2 December – what’s the story behind door number two?
December 2, 2016
Celebrating 80 years of a Nottingham-born beauty brand In January 2016 Lakeside Arts celebrated the 80th anniversary of the iconic Nottingham-born beauty brand No 7. ‘Inspiring Beauty. No 7 – 80 years of making up the modern woman‘ was the most popular exhibition staged in the Weston Gallery. It showcased previously unseen material from the Boots …
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 …
15 December: The Clarion
December 15, 2011
The Clarion was a magazine produced by allied prisoners of war at Stalag 344 and this is the front cover of the edition from Christmas 1944. It contains a range of material including pictures of a sunny day at the Stalag lido and tales of what a typical pre-war Christmas was like for captives from …
14 December: A Great Plumb Cake
December 14, 2011
If the festive season puts you in the mood for baking – and eating – why not try whipping up a cake with a difference? This recipe for a great plumb cake comes courtesy of Derbyshire baker Elenor Mundy and features in her recipe book of 18th century culinary delights. We know when it comes …
13 December: Winter-Lull
December 13, 2011
Bay was the first private edition of DH Lawrence’s work to be produced during his lifetime and contains this powerful illustration by Anne Estelle Rice as an accompaniment to the poem ‘Winter-Lull.’ The collection was issued in a small print run of 200 copies and one of the vellum (mammal skin) copies is housed in …
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