The art (and politics) of laundry

I’ve used Flickr a lot less since Pinterest came along, but it’s worth remembering that in addition to photos, Flickr is home to some incredible archives. I recently came across the Boston Public Library photostream which contains scans of the most amazing historical artwork, ephemera, advertising posters and photography.

You can spend hours getting lost in the collection but I picked out this little selection of nineteenth century laundry adverts. Feminists are advised to look away now!

{all Boston Public Library}

Dare I ask who does the laundry in your house?!

Postman’s Park

Hidden just a stone’s throw from St Paul’s Cathedral and surrounded by investment banks is one of London’s secret sights. Postman’s Park is a green oasis on the site of a former burial ground and home to the George Frederic Watt’s Memorial to Heroic Self-sacrifice. A bit of a mouthful, the memorial is a collection of beautifully painted tiles commemorating ordinary people who died saving the lives of others.

The concise yet poetic language with which the heart-wrenching tales are told is really touching and strangely compelling. Some of the stories described could be from yesterday’s newspapers, while others are a historical snapshot of the hazards of living and working in Victorian London.

{all Decorator’s Notebook}

If you’re in the St Paul’s area with a few minutes to spare the memorial is definitely worth a visit. It’s one of those London sites that not many people know is there so feels extra special. Read more about Postman’s Park here and find it between Little Britain, Angel Street and King Edward St.

Do you have any favourite ‘secret’ London sights?

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You might also like these posts:

The time I went foraging for mushrooms on Wimbledon Common

Meet dinosaurs, pigs and a headless lady in Crystal Palace Park

I is for Insects

You would need to have been walking around the internet with your eyes closed to have missed the trend for all things anatomical, botanical and entomological (try saying that after a couple of gins) seeping into interiors. That’s why I’m dedicating the letter ‘i’ in my Pinterest A-Z to the weird and wonderful world of insects….

{Marie Nichols via Pinterest}

{That Kind of Woman via Pinterest}

{Lou Rota via Pinterest}

{Kari Herer via Pinterest}

{Signe Pling via Pinterest}

Don’t forget, you can tap into daily inspiration from Decorator’s Notebook by following me on Pinterest. Click here to view my boards or hit the red button in the sidebar.

Bon Weekend!