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Janette McLennan
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Monday, December 27, 2004 - 8:00 am: |       |
I have always been curious about bank holidays - of which there seem to be a large number on significant dates. What did they entail? Who had a holiday? Also, were the dock fires lit deliberately? If so by whom? Do you think Jack would have been watching them? (Given the arson/animal torturer serial killer evidence in other cases) |
Antonio Ruiz Vega
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Friday, December 31, 2004 - 4:09 am: | |
The fires in the docks... I think it was a "tribute" for the gorgeus descriptions of the burning of Drury Lane Teather and other big fires in Liverpool, etc. appeared in "Murder considered as one of the fine arts" (De Quincey) |
Julie Lambert
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Saturday, January 01, 2005 - 6:31 am: | |
There was only one official Bank Holiday during the accepted murder period - in early August (the August Bank Holiday now falls in late August).
The other 'holiday' was the celebration of The Lord Mayor's Show - a parade still held in early November in London. In those days it would have been a great relief from the grind of everyday life and there would have been street entertainers and food as well as the parade. |
Phil Hill
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Saturday, January 01, 2005 - 3:27 am: | |
Janette - no one seems to have answered your question.
In the UK a "Bank Holiday" is simply a public holiday. Akin, I think to Labour , Veterans, Thanksgiving etc "Days" in the USA.
They make a long weekend (3 days) and originate in the days when bank staff were given time off.
In the 1880s the main Bank Holidays would have been:
Easter Monday (March or April depending on date of Easter)
Whitsun (Monday)
August Monday (I think traditionally the last Monday in the month) - this was customarily known as August Bank Holiday and coming in the summer was a time for funfairs etc
Chritmas day and Boxing Day (always 25 and 26 December)
[Since 1888 more have been added - such as the May Bank Holiday, a sort of "Labour day").
The importance of these days was greater in 1888 because many workers did not get leave allowances as we do to day, and Sundays apart (and what you could do on a Sunday was tightly controlled for religious reasons), these were some of the only days they would have had for leisure.
Does that help.
Other posters might aad any BHs that I have missed, or add more detail.
Regards,
Phil |
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