the simplest package might be right for you. And vice versa, if you have an existing project, you need to consult technical support specialists to select the appropriate pricing plan.


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Advanced Scrum: Addressing Sprint Execution Challenges
Target Audience
Expected Duration
Lesson Objectives
Course Number
Expertise Level
Executing a Scrum sprint can pose unique challenges, but there are ways to mitigate your risk. This course provides an overview of techniques for overcoming challenges you might face when executing sprint, including how to manage issues with daily standups, sprint reviews, and sprint retrospectives. This course also provides techniques for handling technical debt challenges and distributed scrum.
Target Audience
Individuals with foundational Scrum knowledge interested in learning Scrum implementation techniques and best practices
Expected Duration (hours)
Lesson Objectives
Advanced Scrum: Addressing Sprint Execution Challenges
start the course
identify techniques for dealing with non-attendance
identify techniques for managing daily standup duration issues
identify techniques for managing inconsistent scheduling
identify techniques for detecting risks
recognize characteristics of the "pig" role
specify how to manage additional work requirements
identify how to manage outside interference
specify how to manage extra efforts
identify techniques for dealing with Sprint duration challenges
specify how to manage a lack of Sprint reviews
identify methods for managing unprepared teams
identify how to manage an incomplete product backlog
identify how to deal with an unavailable product backlog
identify best practices for establishing accountability
identify how to manage a lack of Sprint Retrospectives
identify how to manage excessive process changes in an iteration
identify how to manage unrealistic expectations
identify characteristics of a user registration, first iteration example
identify characteristics of a user registration, second iteration example
identify characteristics of a user registration, final iteration example
recognize the benefits of addressing technical debt
recognize the risks of ignoring technical debt
recognize the general challenges of distributed Scrum
identify general best practices in Scrum communications
describe characteristics of each communication method of the CRS
recognize best practices in distributed Scrum communications
address sprint execution challenges
Course Number:
Expertise Level