Monday, June 6, 2011

Twitter Ye Not - Robert Peel


Twitter Ye Not - Robert Peel

A regular piece for a certain national newspaper about how figures in history might have twittered or tweeted or whatever, had they the chance, inclination and technology.

On the 19 July 1829 Robert Peel's Metropolitan Police Act was passed, establishing a force of 1,000 constables, armed with wooden truncheons and rattles. Peel's London Metropolitan is regarded as the first modern police force. The Twitter feed for that time has now been released for the first time.

I have shown an irate bobby (or peeler, both nicknames in honour of Robert Peel), truncheon in hand. On the other side is an East End floosie/ doxie/ magdalen/ street-walker/ lady of the night/ tart, etc, showing a bit of ankle to the hapless law-enforcer (Outrageous!). She is based in part on Nancy from Dicken's Oliver Twist, which was set around this time. Between them stands a rather squat rendition of Nicholas Hawksmoor's elegent baroque masterpiece, Christchurch Spital-fields. Sorry Nick!

Anyone know what the object behind her is?

1 comment:

Sidsaucer said...

Is that a mounting block to assist passengers boarding a horse, coach or cab?