The history of your own hometown - Political Forum

Slartibartfas · 05-01-2007, 04:32 PM

This thread is dedicated to all, who want to write a bit about the history of the cities and towns they live in (or alternative where they come from), or about the history of their regions as well.

Let us get a glimpse of the history that surrounds the place you live in. The discussion is open.

Brother Oz · 05-01-2007, 04:37 PM

Interesting idea... we did the history of our hometown in 6th form, as part of the History A-level. It was incredibly boring.
Basically, Brighthelmstone was a tiny village. The only thing remarkable about it was when in the 16th century a French fleet was sunk in battle just outside it.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, it became a popular resort, especially when the Prince Regent, later George IV, started going on holiday there. This was mainly due to a famous doctor, whose name I forget, who wrote a book on how bathing in the sea in November was extremely healthy, and recommended the town now known as Brighton. Every winter fashionable nobles would come down to bathe in the sea.
Later, George IV built a palace there, the Royal Pavilion. Over time, it became a general holiday resort.

Slartibartfas · 05-01-2007, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usviking

I did not realise the fortifications were so poor. I do now
recall reading of heavy rain, I think. Your salvation was also
due in part to the assisitance of HRH John Sobieski of Poland,
wasn't it?

No, I did not speak about the "battle of Vienna" (the 2nd Turkish siege) here, I talked about the first one. After all, there have been two as you know. And while the latter is quite famous, the former one might be not as much.

In the first siege, there was no Polnish lead army who could save Vienna. No army in sight, except the Turkish one. And walls that were indeed old and outdated, unlike those at the 2nd siege.

And if not for the bad weather and early winter, Vienna might not have made it the first time. The Turks even crushed sucessfully one part of the old wall, but they were already in a very complicated situation at this point, and after they only ran two times into the piques of the defenders of the town who concentrated all their power at the whole in the wall, the Turks gave up, as they would have risked a solider revolt.

You said you are interested in walls and fortifications. Well, here you have a map of Vienna from the year 1858. Only a few years before the walls were torn down. If you look at it, you will find out, that there are two walls in fact, one around the inner city and the other one around the "Vorstädte".

Slartibartfas · 05-01-2007, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brother Oz

Interesting idea... we did the history of our hometown in 6th form, as part of the History A-level. It was incredibly boring.
Basically, Brighthelmstone was a tiny village. The only thing remarkable about it was when in the 16th century a French fleet was sunk in battle just outside it.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, it became a popular resort, especially when the Prince Regent, later George IV, started going on holiday there. This was mainly due to a famous doctor, whose name I forget, who wrote a book on how bathing in the sea in November was extremely healthy, and recommended the town now known as Brighton. Every winter fashionable nobles would come down to bathe in the sea.
Later, George IV built a palace there, the Royal Pavilion. Over time, it became a general holiday resort.

You are living in Brighton? I was in Brighton for a week 7 years ago.

Slartibartfas · 05-01-2007, 05:05 PM

The history of another Vienna

Another Vienna: A quiet, history-filled town in Maryland

Brother Oz · 05-01-2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

You are living in Brighton? I was in Brighton for a week 7 years ago.

Did you enjoy our wonderful city? It's the Gay capital of Britain!
I do love my home city, it's certainly better than the ****hole I live in now, Swansea in Wales.

Slartibartfas · 05-01-2007, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brother Oz

Did you enjoy our wonderful city? It's the Gay capital of Britain!
I do love my home city, it's certainly better than the ****hole I live in now, Swansea in Wales.

I lived in Hove actually, and took the bus to Brighton each day. It was quite nice... except for the food...

Somehow I did not really reckognize the gay scene there, even though I heard about it. What I reckognized however was the large numbers of beddlars everywhere, and the nearly paranoid British alcohol policy. (They nearly forbid us to enter the peer (not even thinking about entering the pubs), just to walk around even WITH the presence of a grown up)

All in all, was Brighton however a very nice experience. And the palace is really cool too.

Brother Oz · 05-01-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Somehow I did not really reckognize the gay scene there

Well, if you're not gay, you're not going to be going to gay bars. And since you were in Hove, rather than Kemptown where most of them live.

Quote:

What I reckognized however was the large numbers of beddlars everywhere

It's not as bad now, though there are still quite a few. I'm not sure why, but it might be that the large amount of drugs causes more homeless, there aren't enough low-skilled jobs to go around, and it's warm, so it's a good place to be if you haven't got a home.

Quote:

(They nearly forbid us to enter the peer (not even thinking about entering the pubs), just to walk around even WITH the presence of a grown up)

How old where you then? These days loads of teenagers drink huge amounts.

Slartibartfas · 05-01-2007, 06:11 PM

[quote=Brother Oz;31061]Well, if you're not gay, you're not going to be going to gay bars. And since you were in Hove, rather than Kemptown where most of them live.

It's not as bad now, though there are still quite a few. I'm not sure why, but it might be that the large amount of drugs causes more homeless, there aren't enough low-skilled jobs to go around, and it's warm, so it's a good place to be if you haven't got a home.

Quote:

How old where you then? These days loads of teenagers drink huge amounts.

Let me think. 16 perhaps?
But the totally weird thing was, some of my class collegues said, they could drink what and as much as they wanted in the bars, until 8 pm. Than they were not even allowed to stay there anymore. Totally sick...

And I do not think this prevents the teenagers there at all to drink.

Brother Oz · 05-01-2007, 06:16 PM

Quote:

But the totally weird thing was, some of my class collegues said, they could drink what and as much as they wanted in the bars, until 8 pm. Than they were not even allowed to stay there anymore. Totally sick...

I have to say, I've never heard of that happening. Of course, 7 years ago I was 13. So I wasn't going to pubs.
Things were quite different in those days, most 13 year olds didn't drink.