by David West | Jun 18, 2023 | News
The Duke of Wellington and Field Marshall von Blücher defeated Napoleon at Waterloo, on this day in 1815. My 3rd great-grandfather, Elias Standen was there. He was a sergeant-farrier with the Royal Horse Artillery. I’ve posted about him before. The battle began at...
by David West | Jun 15, 2023 | News
Military intelligence and tactics are vital. I mentioned The Ship Inn in a recent post. It possesses the most magnificent stained glass window. The banner in the window says “Ye Shippes of Fowey Haven preparing to welcome ye Armada.” The Ship Inn also displays a...
by David West | Jun 13, 2023 | News
I love exploring old buildings. Since I discovered that my 10th great-granduncle was Sir Anthony Standen, an Elizabethan spy, I try and imagine him in those spaces. Claire and I have moored our sailing boat in Fowey Harbour. Two old building caught my attention. The...
by David West | Jun 10, 2023 | News
Fate pivots on such small things. For the want of a nail, the shoe was lost. Well for the want of a rope, the course of history might have been very different. I saw this sign in Plymouth yesterday. John Howland fell overboard from the Mayflower on passage to America....
by David West | Jun 9, 2023 | News
I married my darling Claire thirty-three years ago today. But what else happened on this day in history? Francis I of France signed a secret treaty with Pope Clement VII 492 years ago today, against Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Francis was the King who met Henry VIII...
