Yes, I saw this too and meant to share it. Thanks @ThorNogson
I think the address for tickets is here: https://www.telegraphhillfestival.org.uk/events/guest-event-the-brockley-jack-whalebone/
I stumbled on a number of references to the Brockley Jack Whalebone a few years ago and it tickled my curiosity more than a little.
I raised the matter with a former resident of Forest Hill, Paolo Viscardi, formerly of the Horniman Museum and now natural history keeper at National Museum of Ireland – Natural History also known as The Dead Zoo in Dublin as to whether he knew anything of it or its provenance. He said, regrettably, he had never had the opportunity to examine it during his time in Forest Hill.
’Tis to be wondered what details might emerge along with historic tales of highwaymen and trade in London in the early 1800’s .
With the imperfect memory I have, is it possible there is some historic accuracy The Brockley Jack or it’s predecessor The Castle was formerly frequented by Dick Turpin and other highwaymen?
Indeed, at least according to legend.
I understand that before it was called The Brockley Jack, there was a pub called The Castle that was frequented by Dick Turpin and others.
There’s a great collection of old images of this pub on this site:
Did anyone go to the talk last week?
I would love to hear any comments if you did.
(I didn’t, but would love to have gone)
I will have to ask @4threserve whether there are any published notes on the content that was covered in the talk, or if not whether they will consider uploading an outline here or somewhere.
I went and it was very informative. Great overlap of zoology and local history. The whale bone is a shoulder blade of a northern right whale, as confirmed by the chief cetacean specialist, in person, from NHM - so, even though it is in poor condition, it is a very rare and valued specimen. How exactly the bone got to be in Crofton Park is not clear but seems likely connected to landlord of renamed pub (who was called Jack) who used it as the pub sign.
Was fascinated to learn that London at the time was the principal whaling port in the world, so there was plenty of re-use of bones for fence posts and the like. Greenland dock would have been a very smelly place indeed.
I do have some notes but would be better to get 4th Reserve permission for that I think.
Thanks, that’s brilliant.
I love the possibility the landlord was called Jack.
Funnily enough, as part of my research on the speculation that Lewisham’s own Brian Annesley inadvertently influenced the process of rewriting King Leir to King Lear, I discovered an early reference to Jack and the Beanstalk in King Lear.
And right up till this very minute I never thought of it’s resonance with the name Brockley Jack, even though it is not a causal connection whatsoever.
But for me as a psychogeographer (in addition and separate to a ‘serious’ interest in local history) this is pure gold. Accordingly I will update my notes.
Many thanks.
Hi Andrew, happy to send you slides from the talk and other whalebone related stuff. Since the talk we’ve been in positive discussions with Crofton Park Library so subject to raising the funds for an appropriate cabinet and installation it will be back on public display. The timing is hard to estimate as the funds are essential but not many donations to the link.