All posts filed under: Victorian

Midsomer Murders History Header Bell Ringers

The Bell Ringers from Midsomer Wellow

Published by Petra Tabarelli

• (Caution: Contains spoilers for Episode: 05×03: Ring out your Dead) Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf Deutschauch auf Deutsch. •   Tom and Joyce Barnaby are sitting at the table in the kitchen, and Tom is looking through numerous papers, most of which are in front of him. In 1860, the vicar of Midsomer Wellow was thrown down a well and died. Before that, there had been real trouble with the local bell-ringers because he had tried to force them to attend services and had had their beer barrel removed from the ringing room. Although the case was obvious, the evidence was lacking and the witnesses remained silent.

Header Midsomer Murders History Chess Formula 1

Sports History in Midsomer, pt. 2: Other Sports

Published by Petra Tabarelli

As well as playing a lot of cricket, Midsomer has been very successful in chess, Formula 1 and boxing. The famous boxing match of 1860 is a topic for another time: here we look at chess and F1 first.   • (Caution: Contains spoilers for Episodes: 06×01: A Talent of Life, 08×02: Dead in the Water, 14×01: Death in the slow lane, 15×05: The Sicilian Defence, and a little bit of 05×03: Ring Out Your Dead and 19×03: Last Man Out) Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf Deutsch. •   In 1893 there was a world champion from Bishopwood in Midsomer County: Reverend Stannington.

Header Midsomer Murders History Boxing Bare-knuckle fight

Sports History in Midsomer, pt. 1: Boxing

Published by Petra Tabarelli

• (Caution: Contains spoilers for Episode: 13×06: The Noble Art) Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf Deutsch. •   Cricket is played in many episodes – even actively by Sergeants Gavin Troy and Ben Jones – but unfortunately the history of cricket is never discussed, and football is completely absent. However, there are mentions of historical events in three other sports, each involving very successful Midsomer County sportsmen: chess, Formula 1 and boxing. See: Sports History in Midsomer, pt. 2.

Midsomer Murders History Header Albert Plummer‘s Relish

Albert Plummer in India

Published by Petra Tabarelli

• (Caution: Contains spoilers for Episode: 08×07: Sauce for the Goose) Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf Deutsch. •   Sam Hardwick leads a small group through the Plummer’s Relish factory where he worked until he retired – past the desks and conveyor belts where the work is done. He tells us that Albert Plummer was a young man in the Punjab when he discovered an excellent relish. When he returned to England in 1851, he brought the recipe for the relish with him and produced it. It was a great success. It is not known how Albert Plummer came up with the recipe for this delicious relish, which Tom Barnaby also enjoyed. The only clues we have are the year 1851 and the region of Punjab.

Header Midsomer Murders History Dantean Anomaly

The Night of the Stag

Published by Petra Tabarelli

• (Caution: Contains spoilers for Episodes: 14×06: The Night of the Stag) Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf Deutsch. • On a colourfully decorated village square, a very well-attended, joyous fete takes place. There are stalls and plenty of alcohol to drink. We are at the Midsomer Abbas May Fayre, which is celebrated jointly by residents from Midsomer Abbas and Midsomer Herne – always on the first of May. Malmsey wine is served in a sweet version (= the well-known sweet Madeira wine) and in a tart version. Now, a man, Reverend Conrad Walker, enters the wooden platform and speaks into a microphone and welcomes the crowd.

Midsomer Murders History Header Railways

Midsomer’s Old Railways

Published by Petra Tabarelli

• (Caution: Contains spoilers for Episode: 08×01: Things That Go Bump in the Night) Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf Deutsch. • Joyce and Tom Barnaby are guests of Elizabeth Key in Fletcher’s Cross. They go out of the cottage into the garden. Elizabeth Key carries a tray with three cups and saucers, sugar bowl and creamer. Joyce carries the teapot in her hand. The two women walk side by side in front, Tom Barnaby with his hands in his trousers behind. The Barnabys admire the garden and the location and Elizabeth Key enlightens them that back then in Victorian times, there was a railway just behind a row of trees near the house. Joyce is startled and apparently imagines express trains. But back then they were only steam locomotives, of course. However, the line was later closed. Now, the railway is to be partially restored and Fletcher’s Cross Station reopened. We learn later at the railway inauguration festival that it is mainly thanks to James Griss! But he is not quite respected in Fletcher’s …

Midsomer Murders History Header Francis Galton

Francis Galton, founder of eugenics

Published by Petra Tabarelli

• (Caution: Contains spoilers for Episodes 13×05: Master Class, and a bit for 14×06: The Night of the Stag) Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf Deutsch. •   The Fieldings’ manor, Devington Hall, is currently hosting auditions for Sir Michael Fielding’s Master Class. The manor is a 19th century country house, the grounds of which belonged to the Knights Templars several centuries earlier and has been built on since at least the 14th century. Its real name is St Katharine’s Convent and it is situated in the little hamlet of Parmoor, Buckinghamshire. A very detailed documentation of the house, which has been on the National Heritage List since 22 January 1986, can be found on the Buckinghamshire Gardens trust site.

Midsomer Murders History Header Tuberculosis

Not Dead But Sleepeth

Published by Petra Tabarelli

• (Caution: Contains spoilers for Episode: 13×04: The Silent Land) Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf Deutsch. •   Joyce and Cully Barnaby attend a concert by a tenor singer and a pianist. While Joyce listens with enthusiasm and devotion to Ben John’s rendition of “Drink to me only with thine eyes”, Cully is visibly bored. Later, on the drive home to Causton, the two discuss the style of music, for Joyce has not had enough and listens to more singing on the car radio – much to the displeasure of Cully, who eventually falls asleep from boredom in the passenger seat as they pass the March Magna village sign.