Notes on…
Devil of a job: the curious occupations recorded in the census
Even before the first census was made in 1801, the plan was regarded with fear, hatred and ridicule. And this…
What kind of oyster-eater are you?
The latest fight between the EU and the UK isn’t over vaccines, but molluscs. Brussels won’t grant Britain a special…
Pigs have a long history of performing remarkable feats
If you scratch his tummy, Ivory the clever pig will take you on at a computer game. He wields the…
The church that’s hosted the Virgin Mary, Benjamin Franklin and Hugh Grant
There is only one place in the world that has played host to both the Virgin Mary and Benjamin Franklin,…
Hotel breakfasts are a risky business
A few Spectator readers may soon find themselves confined to quarantine hotels, so the magazine thought it timely to find…
Why Doc Martens are the only footwear you need
Doc Martens are one of those quintessentially British things that, like the royal family and lorries queuing on the M20,…
My historical re-enactment group’s battle with Silicon Valley
The Wimborne Militia of Dorset prides itself on being the only formally commissioned ‘private army’ in England. We’re well known…
The political power of America’s First Dogs
From the moment Donald Trump’s presidency began, he was lacking something. But Joe Biden is about to make up for…
How to be a hermit
At a time when so many of us are experiencing some measure of isolation, it is hard to fathom the…
The many uses of frankincense and myrrh
‘And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down,…
Mothing is a serious business
As darkness falls, a group of mainly middle-aged men set up traps of various shapes and sizes — some sophisticated…
The traditional cricket tea is under threat
Cricket is not renowned for embracing change. The introduction of the middle stump, overarm bowling and Kevin Pietersen were all…
Robins have earned their cultural perch on Christmas cards
At the risk of sounding like Sid James in some late period Carry On, I currently have two birds on…
Who decides what’s allowed on a gravestone?
A parishioner in West Yorkshire has been allowed to put an inscription in Chinese on a relative’s gravestone. ‘There is…
The rise and fall of mink
Mink keeps you warm. That’s a most acceptable bonus, but its prime function is status. This week, however, the focus…
How political is your fruit and veg?
I recently bought some quinces in our local farmshop as part of my new policy of investing heavily in right-wing…
The haunting stories of Britain’s ‘bog bodies’
Some believe that All Hallows’ Eve is adopted from a much older Celtic holiday, Samhain, that marked the change from…
The joy of drinking alone
Thanks to a combination of night-time curfews, social-distancing rules, pubs closing, restaurants failing, the ‘rule of six’ and compulsory mask-wearing,…
Winkles
For the first time in 30-odd years, many Brits have started eating winkles again. Unable to holiday abroad this summer,…
Has Covid killed off Punch and Judy?
They’re one of the country’s most famous married couples. You just need to spot his colourful jester outfit and the…
Box clever: the surprising history of signal boxes
Petersfield signal box is in the wrong place. Or at least it is now. When it was built in the…
Why crowds are so pleasing
London, writes Dr Watson in the first Sherlock Holmes story, is ‘that great cesspool into which all the loungers and…
Could Trump save the capital letter?
Irrespective of whether Donald Trump ends up being a two-term president, surely no modern political figure has done more to…
From fist-bumps to bows: how to avoid shaking hands
The government wants us back in the office — catching trains, buying sandwiches and actually seeing colleagues and clients rather…
The bliss of proper bread
I cannot claim the gift of prophecy, but early this year — before lockdown panic-buying and the warnings of a…
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