There’s a nice little piece in the back of the current Radio Times listing some of the locations used to film the new movie version of The Secret Garden (premiering on Sky Cinema tonight). The list is surprisingly long; presumably the film makers couldn’t find all the elements they needed in one garden and had … More Secret gardens
Just in time for the run up to Halloween, there’s a NEAT ARTICLE on the BBC website about all the mythology associated with stone circles. From curses to devils to ley lines, there’s something for everyone here – and even a snippet about the fiction they’ve inspired. I’ve never yet set a story in a … More Spooky stone circles
Just dashing in with news of my latest author interview. Want to know whether I have a writing ‘comfort zone’? Or how I first got started writing at all? Or what my next book’s going to be about? Then look no further than fellow m/m romance author REBECCA JAMES’S BLOG. She asked me all these … More New author interview
One of the best history programmes in years has just shown up on mainstream TV after being tucked away on the 5Select channel over the summer. I only caught Walking Britain’s Roman Roads (presented by historian Dan Jones) by accident thanks to a brief mention in Radio Times magazine, but I’m glad I did because … More Did the Romans smell of fish?
After I posted about the one that may or may not be at Levens Hall the other day, I remembered that there was a good segment on the subject in one of the George Clarke’s National Trust Unlocked programmes on Channel 4 last Sunday. This particular piece came from Baddesley Clinton, which we were lucky … More Speaking of priest holes…
This is something I forgot to mention when I blogged about Levens Hall yesterday. I visited the house several times with my parents as a child or young teenager, and on the last of those visits I’m convinced I remember a priest hole. It was entered through a trap-door in one of the main bedrooms, … More The strange case of the missing priest hole
The history is easy to see at Levens Hall. For starters, it’s a medieval pele tower encased in a (slightly) later Elizabethan house – the largest in Cumbria. The original building dates from around the middle of the 13th century; the ‘new’ house from about 1580. It’s stunning to look at, with stone mullioned windows, … More History, mist and mystery at Levens Hall
I’ll start by saying that I really enjoyed the recent BBC dramatisation of Eleanor Catton’s novel The Luminaries. It took me far too long to watch, mostly because of lockdown and not having the house to myself, but when I did get the opportunity I enjoyed this strange, compelling mix of mysticism and skull-duggery set … More Shedding light on The Luminaries
I’m not too sure how genuine the ‘Roman’ bath was, to be honest, but this was a terrific day out at Lowther Castle near Penrith. It’s been on the ‘to visit’ list for several years but we’ve never quite got there before. However, a couple of weeks ago we spotted the grounds were open again … More Ruins, roses and a Roman bath
My paranormal romp Got Ghosts? is featured today at the lovely Mary Anne Yarde’s blog. The post includes a nice juicy excerpt from the book, so if you’re tempted but not sure whether to take the plunge without an initial trial, now’s your chance. Pop along to the Coffee Pot Book Club and make the … More A ghostly little feature
