In this episode Will & Mike experience the horticultural horror of M.R. James’s ‘The Rose Garden’. Thanks to Kirsty Woodfield who was our reader for this episode.
Show notes:
- Popish Plot Playing Cards (BritishMuseum.org)
Having trouble getting your head around the popish plot? Why not invest in a pack of Popish Plot Playing Cards! Alas hundreds of years out of print. The Seven of Hearts is the one of Edward Coleman being ‘drawn’ to his execution behind a horse, and the Six of Diamonds is also particularly gruesome.
- M.R. James’s Women by David G. Rowlands (Ghosts & Scholars)
This essay looks at the small selection of women who appear in James’s work, including ‘The Rose Garden’s Mrs Anstruther.
- “The Rules of Folklore” in the Ghost Stories of M.R. James by Jacqueline Simpson
Landmarks and Shrieking Ghosts by Jacqueline Simpson
An excellent pair of essays originally published in Ghosts & Scholars that drew our attention to the influence of Danish and Suffolk folklore on ‘The Rose Garden’.
- Weald Country Park, Essex (Wikipedia)
The site of the former Weald Hall, residence of the terrible Sir William Scroggs and the possible real-world ‘Westfield Hall’. The hall fell into disrepair and was pulled down after world war II but the park can still be visited and looks like a nice day out!
- Victims of the Popish Plot (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia provides a brief rundown of those accused during the popish plot. Play special attention to Sir William Scroggs, Oliver Plunkett and Edward Colman!
- The Head of Oliver Plunkett (Wikipedia)
As mentioned in this episode, popish plot victim Oliver Plunkett’s head is on display in Drogheda, Ireland. A possible inspiration for the strange face in ‘The Rose Garden’?
- Proceedings against Sir William Scroggs (on Google Books)
Cobbett’s Complete Collection of State Trials features a transcript of the indictment against Sir William Scroggs that makes very interesting (and frequently humorous) reading.
- Gaude, Gaudy, Domini in Laude by Roger Johnson
The essay that drew my attention to Weald Hall was featured in the Ghosts & Scholars Newsletter 15, not available online but an incentive (if more were needed) to subscribe to this foremost Jamesian news source.
- Eastscapes: Doggerland
Photographic work by friend of the podcast and M.R. James fan David Senior will be on display at the House Gallery in Camberwell, London from the 15-22nd March 2012 as part of his collaboration with artists Misa Tamura and Dan Howse.
Errata: Since recording we have been informed that the correct term is ‘Hanged’ rather than ‘Hung’. Could we be arsed to go back and re-record? We could not.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe:
In this episode Mike & Will return to M.R. James’s old alma mater for chaos in the classroom, death in the dormitory and revenge in the refectory.
That’s right, it’s ‘A School Story’!
N.b. If you have forgotten your gym-kit, you have to listen to this episode in your vest and pants.
Show notes:
- The History of Temple Grove School (.pdf)
The school in ‘A School Story’ is based on the prep school that M.R. James attended, Temple Grove School which was at the time based in East Sheen, London.
- Site of Temple Grove School on Googlemaps
Temple Grove School is not longer in existance, but this gives an idea of where the parkland in which it stood used to be. Note Well Lane where the old stable stands (now converted to a very nice looking house) and where we spotted yew trees! In the photo of us below we are standing at the north-eastern end of Observatory road, where the lake used to be. This Map from 1895 gives an indication of where the school stood (see ‘H’), and this map shows the layout of Temple Grove Estate in 1811.
- “I’ve Seen It!” – A School Story and the House in Berkeley Square by Rosemary Pardoe
Here Rosemary Pardoe provides some background information on the legends surrounding the famously haunted 50 Berkeley Square in London, mentioned in ‘A School Story’.
- Ancient Coin Pendants
Jewelry such as the ‘coin charm’ that Mr Sampson wears on his watch chain is not hard to come by these days! For more info on Byzantine coins see Wikipedia.
- Eton and Kings (Ghosts & Scholars)
M.R. James published a volume of recollections about his life at school and in academia.
- Ancient Yews Group FAQs
Yew trees are a common sight in English churchyards. The Ancient Yew Group website provides some interesting information on the historical and mythological significance of yew trees.
- ‘A School Story’ at FreakyTrigger
Some excellent analysis of this story at FreakyTrigger, plus some interesting views in the comments.
- ‘The Well’ by W.W. Jacobs
This story, published in 1902 by James’s contemporary W.W. Jacobs, features some similarities to ‘A School Story’. Mike Pincombe highlights this story in his excellent essay ‘Homosexual Panic and the English Ghost Story’ (Ghosts & Scholars Newsletter 9).
Visit to the Site of Temple Grove School, East Sheen
Top: Temple Grove Estate, East Sheen, 1812
Bottom: Mike & Will at Temple Grove Estate, East Sheen, 2012.
Can you spot the differences? Hint: top image = more bonnets, bottom image = less swans.
We are standing in the slight dip in Observatory Rd that marks where the lake stood 200 years before. Mike had brought his umbrella to fight off the swans. Turns out this was unneccesary.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe:
In this episode Will & Mike follow M.R. James on a terrifying treasure hunt to Germany in ‘The Treasure of Abbot Thomas’.
Show notes:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe:
