The average Englishman, in his home he calls his castle, puts on his
national costume - a shabby Raincoat patented by Charles MacIntosh of
Glasgow, Scotland...
The refurbished Nelson's column in Trafalgar Square is worth a close look. The
163 year old Grade 1 listed structure is made from sandstone from the
Craigleith Quarry in Edinburgh which closed 60 years ago (now a
shopping centre). Luckily the restorers were able to savage enough of
this rare sandstone from a building being demolished in Auld Reekie.
Margaret and Rachel McMillan from Inverness pioneered nursery education
in the early 20th century. Trainee governesses in Bloomsbury they
became radical socialists and suffragettes. Their major contribution
was to improve the welfare of slum children through school medical
inspections and they led a successful national campaign for school
meals.
They set up clinics at Bow and Deptford and in 1914 opened the first
Nursery School in Peckham. Margaret was an influential writer on early
education and the sisters are remembered today - Margared has a park
and a nursery school named after her and Rachel a nursery school and
teachers college.
The Hunters are unique in having two medical museums in the family and
most Scots know William's Hunterian at Glasgow University.
If you're into body watching the second, located at the Royal College
of Surgeons (35-43 Lincoln's Inn Fields, WC2) is based on younger son
John's collection of anatomical specimens. The museum was relaunched in
2005 after a major refit and presentation is state of the art "it
literally opens a window into the body so we can have a look"
(C.Moran). Open Tues-Sat 10.00-17.00
Football fans should make a beeline for Arsenal's Museum at Emirates
Stadium, The number of Scots involved in the history of the Club is
remarkable, from Alec James to George Graham to Charlie Nicholas, and
the story is told in an excellent film by Bob Wilson.Do the virtual tour before you go, at www.arsenal.co.uk . North Triangle Building, open 7 days 10.00-18.00.
The Clockmakers Museum in the Guildhall points up an early Scots presence in the City of London. David
Ramsay, watchmaker to James VI of Scotland, came south with the King
when he became James ! of England and ended up as the first Master of
the Clockmakers Company in the City. His timepieces are on display,
along with those of namesake John and the barometric clocks of
Alexander Cumming, who curiously, also invented the 'S bend' for
lavatories!
Hailed as the father of British Midwifery, William Smellie 1697-1763, was the first to teach obstretrics on a scientific basis. Among
the teaching aids he developed in his London practice was a
'obstretrical mannikin' used to demonstrate the safe use of forceps. He
set it all down in three volumes 'Treatise on the Theory and Practice
of Midwifery' which became the standard work on the subject.
Keir Hardie, first leader of the Labour Party, represented West Ham in Parliament from 1892 to 1895. No top hat and tails for him at Westminster, he wore a tweed suit, a red tie and a deerstalker hat. He still has a presence in the Capital - nine pictures of him in the
National Portrait Gallery, a Housing Estate, Park, Primary School and
Methodist Church all named after him. (no pubs however - he was a
leading light in the temperence movement). Hardie was never a big fan of London, preferring to return to Lochnorris' his house in Cumnock.
Early 18th century Scots economist John Law had an eventful time in London.
He fought a duel and came out on top with Beau Wilson in Bloomsbury Square, was spared execution and escaped to France.
Into gambling and currency speculation he neverless developed ideas on
national banking systems which were acted on on the continent and
elsewhere (some say with disastrous results!).
2007 was the 250th anniversary of the birth of Thomas Telford, the
son of a Langholm shepherd, and the Chelsea Flower Show 2007 will have
a garden in his honour which will be worth seeing.
Tam went to London in 1792 to work as a stonemason on Somerset House
and became a renowned architect and engineer, One of his finest
achievements is St. Katherine's Docks, just below Tower Bridge, now
redeveloped as an upmarket residential and shopping centre, and a
revolutionary project when built in the 1880s.
Look out for the entrance lock to the Thames keeping the Docks four
feet above the level of the River. The quay names, Ivory House, the
Marble Quay and Indigo House recall the exotic cargoes landed here.
St.Katherine's is open to visit anytime, hidden behind the Tower
Thistle Hotel.
