And a free book to celebrate

Built in 1544, Hurst Castle, near Southampton, incorporates Tudor, Georgian, and Victorian defences. It was even manned in World War II. Take a look round.

It’s Friday and that’s the day I usually post on Substack, but I’ve been away, so I’m fairly desperately getting a few lines down and wondering if they’ll vaguely make sense.

Mainly about Jonathan Swift

Mainly about Jonathan Swift

An 18th century village hidden behind a modern suburb

I’m working my way along the north bank of the Thames heading upstream from Richmond Bridge.

The Octagon Room

Two of my favourite topics in one post. Plus Romans in London.

I feel that what the world needs right now is some escapist nonsense. Are you with me?

Sex and politics in the 18th century

Sometimes I feel I'm living in the End Times

I've been having a fun week

Reviews, reviews, reviews

A new musical by Todrick Hall

In which I tie together Georgian royalty, Gibraltar, and a glimpse of my domestic life.

It's not just fortifications. The Great Siege saw development in military technology that shaped the way we use artillery today.

History, fortifications, big guns and monkeys. What's not to love?

What we might or might not learn from the British attack on Argentina in 1806

Two books by people I follow on Substack

After last week’s post on the fun and games at the Congress of Vienna, I’m combining two of my interests, tango and Georgian history, and writing about the popularisation of the waltz in the early 19t...

I’m emerging, blinking, from the food coma that is Christmas. Unsurprisingly, I am now not at all sure what day it is and am utterly incapable of writing anything intelligent on Substack, so I’m re-po...

It's my last post of the year: a free short story as my Christmas gift to you all.

Back to talking about the Napoleonic Wars again

BY TOM WILLIAMS Fans of Bernard Cornwell’s Richard Sharpe, and there are many, are very familiar with the Peninsular War. Sharpe started fighting in the Peninsula with the French invasion of Galicia i...

James Mansfield was born on 10 May 1734 to a Hampshire attorney, John James Mansfield (1700-1762) and his wife, Elizabeth (née Fezard) (1700-1740). John James had, apparently, at some stage, changed his surname from Manfield to Mansfield. James and Elizabeth were the owners of a lovely Georgian property in the village of Ringwood, in Hampshire, known as The Manor House in Ringwood. James was one of seven known children, and along with his younger brother, Richard Fezard Mansfield, they followed in their father’s footsteps by pursuing a career in the legal profession.

And a remarkable Georgian conman

And a treat for you all