Despite some strange looks, I’ve been studying the pavement outside the east end of Westminster Abbey recently. We know that in 1834 there was a street plug (ie access to underground fire mains) in “Speaker’s Corner”, which was the name for the outside area between the apse of Henry VII’s chapel and the Chapter House (as well […]
The 1834 Fire
Slumming it in Westminster
At lunchtime today, I walked down Old Pye Street, once one of the worst ‘rookeries’ in London. Both Joshua Cross and Patrick Furlong, the labourers who started the 1834 fire, lived nearby. Today the street is lined with Peabody Trust mansion blocks, built there in the late 19th century, when the “The Devil’s Acre”, as it was called, […]
The End of the Road
As a reward to myself I visited the London Fire Brigade Museum in Southwark today. I had tried to get on a tour two or three times previously but kept having to cancel due to pressure of work. I really wanted to visit to do some picture research for the book. Anyway, this time I made it, and saw […]
Vulgar Clatter and Clamour
Sent off chapters 7 to 10 today to my prospective agent, at the end of a day of leave. Feel very pleased. Also sailed over the 99,000 word mark with some last minute splicing in of new sources. One of my favourite bits added today: Contemporaries described the fire as (amongst other things), “fearfully imposing” […]
Firemen to the Rescue
Yesterday (Friday) I had a quick chat with some of the fire safety guys at the Houses of Parliament. They are all ex-firemen so they really know their stuff. I wanted to make sure I understood the technical details of the descriptions of the fire from contemporary newspapers and other sources I have been working […]
Would You Read this Book?
Well, today’s the day when things got serious: I sent off my prologue and first three chapters to a literary agent. I won’t say which one here, since I might not get anywhere and will then look a total fule. But if I do, you’ll be the first to know. I should get a yay or […]
