herstorical tours
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HERSTORY OF THE MONTH: Sarah ‘Crazy Sally’ Mapp The Bone-setter Sally Mapp caricature - George Cruikshank 1819 (after Hogarth) I love to see women succeed in male dominated fields…especially in history, when everything is pitted against them. Thats why this month’s herstory is a bit of an eccentric one, and I couldn’t resist it. This is the story of Sarah ‘Crazy Sally’ Mapp, one of the 18th…
Discounted tours for August, and what's on later in the year... Herstories around the campfire (of the world) How’s your summer so far? I’m not going to lie, it’s been hard. I don’t have to tell anyone how hot it’s been. It’s affecting everyone and every business I know, not least my tours. The fires are raging, yes, it’s all a bit scary, yes. AI is encroaching upon us insidiously making it all…
Edith Lanchester (Wikipedia) Edith Lanchester, the mother of Bride of Frankenstein actress Elsa, would probably forever remain in her daughter’s famous shadow had it not been for the events that unfolded in October 1895. For Edith was abducted and incarcerated in a lunatic asylum by her own family, simply for being ‘too educated’. But although this incident is what found Edith lasting fame and…
Shop mannequins melt in a heatwave in London in 1929. Many of us can relate. In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past few weeks (and if you have - that’s probably been the coolest place you could possibly be…) ITS SUMMER EVERYONE!!!! and don’t we know it! with record-breaking June heat causing everyone to melt and combust across Blighty. We doughy Brits are ill-suited to heat, we were…
Self-portrait, 1821. On her sleeve can be seen her paintbrush, sewn in. I came across Sarah Biffin’s extroadinary story a few years back and then was reminded of it at a recent exhibition of rare Elizabethan portraits at the Philip Mould Gallery in London. Philip Mould has written a book on Biffin called ‘Without Hands’ and held the first exhibition of her work in 2022 in 100 years!!! Its…
Here comes June - officially summer isn’t it? Well it’s the month of the solstice, so in my book, summer is ‘ere, and that’s that! What’s on this month? Well firstly, excitingly, I’m getting a shout out in the Londonist tomorrow. If you don’t already subscribe or follow them, do so - not just to see me (!) (good enough reason though to be fair) but because they will keep you updated on all the…
Pope Joan - Bibliotheque nationale de france 1560 illustrated manuscript "Duos habet et bene pendentes" Translation (for those of us not fluent in Latin): "He has two and they dangle nicely” This was allegedly declared by cardinals in the Vatican following the ‘sexing test’ upon the investiture of a new pope. Said pope was sat on a papal throne with a hole underneath. A lucky cardinal would reach…
April record breaking and May events... (Photo: Lizzy Jas Smith) Me as The Summer Goddess at the Chelsea Physic Garden May Public Tours - book now ! 16 May - Hex and the City 22 May - Southwark Hysteries 24 May - Votes for Women! (+ entry to the Bow Street Museum) 27 May - Influencer Tour (TBC) (Please see more info below) 30 May- Harlots and Strumpets and Tarts, Oh My! (+ entry to the Foundling…
When you think you cant possibly hear a more disturbing and crazy story about women’s history, life throws one like THIS at you….and it covers all bases: Sexual violence? Check. Childbirth and still birth? Check, Criminal injustice? Check. Physical violence? Check.. Behold, ladies and gentlemen, the horrendous and baffling case of Anne Greene, the subject of this month’s herstory. (Spoiler, in…
You can definitely put all your Easter eggs in our baskets! (Melissa and Emily, two of my Harlots, circa 2022 courtesy of Peter Hogan Media) Happy April! (No fools here!) The clocks have gone forward, everyone’s thinking about chocolate ( maybe that’s just me) there’s a bank holiday, it can only be…. April! The month where the weather is more unpredictable than Trump’s political decisions… But…
