Birthplace of Saint Oliver
St. Oliver was born a member of the influential Plunkett clan on all saints day, the 1st of November 1625, at Loughcrew, Oldcastle, Co. Meath. His mother Thomasina was a member of the well-connected Earls of Roscommon family from Roscommon/Meath, and Oliver’s father, John, was the Baron of Loughcrew. His father’s estate comprised over 250 hectares of fine land in and around Loughcrew along with a tower house, adjoining church and a corn mill. It was through Oliver’s mother Thomasina and the Dillon family, that the Plunkett's of Loughcrew had a closer bond with the more senior branches of the aristocratic Plunkett clan in Co. Meath, notably the Earl of Fingal at Killeen castle or the Plunkett’s of Dunsany. He was also connected by birth with the Plunkett’s of County Louth, notably the Baron of Louth, the first nobleman of the archdiocese of Armagh.
Oliver had an elder brother Edward, and three sisters, Katherine, Anne and Mary. During the time of the Cromwellian conquests, while Oliver was still in Rome, the family who had decided to remain Catholic were consequently dispossessed of the estate at Loughcrew. Edward and his family later moved to Co. Louth. Around this time Oliver had written from Rome about Robert Plunkett, a son of the Lord of Loughcrew, describing him as a priest in the Trim area who had amazing stories to tell as he constantly avoided capture in that locality. He may have been another brother of Oliver’s, but was more likely an uncle.
Today, the estate which is owned by the Naper family for over three hundred years, hosts a visitor centre, adventure play grounds and fine gardens which are open to the public.
Nearby, is Sliabh na Caillí, the site of Loughcrew megalithic burial grounds which dates back 5000 years and contains important megalithic art. Of considerable historical importance, the monument is one of the main four passage tombs in Ireland today. St. Oliver as a young boy would have known this site well.
The parish church, at nearby Oldcastle, contains a major bone relic of St. Oliver (right), which was given by the monks of Downside Abbey at the time of St. Oliver’s canonisation in 1975.
The annual celebration in honour of St. Oliver is held each year in Loughcrew, on the first Sunday of July at 3pm.
Saint Oliver's 'Pro-Cathedrals'
Upon his return to Ireland as the Archbishop of Armagh in 1670, St Oliver based himself in north Louth and for several months the locals would have become accustomed to seeing him dressed in disguise as a Captain William Browne, complete with sword, wig and a pair of pistols as befitted an officer. Living in north Louth held several advantages for him, it was in the centre of his Archdiocese and within easier reach of many other dioceses of the northern province. It was on the border of 'Gael' and 'Pale' and this helped him in his work of reaching out to these groups so as to be able to reconcile many of their differences. North Louth was also in an area where the Catholic Baron of Louth, a Plunkett and a distant relative, held some property. He had regained a portion of his estate after the Restoration of King Charles II to the throne and he had already offered to look kindly upon the new Archbishop of Armagh. At Louth Hall, Oliver was given the use of a sheltered room and by old local tradition, it is believed that he had occasion to hide in the ice-house and thick undergrowth near the main house.
Ballybarrack is located on the outskirts of Dundalk and Ardpatrick is located on a hill overlooking Louth village. Both have been described as St. Oliver's pro-cathedrals. Without pillars or spires these tiny churches in rural areas had been overlooked and obviously considered of little value to those who had commandeered almost everything else. They were destined to serve in fine manner however, St. Oliver's humble mission to his flock throughout the 1670's. He lived in both locations, ordained many priests in both small churches and held an important Ulster Church Synod at Ardpatrick in 1678. We know that his homes were not lofty palaces but simple, humble abodes and he wrote on one occasion that his home was a thatched abode with a low ceiling of only seven feet high. That did not confine him however in his hospitality to friend, stranger or visiting priests. In a rural area, safe from prying eyes, there must have been a lot of coming and going at these locations in north Co. Louth.
Ballybarrack church now measures fifteen metres by five metres, but may well have been smaller than this as it is believed that St. Oliver's home was probably situated towards the front of the church alongside the road. At the time of its excavation in the early twentieth century, the top of a sixteenth century thurible was found with a Celtic motif, which is now in Maynooth College Museum. Perhaps someone fleeing from capture, dropped it in haste.
Ardpatrick church was only uncovered in 1935 with the walls still standing at a little over a meter high. This church is even smaller than Ballybarrack, measuring only eight and a half meters by five and a half metres and it must have proved quite a squeeze for many of Archbishop Oliver's church ceremonies. He conducted most of his ordination ceremonies in the north Louth area; the vast majority of these were held in Ardpatrick and Ballybarrack, with Ardpatrick hosting the greater number.
St. Oliver is renowned for his letter writing and his faithful servant James McKenna must have been a regular traveller on the roads around north Louth, discretely delivering or collecting mail from the other dioceses in Ireland, or the post with London, the Internuncio in Brussels or with Rome. The four horses, which St. Oliver owned for a time, must have been kept well exercised as he continued with his visitation to all of the dioceses of the northern province. He frequently travelled to Drogheda and his schools there. He journeyed to meetings with his diocesan priests at Blyke's Inn in Dorsey, Pierce's Inn in Dunleer or further a-field and he frequently visited Dublin. Indeed within months of his return he was summoned to Dublin on at least nine occasions to defend the schools, which he had built at Drogheda. He undertook a lot of missionary activity during the short window of opportunity he had for doing good, including a large number of confirmation ceremonies held across the province, writing: "I did not give repose to brain, pen or even horses these four years, in a vast province of eleven dioceses." Archbishop Oliver must have come to know most of the mass-rocks dotted across the province, but in north Louth, particularly in the Ballybarrack/Ardpatrick area, it would be no exaggeration to say that he must have known every hedge-row and tree.
His brother Edward and family, dispossessed from Loughcrew at the time of the Cromwellian conquests, relocated to Ardpatrick. Local tradition could point to the Archbishops house close to the garden wall of Ardpatrick House. Local tradition also points to an ancient oak tree in which St. Oliver is believed to have hidden and slept and is known locally as 'St. Oliver's Oak' or 'St. Oliver's Bed'. Shortly before his martyrdom, St. Oliver wrote caringly from his prison cell of his brother Edward who was then senile, of his nephews, Jemmy, Joseph and Nicky and of his nieces, Catty and Tomasin. He wrote of their progress in education, without doubt having already played an important part in their formation, just as his priest cousin, Fr. Patrick Plunkett had played such a crucial role in his own early education. Sr. Catherine Plunkett, the first superior of the Siena community, which was founded in Drogheda in 1722, was a relative of St. Oliver and must have been his grandniece and a daughter of one of the above listed nephews. Some three years after the orders foundation, the Relic of the Head of St. Oliver was entrusted to the communities care, where it would remain for the following two hundred difficult years.
While on the run in 1674, Archbishop Oliver drifted further away from north Louth and the area of the Pale and moved into south Armagh, where he endured many hardships, hiding out in caves, attics or in some safe houses. He was subsequently able to resume his work for a few years, albeit discreetly, but storm clouds again gathered in 1678 with the incredible and false revelations of Titus Oates in London. After Archbishop Oliver's arrest in December 1679, he was imprisoned in Dublin Castle and brought to Dundalk for trial on 23rd July of the following year where he spent four days in the Old Dundalk Jail. He raised no objection to the all-Protestant jury, knowing that he himself was well known and respected there. Archbishop Oliver was also denied defence council, but not withstanding these impediments the trial fell through because the prosecution witnesses were themselves wanted men in Dundalk and were afraid to put in an appearance. Archbishop Oliver was required to pay for his food and keep while in prison and he could joke: "I was conducted back to the royal castle of Dublin to my former cell, a very expensive one, but considering the shortness of the time, Dundalk was even more expensive."
The annual Mass and ceremony in honour of St. Oliver is held at Ballybarrack Shrine on the second Sunday of July each year at 3pm.
Downside Abbey, Somerset, England
Saint Oliver and the Benedictine Order
The Benedictine order holds a special place of honour in the story of St. Oliver Plunkett. While in Newgate prison in London, St. Oliver befriended an English Benedictine monk, Fr. Maurus Corker, who proved very helpful to him, becoming in effect his 'anam chara' or faith friend. Fr. Corker provided St. Oliver with Mass requisites and he also heard St. Oliver's confession before his death. Undoubtedly, the martyr's most revealing letters about himself were the ones he penned at this time from his prison cell. Amongst these were letters and notes to Fr. Corker, each of which display a deep spirituality. These are all well preserved and among the cherished possessions of the Benedictine Community at Downside Abbey. It is often said that Fr. Corker possibly enrolled St. Oliver as a Confrater of the Benedictine order. Indeed another Benedictine priest imprisoned with St. Oliver at this time, Fr. Cuthbert Wall, alias Mr Marshall, lent St. Oliver a 'shift' to wear on his way to Tyburn. This garb may well have been a form of habit or scapular to represent the Benedictine order. In any event, St. Oliver saw himself as coming under the obedience of Fr. Corker, who was President of the English Benedictines at the time. St. Oliver left all decisions in his hands, i.e. how the barber would attend to him, whether or not to have a fortifying drink on the day of execution, the drafting of his final speech and finally he left his clothes, possessions and his body to be at Fr. Corker's 'will and pleasure'.
After his martyrdom at Tyburn, St. Oliver's remains, minus the head and forearms were buried in a London churchyard. Fr. Corker had the remains exhumed some two years later in 1683, whereupon they were smuggled to Lamspringe in Lower Saxony, Germany and interred with great ceremony in the crypt of the local Benedictine monastery. The new Abbey Church was almost completed by this time and Fr. Corker became abbot of this monastery some seven years later. It is believed that it was via Lamspringe that Fr. Corker would have brought the Relic of the Head of St. Oliver to Rome; giving it to Oliver's old Dominican friend and correspondent, the Cardinal of Norfolk, formerly Fr. Philip Howard who had hidden Archbishop Oliver in St. James's Palace in London some fifteen years earlier.
For several centuries, Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop and Martyr, was almost completely forgotten about in these islands as a result of the harsh penal laws and the difficult famine times. Lamspringe and the Benedictines order never forgot however, and along with Siena Convent, Drogheda and the Irish College in Rome, St. Oliver's memory has been faithfully venerated in these locations right down to the present day.
Exactly two hundred years after receiving St. Oliver's remains at Lamspringe it was finally thought opportune and safe to bring them to the Benedictine Abbey at Downside, Somerset, England in 1881. This community continue to faithfully venerate the martyr saint in a major shrine dedicated in his honour. Around the time of the St. Oliver's canonisation in 1975, Downside Abbey generously gave gifts of major relics to the Shrine in Drogheda, Oldcastle Parish Church, Dromore Cathedral and some other locations also benefited with gifts of relics at this time.
A great debt of gratitude is certainly owed to the Benedictine community and to the people of Lamspringe in Germany for the faithful way they venerated and kept alive the memory of St. Oliver down through the centuries. Centuries, which were very difficult ones for the Irish people as they continued to struggle and scrape for bare survival, in both body and in soul.
The annual Mass and ceremony in honour of St. Oliver is held in Downside Abbey on the Feast of St. Oliver, 1st July each year.
Trial and Execution - Tyburn, London
Archbishop Oliver who had secretly visited his cousin and tutor of old, Bishop Patrick Plunkett before his death in Dublin, was arrested on 6th December, 1679 and jailed in Dublin Castle. He was accused, on false evidence, of plotting against the King of England and planning to bring a French force into Carlingford harbour. Archbishop Oliver was brought to Dundalk for trial on 23rd July and although not allowed any defence counsel, he raised no objection to the all-Protestant jury, knowing that he himself was well known and respected there. Lord Shaftesbury and others in London, then decided to bring Archbishop Plunkett to London to face trial, knowing that there was probably not a jury in Ireland which would convict him, irrespective of its makeup. They also knew that as a result of the hysteria and wild reports of Catholic plots in England, a rigged jury in London would not be overly concerned with the true character of any of those involved.
Brought over to Newgate prison in October, Archbishop Oliver was placed in strict solitary confinement to spend a second harsh winter in jail. Despite his pain, as he suffered from several ailments, he spoke to no one except his jailors and they became impressed by his fasting, constant prayer and inherent good humour.
On the day of the trial, Oliver who was again not allowed any defence counsel, disputed the right of the court to try him in England and he also drew attention to the criminal past of the witnesses. The Lord Chief Justice replied: "Look you Mr. Plunkett, do not waste your time by talking about these things…The bottom of your treason, which is treason of the highest order, was the setting up of your false religion and there is nothing more displeasing to God than it". The jury retired to consider the charge of high treason and returned within fifteen minutes with a guilty verdict. Archbishop Oliver, knowing the horrible punishment for treason, was to be hung, drawn and quartered and realising that he was to be martyred for his faith, simply replied to the court: "Deo Gratias" or God be thanked. The Lord Chief Justice pronounced sentence: "You shall be drawn through the City of London to Tyburn, there you shall be hanged by the neck but cut down before you are dead, your bowels shall be taken out and burnt before your face, your head shall be cut off and your body be divided into four quarters." Oliver addressed the court and said that he could easily have gained his freedom, as he had already been offered it, if he would confess his guilt and condemn others, adding that he would rather die ten thousand deaths than wrongfully take a farthing of any man's goods, one day of his freedom or a minute of his life.
On the 1st July 1681, he was dragged on a sledge from Newgate prison, before a noisy crowd, a distance of three kilometers to Tyburn. The keeper of Newgate when asked how the prisoner was, replied that he had slept soundly and that he was as unconcerned as if he was going to a wedding. From the three cornered gallows at Tyburn, Archbishop Oliver in a prepared speech, refuted his accusers point by point and forgave all of them, including the judges, and those who had given evidence against him at the trial: "I beg of my Saviour to grant them true repentance, I do forgive them with all my heart."
Oliver's theme of reconciliation continued, by his asking forgiveness of all those whom he had ever offended by thought, word or deed. He prayed: "I beseech your Divine Majesty by the merits of Christ and the intercession of his Blessed Mother and all the holy angels and saints to forgive me my sins and to grant my soul eternal rest."
Kneeling he recited an act of contrition, the Miserere psalm and he repeated before his death, the prayer of Jesus on the cross: "Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my Spirit". St. Oliver worked tirelessly as Archbishop for ten years, paying the ultimate price of martyrdom without seeing the fruits of his labours, and his crowning glory was the manner of his death, humble, heroic and holy. Several priests were close by and they blessed and absolved him at the point of his death. He may have been already dead when he was taken down and the further mutilation began. A fire had been prepared to consume his remains, his head was thrown into it, but it was quickly recovered and scorch marks may still be discerned on the left cheek. His demeanour and his speech from the scaffold were well received and it was patently obvious to many that he was innocent, as the plot had already shown signs of crumbling.
In the previous few years many blameless individuals had been hanged at Tyburn, mostly priests and none had tried to gain their freedom by pleading guilty or condemning others and this had exposed a weakness in the plot. Oliver's trial, conviction and his eventual martyrdom on 1st. July 1681, was such an outrageous episode, that it greatly discredited those who brought it about and the credibility of the plot and of its advocates, collapsed completely thereafter. Lord Shaftesbury the principal promoter of the plot was arrested and imprisoned on the following day and Titus Oates would soon be imprisoned on a charge of perjury. As a result, St. Oliver became the very last of the one hundred and five Catholic martyrs of Tyburn who had given their lives over the previous one hundred and fifty years.
St. Oliver's Time in Rome (1647 - 1669)
Chased by pirates and abducted by robbers, a penniless St. Oliver, finally arrived in Rome in May 1647 after a three-month action-packed journey from Ireland. A young man of twenty-one years of age it is believed he travelled with four other students for the priesthood, one of whom was John Brenan, who would remain a lifelong confidant and friend. They undertook the journey under the protection of Fr. Peter Scarampi, who had completed his duties as the Pope's envoy to the Confederation of Kilkenny. On the journey they completed a pilgrimage to Assisi as a promised thanksgiving for their escape from the pirates at sea. As they entered Assisi, the home of St. Francis, the symbolism of their poverty must then have seemed rather appropriate to them. Indeed, St. Oliver was destined to suffer from a serious shortage of money throughout his later apostolate as the Archbishop of Armagh. Fr. Scarampi an Oratorian priest and a holy and charitable man was destined to leave an indelible mark for good on Oliver.
The month of May is surely one of the best months to appreciate the city of Rome with its lush foliage and colourful blossoms, all in full bloom. Oliver and his fellow students must have been highly impressed with all that they saw. The Renaissance had been adopted with some enthusiasm in Rome for almost three hundred years and the eternal city's fine churches, gardens and fountains would have contrasted greatly with what the young students had been used to back home.
The Irish College could not accept Oliver straight away so it was the good Fr. Scarampi who came to the rescue and arranged funds and accommodation for the pauper student. Upon entering the college he undertook the customary oath to return to Ireland after ordination. During his time at the college he walked each day across the buried and yet undiscovered Roman Forum for lectures to the Jesuit Collegio Romano. The rector of the Irish College wrote that Oliver ranked among the foremost in talent, diligence and progress. It is also recorded that Oliver was everywhere and at all times a model of gentleness, integrity and piety. Within a year of his arrival, Oliver would have met a cousin, Sir Nicholas Plunkett, who accompanied Bishop Nicholas French of Ferns on a visit to Rome, representing the Confederation of Kilkenny. Knighted by the Pope Innocent X on that visit, Sir Nicholas was the leading Catholic lawyer in Ireland at the time and he played a prominent part in the Confederation of Kilkenny. Barely a year afterwards, the disastrous Cromwellian conquest of Ireland began and over the next few years the news seeping out of Ireland was exceedingly grave. The land of Ireland literally changed hands, including the estate of Oliver's family, which had been confiscated at Loughcrew. The Irish Church was forced underground, with numerous martyrs, many of whom are still unknown to us. It is on record that Oliver spent many long periods of prayer about this time and he later wrote about the devout practice in Rome of visiting the Seven Churches including the catacomb. Obviously he regularly undertook this pilgrimage himself, undoubtedly praying for the intentions of his greatly troubled homeland.
In the Basilica of St. John Lateran, St. Oliver received tonsure and minor orders on 4th March 1651 and sub-diaconate on 20th December 1653. In the chapel of Propaganda College he was ordained a deacon on the 26th December of that year and six days later, on the 1st January 1654, he was ordained a priest in the same chapel by Bishop MacGeoghegan OFM of Clonmacnois, a refugee bishop from Ireland. Priests were still-hunted in Ireland at the time, so Fr. Oliver was naturally released from his promise to return home after ordination. For the next three years he undertook higher studies at the renowned Sapienza University and obtained a doctorate in law and he also earned a doctorate in theology. During this time he lived as a chaplain with the Oratorians at S. Gerolamo della Caritā, a house of great charity founded by St. Philip Neri who had lived there less than a century before. No doubt Fr. Oliver's accommodation and position was arranged by his friend and mentor, the Oratorian, Fr. Scarampi. Around this time a plague struck Italy and Fr. Scarampi who had courageously volunteered to assist the victims, died as a result on the Island of St. Bartholomew in 1656. This was a terrible loss to Oliver who regarded his mentor and benefactor as a father figure and indeed without his great example and help, Oliver would certainly not have achieved all that he did. He wrote that he was afflicted with an unspeakable sadness, some of his relatives had been put to death or sent into exile, he was deprived of his father and friends; the whole Irish people were living in extreme misery and Fr. Scarampi had died.
In November 1657, having obviously earned a good reputation from his studies, Fr. Oliver was appointed a lecturer in theology at Propaganda College. Fr. John Brenan his student friend of old was also appointed to the staff of Propaganda at this time. Later Fr. Oliver was promoted as professor of controversies or apologetics and over his twelve years at the college, he helped to improve standards a great deal. Propaganda College was an impressive establishment located in the same building as the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith and as such the whole complex was a hub of activity. For the rest of his life, Oliver held Propaganda College in the highest esteem, later writing from Ireland: "Propaganda in a word all Rome, is a great book. How many nations and their customs are observed, Poles, Germans, Spaniards, French, Turks, Ethiopians, Africans, Americans all rub shoulders and one learns with what prudence such widely divergent affairs referring to such opposing interests and countries are handled. One treats with cardinals and prelates of great wisdom, of consummate experience in the spiritual and temporal affairs of so many monarchs and princes. It is impossible that a person of even mediocre intelligence would not profit very much both in the fields of learning and experience, and indeed for the purpose of training a missionary, there is not another college in the world more suitable than the Propaganda."
Oliver was appointed as a consulter in the Congregation of the Index with a responsibility to review books, a part-time and a very trusted position. He was also appointed as a part time agent in Rome for several of the Irish bishops, fulfilling this role right up until his departure from the city. His correspondence kept him well informed of the plight of the Irish and he was kept busy in this role with several controversies in the Irish Church. These including such issues as the Remonstrance and its promoter, Fr. Peter Walsh and the trickery of Fr. James Taaffe. Over the twenty-two years which Oliver had spent in Rome, he had become Roman, indeed in his voluminous mail later from Ireland, although fluent in at least four languages, he felt most comfortable when corresponding in Italian.
The Archbishopric of Armagh became vacant upon the death in Saumur, France, of Dr. Edmund O'Reilly who had spent his last few years in exile. It was then almost a decade after the restoration of King Charles II and Rome at last thought it safe to appoint a few new bishops who could actually be sent to work on the Irish mission. On 9th of July 1669, at a meeting which took place in Rome to discuss the merits of the various candidates for the position of Archbishop of Armagh, Pope Clement IX intervened: "But why delay in discussing the merits of others, whilst we have here in Rome, a native of that island, whose merits are known to us all, and whose labours in this city have already added so many wreaths to the peerless glory of the 'Island of Saints'. Let Dr. Oliver Plunkett become the Archbishop of Armagh." It was decided that Oliver should be ordained Archbishop of Armagh in a quiet ceremony in Ghent, Belgium, on his way home to Ireland lest a more public ceremony in Rome might antagonise the government back home and lead to the further persecution of Catholics.
As a student in the Irish College many years earlier, Oliver's annual two weeks summer holidays were spent in the college vineyard on the slopes of Castel Gandolfo about twenty-five kilometres south east of Rome. He must have had very happy memories of those working holidays, because when working as a professor in Propaganda College, he acquired a small garden vineyard close to the one owned by the Irish college, overlooking the beautiful lake Albano. This he now left to the Irish College along with some books and pictures, in appreciation for the education he had received there. The pictures must not have been used by the college at that time however, as twelve years later and barely a week before his martyrdom, St. Oliver wrote a long and poignant letter to his former secretary and relative, Fr. Michael Plunkett in Rome, leaving the pictures to the Irish College and expressing his sorrow that they had not been framed. Many of the books, which he presented to the college library were scattered by the French during their invasion of Rome in 1798, however at least one of those books is still easily identified by his signature.
The garden vineyard, which he gave to the Irish College, was probably attached to their existing vineyard as a small extension. The time he spent in his vineyard must have been a joyful and a prayerful time for him and he would certainly have reflected on the scores upon scores of references to vines and vineyards in the Holy Bible, doubtless Dr. Oliver was familiar with them all. Having the freedom of the house and library which was on the property of the Irish College vineyard nearby, meant that this whole experience, must have been a most edifying one for him, so that when he wrote about the delights of Rome some years later, the vineyard must surely have been on his mind as one of those delights. One can well imagine the care and love with which he must have tended on those vines at Albano, and no doubt a little of the fruit of those vines was made into wine, for the sacred mysteries of some of his Masses.
When the young Oliver arrived in Rome, the dome of St. Peter's Basilica had been completed only fifty years earlier and work was still ongoing on the basilica of St. Peter's itself. During his time in Rome he witnessed many such improvements, including the building and completion of the colonnades of St. Peter's square. Similarly, Bernini's famous fountain of the four rivers, the Piazza Navona, another 'must see' for the tourists of today. He was there during the celebrated entry to Rome of Queen Christina of Sweden, who had renounced her throne, become a catholic and lived out the rest of her life in Rome. He was also in Rome when the 'Chair of St. Peter' was solemnly installed in the famous shrine by Bernini, at the back of St. Peter's Basilica and exactly eight years later, on the feast of the Chair of St. Peter in 1674, he would recall that event while on the run from the authorities and almost overcome by snow, during a snow blizzard in Ulster. He wrote: "God be praised that he gives us the grace to suffer for the Chair of St. Peter and on the feast dedicated to the Chair founded upon the Rock, which will, I hope in the long run break the tempestuous waves".
In his spare time, Oliver continued to distinguish himself in works of charity and he kept up his visits to the Santo Spirito hospital, adjacent to the Vatican. It is recorded that when he went to say his farewells at the hospital, Fr. Mieskow the superior wished Oliver well, along with the prophetic words: "My Lord you are going to shed your blood for the Catholic faith". Oliver left Rome during the first week of September 1669, travelling via, Bologna, Innsbruck, Munich and Mainz from where he travelled by boat down the Rhine into Cologne and further on into Holland; then on to Brussels on his way to receive his episcopal ordination in Ghent.
Relics of St. Oliver in Lamspringe, Germany
While awaiting martyrdom, St. Oliver befriended a Benedictine monk, Fr. Maurus Corker in Newgate prison, London. President of the English Benedictines at the time he proved very helpful to St. Oliver, becoming in effect his 'anam chara' or faith friend. Fr. Corker provided St. Oliver with Mass requisites and so for the last few days of his life and to his great joy, St. Oliver could again celebrate daily, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Fr. Corker through influence or perhaps a little bribery of the prison guards also met St. Oliver and heard his confession around this time. After his death at Tyburn, St. Oliver's remains, minus the head and forearms were buried in a London churchyard. Some two years later, while still in prison, Fr. Corker arranged to have the remains exhumed in c1683 and they were smuggled to Lamspringe in Lower Saxony, Germany where it is recorded that they were interred with great ceremony in the crypt of the local Benedictine monastery. The new Abbey Church was almost completed by this time and Fr. Corker became Abbot of this monastery some seven years later. It is believed that it was via Lamspringe that Fr. Corker brought the Relic of the Head of St. Oliver to Rome and gave it to Oliver's old Dominican friend and correspondent, Philip Howard, Cardinal of Norfolk.
St. Oliver's remains were venerated in the crypt at Lamspringe for exactly two hundred years, until in 1881 after an awakening of interest in the Catholic martyrs of these islands, it was finally thought safe to transfer them to Downside Abbey, England. This community continues to faithfully venerate the martyr saint in a major shrine dedicated in his honour. Since the beatification ceremony ninety years ago, Hildesheim diocese and Lamspringe parish, still the proud possessors of major relics; continue to show their loyalty to St. Oliver by organising a 'St. Oliver Fest' in Lamspringe each year.
For several centuries, Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop and Martyr, was almost completely forgotten about in Ireland as a result of the harsh penal laws and the difficult famine times. Lamspringe never forgot however, and along with Siena Convent, Drogheda and the Irish College in Rome, St. Oliver's memory has been faithfully venerated in these locations right down to the present day. This loyalty is further shown by the initiative of six of the leading citizens of Lamspringe, including their District President and Mayor, who came to Drogheda in August 2009, with the aim of nurturing closer ties between the major shrines which are dedicated to St. Oliver, namely, Drogheda, Oldcastle, Downside and Lamspringe. A great debt of gratitude is therefore owed to the Diocese of Hildesheim and the parishioners of Lamspringe in Germany for the way they venerated and kept alive the memory of St. Oliver down through the centuries. Centuries which were difficult ones for the Irish people as they continued to struggle and to scrape for bare survival in both body and in soul.
The annual celebration in honour of St. Oliver is held in Lamspringe on the last Saturday of August each year at 5pm.
Episcopal Ordination in 1669 - Ghent, Belgium
It was decided that Oliver Plunkett should be ordained Archbishop of Armagh in a quiet ceremony in Flanders, Belgium, on his way home to Ireland, lest a more public ceremony in Rome might antagonise the government back home. Arriving in Brussels on 3rd November 1669 after a two-month journey from Rome, he found that the Internuncio was away, so he went to visit Louvain and met the large Franciscan community at St. Anthony's College, including fifteen friars who had recently arrived from Ireland. Oliver would no doubt have enquired about the remnants of the Armagh altar-plate, which was deposited with the friars over sixty years earlier. The altar-plate, along with some church items and possibly some vestments, were brought out of Ireland for safe keeping by Hugh O'Neill, the Earl of Tyrone in the Flight of the Earls, who had stayed with his party in Louvain over the winter of 1607/8.
Oliver was ordained Archbishop of Armagh at St. Bavo's Cathedral, Ghent, by Bishop Eugene D'Allamont of Ghent, on the first Sunday of Advent, 1st December 1669. The ceremony was assisted by the Provost of the Cathedral, Rt. Rev. James Roose and the Dean of the Chapter of Ghent, Rt. Rev. John le Monier. In attendance was an exiled bishop from the diocese of Ferns in Ireland, Bishop Nicholas French whom Archbishop Oliver knew well and who had accompanied Sir Nicholas Plunkett on a visit to Rome as emissaries of the Confederation of Kilkenny. Archbishop Oliver would have been delighted to again meet Bishop French and they must have had a lot of reminiscing of past times. Bishop French had an interesting life, having escaped from the terrible onslaught of Cromwell's forces in his native County Wexford. At his house in Wexford, a sacristan, a gardener and a sixteen-year old boy were killed. Bishop French then hid in the Irish countryside despite a determined search for him by those same forces, until his escape into exile some five months later. While hiding in the woods, his hideout was discovered and surrounded at one stage, but he broke through the ranks of the soldiers at speed, later thanking God and the swiftness of his steed. Indeed the Cromwellians hanged three of Bishop French's fellow Irish bishops at this time and a fourth bishop died from ill treatment after capture.
During the penal times in Ireland, the bishops of Flanders maintained a fine tradition of giving sanctuary, education and help to many of the exiled Irish churchmen, and it was common practice to present the newly ordained Irish bishops with episcopal rings. This was the third time since May of that year that Bishop d'Allamont of Ghent was involved in the consecration of an Irish Archbishop, namely, James Lynch of Tuam in Ghent and Peter Talbot of Dublin, in Antwerp. Bishop French assisted at both of those ceremonies, when three bishops were available in each case, according to protocol.
In the middle ages, the city of Ghent had become the second largest city in northern Europe and was a prosperous centre of commerce. However by the time of Oliver's visit, its importance had diminished somewhat as a result of the religious wars of the 16th and 17th centuries. Once Catholic, then a Calvinist republic and then with the help of the Spanish army it had became a Catholic region once again.
A week after his episcopal ordination in Ghent, Archbishop Oliver set off again on the next part of his journey home to Ireland, via Ostend, London and Holyhead. Before leaving he wrote: "I am thinking of passing myself off as an Italian tourist who is going out of curiosity to see the sights of London" and he added that he had given his papers and letters to an English gentleman to be brought to London.
On the first Sunday of Advent 2008, Bishop Gerard Clifford, Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh led a memorable pilgrimage from Ireland to St. Bavo's Cathedral in Ghent, to commemorate St. Oliver's episcopal ordination at St. Bavo's on the first Sunday of Advent 1669. After Mass, concelebrated by Bishop Lucas Van Looy of Ghent, a plaque was unveiled by Bishop Clifford in the crypt of the cathedral. The plaque is inscribed in three languages: Flemish, Irish and English.


Kimball Investment Company was formed in 1977 by Victor and David Kimball. Victor and David’s broad experience in developing and marketing commercial real estate has enabled them to accomplish numerous land acquisitions, lease buy-outs, land assemblage, condominium conversions and the development and management of hotels, shopping centers, industrial parks, office buildings, residential subdivisions, and apartments. Their expansive developments can be found in Utah, Nevada, Texas, Idaho and California.
The Kimballs also have extensive experience in the renovation of historic properties. The historic Peery Hotel was restored in 1985 from a dilapidated property to a prestigious boutique property which has received accolades from the Salt Lake City Arts Council and was voted “Most Miraculous Conversion” by the Utah Holiday Magazine. They also owned and operated the historic Judge Building, which remains a Class A historic building in downtown Salt Lake City.
The Kimballs have developed and operated hotel franchises including Marriott, Hilton, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Quality Inn, Travelodge, Best Western, as well as independent hotels in Zions National Park, Ojai, California and Salt Lake City, Utah.


The Barnsley Chronicle dated 1 July 1922 contains an appeal from the Mayor of Barnsley for funds to help build the War Memorial which stands outside the Town Hall. Included in this appeal is the following:
“It is proposed to have the names of the fallen inscribed on vellum and preserved with
the records of the Borough in the Town Hall.”
As far as we know, this proposal was never fulfilled, and the Barnsley War Memorials Project was formed to make the Roll of Honour, vellum excepted, a reality.
To be included here, a man or woman must be named on one of Barnsley’s War Memorials, be born within the Borough, or have lived in Barnsley at the time of enlistment or the start of their war service.
The Imperial War Museum defines a War Memorial as any tangible object which has been erected or dedicated to commemorate those killed as a result of war, conflict or peacekeeping; who served in war or conflict; or who died whilst engaged in military service. Consequently, the 3,785 names of men and women included have largely been gathered from memorials in churches and on village greens, but also many other sources such as places of work, schools, clubs and family gravestones.
Local newspapers and wartime periodicals have also been great sources of information, especially for photographs of which there are 1,990.
All our research has been done in good faith, and every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this Roll of Honour.
Every effort has been made to correctly acknowledge the sources of information and photographs and to ensure no copyright has been infringed.
Some of the men and women on the Roll of Honour are well known and documented, the vast majority are not.
WE HONOUR THEM ALL
Barnsley War Memorials Project 2018


14 Feb TRIBUTE TO VISSER !
This year we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the furniture collection that leading Dutch designer Martin Visser (1922-2009) created for Spectrum in 1960.
To honor his contribution to Dutch design history, contemporary Dutch designers pay tribute to his work. Jan des Bouvrie, Richard Hutten, Carolina Wilcke & Reinier Bosch, Piet Hein Eek, Kiki van Eijk, Marcel Wanders and Sabine Marcelis made a new design, inspired by a piece of furniture from Visser. The result is ‘Tribute to Visser’.
The designs, along with the original work of Martin Visser, can be seen from the 14th of march at the exhibition ‘The eye-opening sofa bed’ in the at centraal museum Utrecht!


41 million people recorded in one day on the eve of WWII
On 2 November 2015, the newly digitised records of the 1939 Register were launched online by Findmypast.com.au, a world leader in family history, in association with The National Archives. Dubbed ‘The Wartime Domesday Book’, The 1939 Register is the most comprehensive survey of the population of England and Wales ever taken. In September 1939, WWII had just broken out. 65,000 enumerators were employed to visit every house in England and Wales to take stock of the civil population. The information that they recorded was used to issue Identity Cards, plan mass evacuations, establish rationing and co-ordinate other war-time provisions. In the longer term, the 1939 Register would go on to play a central role in the establishment of post-war services like the NHS.
The most recent comparative online release was that of the 1911 census in 2009. The 1931 census was destroyed during the war and the 1941 census was never taken. The 1939 Register is therefore the only surviving record of the population between 1921 and 1951, bridging a 30-year gap in history.
Comprising 1.2 million pages in 7,000 volumes and documenting the lives of 41 million people, the 1939 Register opens a window to a world on the brink of cataclysmic change. Each record includes the names of inhabitants at each address, their date of birth, marital status and occupation.
Andrew Marr, writer and broadcaster says: “The 1939 Register is one of the most important documents in recent British history. A comprehensive record of the civil population on the outbreak of war, it captures a people whose lives were about to change forever. It records streets that within months, under the assault of the Luftwaffe, were to disappear; families that would be separated by the events of war: evacuation, conscription and sometimes worse. This fascinating resource allows us to discover our past and that of our families in ways never before possible.”
LIFE IN 1939
· Mr and Mrs 1939: The typical 1939 woman was Mary Smith, 35 years old. She was married to the average 1939 man, John or William, 33 years old. The chance of them divorcing was just 0.1%
· John or William and Mary were the most common first names with Smith, Jones and Williams the top 3 most popular surnames. The city with highest number of Marys was Liverpool (36,000) followed by Manchester and Birmingham. The most Williams were living in Birmingham (39,000) while every 7th male in Liverpool was called John (37,000 of 247,000)
· Taken within weeks of the mass evacuation of children to the country, the Register shows an almost entire adult population in some London boroughs, with just 2% being children under age of 10 years old
· The Register also reveals how jobs have changed. The typing pool has disappeared today but in 1939 typist was the 7th most popular occupation for women
· Delving deep in to the Register, the team at Findmypast has unearthed some surprising facts about some of the well-known figures of the day and the families of today’s celebrities. James Bond creator Ian Fleming stated his main occupation as ‘Stockbroker’ despite an alternative career in Naval Intelligence, whilst the grandfather of Victoria Beckham was working on the London Docks and living in Tottenham.
FACTS AND FIGURES
· The estimated population of England and Wales in 1939 was 41 million, living in 12 million households, with an average of 3 people living in one household
· The average age in cities ranged between 30-39
· The divorce rate was 0.1% (just two years after the 1937 Matrimonial Causes Act), compared to 46.2% being married, 45.6% single and 6.5% widowed
· The average age was 33 for men and 35 for women, compared to the median age for men 38 and women 40 of the 2011 census
· The population is equally spread amongst different age groups with a marked decline of people aged 60+
· There were only 111 people that were over 100 years old when the Register was taken compared to 12,320 aged 100+ years in 2013
· The top 3 most popular surnames were Smith, Jones and Williams
· 10 most popular female names were: Mary, Margaret, Elizabeth, Annie, Florence, Edith, Alice, Dorothy, Sarah and Jane
· 10 most popular male names were: John, William, George, Charles, Frederick, Thomas, David, Arthur, Joseph and Robert
· The city with highest number of Marys was Liverpool (36,000 of 291,000), followed by Manchester (26,000 of 249,000) and Birmingham (20,000 of 508,000)
· The most Williams were living in Birmingham (39,000 of 462,000) while every 7th male in Liverpool was called John (37,000 of 247,000)
· The top 10 occupations registered for the 19 million men were:
#1 retired #2 clerk (from railway to civil service), #3 motor vehicle driver (from lorry driver to chauffeur), #4 farm worker #5 general labourer, #6 fitter (from gas to machine), #7 engineer (from radio service to aircraft engineer), #8 coalminer /hewer, #9 shop owner/worker, #10 railway worker
· 595 people registered as butlers, with Westminster topping the butler chart with 247. The next highest is Marylebone with 121 and Chelsea with 77
· Almost half of the 22 million women were performing domestic work, with the majority of those unpaid
· The top 10 occupations registered for women were:
#1 unpaid domestic duties, #2 shop owner/worker, #3 clerk /administrative duties, #4 paid domestic duties, #5 retired, #6 machinist, #7 typist, #8 incapacitated, #9 private means, #10 housekeeper
· One can already spot industries in the top ten female occupations that would later become very popular amongst women: office, fashion, retail and education
· In Leicester and Leeds, more women were working in the fashion industry than any other, as a tailor, dress maker or hosiery knitter
The 1939 Register puts numbers to London’s evacuations
· At the beginning of September 1939, under the threat of German bombing, 1.5 million children, women and disabled were evacuated. The 1939 Register, which was taken at the end of September, shows only 2% of the population in London was aged 0-10 (national average 14%) and 8% was aged 10-19 (national average 16%)
· The city of London is the only place where the gender split is 60% male to 40% female. The national average shows that 47% were male and 53% were female
· Top league of retirement districts: Tavistock, Glastonbury, Looe, Newquay, Woodstock, Brixham, Torpoint, Knighton, Hearne Bay, Dawlish
The real life M – As Spectre looms large at the box office and the world wonders if James Bond will escape another tight scrape, the real life inspirations for the Bond books can be found in the 1939 Register on the eve of war. Hugh Sinclair (given the codename ‘Quex’) was director of British Intelligence and set up the Secret Intelligence Service (also known as MI6). He bought Bletchley Park with his own money and set up a wartime intelligence station. Although in 1939, (listed as a retired Admiral with no mention of his intelligence work), he was suffering from cancer which he would die of a month later, the year before he reported on Adolf Hitler to the Prime Minister, describing him as a dangerous megalomaniac not to be trusted. The report was buried because it didn’t align with appeasement policies of the time.
Ian Fleming – Already in September 1939, Ian Fleming had been recruited into Naval Intelligence, where he would gain much of the inspiration for his James Bond novels. He lived in Westminster, listing his primary occupation as ‘Stockbroker’ with only an extra column revealing his work as a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at the Admiralty building.
Oswald Mosley – The leader of the British Union of Fascists can be found at his Mayfair home with a conspicuous omission of his notorious position as head of the British Blackshirt movement,instead harking back to former glories as a military officer, MP and government minister. Less than a year later he was interned as a potential enemy of the state and spent most of the war living with his family in the grounds of Holloway Prison.
Future Prime Ministers – Although a year away from becoming Prime Minister, Winston Churchill was listed living as first lord of the admiralty in central London. Later additions to the 1939 Register, as a living document have seen his old occupation lined through and ‘Prime Minister’ added.
Barnes Wallis – Already working on aircraft and bomb design by the time of the 1939 Register, Barnes Wallis, the inventor of the ‘bouncing bomb’ famous in its use for the Dambusters raids was listed with his wife, children and children’s nurse near Guildford. Barnes loved the area so much that he spent most of his adult life there, becoming a parish councillor and being buried in the local church.
Herman Goering – Although the President of the Reichstag and head of the Luftwaffe had his hands full directing waves of aircraft to attack British shores, an unfortunately named Birmingham born and based doppelganger made an honest living as a jewellery case maker in 1939. Sadly he didn’t live to see out the end of the war though his namesake didn’t last till much long after it, being sentenced to death for his part in the war crimes of the Nazi regime.
Joseph Kennedy – The special relationship between Britain and the United States is underlined with these records. The father of President John F. Kennedy, Joseph was in the UK at the time of the 1939 Register, with the future President himself present in the House of Commons during speeches endorsing British entry into the war just before the register was taken. Joseph Kennedy is listed as ambassador to the United Kingdom at the time. Perhaps lacking the attributes that made his son such an iconic leader he would later resign from his post in November 1940 due to his defeatist attitude, reputedly prompting a British civil servant to say “I thought my daffodils were yellow until I met Joe Kennedy”.
FAMILIES OF CELEBRITIES
The Beckhams – Victoria Beckham’s life today is a world away from her maternal grandfather George Cannon who was working on the London Docks and living in Tottenham, with her paternal grandfather not so far away in Edmonton earning his keep as a French polisher.
David Beckham- may have inherited his skill on his feet from his great grandfather Edward Charles Beckham’s sea legs, he was listed in the 1939 Register with his wife, living in Wood Green and serving in the navy. Further records on Findmypast give a full physical description of Great Grandfather Beckham, showing he was 5 foot 33Ž4 foot tall with fair hair, blue eyes and fresh complexion.
Fearne Cotton – Perhaps in a foreshadowing of her own career, the 1939 Register reveals the great great uncle of Fearne Cotton in Poole, listed as a ‘Musical Director & Dance Band Leader’. William Edward or ‘Billy’ Cotton toured to entertain the troops during the Second World War and presented a popular BBC radio show from 1949 to 1968.
Anthony Hopkins – Famously attached to his Welsh roots and known to visit the house he grew up in when he returns to the UK from his home in the United States, his 1939 Port Talbot home can be found in the register where his parents the baker Richard and housewife Muriel lived.
Britney Spears – The grandmother of pop singer Britney Spears was listed in the 1939 Register with her parents George & Lillian Portell in Finchley, London. She would later become a ‘GI Bride’, marrying an American soldier and leaving the UK at the end of the war for a new life in Louisiana.
Simon Cowell – The paternal grandparents of Simon Cowell were living in Chigwell on the eve of the Second World War.
Bill Nighy – Although not yet born in 1939, the young parents of Bill Nighy, Catherine and Alfred were married and living in Surrey.
Eddie Redmayne – The great grandfather of Eddie Redmayne, the illustrious Sir Richard Augustine Studdert Redmayne was a civil engineer, modestly listing his role as a leading light in improving the working practices and safety of miners throughout the UK as being a ‘mining consultant’.


TAG Heuer 150th Anniversary Expo Celebration Odyssey Pioneer China Ends Perfectly Odyssey Pioneer Global Tour Heuer China Ends Successfully On June 28, in front of the blue and dazzling Expo Monaco Pavilion, a striking sports car attracted Countless lights, this is a commemorative sports car of the Swiss watch pioneer Heuer and Tesla cross-border cooperation, 100% of electric clean energy. TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster in front of the Monaco Pavilion
TAG Heuer celebrated its 150th anniversary at the Monaco Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo. The Principality of Monaco, who has a deep passion for racing, joins hands with TAG Heuer luxury watches that challenge the time limit, complementing the luxury watches of a century and a half.
Why is the end of TAG Heuer China Station the Monaco Pavilion? Because of the 40-year-old legendary racing complex. The TAG Heuer Monaco watch was released in Geneva and New York at the same time in 1969. As the first watch with a square dial, the bold design concept made a sensation in the watchmaking industry, and the Monaco series became one of TAG Heuer’s most classic series. TAG Heuer Concept MONACO V4
The Monaco Pavilion was transformed into a time corridor that night. From CARRERA 1887, MONCAO V4 to PENDULUM pioneer luxury watches, 16 rare collection watches represent TAG Heuer’s past, present and future, reflecting 150 years of glorious history. The celebration was full of stars. Mr. Jean-Christophe Babin, President of TAG Heuer, Mr. Jean-Marc Lacave, President of LVMH Watch & Jewellery Asia Pacific, joined hands with Mr. Chen Daoming, China’s outstanding performance artist, and TAG Heuer’s new brand ambassador-the first in F1. Mr. Dong Hebin, a Chinese driver, and hundreds of guests joined together to witness the 150 years of TAG Heuer’s glorious journey, marking the perfect ending of the China Odyssey Pioneer Global Tour Exhibition in 15 cities around the world.
TAG Heuer China Station ends-Chinese and foreign guests at the Monaco Pavilion celebrate the TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 1887 TAG Heuer Pendulum
Since its establishment in 1860, TAG Heuer has always led the Swiss model of precision watchmaking, creating many milestones in the mechanical watch industry and becoming one of the world’s four major watch brands. For 150 years, TAG Heuer will continue to win the world’s admiration with extraordinary creativity in the future.


Best hotel in Kherson, Premier Compass Hotel Kherson ✭✭✭ - attentive service, great reats, free Wi-Fi - Premier Hotels and Resorts Reservation Office ☎ +38 0552 70 16 70View hotel website
The best hotels in Kherson to fulfil the guests’ most exacting requirements
Modern Kherson is a relatively small regional centre in the southern part of Ukraine with its unique colour and quiet way of life. At the time of city foundation by Grigory Potemkin under the auspices of Catherine II, Kherson was being built as “southern Petersburg”. Nevertheless, fate decreed otherwise.
The legendary Black Sea Fleet traces its history to its founding in Kherson. Moreover, it switched places with dynamically growing Mykolaiv. Kherson kept living a life of quiet provincial city, seafaring playing a significant role in its life.
After the annexation of Crimea, Kherson turned into a kind of resort gates of Ukraine. The most popular resorts of Ukraine are located in Kherson: Zaliznyi Port, Lazurne, Skadovsk and many others. Nowadays,tourism is one of the largest and rapidly growing industries in Kherson. Therefore, not only ordinary travellers, but also tourists who travel on business often come to this magnificent city.
Which hotels of Kherson are really worth visiting?
It is easier to book a hotel in the off-season. The prices hit their peak in high travel seasons. It is better to book a hotel room in advance, especially if you are going to stay in one of the best hotels in Kherson – Premier Compass Hotel Kherson.
The hotel is located in the historic part of the city. All business centres and many tourist attractions are within walking distance of the hotel. The main pedestrian street is located near the Dnieper. The theatre and several museums are really worth visiting.
If you decided to book a hotel room for a short- or long-term stay and get to Kherson by train, the journey to the hotel by trolley bus or minibus will take you only ten minutes, and five minutes by car. By the way, there is also a car parking near the hotel.
Premier Compass Hotel Kherson is a small hotel.The hotel offers accommodation in 18 rooms. There are also sports and sauna complexes. The hotel’s restaurant will be perfect for organizing banquets and other events.
The real pride of the hotel is a modern sauna complex with a bath and sauna in the hotel, which is popular not only among the guests of the city, but also among local residents.
As a rule, you can check-in from 14:00 on the day of arrival and must check-out at 12:00 (noon) on the day of departure. It is allowed to stay with pets in the hotel, but you must inform the administration of the hotel about it in advance.
Are you going to visit Kherson not only on business?
There are not so many tourist attractions in Kherson (as in Lviv or Odesa), but a large number of historical buildings were preserved and they are really worth visiting Therefore, after the hotel check-in procedure, we advise you to go for a walk. Kherson is known as of one of the greenest cities in Ukraine, so you will be impressed and pleased.
The Cathedral of St. Catherine. The structure’s original purpose was to provide an adequate protection against enemies. The building was built in a classical style and dedicated to Catherine of Alexandria, the patron saint of the great Empress Catherine II. The Cathedral was built on the order of Empress.
The Potemkin Monument was foundedon the Empress’s order after his death in 1836. Later, the Potemkin Boulevard was built nearby. In 1944, the monument disappeared along with the Nazis who left Kherson. The renovation of the monument took place in 2003.
The remains of the Kherson fortress are still extant. The fortress meets all the requirements in the organization of the fortifications. The Potemkin Palace and the Cathedral were located on the fortress territory. The Ochakiv and Moscow Gates, powder cellar (converted into a restaurant) and Arsenal building are still extant.
Suvorov Street (the main street of Kherson) and the city’s embankment are perfect places for leisure strolls. The monument to the first ship is located there. The doors of the Premier Compass Hotel Kherson are hospitably opened for you. It will always be an opportunity to come back and continue your acquaintance with the cosy city on the Dnipro at any time.


There aren't many cities with a back-story as liberating as Berlin's. From its once turbulent past to now being one of Europe's most sort after destinations, there is no time like the present to check it out. With Berlin at the forefront of European arts and culture, this is a city that cries out; discover me. The Berlin tours available are wide-ranging, exciting and memorable. Head out for a cruise along the River Spee, site-see on a hop-on-hop-off bus, or if you prefer to walk, there are tours for you too. Head up the Berlin tower or take in important historical sites from World War 2 and the Cold War. Visit the Charlottenburg Palace for its lavish interior and gardens. Berlin is a city about glamour and grit; it's not hard to see why either.


The US Mint produced its 1st coin in the year 1792. It was carried out under the agreement of The Mint Act, 1792. Before it, foreign silver coins from all across the world eased trade in the new country.
Spanish pieces of 8 reales silver coins were made the standard of an international trade. This composition contained a coin having 89.243% of pure silver. The government planned to establish the US silver metal dollar so as to circulate with the Spanish-American and Mexican 8 reales silver coins.
What is stated in the Mint Act 1792?
The Mint Act, 1792 authorized the manufacture of silver coins to weigh 416 grains that is about 26.9563 grams. Out of the 416 grains, 371.25 grains are of fine silver and the remaining is copper.
Once Congress approved for performing the minting of gold and silver dollar, the U.S. was now given a task to create a design. The flowing hair head design selected the 1794 silver dollar that was same as design of Henry Voigt on a 1793 large cent.
What were the problems faced by workers to execute Mint Act?
Workers found it hard to obtain the 0.89243 pure silver compositions as needed under the Mint Act. Rittenhouse came with a proposal to increase the content of silver by 3 grains i.e. from 371.25 g to 374.74 g with a weight of around 416 grains.
Due to this increase in the silver amount, the overall weight also increases by a .9000 pure silver composition. The above unauthorized alteration in the composition gave rise to increase in 1 percentage of extra silver content in every coin.
Which is the most valuable silver coin in the world?
The Neil-Carter 1794 sample of flowing hair silver dollar has been regarded as the most valuable one in the entire market. This coin was sold in 2013 by Stack’s Bowers, a reputed auction firm in New York. Out of all those known uncirculated samples of 1794 US silver dollars. It is the one that shows extreme detail on it and a mirror-like immaculate finish in its field.
Research performed by numismatic researchers indicated that this coin was made to hit a specially made planchet. Careful consideration ensured that the coin die was properly aligned before the time of striking. Strong appearance of its details without any weak striking is the distinctive characteristic of this coin that made it easy to trace throughout history.
This was all about the introduction of flowing hair silver dollar in the US.


Texas Charm Meets Holiday Magic – Christmas Company’s Work at Stockyard Heritage
Stockyard Heritage, a historically significant and bustling tourist destination in Texas, required a holiday lighting solution that would captivate the millions of visitors who flocked to the site during the peak months of November and December. The main challenges for Christmas Company were working within restricted hours due to the continuous flow of tourists, accommodating both pedestrian and vehicle traffic, and preserving the integrity of the historical buildings during the installation process.
“I have recommended the Christmas Company to others. I tell people that I have been very pleased with the CC for many years, that they are very creative and good at what they do and would highly recommend them. What I value most is David, the crews and their commitment to service throughout the time our lights are on.”
Facility Manager of The Modern
Failing to create a spectacular and seamless holiday lighting display for Stockyard Heritage could potentially diminish its appeal as a world-renowned tourist destination. Given the site’s tremendous visitor count, any shortcomings in the lighting design and installation could lead to negative feedback from tourists and potentially impact its reputation as an enchanting holiday attraction.
Christmas Company embraced the challenge with determination and creativity, exceeding Stockyard Heritage’s expectations year after year. Starting with a modest scope of illuminating a couple of trees on the main drive, Christmas Company gradually expanded their collaboration. They conceptualized and executed an awe-inspiring design that encompassed 200,000 lights across 62 trees, numerous buildings, and architectural elements. Custom-made frames were meticulously measured and manufactured to precisely fit the historical towers, ensuring a flawless appearance. Despite facing unexpected inaccuracies in the architectural drawings, Christmas Company adapted with ingenuity and expertise, safeguarding the heritage buildings during the installation.
By adopting Christmas Company’s innovative lighting solution, Stockyard Heritage gained a holiday spectacle that enchanted its visitors and surpassed all expectations. The extensive display of lights and custom motifs, including ice-skating cowgirl characters brought to life with lights, added a touch of magic and wonder to the historical site. The careful consideration of traffic flow and the ability to work within restricted hours showcased Christmas Company’s commitment to creating a harmonious and enjoyable experience for both tourists and locals.
Stockyard Heritage’s positive feedback and appreciation for Christmas Company’s outstanding work reflect the exceptional quality and dedication the company brings to every project. By collaborating with Christmas Company, Stockyard Heritage solidified its status as one of the most captivating and unforgettable holiday destinations in Texas, attracting millions of visitors annually. The impressive lighting display not only delighted tourists but also instilled a sense of pride among the locals, who witnessed their historical site transform into a mesmerizing winter wonderland.
Christmas Company’s remarkable work with Stockyard Heritage exemplifies their ability to enhance the appeal of world-renowned tourist destinations through awe-inspiring holiday lighting. By overcoming unique challenges and paying meticulous attention to every detail, Christmas Company crafted an experience that delighted millions of visitors, elevating Stockyard Heritage to new heights of holiday splendor. The successful collaboration between Christmas Company and Stockyard Heritage serves as a testament to the former’s mission and vision of creating breathtaking lighting displays that evoke wonder and joy.


Friends of Hollin Hills (FOHH) was formed in 2017 as a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization based in Alexandria, VA. Our mission is to protect the historically significant Hollin Hills Historic District, a prominent mid-century modern (MCM) community listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
We do this through:
Many photos courtesy of Tod Connell. Map courtesy of Patrick Collins. Sketches courtesy of Dennis Carmichael.
SEPTEMBER 13-15, 2024
LIVING MODERN-BUILDING COMMUNITY celebrates the career of Charles Goodman, mid-century modern (MCM) architect and community designer.
Goodman's whole-community design, his emphasis on siting and creating workable family homes and his impact beyond the design of free-standing homes are the focus of the three-day weekend. Goodman communities in the DC-Virginia-Maryland metro area are highlighted.
Themes of the three-day event are:
Notable speakers and panels will explore Goodman design and how to live in and maintain Goodman homes throughout the three-day weekend. Focused sessions are designed for MCM devotees and design professionals as well as those who live in Goodman homes.
Visit classic Goodman custom designs during the opening at the Arlington Unitarian Church and the closing with home or walking tours at Goodman communities. A tour and reception at the Sevareid House in Alexandria’s West End are available as an extra event.
HOLLIN HILLS – A GROUNDBREAKING MODERN DEVELOPMENT
The Hollin Hills Historic District was designed by renowned MCM architect Charles Goodman and developed by Robert Davenport between 1949-1971. Hollin Hills intentionally marries irregularly-shaped home lots with existing topography. The MCM architectural style is protected by architectural covenants. The community includes over 480 single-family homes and 30+ acres of dedicated park lands with six unique parks and a wildlife sanctuary.
For more information on the Hollin Hills Historic District, check out the Civic Association of Hollin Hills (CAHH).
As a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit, FOHH relies on donations, sales, and volunteers to support the Hollin Hills Historic District. All funds stay within the community and each dollar plays a critical role.
Check out our Merchandise page to shop for fun merchandise that supports the FOHH.
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The fortress was built by the Venetians in the early years of their rule in Candia, in order to better protect the city’s port, which had prominent strategic and commercial importance. The original low building, which had no escarpments, was destroyed by an earthquake in 1303 and later rebuilt.
In the early 16th century, in the context of the overall redesign of the city’s fortifications, the old castle was demolished and the fortress that still survives today was built in its place during the period from 1523 (the date indicated in an inscription over the north gate) to 1540. Massive structural sections were brought from Fraskia and Dia. The fortress is built on two storeys and in its final form covers an area of about 3,600 m2.
The ground floor is separated by thick walls into 26 apartments that served as food and ammunition warehouses, as well as prison cells, in which many Cretan rebels were kept and tortured. Upstairs were accommodations for the castellan and the officers of the garrison. There was a bakery, a mill and a small church. On the three sides that looked towards the sea, there were embrasures for the cannons protecting the harbor. In 1630 there were 18 cannons on the ground floor and 25 on the upper floor. A ramp was used to transport cannons as far as the rooftop. The north east, west and south outer walls were decorated with marble reliefs of the winged lion of Venice, which are partially visible today. The ramparts of the fort have been rebuilt.
(Text by: Vasiliki Sithiakaki, archaeologist)
At the northern entrance of Elounda Bay, at a key-position for the control of the natural harbour, is located the islet of Spinalonga, with an area of 8,5 ha and an altitude of 53 m. The island was fortified in the antiquity, possibly in the Hellenistic period, with a large enclosure.
On the ruins of the ancient castle the Venetians built a strong fortress, which was designed according to the bastion fortification system by Genese Bressani and Latino Orsini. The first construction stage of the fortress lasted from 1579 to 1586. Repairs and alterations to the fortress were also made during the Cretan War (1645-1669). During the Venetian rule the fortress was used for military purposes. The buildings in its interior covered the accommodation needs of the guard. During the Cretan war (1645-1669) Spinalonga offered shelter to refugees and rebels, who harassed the Turks, using the islet as their base. Their action lasted as long as the fortress was occupied by the Venetians. According to the treaty of the surrender of the “Khandax” in 1669, Spinalonga remained under the rule of Venice.
After the island was occupied by the Ottomans in 1715, a purely Ottoman settlement was gradually formed in Spinalonga. During the first two centuries of the Ottoman rule the fortress was marginalised and used as a place of exile and isolation. The situation changed, however, at the end of the 19th century. Its role was upgraded as it obtained an export trade permit. In the middle of the 19th century a large number of inhabitants concentrated on the islet, mostly tradesmen and seamen, who exploited the seaways of the eastern Mediterranean and the advantage of a safe fortified settlement.
The life of this settlement was soon interrupted abruptly due to the political developments that took place in Crete during the last years of the 19th century. Most of the inhabitants of Spinalonga were forced to emigrate, as the revolutionary activity of the Christians spread insecurity among the Ottomans of Crete. From 1897 French military forces settled on the island and stayed there for about one year. The Cretan State established the isolation of the lepers in 1903 and decided to create a leper hospital in Spinalonga, in order for coordinated help to be available to Hansen patients. The hard life of the patients, who lived on the island until 1957, marked the area as a place of martyrdom and heartbreaking memories. (Author: Georgia Moschovi, archeologist)
Phaistos is built on a low hill (altitude of about 100m from sea level), in the south of river Geropotamos (ancient river Lithaios), and dominates the fertile valley of Kato Mesara, which is surrounded by imposing mountains (Psiloritis, Asterousia, Lasithi Mountains).
The Libyan Sea extends in the south. Lithaios surrounds the hill of Phaistos in the east and the north and was a source of water supply for the city. The mild and warm climate of the area made the life of its residents comfortable and pleasant. Phaistos was one of the most important centres of the Minoan civilization, and the most wealthy and powerful city of southern Crete. It is mentioned in the texts of ancient writers (Diodorus, Stravon, Pausanius) and Homer. It is one of the three important cities founded in Crete by Minos. According to mythology, the dynasty of Rodamanthus, the son of Zeus and brother of Minos, reigned in it. Homer refers to its participation in the Trojan War and describes it as a “well populated” city. The period of prosperity in Phaistos began with the coming of the Bronze Age in Crete in the middle of the 3rd millennium B.C., when the foundations of the Minoan civilization were laid.
Habitation in Phaistos started in the Neolithic period, as revealed by the foundations of Neolithic houses, tools, statuettes and potsherds discovered under the palace during the excavations. The Neolithic settlement is believed to have covered the top of the hill and its southwestern slope. In the middle of the 3rd millennium B.C. the use of metals began, which favoured the development of the city.
Development continued until the foundation and consolidation of the Minoan palaces (15th century B.C.). In the beginning of the 2nd millennium kings took the rule and established large palaces. The first palace was built in around 1900 B.C. and along with its surrounding buildings it covered an area of 18.000 m2, a little smaller than that of the palace of Knossos. The major earthquake in around 1700 B.C. was the cause of its destruction and the destruction of Knossos. A new, more imposing one was built in its place. Most of the remnants preserved today belong to it, while some parts of the first palace, mainly in the southeast, have also been discovered. The Minoan city covered a considerable area around the palatial centre.
Phaistos was the seat of the king – ruler who controlled not only the rich plain of Mesara and the settlements in the wider area but also the exit to the sea and the harbours of the gulf of Mesara. After the destruction of the palace (15th century B.C.) the city of Phaistos continued to be inhabited in the Mycenaean and Geometric periods (8th century B.C.). In the following centuries Phaistos experienced a new period of prosperity. The area of the city grew in relation to its area in the Minoan times. It became a rich, strong and densely populated independent city. It minted its own coin and during its period of prosperity, its rule extended from cape Lithino to cape Melissa, including the islets Paksimadia (ancient name: Litoae). The state of Phaistos had two powerful harbours, Matala and Kommo in the southeast.
In historical times the temple of Rhea was built south of the old palace. A time gap is observed in the classical period, from which no architectural remnants have been discovered yet. In contrast, the Hellenistic city was extremely prosperous. Houses of that period can be seen in the west yard (upper terrace) of the palace. In the middle of the 2nd century B.C. (around 1600 B.C.) the city was destroyed and occupied by the neighbouring city of Gortys. Even though it was not immediately abandoned, Phaistos lost its power. Traces of habitation dating from the Venetian period are scattered in the whole area. The modern village of Agios Ioannis on the southern fringe of the ancient city is the modest remainder of a glorious past.
From archaeological view, Phaistos is the second in importance Minoan city after Knossos. The site of Knossos was first identified by British captain H. Spratt. The archaeological research of Phaistos was started in 1884 by F. Halbherr and continued by the Italian School of Archaeology (Halbherr and L. Pernier, 1900-1904) and by Doro Levi (1950-1971). Restoration works were conducted during the excavations by the Italian School of Archaeology. Some spaces, mainly the old palace and the royal rooms of the new palace were covered with plastic shelters, while others, such as the storehouses of the new palace, were covered with concrete slabs.
According to tradition, it was the seat of King Minos and the capital of his state. The palace of Knossos is associated with the exciting myths “the Labyrinth and the Minotaur” and “Daedalus and Icarus”.
References to Knossos, its palace and Minos are made by Homer (the list of ships in Ilias mentions that Crete sent 80 ship under the command of the King of Knossos, Idomeneus, the Odyssey, T 178-9), Thucydides (reference to Minos), Isiodus and Herodotus, Bacchylides and Pindarus, Plutarchus and Diodorus the Sicilian. The city flourished in the Minoan Times (2000 – 1350 B.C.), when it was the most important and populated centre of Crete. It also played an important role and was particularly prosperous in later periods, like the Hellenistic Times.
The city of Knossos was constantly populated from the end of the 7th millennium to the Roman Times. In the Neolithic Times there was a stage of technologically developed agricultural life (stone tools and weaving weights). The residents turned from food-collectors into producers (farmers and shepherds) and a there was a trend towards more systematic and permanent settlement. The settlement periods in Knossos succeeded each other and the population of the settlement at the end of the Late Neolithic Period is estimated at 1.000 – 2.000 residents.
In the Bronze Age, which involved the processing of copper, the settlement possibly continued to develop. However, during the construction of the palace many older buildings were destroyed. The settlement is now referred to as Ko-no-so in Linear B texts of the 14th century B.C. Habitation was particularly intense, including the first palace (19th-17th century B.C.), the second palace (16th-14th century B.C.) and the luxurious villas, the guests’ rooms and the Minoan infrastructure works. The palaces were built on sites overlooking plains and having access to the sea, while important settlements were developed around them. The cities and the settlements were not walled, which confirms the so-called Pax Minoica. In around 1700 B.C. a major earthquake probably destroys Knossos and leads to large-scale works in the city and the palace. The city of Knossos was developed in a large area and its population was estimated by Evans at around 80.000 people.
In 1450 B.C., after a partial destruction of Knossos, the Mycenaeans settled in the city, without, however, rebuilding the palace. From the next periods few remnants are preserved, mostly tombs and a small classical temple in the area of the palace. The city experienced great prosperity during the Hellenistic Times (temple of Glaukus, temple of Demetra, chiselled tombs, the use of a northern cemetery, fortifying towers). In 67 B.C. Quintus Caecilius Metellus Creticus conquered Knossos and established a Roman colony with the name Colonia Julia Nobilis. The Villa of Dionysus, with wonderful mosaics, dates back to this period.
In the Byzantine Times Knossos was the seat of the Bishop, while the remains of the 6th century A.D. basilica are still preserved. After the Arab conquest of Crete, the harbour of Heraklion gradually became more important, while Knossos was slowly forgotten. A small settlement was built on the Roman ruins and is referred to as “Makritihos” (=long wall), named after a long wall, which was a remnant of the Roman Knossos. Knossos was spotted in 1878 by Minos Kalokairinos. A. Evans started systematic excavations in 1900, which continued until 1931 (discovery of the palace, a large part of the Minoan city and the cemeteries). Since then excavations are being continued in the wider area of Knossos by the British School of Archaeology and the 23rd Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities.
The Historical Museum of Crete was founded by the Society of Cretan Historical Studies in 1953, following the issue of a Ministry of Culture permit to establish a museum collection. The Museum was initially housed in the Andreas and Maria Kalokerinos House (1903), a listed neoclassical building granted by the A. & M. Kalokerinos Foundation in accordance with the donor’s wishes.
The Museum was founded and is run by the Society of Cretan Historical Studies, with the aim of preserving and showcasing the cultural heritage of Crete from early Byzantine times to the modern era. This aim has been achieved gradually, by the collection, purchase and donation of artefacts, together with artefacts on long term loan from the Ministry of Culture.


A longtime labor leader and two other advocates of an immigration overhaul ended their water-only fasts on Tuesday in a tent on the National Mall, the 22nd day of an effort to press the House to take up legislation on the issue.
In a ceremony choreographed to evoke the civil rights and farmworker movements of the 1960s, the labor leader, Eliseo Medina, 67, took a bite of bread and a sip of apple juice. Looking tired, Mr. Medina did not speak during the event. Afterward, he rose and walked away, leaning on the arm of another advocate.
Mr. Medina, a senior official in the Service Employees International Union, made a symbolic handoff to Representative Joseph P. Kennedy III, Democrat of Massachusetts, who said he would fast for 24 hours. The scene was reminiscent of the end of a 25-day fast in 1968 by Cesar Chavez of the United Farm Workers, who received his first food from Senator Robert F. Kennedy, Representative Kennedy’s grandfather.