The Booted Man

Mola Headland Archaeology

In 2018 a skeleton was lying face down deep in the Thames Mud in Lond England. His body was at a bend in the river downstream from the Tower of London at Chambers Wharf close to the medieval Bermondsey Wall used to stand. 

The man lived and died in the late 1600s to early 1700s as his boots were dated for that time. The boots are a find their own as Medieval footwear is mostly found individually. The only other surviving pair found in London are lower ankle boots that were a more common style at the time. Making the boots a highly-prized item.

There was an indication that he may have been making his living from the river. Maybe he had been a fisherman, a mudlark, or a sailor it's unknown. His death is even unknown. The river was a hazardous place and it could have caused his death. His body was found face-down, with one arm above his head with the other bent back on itself onto the side. He may have fallen or drowned and was quickly covered by the ground when it moved with the tide.

SOURCES:

Ancient Pages

Museum of London

Phys.org

Atlas Obscura

The Taree Man

In November 2011 a skull was found at Manning Point, near Taree, in New South Wales, Australia. It was initially believed that it was the skull of a missing local teen. It was found that it was not true. It was found that 80% that the skull dated from 1650-1700 and 20% from 1780-1810. Even though it was initially believed that the skull belonged to a woman DNA found that they were a ma. It's believed that he was between 28 to 65-years-old white male.

It is believed that Captain James Cook was the first European to reach Australia in 1770. If the skull was from an earlier time period it could rewrite history.The remains could have been from anywhere as there were heavy rains meaning the skull could have been washed out of a private or unknown cemetary. 

Some theorize that since the skull was in good condition and found alone with no other remains that it may have been part of a private collection which was popular in the 19th century. 

SOURCES:

Wikipedia

The Daily Telegraph July 1, 2013

Strange Remains

1608 Chislet, England John Doe

 In 1608 a traveler whose name was unknown died in the County of Kent, England. He would be buried in the St. Mary the Virgin Churchyard in Chislet.

He was around 30-years-old

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

Ghosts: The White Lady of Kinsale

Photo by Phakphoom Srinorajan

Charles Fort is a bastion fort with one section of outer wall built in a star fashion finished in 1682. It's located on the water's edge at the of the village of Summer Come on Kinsale harbor in Ireland. It is now a National Monument of Ireland. 

At the Charles Fort in the 1600's, there was an officer named Sir Trevor Ashurst. He would meet Wilful Warrender who's father was Govoner Warrender, the commander of Charles Fort. The two would have a whirlwind romance and would soon fall in love and wed. The Governor was actually happy for the young couple. The two would soon marry and on the wedding day would end in tragedy.

On the night that the two had married, they went to take a walk on the grounds of the fort. The two were to spend their wedding night at the fort. Wilful would see some flowers at the base of the battlement. Trevor was going to go get them, but an on-duty sentry offered to get them instead. Trevor would ask Wilful to wait for him in their room, and he would take the sentry's post so the flowers could be retrieved. 

The sentry would not return quickly and because the groom was tired from the day's festivities he fell asleep at the post. Wilful's father went on his nightly inspections. He was known as strict and had a reputation for enforcing strict military codes. When he would stumble across a sentry, who he didn't know at the time was his son-in-law, leaning against the wall seemingly asleep. He called out to the sentry several times and when he got no answer he shot him through the heart.

This was when he realized that it was not any sentry, but his son-in-law. He would be filled with sorrow and regret. Wilful would soon after find out what her father did to her groom. She would be grief-stricken and would take her own life that night. She would jump from one of the ramparts into the icy waters below.  Her father knew that he killed his son-in-law leading to his daughter's suicide. After his daughter's suicide, he would take his own life by shooting himself. 

Other versions state after realizing he killed Trevor that he threw jumped the ramparts right after killing him. That Wilful found them both dead and jumped into the icy waters after losing two very important people in her life.

What is known in the tale is that three lives would tragically end on what was supposed to be a joyous day. 

It is said that Wilful who is known as The White Lady of Kinsale haunts the area. She is typically seen in her wedding dress. She usually is a kind but sorrowful spirit people in and around Charles Fort are said to have seen her. In particular, she is seen by or near children as if she's keeping an eye on them. Now she did have a mean streak and was known to push soldiers mostly captains down the stairs. 

SOURCES:

Wikipedia

Irish Central

Authentic Vacations

Stories First

My Real Ireland

Ancient Origins

Anonymous Artist: Amarilis (Poet)

Amarilis is a pseudonym for a poet from the late 16th century Peru. The poet (believed to have been a woman) wrote a single known poem an epístola to Belardo. They sent the poem to Spanish playwright Lope de Vega whom they supposedly admired. He would then publish the poem in La Filomena in 1621.

Not much is known about Amarilis but it is believed that they were a female.

SOURCES:
Revolvy
Wikipedia

Who Was the Girl With The Pearl Earring?

Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) is a renowned Dutch artist and at the moment there are only 36 known paintings of his. His art typically was subject of everyday life. Likely most of the people represented in the paintings are that of loved ones.

One of his most popular paintings was "The Girl In The Pearl Earring" likely painted around 1665 when he painted other motifs with pearls. It is the size of 17.52" by 15.35" or  44.5 cm by 39 cm. It has a permanent place at the moment with the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, Netherlands. The mystery with this though is that it's unknown who the beautiful girl is. She is pictured in exotic clothing and a large pearl earring. 

It's believed that yes there was a model, but that she was used to creating a generic painting of a girl. Some theorize that the model was that of his daughter Maria Vermeer. The painting seems to have resemblances to paintings of that of his wife. Who is also theorized to have been the actual painter of some of his paintings. She was also a talented painter like her father. 

Truth is though it will never be known who the pretty and alluring girl in this painting is. It's nice to wander though. 

SOURCES:

The Met Museum

Britannica

Slate

BBC

Whipping Tom

In 1681 lone women were afraid to walk around in London, England. Women began to start carrying weapons like penknives and scissors to protect themselves. A man would wait for his victim alleys. He would wait for a lone woman to pass by before he would quickly come up behind her. He would lift up her dress bend her over his knee and spank her with either a rod or his hand. Sometimes he would scream "Spanko!" and run off. He would vanish just as fast as he appeared.

Local men would question whether or not the policing in the area were doing their job. Many vigilantes would dress in women's clothing and walk around alone in hope of the serial spanker attacking.

There may have been another serial spanker in 1672 as one article mentions that another serial whipster was operating. It's unknown if this serial spanker was caught or if they thought it was the same man. In 1712 copycat had operated in the area. He was caught though and had done it because he was hurt by a woman.


SOURCES:
http://theunexplainedmysteries.com/2017/06/11/whipping-tom/http://www.bpi1700.org.uk/research/printOfTheMonth/mayjune2009.htmlhttps://www.historyanswers.co.uk/people-politics/ne-win-the-burmese-dictator-who-bathed-in-blood/
https://funfactz.com/law-and-crime-facts/whipping-tom/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whipping_Tom

The London Stone

The London Stone sits in Cannon Street in London, England behind a glass panel (formerly an iron gate). The purpose or reason for the preservations of a small block of limestone still a mystery. Originally the stone was a part of a larger object and was fixed in a street. For hundreds of years, the Stone was considered to be the heart of London. It had become a traditional place for people to pass laws, claim debts, declare oaths, and make official proclamations.  

The first mention of the London Stone was in 1188. It was referenced with Henry Fitz Ailwen also knowns as Henry Lundenstone referring to the area in which he lived. He had become Lord Mayor of London. It's possible the stone had been there up to 924-939, one website said it was actually first mentioned in documents. 

During Jack Cade's failed rebellion in 1450, Jack Cade was said to have struck the stone with his sword and declared he was "Lord of this City." In 1520 it was indicated on a map that the stone laid in the middle of the street. 

In 1742 the stone was moved further north on the street and then was built into the wall of St. Swithin''s Church. During the WWII Blitz, the church was badly damaged. The stone survived even though it home did not, in 1962 the Church was demolished. The stone was then moved to a wall in 111 Canon Street where it now lays. 

It could have been a something similar to a Roman Milestone. In which it was used to pinpoint a place to which all distances in Brittian or at least London were measured. This theory was done by William Camden's Brittanica in 1586.

The Stone may be the Stone of Brutus. The legend goes that it may have been part of an altar built by Brutus of Troy for the Goddess Diana. Some believe that the stone was blessed and had blessed London. "So long the Stone of Brutus is safe, so long London will flourish." 

It's possible that the stone was used in another religion as a form of worship. It could be possible the stone was used in ancient druid practices. This theory also came about in the 1500's by John Strow. In 1598 John Strow wrote The Survey of London in which he goes over his theory. 

Some believe that it may be the stone that King Arthur pulled the sword out of. It's highly unlikely though as a mystery lies with King Arthur. No one really knows if the king was real or not. 

In all honesty we may never find out why the London stone has been so important for hundreds of years. Hopefully for the next few hundred the same care is done for the stone and it's mysterious ability to survive Londons most difficult times. 

OTHER IMAGES:

London Stone depicted in 1873 (1887 copy) book Volume 1: Old and New London. It was illustrated by Walter Thornbury. 

Church of St Swithin, London Stone, in Cannon Street, London; engraving after Thomas H. Shepherd, 1831. The church is by Christopher Wren, 1678. A prominent stone casing in the middle of the church's south wall houses London Stone.

 London Stone and St Swithin's Church in Cannon Street, London, as depicted on the "Copperplate" map of London of c.1553-59

SOURCES:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Stone

http://mentalfloss.com/article/69113/6-myths-london-stone

https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology/london-stone-0010746

http://bitaboutbritain.com/the-london-stone/

http://www.walklondon.com/london-attractions/london-stone.htm

https://lostcityoflondon.co.uk/tag/london-stone/