I once had a plan to write a whole series of guides to provincial towns and cities, a ‘Brocket in your Pocket’ type thing which I now think could work well as a simple pdf on your phone or, if you’re like me, on paper (why do the young ‘uns laugh so much when we print off train and cinema tickets?).
Thank you for another interesting read. I love the Bennett/Woolf feud. Hopefully he didn’t give two hoots about her snobbery - he was the one who made the money from writing even if she eventually got the literary glory.
It’s easy to forget he was a national treasure - I read somewhere that they put straw down to muffle the sound of traffic on the street as Bennett lay dying in his London home.
And he’s forever associated with a delicious omelette, created for him at the Savoy, while poor Ginny makes me think of dreadful meals with ‘shape’ for pudding.
I agree with you about the Bennett/Woolf feud. I know one should always try to separate writer from person, but how she could write so beautifully and at the same time be such an appalling snob beats me. My source for the 'straw in the road' is Andrew Martin's excellent Substack, Reading on Trains – his post about Chiltern Court, where Bennett lived, has the details.
Thanks for the link to the great blog! It can be done in a day - I did Edinburgh & Middlesbrough, up early in the morning and back in the evening the next day.
TY for not commenting on the week's news! The sheep's head rag rug made my day! (I am very partial to sheep of any description.) And your insertions of Beatles photos are the highlight of my Sundays. Please keep doing what you're doing!
Seeing how derelict Middlesbrough has become breaks my heart. I can't remember the last time I actually went into the town centre as the last time I was there it was a shadow of its former self. The area has such a rich and important history and all we're known for is being the drug, crime and prostitution capitals of the UK. My great great grandfather, who owned iron and steelworks in nearby Warrenby and Redcar will be spinning in his grave!
How lovely to see Hartlepool on the map. My family are from the town and your rule of 3 works brilliantly here - harbour, headland battery, church. When we were children a trip on the transporter was a highlight of summer and Christmas holiday visits to see grandparents. Extra special on a dark winter afternoon with all the industrial lights stretching away along the river.
Northern industrial towns and cities have plenty to commend them - architecture, industrial heritage, innovation.
Time to revisit the Brocket in your Pocket idea, I think.
Ah Jane! I look forward to your Sunday writings with as much fervour as my weekly copy of Bunty in my 70s girlhood. Tickled that you’ve finally found your way to Middlesbrough. I’m a fairly frequent visitor due to my Teesider husband’s devotion to the cultural landmark you didn’t mention: he & our daughter head off into a red & white marching army of MFC supporters, while I make a beeline to mima, so thrilled about this exhibition. Thanks as ever for bigging up the -ahem - provinces (I wince at the phrase). Great stuff!
When I was growing up in Chicago, my best friend’s grandmother in Edinburgh used to send her a bundle of Buntys every month. We eagerly read every story, especially the on-going saga of the Four Marys.
Lovely article Jane. There's snobbery about crafts too isn't there. I was not allowed to pursue batik on my 1993 foundation course, so rag rugs would def have been off the menu.
Your post this morning hit on so many things that I have been connecting with lately. Though I read and liked Woolf in my college days, for some reason I find her harder to engage with these days. Not so with Bennett! Reading his short stories is pure enjoyment without a whiff of pretension.
I also recently learned about the Middlesborough transporter bridge (well actually about Middlesborough itself, since I live in the US) so it was wonderful to find out that it’s featured in a scene in Billy Elliott which I’ve never seen, and watching it will be a great (if alas only temporary) distraction. Any moveable bridge is catnip to me, coming from Chicago where the river is spanned by bascule, swing, and vertical lift bridges galore.
Thank you for another brilliant post. I so look forward to them on a Sunday.
The city "planners" of the mid 20th century really did make some spectacularly bad decisions. Glasgow, where I live, is another place that got cut into pieces by motorways. The recent opening of a footbridge from Govan to the northern riverside helps a little, and opens up a new perspective, but then the riverside is still cut off by a dual carriageway from the west end of the city.
I will try and catch the rug exhibition in Carlisle - it looks wonderful! I love the idea of a "three things" approach to visiting towns. There's definitely a book in that!
Interesting and diverting as usual. Many thanks. The rugs look wonderful - I remember fondly the rag rug which lay in front of my grandparents' home in Wakefield, which had been made by my grandfather. And thank you so much for the silence on the other matter....
Thanks for a most interesting read, as usual, Jane. I used to work in one of the lovely old buildings on the other side of the A66 flyover and can’t get over the short sightedness of the town planners. Yes Middlesbrough is a shadow of its former self but you have piqued my interest in visiting the station some time. interestingly I went to the Transporter Bridge only yesterday to take sone photographs for a photo project I’m doing on the River Tees from high up towards its source to its meeting with the North Sea. A fabulous piece of engineering. I love your three things philosophy.
Thank you for another interesting read. I love the Bennett/Woolf feud. Hopefully he didn’t give two hoots about her snobbery - he was the one who made the money from writing even if she eventually got the literary glory.
It’s easy to forget he was a national treasure - I read somewhere that they put straw down to muffle the sound of traffic on the street as Bennett lay dying in his London home.
And he’s forever associated with a delicious omelette, created for him at the Savoy, while poor Ginny makes me think of dreadful meals with ‘shape’ for pudding.
I agree with you about the Bennett/Woolf feud. I know one should always try to separate writer from person, but how she could write so beautifully and at the same time be such an appalling snob beats me. My source for the 'straw in the road' is Andrew Martin's excellent Substack, Reading on Trains – his post about Chiltern Court, where Bennett lived, has the details.
That was a lovely read this morning and I now want to see the rag rug exhibition.
I read it out to my husband as he wants to see the transporter bridge. Did you go on a day trip?
btw if you’re looking for interesting places, a mine of information/inspiration can be found here:
https://diamondgeezer.blogspot.com/?m=1
we’ve had many days out after reading DG’s blog.
Thanks Celia... and thanks Jane, I too was semi-entranced by Middlesbrough.
Here's my report from 2017 when the marvellous transporter bridge was still thankfully open.
https://diamondgeezer.blogspot.com/2017/01/tees-transporter-bridge.html
Loved reading this. I would really like to cross the river this way!
I didn’t realise you were here on substack, I’ll subscribe
Thanks for the link to the great blog! It can be done in a day - I did Edinburgh & Middlesbrough, up early in the morning and back in the evening the next day.
Your lovely rag rug pics have brightened a gloomy Sunday morning. Thank you as ever!
TY for not commenting on the week's news! The sheep's head rag rug made my day! (I am very partial to sheep of any description.) And your insertions of Beatles photos are the highlight of my Sundays. Please keep doing what you're doing!
Thank you for taking my mind off the slag heap.
Seeing how derelict Middlesbrough has become breaks my heart. I can't remember the last time I actually went into the town centre as the last time I was there it was a shadow of its former self. The area has such a rich and important history and all we're known for is being the drug, crime and prostitution capitals of the UK. My great great grandfather, who owned iron and steelworks in nearby Warrenby and Redcar will be spinning in his grave!
How lovely to see Hartlepool on the map. My family are from the town and your rule of 3 works brilliantly here - harbour, headland battery, church. When we were children a trip on the transporter was a highlight of summer and Christmas holiday visits to see grandparents. Extra special on a dark winter afternoon with all the industrial lights stretching away along the river.
Northern industrial towns and cities have plenty to commend them - architecture, industrial heritage, innovation.
Time to revisit the Brocket in your Pocket idea, I think.
I agree totally! And now Hartlepool is on the list.
Ah Jane! I look forward to your Sunday writings with as much fervour as my weekly copy of Bunty in my 70s girlhood. Tickled that you’ve finally found your way to Middlesbrough. I’m a fairly frequent visitor due to my Teesider husband’s devotion to the cultural landmark you didn’t mention: he & our daughter head off into a red & white marching army of MFC supporters, while I make a beeline to mima, so thrilled about this exhibition. Thanks as ever for bigging up the -ahem - provinces (I wince at the phrase). Great stuff!
I was very aware of the importance of football, but I stuck to my rule of three!
When I was growing up in Chicago, my best friend’s grandmother in Edinburgh used to send her a bundle of Buntys every month. We eagerly read every story, especially the on-going saga of the Four Marys.
Thank you, Jane. I'll look forward to April in Carlisle and the Tullie House exhib. ( I love the bit of Carlisle TH is in. Quite the nicest part imo).
It's lovely there, I know. I'd happily revisit!
Lovely article Jane. There's snobbery about crafts too isn't there. I was not allowed to pursue batik on my 1993 foundation course, so rag rugs would def have been off the menu.
Your post this morning hit on so many things that I have been connecting with lately. Though I read and liked Woolf in my college days, for some reason I find her harder to engage with these days. Not so with Bennett! Reading his short stories is pure enjoyment without a whiff of pretension.
I also recently learned about the Middlesborough transporter bridge (well actually about Middlesborough itself, since I live in the US) so it was wonderful to find out that it’s featured in a scene in Billy Elliott which I’ve never seen, and watching it will be a great (if alas only temporary) distraction. Any moveable bridge is catnip to me, coming from Chicago where the river is spanned by bascule, swing, and vertical lift bridges galore.
Thanks for brightening up my Sunday!
Thank you for another brilliant post. I so look forward to them on a Sunday.
The city "planners" of the mid 20th century really did make some spectacularly bad decisions. Glasgow, where I live, is another place that got cut into pieces by motorways. The recent opening of a footbridge from Govan to the northern riverside helps a little, and opens up a new perspective, but then the riverside is still cut off by a dual carriageway from the west end of the city.
I will try and catch the rug exhibition in Carlisle - it looks wonderful! I love the idea of a "three things" approach to visiting towns. There's definitely a book in that!
Your guide to Oxford is my favorite. Thanks for an entertaining diversion from a horrible week :)
Interesting and diverting as usual. Many thanks. The rugs look wonderful - I remember fondly the rag rug which lay in front of my grandparents' home in Wakefield, which had been made by my grandfather. And thank you so much for the silence on the other matter....
So appropriate that the burn is on the rug depicting a fire!
Thanks for a most interesting read, as usual, Jane. I used to work in one of the lovely old buildings on the other side of the A66 flyover and can’t get over the short sightedness of the town planners. Yes Middlesbrough is a shadow of its former self but you have piqued my interest in visiting the station some time. interestingly I went to the Transporter Bridge only yesterday to take sone photographs for a photo project I’m doing on the River Tees from high up towards its source to its meeting with the North Sea. A fabulous piece of engineering. I love your three things philosophy.
It's a shocker when you see the devastation north of the A66. But I'm very pleased I went.