Jack of Hilton

Let me introduce you to Jack of Hilton. This rather elderly brass fellow dates from 1300 and was still with the Vernon family at Hilton Hall, Staffs until 2013. He now resides at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and erm rather caught my eye when I was waiting for Lovely Grey!

I now find that this is called an aeolipile [from the Greek God of air and wind Aeolus]. What be one of those I hear you cry! He would be filled with 4 pints of water and then left near the fire to heat up. The steam this created then forced air out through holes in his mouth and back which would fan the flames whilst all the time emitting a wheezing sound.

According to "The Natural History of Staffordshire" by Robert Plot [1686] every year the Manor of Essingham had to give a goose to the nearby Manor of Hilton [they were the tenant]. The bird had to be driven round the Hilton fire three times with Jack of Hilton doing his thing in the background. The poor fowl was then taken to the cook in the kitchen to be dispatched and brought back on a plate by the tenant for this lord's delectation. Strangely then the custom was for Hilton to repay this by giving him one of his own geese in return. More info here https://traditionalcustomsandceremonies.wordpress.com/2014/01/31/custom-demised-jack-of-hilton-and-his-curious-tenure/

And that folks is why I love blogging....I never know what I am going to turn up next. Taking into account his prominent protuberance my fevered imagination came up with many theories, but hearth blower was not one of them!

Arilx

Imagination

[Image from Pixabay]

Don't know about you, but I have reached the conclusion that what the world needs right now is innovators and those who power forward with brave new solutions to the problems we face. A whole sea change is needed. Amongst all the doom and gloom we hear all day there are those already out there doing precisely that. I came across this quote by Alan Turing recently. Most apt I thought.

"Sometimes it's the people no one can imagine anything of who do the things no one can imagine."

Arilx

Festively sluggish.

Did you get wind of these illuminated leopard slugs which are currently lighting up the outside of The Tate?

These are the work of Monster Chetwynds and you can see them until 25th February.

However, if mighty molluscs aren't to your taste how about this teeny weeny finger nail sized snail which I saw for the first time last week on a sculpture which has stood in the town centre since 1994 [and only then because the local society flagged it up]. This denotes the work of sculptor Terrence Clark and is tucked away out of sight.

Perhaps not quite as cute as the work of Robert Thompson aka the Mouseman of Kilburn, York🐭, but I liked it.🐌

Arilx

S-naff-LING a bargain.

At 52 years old am I allowed to admit that I've harboured a secret wish to own a naff Christmas jumper for some time now? Lord only knows why as it's a million miles away from my normal taste, but once in a while I like to go rogue. On my brief forays into retail outlets I've seen some examples which are rather classy and upmarket [with a price tag to match], but surely that misses the point? By it's very nature shouldn't the intention behind it to be as non serious and naff as possible?

As you might imagine I'm too mean to squander my hard earnt wonga on a new one....no I have just quietly bided my time waiting for another soul to tire of theirs or want a different one. I dug deep today and parted with three hundred pennies in order to purchase this lovely...I am sure TYM will delighted to accompany his aged parent sporting this ensemble during the festive period!! Perhaps a visit to him at work will not be on the cards👿

Arilx

Getting the chimney swept.

If you live in an older property and are expecting a rather plump fellow in a red jacket to climb down it later in the month, you might just want to get it swept before the big day.

Why might you ask? Well it could be harbouring a little secret like this....

A row of three cottages in East Sussex were found to be hiding a huge cache of worn out boots and shoes in and around the chimney space. It seems that at one time [if Wikipedia is to be believed!] witches were drawn to the human scent of the footwear and once they'd had a nose they'd be trapped inside the boots with no means of escape forever more. The practice died out in the nineteenth century. [seen at the Weald and Downland Museum]

Arilx

A Street Calendar

When the TYM was a small person I bought him a few of those chocolate filled advent calendars to start with, but soon opted for a fabric one with pockets that I could fill for him instead. Mind you the little toad used to scarfe down all the sweeties at high speed....there was never any spreading them out over the 24 days as intended! In a perpetual bid to keep my buying down I have streamlined my festive consumption year on year and this one of the first things I culled.

How delighted I am then to discover that in the classiest road in the town centre the homeowners have all come together and co-ordinated an advent window for each day for everyone passing by to enjoy. These are the first four days....I shall return to photograph more in a few days time. Just to clarify day one was inside our local museum. I haven't been trespassing! Father Christmas was built by the volunteers and he posts the letters.

As you might imagine this is right up my street!

Arilx

The Magic Faraway Tree

Sitting quietly at the top hill away from the main thorough fares and adult eyes this sits quietly.

The innately curious little people, who still believe in the magic of the world, may explore further and discover its secret....

For hidden within its bole this sits waiting to be found.....

Who knows where it might lead you if, like Alice in Wonderland, you could shrink yourself down and go through the fairy portal at the base....

This utterly gorgeous tree is part of the children's play area at the top of the Weald and Downland Museum in West Sussex. I took great delight in photographing the dragons there last year, but walked past this totally oblivious. We were back dancing at the annual Tree Dressing event.

Arilx