Viewpoints – Placecloud (English)

York, United Kingdom. Joan was forced to enter a nunnery by her parents. In 1318, she faked her own death and ran away to live a life of ‘carnal lust’ in Beverley. We’ve all been there.

London, United Kingdom. Recounts the story of Fireman George Lee who, in 1876, lost his life while attempting to save people from a fire in St John Street, Clerkenwell.

London, United Kingdom. Recounts the story of Charles Edward Emery who tried to save a boy from drowning in the River Thames and lost his own life in the attempt.

London, United Kingdom. Recounts the story of Ellen Donovan, who lost her life in a house fire near Covent Garden while trying to save some children.

London, United Kingdom. On 1st October 1815, John Keats enrolled at Guy's Hospital to undertake his medical training. Though he did well at Guy's, Keats eventually gave up his studies to become a poet. Listen to find out more about Keats's time spent training in the medical profession, including details about some of his more grisly duties.

London, United Kingdom. In December 1818, Tom Keats, the youngest of the three Keats brothers, died at number 1 Well Walk. In the final stages of his consumption, Tom was nursed by his elder brother, the poet John Keats. Listen to find out more about how Keats undertook his responsibilities as Tom's sole carer.

London, United Kingdom. Home to London's wits, Button's Coffee House held a vision for a new way to socialise and the improvement of society via the ideal coffeehouse. To achieve it, they enlisted the help of a lion to root out the city's misdemeanours.

London, United Kingdom. Bartholomew Fair was held in Smithfield annually from the 1133 to 1855 at the end of August on the days around St Bartholomew's Day.

Originally a cloth fair, the event expanded to include a variety of other wares and a number of entertainments and sights.

Listen to this recording of a 17th Century broadside ballad to hear a description of the fair:

All those that have money and want any ware

let them walk to Smithfield and Bartholomew Fair,

All sorts of moveables there may be had,

you may venture your lot 'mongst the good and the bad

Gloves, ribbands, knives, scissors, with Jack-in-a-box

Fine ladies with patches and powdered with pox

With a cock and a gelding, with whistle and rattle

All which serve to please the young kids that can prattle.

Their children must with them if that they have any

Tis Forty to one that they have a great many

The climate is fruitful, the soil fat and good

All things to be said for to nourish the blood.

There's no fear of increase which if they can go

They must to the fair for to see a great show,

Being dressed very fine like young lords and young ladies

The boys must have bows and the girls must have babies.

The sprightly young prentice must not be forgot,

One day in the fortnight must fall to his lot.

The servant maid with him so trim doth he take

And briskly doth treat her with a pot and a cake.

If his purse will be strong he will venture to see

The monkeys to dance and the goose with legs three,

All this having seen, he home doth repair

Being enough to talk of until the next fair.

The finnikin shopkeeper once in the year

To eat a boar's head takes his wife to the fair.

There is no denial, he with her must go

And takes in his pocket an angel or two

Then merry they make while the music doth play

But if I be not mistaken, full dear they must pay -

A crown for the head of a pig three week's old

All this must be had or my mistress will scold

Then away, bonny lads, and fine lasses make haste

And some of these Bartholomew rarities taste

No question but all of you will be content

And that of your money you will not repent:

Make use of your time whilst time you have here,

Who knows who shall be at the fair the next year

Merry Andrew doth call you, the music invites

To partake of their pleasures and taste their delights.

London, United Kingdom. New coffeehouses brought not just a new drink to drink, but a new social space away from courts and universities. If you had visited in the late seventeenth century you would have heard financial deals and the latest news from across the globe. If you went to Garraway’s Coffee House in Change Alley, you may have also seen the latest scientific experiments, from tests on gases to animal dissections.

London, United Kingdom. Wentworth Place (now Keats House) was home to the Romantic Poet John Keats from December 1818 - September 1820. Listen to discover more about the history of the house and Keats's time spent living there.