Do You Know These Useful Snippets

Who doesn’t like a bit of trivia now and then? You know what I mean. A few useless…..er, I mean useful facts that will give you a “Wow” moment. A “Wow” moment that you will be itching to impress your friends, family and work colleagues with. Now, if that thought isn’t something worth hanging onto, while waiting for lockdown version numero??? to end, then I don’t know what is!!! This post is aptly entitled “do you know these useful snippets” and as the name suggests, the article is packed full of useless……er, I mean useful snippets of mind boggling, facts and boggles!!!

So, strap yourselves in folks. Grab yourself a drink and a bag of munchies. And prepare to be amazed!!!

Do You Know These Useful Snippets

So that I can show how multi talented I am and to also demonstrate how cosmopolitan Chester folk are, not all the trivia snippets are wholly Chester related. Mind you, when you see some of them, you will understand that the snippets could as well apply to Chester as anywhere else.

Yes, there will be a selection of Chester only snippets and some more general ones.

Here goes……

Do You Know These Useful Snippets – Let The Boggling Begin!!!

In no particular order of importance or significance.

1. In the 1400s a law was set forth in England that a man was allowed to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb.

Hence we have ‘the rule of thumb.’

How bonkers is that. Even in days gone by. There’s no way this should have even seen the light of day. A definite “don’t try this at home” snippet. Anyway, some more snippets to amaze you.

2. Many years ago in Scotland , a new game was invented. It was ruled ‘Gentlemen Only…Ladies Forbidden‘… and thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.

3. Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history. Namely:

Spades – King David,

Hearts – Charlemagne,

Clubs -Alexander the Great,

Diamonds – Julius Caesar

4. In Shakespeare’s time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase……… ‘goodnight, sleep tight.’

Here’s A Few Specific Chester Related Bogglers

5. In the year 1208 a law was passed in Chester that stated that there cannot be another market within 6 and two thirds miles of Chester Market! This was actually brought into practice in recent years. In 2014 this law was used to prevent a car boot sale being held at Tescos! Not sure how strictly that law is followed though? After all the Countess hold car boot sales and that is well within 6 and two third miles. I suppose the point is, the law exists. Whether it is exercised is another matter. Interesting fact nonetheless.

6. Here’s a real weird one. A Tudor law announced that Welshmen were not allowed in the city of Chester between sunset and sunrise. Another law apparently stated that it was legal to shoot a Welshman with a bow and arrow within the city walls after midnight. There is no record of this law ever having been repealed!

Does this mean then that the last bus to Saltney timetable needs to be revisited?

The Term Gee Gees

7. Chester’s racecourse, the Roodee, is Britain’s oldest sporting venue currently in continual use. The very first race took place way back in 1539. This replaced the particularly violent and bloody traditional local football game which was played there. The alternative of horse racing was thought up by the Mayor, Henry Gee. It is thought that this is where the term ‘gee-gees’ (to refer to horses), comes from.

8. Our Roman amphitheatre is the largest in the country. Back in the day when in use, it had seating for as many as 7000 spectators.

9. No doubt so many of us walk along The Rows without a thought of its history. But, did you know our famous covered walkways have existed since at least the 13th century. They are completely unique not only in Britain but anywhere in the world. We should be so proud of this.

And A Few More General Snippets To Boggle You

10. It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride’s father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink.

Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month, which we know today as the honeymoon.

11. In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts…

So in old England , when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them ‘Mind your pints and quarts, and settle down.’

It’s where we get the phrase ‘mind your P’s and Q’s‘

12. Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim or handle of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service.

‘Wet your whistle‘ is the phrase inspired by this practice.

13. In 1696, William III of England introduced a property tax that required those living in houses with more than six windows to pay a levy. In order to avoid the tax, house owners would brick up all windows except six. (The Window Tax lasted until 1851, and older houses with bricked-up windows are still a common sight in the U.K.) As the bricked-up windows prevented some rooms from receiving any sunlight, the tax was referred to as “daylight robbery”!

Do You Know These Useful Snippets – You Do Now

I hope you liked reading this “Do You Know These Useful Snippets” post. A bit of lighthearted fun for Christmas. As we all know, this Christmas is going to be so much different. We all need to make the most of the situation. And if we do that, I’m sure we will still have an enjoyable time.

One thing to mention. Even though our own Christmas plans may be in disarray, take some time to think about the elderly and the lonely this Christmas. If you know of anyone on their own, give them a ring if you have their number. If you haven’t, is there any way you can show that you are thinking about them in a safe and socially distanced way?

Take care everyone. Have a lovely Christmas in the best way you can. Stay safe one and all. Roll on the New Year and better days ahead.

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