The evolution of the railway locomotive headlamp

Traces the evolution of the railway headlamp from its dim beginnings to its brilliant today

The lost wine of South Wales

Between 1875 and 1914 the only wine grown in the UK was grown by the Marquic of Bute in a small vineyard just outside of Cardiff

The weather of 1893

Phew what a scorcher! This was one of the hottest years on record. Read a glowing summary in some of the best victorian language that I have seen.

The weather of 1879

Doom and gloom. This was one of those summers that never really happened. A once in over a hundred year occurence. And this was before global warming.

On the water of Taff's Well

A small village just outside Taff's Well with a spring that was used in Roman times. It is now locked up. What a shame! Here is a victorian analysis of the water.