Patronising Poet

Those eighteenth-century dudes really knew how to make a lady feel special. Paul Whitehead, famed for his associations with the Hell-Fire Clubs was no exception. He cared so much for the fairer sex that he wrote a song, literally addressed to the ladies. *player*

My favourite bits are from the first and last stanzas:

Bright eyes were intended to languish, not stare,
And softness the test of your sex...

But, if Amazon-like, you attack your Gallants,
And put us in fear of our lives,
You may do very well for Sisters and Aunts,
But, believe me, you'll never be Wives, Poor Girls...

Read the full poem here. If you aren't familiar with old type formatting, just imagine most of the "f"s are actually "s".

Look at him, pointing out how to be a "lady"

TV debut: PhD research on Hell-Fire Caves

Catch me on the telly 8pm "Underground Britain" Channel 5 (20th November)

http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/c77ydj/underground-britain--series-1---5-central-england

Will be chatting about the history and archaeology of the Hell-Fire Caves of West Wycombe, and a 3D laser scan conducted with the British Geological Society (BGS).

My life in pictures from the last month and a half

Fantastic fieldtrip to survey the Hell-Fire Caves

Had fun making a wordle of two chapters of my dissertation, on the Irish Hell-Fire Clubs

Hoped across the sea to visit the folks and survey the Hell-Fire Club of Dublin, Montpelier

BBC 5 Live Interview with Giles Dilnot and Win Scutt

You can listen to my recent BBC 5 Live interview here (if the below file doesn't work, try this link http://soundcloud.com/tierneae/bbc5live-13-dec-2011-hfc-with)
BBC5Live 13 Dec 2011 HFC with Win Scutt. Presented by Giles Dilnot by tierneae
 I discuss my PhD research on the Hell-Fire Clubs.

Hell-Fire Club Chapter Meeting, West Wycombe

On my recent trip to the Hell-Fire Caves, I was lucky enough to attend and present at a private Chapter event. One of the organisers gave insight into the clubs views, see the video here:

Limerick Hell-Fire Club

While back home, I was lucky enough to get a trip out to Askeaton Co. Limerick. Work is currently under-way restoring Askeaton Castle, but funding has run out on the 18th Century build beside it, the Limerick Hell-Fire Club. It is such a shame, as the building really needs some serious TLC. Very unusual in design and one of only two buildings in the country associated with the Hell-Fire Clubs, it looks like the heritage board just don't see it as a priority. The town is more famous for its island Castle, initially built in the late 12th century, the majority of the building now dates to the 15th century and was in use until Cromwellian forces dismantled it in the late 17th century.

The Limerick Hell-Fire Club: