Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label History. Show all posts

Glasgow Necropolis









Now, spending my weekends strolling on the beach is kind of normal. Spending my free days roaming through cemeteries maybe isn't so normal. In my town there was a cemetery I used to go and wander when I wanted to get away from things. They are usually pretty empty places and as always I'm drawn to objects or structures that can tell stories about the past. 

A couple of weeks ago, I dragged my boyfriend out into the rain to go explore the Glasgow Necropolis. We'd been waiting for a nice dry day to go but, it being Scotland, the chances of such a day appearing were looking slim. Reflecting on it, the gloom and rain only added the effect of the Necropolis. The Necropolis, meaning 'city of the dead', is a Victorian cemetery set just behind Glasgow Cathedral.  Walking around the graveyard you can see the french influences and different era's style of burial. The eerie atmosphere and array of elaborate family tombs made for a visit that I'll be sure to remember. If you are the type, like myself, that finds exploring cemeteries pretty interesting then I'd definitely recommend taking a visit. I do believe there is also a walking tour that runs if you want to hear more about the history of the city and those who were buried there. 

The Peaky Blinders


For ages my friend went on at me to watch Peaky Blinders. When I finally got round to doing so, I couldn't thank her enough for the recommendation. The BBC series is set in Birmingham (close to where I'm from) and tells the tale of a group of illegal bookmakers in the 1920s. One reason you should watch it- the very handsome Cillian Murphy plays the lead. Second, it's a bloody brilliant drama. But, most importantly, it's history. I love television dramas that inspire me to look into the true events and go in search of newspaper cuttings. For me, the programme is even more of a draw as it helps me understand somewhere local to me. Before, Birmingham was a place where I went to get some fabric and thrift some goods from cow vintages. Whereas now, I'm intrigued by the industrial buildings and the everyday lives of those who strolled the city lanes decades ago.