Tag Archives: Fiona Rule

A Day In The Life By Fiona Rule

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“Woke up, got out of bed,

Dragged a comb across my head.

Found my way downstairs and drank a cup….”

That is where the similarities end between my Day In The Life and Paul McCartney’s. While he sped off in search of a bus, I fire up my computer and peruse the latest crop of emails before getting down to the work that takes up most of my time – research.

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Today, I am looking into the history of Hunsdon House – a spectacularly ancient property in rural Hertfordshire for a private client. My work takes me all over the place and this morning’s destination is the archives at County Hall in Hertford. County and Borough archives are wonderful treasure troves and are open to anyone, free of charge – all you need is proof of ID. However, many are seriously underfunded and some archives I’ve visited are little more than filing rooms. Its a shame that Council finance officers seem so disinterested in their area’s heritage. Nevertheless, Hertford Archives is better equipped than most and I soon find a wealth of deeds and articles on Hunsdon House along with my favourite kind of document – maps.

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Since the Babylonians carved a map of the world on a piece of stone back in the 6th century BCE, maps have told us far more than a book ever could because they put everything in visual context. For instance, Andrew Dury’s map of Hertfordshire, drawn up in the 1760’s tells me at a glance that at the time, Hunsdon House was the seat of Nicolson Calvert and it was set in elegantly landscaped grounds, with a patchwork of rural fields beyond. Now I have a name, I can find out more about the family.

By cross referencing the maps with deeds and other documents, I manage to piece together a timeline for Hunsdon House and its various occupants over the centuries. This forms the framework onto which I can build a more complete story through online research once I return to the office. I’ve found that this modus operandi works for any size of project, be it the history of one house or an entire area.

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However, before I return to London, I have one final stop to make. I’ve arranged to meet a friend at a local pub to show her a copy of my new, “big” book – Streets of Sin, which is just about to be published. My books are a bit like children – I’m proud of them despite their flaws and I like to talk about them! Thus, I’m excited to show her this “hot off the press” copy. Thankfully, the reaction is positive and I wend my way home to face the biggest challenge of the day – to stop thinking about research and turn my attentions to more mundane, domestic matters. This can be terrifically hard, especially if I have uncovered something particularly tantalising. I wonder if Paul McCartney has the same problem when he’s writing songs?

 

 

Streets of Sin – A Dark Biography of Notting Hill by Fiona Rule Book Review

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Think Notting Hill, the film, then wonder about Notting Hill, the place. Historian Fiona Rule has all the answers in her latest book, Streets of Sin. Rule has researched her subject meticulously, and presents it in a way that is accessible, and fascinating.

She takes us through the area, much as she does in one of her walks, tracing Notting Hill from its beginnings in the mid 1700s to the present. It began as a small rural community, some half an hour’s walk from the edge of the metropolis, and that half an hour was to be crucial in the initial failure of Notting Hill as a money spinning residential area for its developer. It was just too far from the centre to work as well as Marylebone or any of the closer developments.

Rule lifts the layers of Notting Hill’s history, revealing dreams gone wrong, broken people, piggeries, Rachman, the Profumo affair, and London’s first race riots. Add a dollop of characters such as the murderer Christie, and the musician, Hendrix, give it a good stir, and here you have, ladies and gentlemen – Notting Hill.

Streets of Sin – A Dark Biography of Notting Hill by Fional Rule

I found Streets of Sin unputdownable. OK, my own research as an author leads me to devour anything historical, but walk these streets, put places to names, see what’s under the surface and you’ll be hooked. It is an easy read, an informative read. I loved it.

About the author: London-based historian, researcher and bestselling author Fiona Rule is widely respected as a specialist in the history of the capital and the Victorian era. She has appeared as an expert on several radio and television programmes including BBC London’s Breakfast Show and The Robert Elms Show, Find My Past and The Great British Story with Peter Snow. Her previous critically acclaimed historical titles include The Worst Street In London (Ian Allan 2008, reprinted 2009, 2010, 2012) London’s Docklands (Ian Allan 2009) and London’s Labyrinth (Ian Allan 2012).

Streets of Sin: A Dark Biography of Notting Hill by Fiona Rule (published by History Press 8th August RRP £17.99 hardback) is available to purchase online and at all good book retailers. For more information please visit www.fionarule.com or follow her @Fiona_Rule