Advent calendar
25 December: Season’s Greetings from the Vice-Chancellor
December 25, 2011
I hope you have enjoyed the daily blog posts from the e-Advent Calendar over the last 25 days. The daily posts have been an excellent way to showcase the richness and diversity of material within the University’s Manuscripts and Special Collections. From our extensive DH Lawrence collections through to old recipes and beautiful illustrations, there …
24 December: The Wollaton Antiphonal
December 24, 2011
The Wollaton Antiphonal is a large church service book made in around 1430. Its purpose is illustrated in this illuminated initial which shows three clerics singing. The Antiphonal was made for Sir Thomas Chaworth, who was the richest man in Nottinghamshire at the time, and no expense was spared. When Chaworth died it was bought …
23 December: Wintry scenes and watery landscapes
December 23, 2011
While severe winters are relatively unusual in the UK, last winter’s dramatic cold weather reminded us how lucky we’ve been in recent years. The e-Advent calendar blog has already featured Victorian ice-skaters on the River Trent from one particularly cold winter and today’s entry is inspired by this photograph of the River Idle in Nottinghamshire. …
22 December: Father Christmas
December 22, 2011
Father Christmas, Santa Claus, St Nicholas – whatever you call him, he’s an essential part of today’s Christmas festivities. This image from the Briggs Collection is entitled ‘Old Father Christmas’ and is from E Bond’s Leaves from a Christmas Bough (London, 1897). While this illustration may be instantly recognisable as the Santa we know today, …
21 December: Christmas Day weather forecast
December 21, 2011
This weather chart from Christmas Day 1951 was drawn using recordings from outside of the University’s School of Geography. The reason that the report caught our eye is not because it was a white Christmas that year, but because the chart has been given a truly festive feel with holly around the edges and a …
20 December: Chatsworth Christmas dinner
December 20, 2011
If you understand French, this menu from the lavish Christmas dinner at Chatsworth House in 1904 shows the festive feast that the lucky guests were treated to. But while the menu may be en Francais, the meal still includes some British favourites with Cumberland beef and mince pies making the cut alongside ‘Fromage Grille’ and …
19 December: Boots Christmas supplement
December 19, 2011
From the first page through to the last – including the festive cover adorned with Santas and Cherubs – The Mixture promotes positivity in the face of extreme adversity. This special Christmas supplement is from The Bee, the in-house magazine for Boots Pure Drug Company, and was delivered to employees ahead of Christmas 1944. The …
18 December: Alice in Wonderland
December 18, 2011
This is a programme for a performance of Alice in Wonderland which was staged by University College Nottingham students on 18 December 1913. The programme was kept by Gertrude Devey who studied at the University between 1913 and 1917, and it is now housed by Manuscripts and Special Collections. In homage to the festive production …
17 December: Ice skaters on the River Trent
December 17, 2011
The Victorians knew how to dress for any occasion and this photograph shows that a spot of ice skating on the River Trent was no exception. Taken in 1895, the photo is part of an album containing 12 black and white photographs depicting the people of Nottingham making the most of a cold snap. Despite …
16 December: Medieval deed
December 16, 2011
A clove of gillyflower… This is a medieval deed which records a land transaction made over 700 years ago stipulating that a clove of gillyflower is to be paid by the tenant to their landlord on Christmas day. In case you’re not sure, gillyflower is a type of carnation that was often used as a …
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