Friday 25 March 2016


I always think of Greenwich and the Maritime Museum as an outing for a sunny day but it didn't look as if there were going to be any sunny days before the Pepys exhibition closed. So yesterday afternoon found me sitting on a damp step with my lunch from the man who makes panzerotti on Greenwich market. Today, of course, turned out sunny and would have been a lovely day for it.
Samuel Pepys is my all-time favourite historical character. How can you resist a man who has the presence of mind to bury his Parmesan cheese as London burns? When I started out working in London, it always pleased me to think that I was walking in his footsteps every day.
The exhibition was lively and I enjoyed it, though it was a shame that the diaries can't be loaned. But I hadn't realised that Pepys also kept a diary during his months in Tangier - and that was on display. He still had an eye for the ladies - and for the spiders.
I also liked the copy of the memorial to his wife in St Olave's - she looks as if she's been captured in full flow of conversation ... it must have been a lively house.



I hadn't realised that they were married at St Margaret's, Westminster in 1655. I wandered in there a couple of weeks ago and was struck by the wonderful window commemorating the betrothal of Catherine of Aragon to Henry VIII -and quite astonished that it survived divorce/revolution/blitz. But nice to think of Pepys and Elizabeth kneeling there at the altar - and I hope he didn't misbehave with the bridesmaids. Or at least didn't get caught. (The image is a 19th century watercolour. You'll see it better if you click on it.)

13 comments:

Val said...

Lovely post
you may find this site interesting (and you may already know of it) :o)
http://www.pepysdiary.com/

mary said...

Thank you, Val, I'm glad you liked it. I think I have come across that site before - it's brilliant, isn't it?
Hope you're having a happy Easter in Alaska and better weather for it than we're having in London!

Val said...

We're at 5 C and foggy and No Snow...most odd, but at least it's not raining (We're having a very warm Winter...but you never know perhaps we may have an early Spring)
Have a lovely Easter!

mary said...

We're having your share of rain, Val - chucking it down. Your cat looks like Bagpuss!

Val said...

Bagpuss ..you know he does doesn't he ...lol now we just need the mice to be musical !
(actually we just need the cat to catch them)

GSGreatEscaper said...

When I read your blog I cry because I don't live in London. Thanks for these peeps into your wanderings and wonderings.

mary said...

I'm glad you enjoy it - but don't cry! - and hope you're having a happy Easter.

Pam said...

Oh, oh, a Pepys exhibition! And we've missed it. Sigh.

mary said...

Sorry, Pam - I 'd been meaning to go for ages and only managed it at the last minute.

Cosy Books said...

After my first trip to London I bought a copy of The Concise Pepys within a couple of days of being home. It's one of those books I've always meant to read all the way through but usually dip in and out of when dusting the bookshelves. As for those bridesmaids...bet it was an 'on guard' sort of day, poor things.

mary said...

Even the Concise one is quite long, Darlene - but I did read it all the way though, many years ao, and still dip in occasionally -like you say, when dusting the bookshelves! Rare occurrence here!

Sunday Taylor said...

I would love to see this exhibition. I have claire Tomalin's biography of Samuel Pepys and it is now time to read it. I remember it received glowing reviews. Love the story of burying the parmesan!

mary said...

I had that biography on my shelf for ages, Sunday, years probably, and didn't get started because it was literally so heavy - not a handbag book! - but eventually I got round to it and really enjoyed it.