7 minute read
THE BULLETIN
Prehistoric cosmology, Roman medicine and medieval manufacturing
EXHIBITION
Sophisticated Stonehenge
While the world-famous stone circle of Stonehenge in Wiltshire remains, in many ways, a mystery, a new exhibition at the British Museum, The World of Stonehenge (17 Feb to 17 July), will use the facts to present prehistoric Britain as a tangible place of big ideas, commerce and travel. The exhibition will take visitors back to around 3,000–2,500 BC, when the circle was created, and bring together hundreds of objects from across the UK and Europe, including the 3,600-year-old Nebra Sky Disc, the oldest surviving representation of the cosmos. www.britishmuseum.org
HERITAGE
Roman physique
Visitors are now being welcomed into a newly revealed section of the Roman Baths in the city of Bath: the Roman Gym. The Romans were known to be conscious of the importance of keeping fit and healthy, and the gym was an important part of larger bath houses. Inside, you can explore the ancient exercise yard and visit the remains of the Laconicum (a sauna or steam room), which, thanks to Roman ingenuity, would have been warmed by underfloor heating. Projections and interpretation boards will describe the Romans’ fitness routines, and the gory fundamentals of Roman medicine. www.romanbaths.co.uk
HISTORY
Stories of the skies
Funded by Historic England, Military Aviation Heritage Networks (MAHN) recently launched a new trail in East Anglia to highlight the area’s rich aviation history. From First World War bases that protected the country from airships and bombers to Cold War bases for aircraft and missiles, 30 historic airfields, museums, memorials and aviation sites make up the trail. A booklet and map can be downloaded from the MAHN website, making it easy to link up several sites to visit in one outing, and many of the sites have shops and cafés too. www.mahn.org.uk/trails
SHOPPING
Remembering rail
If you have nostalgic memories of a railway journey or destination, perhaps prompted by our feature on Britain’s best railways (p32), you’ll love the art prints produced by RailwayPosters.co.uk. Featuring scenic locations from St Ives to Bexhill-on-Sea, Edinburgh to the Isle of Bute, you can also purchase other accessories, such as mugs, printed with similar designs. In the same vein, the National Railway Museum has created a 2022 calendar of vintage posters – perfect for planning your next year of adventures. www.railwayposters.co.uk; shop.sciencemuseum.org.uk
ARCHAEOLOGY
Abbey reality
A long ‘bowling alley’ extension of the east side of Yorkshire’s Fountains Abbey had previously stumped National Trust historians. That is, until a major archaeology project revealed that this was likely the site of a huge medieval tannery – the largest yet to be discovered at a monastic site. Used to make leather for clothing, belts, bedding, book bindings and vellum or parchment, the surprising size of the tannery suggests it was producing products on an industrial scale for the entire community – and the smells and noises produced by such activity are a far cry from what we have previously conceived as tranquil places of worship. www.nationaltrust.org.uk
CULTURE
Set between the two buildings of the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London, the Queen’s House was England's first classical building, built in the 17th-century by architect Inigo Jones for Anne of Denmark, as a gift from her husband, James I.
Four hundred years later, the splendid royal villa is due to reopen on 11 October following extensive renovations, which have seen an overhaul to the galleries housing its famous collection of art – including key works by Gainsborough and Hogarth – and original features, such as the Tulip Staircase.
If that’s not reason enough to visit, it is likely to be the home of the historic Armada portrait of Queen Elizabeth I (pictured Following a major three-year transformation, London’s above), one of the most iconic images of any British monarch. Courtauld Gallery has now reopened, allowing guests to once The painting has been the subject of intensive fundraising more peruse one of the world’s greatest art collections in the to save it for the nation since it was put up for sale. With the magnificent setting of Somerset House. Spanning the early funding target due to be hit this summer, the Queen’s House medieval period through to the 20th century, and including will be the perfect place to view the portrait: Elizabeth I was paintings, sculpture and artefacts from leading artists of each born at Greenwich Palace in 1533 and Queen’s House is the last remaining part of the palace complex. www.rmg.co.uk
A world-class collection era, the permanent collection has been redisplayed and reinterpreted, and includes masterpieces such as Manet’s A Bar at the Folies-Bergère and Botticelli’s large-scale The Trinity with Saints. This season, the Courtauld will also be opening the first ever exhibition dedicated to Van Gogh’s self-portraits across his entire career (3 February to 8 May). www.courtauld.ac.uk
RECIPE
Coinneach likes to use heather honey and Jura whisky in this recipe
Cranachan Chocolate Cups
This traditional Scottish dessert, served in chocolate cups for a modern twist, is taken from The Hebridean Baker: Recipes and Wee Stories from the Scottish Islands by Coinneach MacLeod (Black & White Publishing, £20) and will make an ideal addition to your Burns Night menu on 25 January. Born and raised on the Isle of Lewis, Coinneach offers many recipes for classic Scottish dishes in his rst cookery book, all accompanied by fascinating stories of Outer Hebridean life.
Ingredients: SERVES 4 150g white chocolate 40g oats ½ tablespoon brown sugar 100g raspberries 250ml double cream
2 tablespoons honey 2 tablespoons whisky
Method:
Heat the white chocolate in a bowl in the microwave and stir every 30 seconds until fully melted.
Use a pastry brush to paint two coats of the melted chocolate into silicone moulds, letting the rst coat set before adding the second.
Heat a pan over a low heat. Toast the oats and brown sugar, stirring until the sugar has melted. Tip your oats onto greaseproof paper and leave to cool.
Mash 75g of the raspberries until smooth.
Whip the cream to stif sh peaks, then fold in the honey and whisky. Crumble the cooled oats in your hand as you add three-quarters of it to the cream. Swirl the mashed raspberries through the cream to add a ripple effect.
Remove the chocolate spheres from their moulds. Spoon in the cream and top with the remaining raspberries, oats and a drizzle of honey.
READING CORNER
Take inspiration for your British adventures from these great reads
The Barn: The Lives, Landscape and Lost Ways of an Old Yorkshire Farm by Sally Coulthard (Head of Zeus, £20). A socio-historic exploration of a small slice of English countryside.
A Queen for all Seasons by Joanna Lumley (Hodder & Stoughton, £20). This collection of first-hand writings is a celebration of our much-loved monarch ahead of her Platinum Jubilee.
Black Gold: The History of How Coal Made Britain by Jeremy Paxman (William Collins, £25). The lively and absorbing story of coal-mining in Britain from Roman times to the present day.
America: Made in Britain by Tom Arms (Amberley, £20). An exploration of the United States' special relationship with the UK, examining the influence of British culture on US development.
The Garden Diary of Doctor Darwin by Susan Campbell (Unicorn, £30). The previously unpublished garden diary of Charles Darwin’s father and sister.
