In The Mariner's Mirror of February 1991 (Volume 77 Number 1), there is an article of great interest by Brian Dietz entitled "The Royal Bounty and English Merchant Shipping in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries", which offers a great deal of context to maritime activities in that era, including subjects which have been covered previously … Continue reading Harwich and the Sea Venture
Send Harwicensis Your Questions & Suggestions!
This month's WordPress #WordPrompt is "Open", which seems as good a time as any to 'open' things up to you, the reader. If you have any questions or suggestions for, or about, the blog, send them in via the Google Form below, and they may well feature in a post later this month. All submissions … Continue reading Send Harwicensis Your Questions & Suggestions!
William Hordle: A Brief Sketch
Neatly tucked away, behind Dovercourt High Street, live Hordle Street and Hordle Place, early examples of development off the main road in Victorian Lower Dovercourt. But who or what is a "Hordle", and what made them important enough to have these areas named after them? Enter Reverend William Hordle. William Hordle was baptised on 27 … Continue reading William Hordle: A Brief Sketch
The Newtons and Derry Guildhall
Sir Alfred Newton's stained glass window, as reproduced in Harwich Papers Leonard Weaver's Harwich Papers, published in 1994, serves as a conduit for the modern Harwich historian. Unlike The Harwich Story, which acts as a general purpose town history in the vein of History and Antiquities... or The Harwich Guide, "Papers" is, as self-described on … Continue reading The Newtons and Derry Guildhall
New Video on Hanover Square
The Harwicensis blog has entered the wonderful world of video creation, with a YouTube upload discussing Hanover Square. It is a little rough around the edges but much has been learned about the whole process, so this may well lead to more videos in the future. Here is the maiden video: https://youtu.be/zkR1oEnKk_4
Genesis of the Redoubt
The WordPress #WordPrompt of the month for May 2022 is “Strong”. This is a little more abstract than previous offerings, so a little creative licence had to go into this one - what holds strength better than a stronghold, and what better example of a stronghold is there than the Redoubt? Now, since there is already a … Continue reading Genesis of the Redoubt
Another Lesson in Checking Sources
As ever, with any factual work, historical or otherwise, sources are key, and validating & verifying them an important part of ensuring your work is as accurate as possible. When drilling home my own idea of meta-history in the past, I have also commented on the various angles at which you can examine a source … Continue reading Another Lesson in Checking Sources
Harwich Green: A Brief Sketch
The WordPress #WordPrompt of the month for April 2022 is “Green”. Much like "Bridge" from last month, it lends itself to discussion on the surname, but it seems fair to give the landscape angle a go this time, and there is no better candidate than Harwich Green. Firstly, let's look at what the Green represents in the … Continue reading Harwich Green: A Brief Sketch
On This Day: April 4
1806: Extracts from a letter sent by the tragic minister Thomas Spencer, at Harwich: “Once in a fortnight Mr. H preaches at the work-house [...] My situation is as comfortable, or more so, than ever, and I am considered like one of the family. We have a nice house, and here are only Mr. H, … Continue reading On This Day: April 4
What Is Harwich?
Harwich is all manner of different things to different people. Over the centuries it has grown in size and stature while never leaving its own spot. In effect, the Harwich Kraken has tentacles that reach out over a long distance, but its head and body remain in Harwich, so it manages to be in several … Continue reading What Is Harwich?
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