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I am currently on study leave, getting on with research for my new project on the history of travel preparations. One thing that I’m particularly interested in is the material culture of travel, and what sorts of things were available for travellers as they got ready for their journeys.  Today, ‘things’ are incredibly important both … Continue reading Creams, Clothes and Cases: The material culture of pre-modern travel.
a year ago

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More from Dr Alun Withey

Jolted and Jumbled: Riding in a Sedan Chair in the 18th Century

If there is one form of transport that perhaps typifies the 18th century more than any other, it is a sedan chair.  Recently I have been doing some work on stage coaches, and the experience of what it was actually like to travel in one. This is already turning up some interesting evidence, suggesting that, far … Continue reading Jolted and Jumbled: Riding in a Sedan Chair in the 18th Century

a week ago 13 votes
To Tip or Not To Tip: A Victorian Traveller’s Perspective

Like it or not, tipping is a big part of hospitality and the service industry. Debates about how much/whether to tip rumble on, but they are not new. Even in the 18th and 19th centuries, travellers were complaining about the amount of unwanted or unexpected extras they had to pay for.

7 months ago 86 votes
News Just In: Dr W Joins TikTok – @dralun7

Yes, it’s true – I’ve finally joined the 21st century and decided to try something new. I am still only setting things up, so please be patient with the extremely cheesy and clunky vids as I try to work out what I’m doing! I’ve only got a couple of videos up at the moment too, … Continue reading News Just In: Dr W Joins TikTok – @dralun7

8 months ago 98 votes
Victorian Swappers! Adverts for exchange in the 19th century.

Victorians were inveterate 'swappers' (NB: this might not be what you think!). Newspapers and journals were full of ads for objects sought and to be exchanged. These offer a fascinating insight into what was considered desirable, the value of objects, and the processes of exchange.

10 months ago 71 votes
Should I Stay or Should I go?: Encouraging travel in the early modern period.

Travel today is often portrayed as a healthy activity, good for body, mind…and what’s left of the spirit!  A good holiday is generally viewed as a tonic, and holiday company advertisements extol the virtues of ‘getting away’, encountering new places, people and cultures and (if you want to ‘live life to the full’) experiences. As one travel … Continue reading Should I Stay or Should I go?: Encouraging travel in the early modern period.

a year ago 89 votes

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The Phoenicians, renowned for their trading and maritime skills, originated in what’s modern Lebanon. They called themselves Canaanites, related to similar peoples in the region. The term Phoenician derived from the Greek word “phoinix” meaning purple, referencing the famous purple dye produced in Tyre.      The Phoenician era spanned some 2,500 years, encompassing […]

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No One Does Rain Like Felix-Hilaire Buhot

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A Brief History of the First Nations of the Canadian Plains

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