Shugborough Again

We had unfinished business at Shugborough Hall, so travelled up there again last weekend, and, because it was a bank holiday, found plenty of 'characters' in period costume wandering about (see above - I wasn't too sure about the Regency sunglasses!)

As the sign at the entrance (below) proclaimed, these people 'think they live in the 1800s... ask them about their lives but remember, they do not know anything about the 21st century, so please spare them any questions that assume such knowledge'.


What fun! My boyfriend, who dreads the close proximity of people 'acting', was not so convinced, but we nevertheless had a good chat with the Miller who showed us the impressive working mill which grinds two types of flour: wholemeal for the workers and a fine version, sieved through silk, for the aristocracy. The ducks looked a bit worried as the level of the mill pond outside dipped, but he explained that the water pressure prevented him from draining it completely. I'll post something on Shugborough's Walled Garden shortly.





Photographs © Memoirs of the Celebrated Mrs Woffington.

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Handel at Drottningholm

Very excited since we've made plans to visit Drottningholm - Sweden's magical 18th-century court theatre - for Handel's Ariodante. I've bought a CD of the opera (conducted by the wonderful Nicholas McGegan) because my Handel collection is in its infancy and we're going to need a libretto (no surtitles at Drottningholm!) Can't wait to see what a difference it makes, seeing a Handel opera fully staged; we recently attended the Academy of Ancient Music's concert performance of Arianna in Creta, and though it was wonderful musically, the lack of costumes and setting just killed the drama for me. I'll also be hot-footing it to the Drottningholm Theatre Museum if I get half a chance... At least this makes up for missing the Battle of Quiberon Bay!

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A Georgian Bower

Thought you might like to see my photos of the Lichfield Greenhill Bower yesterday; as mentioned in the previous post, it's an ancient tradition going back to the middle ages. The key moment in the parade is the crowning of the Bower Queen (Kate Chaplin, pictured below) by the Mayor.

To honour Dr Johnson in his Tercentenary year, the Bower Queen's float was impressively decked out with a replica of Johnson's birthplace, complete with a sign on it saying the residents were out 'taking young Sam to the Bower'. I loved the attention to detail - the Bower Queen's chair was a replica of the base of the Johnson statue in Lichfield's market square (there's a pic of the statue here).

Also below are pix of the morris men, the dignitaries outside the Guildhall, and a view of the crowds on Beacon Street.


















Photographs © Memoirs of the Celebrated Mrs Woffington.

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Lichfield's Court of Arraye

It's the Lichfield Greenhill Bower today, a street carnival that originates from the 12th century. Above is a shot I took this morning at the Court of Arraye at Lichfield's Guildhall - a kind of assembly of all men of arms which itself dates back to the early middle ages, and which involved a roll-call of able men and drill practice, followed by 'sport and pastime' (the latter being the origin of the Bower festivities).

Although the Acts requiring this assembly were abolished by James I, Lichfield kept the tradition going, though it changed from a serious assessment of military capability to a light-hearted affair that now involves speeches and jokes from local officials, presided over by the mayor. Needless to say, this morning there were a lot of jokes about MP's expenses! More on the Bower, and the Samuel Johnson Tercentenary float, shortly.

Photograph © Memoirs of the Celebrated Mrs Woffington.

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Georgian Finger Buffet

On June 6th, Castle House in Leicester opens to the public especially for a concert by The Longslade Consort which includes an 18th-century finger buffet at £35 per head. Details here.

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Battle of Quiberon Bay

I’m just gutted because despite all my wheedling, I’ve missed the opportunity to get my hands on tickets for this amazing operatic event, which is showing next week at Bath International Festival. Marking Handel’s death and the year of an important naval battle (1759), Alcina Chorus and Ensemble, with some help from Portsmouth Model Boat Display Team, are actually recreating the Battle of Quiberon Bay in one of the historic Roman baths. Expect ‘sea shanties, music from Handel's operas (directed by Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment conductor Robert Howarth) and Handel's Water Music, radio-controlled models of 18th-century ships, fireworks and more’. It’s sold out, so if you don’t already have tickets in your clammy hands, then you’ll miss this awesome event. Booo!

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Dr Johnson's Birthday Weekend

Excitement abounded in my household this weekend when details of this year's Tercentenary Celebrations in Lichfield zoomed into my inbox. The annual Johnson supper is a rather steep £45 per head, and dinner dress is required, but given it will probably be my last year as a member of The Johnson Society, I'll be making the most of it. The programme is below.



Friday, 18 September

From 6.30pm onwards - Reception and Get-together for all members, including visitors. This will be held in the GUILDHALL (not the Birthplace) as we are expecting a larger crowd than normal. There will be light refreshments and some readings.

From 8.00pm onwards everyone will be able to enjoy a son-et-lumière presentation in the Market Square, on the Market Square and Market Street faces of the Birthplace. Of course this part of the evening’s entertainment will be open to all members of the public.

Saturday, 19 September

10.30am Birthplace Museum - Civic Party, distinguished guests and Johnson Society Council attend cake-cutting ceremony.

11.30am All members are invited to assemble in the Guildhall, Bore Street, to join the Civic Party and guests when they process to the Market Square where the traditional wreath-laying takes place.

11.50am The Mayor of Lichfield will place a wreath on the Johnson Statue. There will be a short service during which the assembled crowd will hear Johnson’s Last Prayer sung by a local youth choir. Musical accompaniment will be provided by the musicians from King Edward VI School (Johnson’s old school).

Then, Society members are invited to return to the Guildhall where the Mayor and Civic Party will be present and a Toast will be drunk to “the immortal memory”.

12.30–4.30pm Following the formalities there is a piece of cake for the first visitors to the Birthplace and Intimate Theatre will be performing in the Market Square.

Information sheets will be available explaining where and when different activities are taking place in and around the City.

Saturday, 19 September - The Supper

6.30pm Drinks Reception in the Guildroom (beneath the Guildhall).

7.00pm Tercentenary Celebration Supper of the Johnson Society in the Guildhall in the presence of the Mayor and other Civic leaders, the Society’s President, Mr John Byrne, President-Elect, the Rt Rev Dr Jonathan Gledhill, Bishop of Lichfield and the Chairman and officers of the Society.


Sunday, 20 September

During the morning there will be an opportunity for those who wish to have a guided walk around the City sites associated with Johnson and his friends.

The Society has arranged for a Buffet Lunch in the Visitors’ Study Centre within the Cathedral Close. Lunches (two courses and including a glass of wine) will cost £16.50 per head. Please fill in the enclosed form and return with payment if you wish to attend.

3.30pm A Special Service of Choral Evensong at the Cathedral. The ‘Johnson Sermon’ will be preached by the Rt Rev Richard Chartres (Bishop of London).

6.00pm Melstock Band will be performing at the Guildhall. They will be playing a variety of music including some with an 18th century flavour. Tickets should be booked through Lichfield Arts who will have details of prices on 01543 262223 or online at: www.lichfieldarts.org.uk and not through The Johnson Society.


Monday, 21 September

11.00am Wreath-laying and Penance Commemoration at Uttoxeter Market Place will be attended by the Society’s new President and any members who wish to be present.

(Lichfield members will be able to offer lifts to Uttoxeter and to other surrounding places of Johnsonian interest).

We hope you will be able to attend some of these functions and help make this very special weekend a resounding success.


Photograph of Johnson statue in Lichfield market place © Memoirs of the Celebrated Mrs Woffington.

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