A random interlude
Just thought I'd insert a little bit of random trivia to tide us over while we wait for the official DM2006ptI write up from The HotNess, and carry on a bit from the 'morning after' conversation.
The lyrics to The Kaiser Chiefs' wee ditty 'I Predict a Riot' contain the lines:
Would never have happened to Smeaton
An old Leodiensian
Now, I'm pretty sure that this refers to John Smeaton, an Engineer born in Leeds in 1724 (although I don't think he became an engineer at that time, that probably happened a bit later). Hence the reference to 'An old Leodiensian' (not 'And old Leodiensian' as some lyrics sites have claimed). I would assume that the lyricist is harking back to a time of greater respect, whilst also maintaining a point of reference local to the bands roots.
One of Smeaton's many achievements, when not tinkering with water wheels, wind mills and steam engines, was the rebuilding of the Eddystone lighthouse, which had previously been destroyed by fire (interestingly enough the previous lighthouse had been made of wood with a dirty great fire on top, who'd have seen that coming) in 1755.
When a new lighthouse was built on the site it was decided to preserve Smeaton's tower and so it was dismantled and reassembled on the Hoe (steady boys) in Plymouth, where it still stands to this day.
Ahem, sorry to have taken up so much of your time.
The lyrics to The Kaiser Chiefs' wee ditty 'I Predict a Riot' contain the lines:
Would never have happened to Smeaton
An old Leodiensian
Now, I'm pretty sure that this refers to John Smeaton, an Engineer born in Leeds in 1724 (although I don't think he became an engineer at that time, that probably happened a bit later). Hence the reference to 'An old Leodiensian' (not 'And old Leodiensian' as some lyrics sites have claimed). I would assume that the lyricist is harking back to a time of greater respect, whilst also maintaining a point of reference local to the bands roots.
One of Smeaton's many achievements, when not tinkering with water wheels, wind mills and steam engines, was the rebuilding of the Eddystone lighthouse, which had previously been destroyed by fire (interestingly enough the previous lighthouse had been made of wood with a dirty great fire on top, who'd have seen that coming) in 1755.
When a new lighthouse was built on the site it was decided to preserve Smeaton's tower and so it was dismantled and reassembled on the Hoe (steady boys) in Plymouth, where it still stands to this day.
Ahem, sorry to have taken up so much of your time.
posted by Hardcore at 12:45 pm
2 Comments:
Did you take that picture hardcore? if so I'm amazed at the steadiness of it as assume the other hand was busy downstairs relieving the excitement of such a lovely lighthouse!
I'm sure there were thoughts of Beyoncé in there as well....
Was a great night Saturday, even if I didn't notice the brick through the window of the last pub we went in! Have a few dodgy pictures taken with my phone that I'll circulate later, nothing to get excited about, unlike lighthouses...
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