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Devil Places
There are countless places in the world named after the Devil (and variations of an evil one in other words and languages). If variations are added such as “Satan,” “Lucifer,” and “Diablo,” for example, the list is massive. Devil places sometimes owe their names to the geology. The features of these places may create a spooky and foreboding feeling that reinforces the local legends of the places being cursed, evil or enchanted.
These places have historically or very recently been associated with spirits, magic, strange phenomenon and/or death. In the U.S., many sacred places of indigenous peoples were renamed by the more puritanical sort as “devil” places in order to demonize the past (and previous spiritual beliefs). Devil places are particularly ubiquitous in New England, where the Puritans started their renaming. The rocky landscape gave them plenty of impetus. They truly believed Satan was about, ready to steal their souls. They considered Indian deities to be demons or devils. Spots where shamans would gather or practice might have been a place of geological uniqueness and were given a bad name by the newcomers.
Connecticut might be nicknamed the devil’s playground with some 34 place names including five Devil’s Dens, four Backbones, two Kitchens and a Dripping Pan, as well as a Hell Hole and two Satan’s Kingdoms. Massachusetts is the most devilish state, with 43 place names. Arizona is chock full of “devil” and “hell” names due to the hellishly hot weather suitable for demons.
Satan’s Kingdom
Legends say that Satan himself claimed the area now called Satan’s Kingdom in New Hartford, Connecticut as his own until the angel Gabriel decided the area was too idyllic and cleared out the dark lord and his band of demons. In Vermont, Satans Kingdom got its name supposedly because the settlers who expected fertile land got difficult rocks and hills instead. In Massachusetts, settlers came into the area in the 1670’s during King Philip’s War, where native villagers defended their land. The rough terrain and dangerous wildlife made it difficult for the settler-colonialists to conquer.
The Northern Cascades National park in Washington is very much a hellscape. The Backpacker.com site says of a hiking trail there: “The devil looms large on this rugged loop—you’ll pass Devils Creek, Pass, Park, Junction, and Dome—and you may curse like Satan during the initial 3,300-foot, 4-mile climb to McMillan Park”.
As you will see in this collection of Devilish places, they commonly are places of remarkable features, desolation, or treacherous traversing.
In 2013, Jonathan Hull did a map of US places with Devil-related names. Though many locations received their names from attributes other than geologically related ones, he noted that Devil-named areas often indicated a dangerous, extreme, or remote place. Sadly, I can’t find the full-scale map online anymore.
This is the best version I could find of Hull’s map.While my collection is woefully incomplete, I did pick some notable Devil-named locations with geological connections. Several of these warrant their own pages on the site. Click on the titles to head to these pages:
Devil’s Tower
An iconic volcanic feature in the Black Hills of Wyoming was known as being the location in the culminating scene in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It has become a draw for not only sci-fi enthusiasts but also UFO chasers and New Age believers.Devil’s Den
To gain this place name, the location usually has stark, huge rock boulders or outcrops, often with caves and crevasses. Several famous locations exist in the U.S. where not only supposedly spirits but also people used as hiding places.Devil’s Hole
A depression or cave often containing water that has gained a reputation of being deadly, a path to the underworld, or bottomless. (Or all three together). The most famous being the Devil’s Hole of Death Valley, a bizarre oasis in the desert.Devil’s Kitchen
Scenic locations characterized by their impressive geological features that suggest something evil is cooking.Devil’s Gate
A cleft or gorge that is considered a dangerous area for natural or supernatural reasons.Devil’s Punchbowl
Bowl-shaped depressions of various sizes that stand out from the landscape and may look as if they have been deliberately created for or from a nefarious action.Some lesser known locations with ‘Devil’ names are just as curious. Their oddness prompted locals to bestow upon them an accursed name.
Devils Head Rock, North CarolinaThree locations in Pennsylvania have the name Devil’s Potato Patch to designate boulder fields. One is between Danielsville and Little Gap in Northampton County, just west of the Blue Mtn ski area off the Appalachian Trail. This is an otherwise featureless field of sandstone blocks resulting from frost action that broke up the ridge-forming rock. It is on State Game Lands and, like other boulder fields, is treacherous to traverse and home to sunning snakes. Another Patch is located on the border of Lebanon and Lancaster County near Brickerville. This “river” of diabase boulders is a wooded and graffiti-strewn, neglected and full of various hazards like trash, bottles, and poison ivy. The third is in Salford Township, Montgomery County, where the boulders of diabase will ring when hammered.
Another “Tater Patch” is a windy ridge with spooky twisted trees in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of Tennessee/ N. Carolina.
Similar to these rocky landscapes is the Devil’s Marbleyard of the James River Face Wilderness, in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Natural Bridge Station, Virginia. The Virginia Trail Guide describes it thusly:
“…looks like an immense stone mountain exploded and collapsed into thousands of boulders of every shape and size.”
Australia also has the Devil’s Marbles, a scattered array of large granite boulders in a 4500-acre area of the Northern Territory which was the traditional land of the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Alyawarra and Warlpiri people. They call it “Karlu Karlu”. The rocks are set precariously and have been chemically and physically weathered into rounded shapes. One legend says the natives thought these were the eggs of the rainbow serpent. But the official management plan for the reserve explains the traditional origin:
The whole area of the reserve is known as Ayleparrarntenhe, which is also the name of the place of origin and final resting place of Arrange, the Devil Man—a twin-peaked hill to the east of the reserve. Traditional Owners tell the story of how the Marbles came into being:
Arrange, the Devil Man, came from Ayleparrarntenhe and travelled through the area. During his journey, he was making a hair belt (as worn by initiated men). Twirling the hair into strings, Arrange dropped clusters of hair on the ground. These turned into the Karlu Karlu boulders that can be seen today. On his way back, Arrange spat on the ground. His spit also turned into the granite boulders which dot the central part of the reserve. Arrange finally returned to his place of origin, Ayleparrarntenhe.
Removal or desecration (even climbing) of the rocks and smaller rocks of nearby Devil’s Pebbles (Kunjarra) is said to bring bad luck to the tribes.
Several rocky areas are also called Devil’s Garden with unique vegetation or none at all. The Devil’s Garden portion of Arches National Park in Moab, Utah features “arches, spires, and a large concentration of narrow rock walls called “fins”. The fins are the result of erosion along parallel fractures.
Devil’s Garden, UtahA section of the High Lava Plains of central Oregon is a kipuka (an area isolated by surrounding lava flows) also known by this name. It was formed from fissure eruptions of basalt.
The Devil’s Playground is not your typical place of joy and laughter, but a grouping of granitic rock features weathered into fantastic forms and eerie shapes. A Tertiary-age (approximately 38 million years old) granitic intrusion overlying Paleozoic (400 to 300 million years old) sedimentary rocks is known as the Emigrant Pass pluton.
Devils Playground, UtahThe deadly Devil’s Playground in the Mohave Desert of California was the nickname pinned on a 17-mile stretch of drifting sand that had neither a track to follow nor water to drink.
In Tennessee, near vertical bedding produces huge rock formations that look like fins (or teeth) protrude from the Southwest flank of Cumberland Mountain known as the Devil’s Racetrack. Hikers and climbers must watch for falls from these rocks.
The Devil’s Race Course is a boulder field in Dauphin County, PA. Rock outcrops along the ridges provided the now rounded boulders. Stream flow from Rattling Run has washed away all the finer sediment. Sometimes the stream can be heard under river of rock. Legend has it that the area’s early settlers believed the sound of the water was the devil running through the depths of hell.
Devil’s Racecourse, PAThe term Devil’s Elbow often refers to an obvious and problematic bend in a river or a road. Most notably, in Pulaski County, Missouri, a sharp turn in the river has this unlucky name. Switchback bends along a hillside are constructed to navigate a steep slope. One such tight curve along a road bordering a rock cliff in New York has an associated legend of the vanishing hitchhiker. The road was eventually straightened to avoid mishaps.
The Devil’s Windpipe is a natural chute in the rocks in Arizona. When the wind blows across the hot landscape, it’s said it feels like the breathing of the devil himself. The Devil’s Throat is a remarkable cave in Bulgaria that swallows the Trigrad River where it funnels through the Hall of Thunder. This cave in the Rhodope Mountains is associated with the legend of Orpheus descending into the underworld to look for Eurydice. There is also a large sinkhole called the Devil’s Throat near Lake Mead in Nevada.
Multiple features exist with the name Devil’s Backbone which typically indicates a prominent ridge of rock that looks like a spine or teeth. Iowa has a state park characterized by a narrow and steep ridge of bedrock carved by a loop of the Maquoketa River. The towers, columns and rocky cliffs make for precipitous climbing. Maryland also has a park where a rock ridge 512 feet above sea level was formed by erosion at the confluence of the Antietam and Beaver Creek and is a noted scenic area. A narrow jutting of rock from a ridge forms a distinct “backbone” across the landscape west of Loveland, Colorado. A particularly striking vertical wall of dark andesite about 1,000 feet long exists within the volcanic crater of Crater Lake, Oregon. The dike was formed when molten lava filled cracks as it forced its way upwards and then solidified. Erosion of the surrounding material has left the resistant material standing. The Illinois “Backbone” is a rocky landmark on a ridge in the Grand Tower area. The rapids near here were supposedly very dangerous and native legends evil spirits were responsible. Nearby is the Devil’s Bake Oven – a nearly 100’ rock on the edge of the river where folklorists have documented ghostly visions and sounds.
Devil’s Backbone, Loveland CO.About 80,000 to 100,000 years ago in eastern California, basaltic lava gushed from fissures and formed a lake within a glacial-formed valley some 400 feet deep. The lava cooled slowly, forming the hexagonal columnar structure that is so striking (also present in Devil’s Tower and Giant’s Causeway), resembling a pile of posts. Thus, it’s called the Devils Postpile. Glaciers smoothed and scarred the top of the formation. Devils Postpile (no apostrophe – which is the case with most official U.S. “devil” monuments) is now a national monument. A Little Devils Postpile exists in Yosemite.
Devils Postpile National MonumentDevils Lake in Wisconsin, part of a state park, is situated in a deep chasm formed by glacial action. It has no visible inlet or outlet. The lake was originally called “Sacred Lake” or “Spirit Lake” by the natives who considered it sacred where voices of the spirits could be heard. Glacial striations mark the rock surfaces around the lake and there are Native effigy mounds nearby. The lake has spooky legends of a phantom canoer, and lake monster, and some stories say the natives considered it a “place of many dead”.
A similar lake exists in North Dakota, also in a closed basin and also renamed from the Natives’ interpretation of “Spirit Lake”. This lake has been plagued with flooding problems.
Seven Devils Lake is a small reservoir in South Arkansas, located about 14 miles (23 km) out of Monticello. The Lake is formed by Seven Devils Dam. The area got its name from a man who was trapped in the area for days and finally made it out. A reporter asked if he found the rumored seven lakes of the area, but the man stated that there were not seven lakes, but seven devils. This area is the most northern point west of the Mississippi River where American alligators can be found.
Many bare mountain summits are named for their stark barrenness. Several rocky scenic outlooks called Devil’s Knobs are recognized around the world. There are many places called Devil’s Peak often referring to an imposing, rocky mount. Such peaks are in Cape Town in South Africa, Hong Kong, Flanders Range in Australia, Soda Springs, California, Santa Barbara, California, and in Nevada. A location in Baja, California has the Spanish name Picacho del Diablo and is also known as the Cerro de la Encantada or “Hill of the Enchanted”. It is a ragged granite summit that makes for a popular but challenging climb.
Mount Diablo in Contra Costa, California is awash with legends and has a reputation as a strange place. Now a state park, it was historically an important landmark for mapping and navigation because of its visibility and location. It is a geological anomaly, part of a thrust fault complex, growing higher every year due to compression of tectonic plates. Native tribes have various legends about it included the mountain as a point of creation. A notable legend of how the mountain got its name was from a misinterpretation of “Monte del Diablo” meaning “thicket of the devil” after several Natives escaped from the Spanish in 1805 into a nearby thicket. Not long after, the name was interpreted to mean a place of evil spirits. It’s not clear if this name was derived from a genuine tradition of spooky happenings in the area and there have been several attempts to rename the mountain to shake off the diabolical reputation. Author Loren Coleman writes that many unusual incidents have occurred in the Mount Diablo area, appropriate for its reputation, including sightings of black panthers (a difficult-to-explain animal that is reported all too regularly), mysterious lights, apparitions and even a claim of a live frog found in a stony concretion.
West Face of Mount Diablo and Highway 24. By Trurl66 – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5526277So-called Devil’s bathtubs are deep spots in a creek popular with visitors looking to cool off. In Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio, water falls from rock ledges into the stream where the water swirls into a bowl-shaped gorge. People told stories of this being as deep as hell. The pockets and tunnels were formed from scouring glacial meltwaters thousands of years ago.
In Scott County, Virginia, the Bathtub is a scour pool in the Devil’s Fork of Stony Creek. It’s not the easiest spot to get to and the water is far from hot. Many photos of the location have circulated on social media but these seem to be from the Ohio location, or from some other feature entirely, leading many to be disappointed when they reach this particular tub. The overabundance of visitors prompted by social media has caused local problems and threaten the natural area. The South Dakota version of the devil’s tub is much more secluded. With high rocky cliffs nearby, the water cascades in a chute called “the slide” and swirls into the tub.
According to Wikipedia, there are no less than 105 different locations of the Devil’s Canyon in the United States alone including Utah, Oklahoma, and California. Areas with this designation are typically steep, remote, and have plentiful snakes as residents. In Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico, Devil’s Canyon, so far as anyone knows, is so named because of the pinnacles – needles and balanced rocks that form the canyon walls and resemble distorted human forms. A 2017 TV show called “Devil’s Canyon” is based in British Columbia. It is the story of three gold prospectors seeking treasure in the canyon where they believe large deposits have escaped exploitation by big mining companies. But the rough, isolated terrain, bad weather, and wild animals make it an unforgiving location to explore.
A rock formation where the lower strata is more eroded and weathered leaving a larger slab perched precipitously on top are called “tea tables”. Such formations are a variety of hoodoo. Notable examples of Devil’s Tea Tables exist in Athens County, Ohio and in Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest. These features appear to lean in every direction, so whatever side you view it from, it looks like it will fall on you. A tea table feature in McConnelsville, Ohio collapsed in 1906. Explorers who came across the gravity-defying features often attributed their origin to supernatural forces.
Devils Tea Table, McConnelsvilleNot necessarily natural are the standing stones in North Yorkshire, England, called Devils Arrows. Legend has it that the Devil himself threw the stones into the ground as arrows to attack Christians in Aldborough but they fell short. The prehistoric monuments likely were constructed as part of a ritual landscape. Similarly, the Devil’s Quoits in Stanton Harcourt are also part of a Neolithic-age stone circle. The legend here is “the Devil once played quoits (a game) with a beggar for his soul or, alternatively, that it was a Sunday and God rebuked him whereby he flung the stones in anger. Many stone circles and henges in the UK remain imbued with New Age and mystical significance.
The most famous Devil’s Gulch, in Garretson, South Dakota, is rife with legends. This 18-20 foot chasm across blocks of quartzite is said to have obtained its name from strange noises made by the winds as they blow through. Split Rock Creek below is associated with a “bottomless pit” in the stream bed. (If it’s bottomless, how does the stream flow over it?) A Native tale tells a different origin story. They called it “Spirit Canyon” and that it was formed when two warriors fought. When the spirit warrior’s tomahawk hit the ground, it split the land forming the gulch. But the most famous legend, now marked on the spot, is that outlaw Jesse James made a getaway by leaping the gap on his horse. The location is now a park and also has Devil’s Falls and the Devil’s Stairway nearby.
When Satan needs a rest, he chooses Devils Throne, a summit in Idaho County, Idaho. It forms part of the Seven Devils Mountains. Or the Devil’s Chair in San Gabriel Mountains is part of the Devil’s Punchbowl.
What is really haunting the Devil’s Swamp in Scotlandville, Louisiana are nasty chemicals that have been poured into it, destroying the ecosystem over the years leaving ghosts of those animals (and people) dead from pollution. Beware when visiting this toxic stew. The Seven Devils Swamp natural area in Arkansas, however, is a healthy and diverse ecosystem.
Part of the Craters of the Moon National monument, Idaho, Devil’s Orchard has trees and vegetation growing from the flood basalt lava flows of the Snake River Plain volcanic province. The Orchard is a group of lava-transported cinder cone fragments that were once part of the North Crater cinder cone but broke off and were carried away by a new lava flow. The place is described as “otherworldly” with the black rocks providing no shade. Shoshone legend speaks of a serpent on a mountain who, angered by lightning, coiled around and squeezed the mountain until liquid rock flowed, fire shot from cracks, and the mountain exploded. Craters of the Moon National Monument was proclaimed on May 2, 1924 by U.S. President Calvin Coolidge to “preserve the unusual and weird volcanic formations”
Devil’s Orchard, IdahoIn the Big South Fork National River and Recreation area in Kentucky/Tennessee, legend has it that a band of brothers looking for salt drilled a well so deep that it hit oil. They became concerned that the well was so deep, it might reach Hell. Finally, they did strike something, but instead of salt brine coming out of the ground a black, smelly, sticky liquid came oozing out of the pipe. These explorers did not know what oil was, and since they were of a religious nature, they were disturbed about the new-found product. When they saw how this black substance burned, they called it Devil’s Tar. One of the crew was sent downstream with a sample but his raft overturned at the rapids. Later, he told the story that the devil himself, angry at the invasion of his domain, leaped from one of the rocks onto the raft sinking it. The rapids were named the Devils Jump.
Two other Devil’s Jumps occur in England. Three little hills near Frensham are said to have been thrown up by the Devil taking three enormous leaps. The Devil’s Jumps in Churt, county of Surrey, (also known as Devil’s Three Jumps) are a series of three small hills made of “ironstone” making them resistant to erosion. The devil made his mark all around this area, according to legend, as several local landmarks play into the story of his visit. For example, the tale goes that Devil made off with the cauldron of the witch, Mother Ludlam. As she chased him, the Devil’s leaps kicked up hills now known as the Devil’s Jumps. He left the cauldron on Kettlebury Hill and also left a valley known as the Devil’s Punch Bowl.
Another tale tells that the Devil amused himself by leaping from the top of each hill to the next. This annoyed the god Thor who picked up a boulder and threw it at the Devil, causing him to flee. The boulder remains at Devil’s Jumps. The same story is told of the Devil’s Jumps near Treyford on the South Downs in West Sussex though these are barrows upon which the Devil jumped. Other round barrows in Stoughton are also called the Devil’s humps.
Similar to the Jumps are the Devils Footprints – grassy meadows that top some peaks in the Appalachian mountains, particularly in the Great Smoky Mountains. These peaks, also called “balds” are where trees won’t grow, legendarily because the devil himself stepped there. More realistic theories are that the treeless patches are the result of past clearing, animal grazing or burning. Or that the soil, climate, or biota prevents trees from growing. It’s not clear why some summits are bald where others are not.
Apparent “footprints” in rock appear at Devils Foot Rock. Many colorful tales are told of the Devil himself leaving the prints as he pursued maidens or stomped in frustration.
Devil’s Promenade in extreme southwestern Missouri is the site of a regionally noted “spook light”. The locals named the four-mile-long gravel road on the border between southwestern Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma west of the small town of Hornet, Missouri. Hornet is famous for the Hornet Spooklight (also called the Joplin spooklight) – a seemingly unexplained light that appears in the distance. Some have explained it as normal lights from cars or trains and others insist it is paranormal in nature. The bridge along the Devil’s Promenade was originally a rickety wooden bridge. Legend had it that “anyone who walked back and forth across the bridge five times (or seven or three depending on who you ask) very slowly and asking for the Devil to appear, he would either answer three questions, grant three wishes or of course, kill you. Again this depends on the version you hear.” A concrete bridge was constructed and the story seems to have diminished. One story of the light’s origin was that it is the Devil swinging his Jack-o-lantern. Other stories, according to the Prarie Ghosts website, says the light represents the spirit of two young Quapaw Indians who died in the area. Another claimed the light was the spirit of an Osage Indian chief who had been beheaded on the Devil’s Promenade. As with many spook light stories, the light represents a torch carried by the ghost as he searches for his missing head. The torch motif also shows up in the version of the legend that a miner is searching in vain for his missing children by lantern light. Tellers of these tales claim that the lights and legends existed in Native lore prior to the construction of this road.
Many impressive masonry structures are named the Devil’s Bridge and have associated lore to go with them. The bridge in Sedona, Arizona, in the Coconino National Forest, is a large natural sandstone arch. In Massachusetts, the Devil’s Bridge is a shallow reef running northwest off the northwest corner of Martha’s Vineyard. This hazard to ships was supposedly created by the mighty giant Moshup. The local Wampanoag tribal history tells the tale:
Moshup was building a bridge to Cuttyhunk with heavy boulders when a giant crab latched onto his foot. In his pain and anger, he gave up leaving a treacherous shoal instead. The area has been the site of several shipwrecks.
In North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest is the Devil’s Courthouse. According to Andrea Lankford:
By bradploeger – originally posted to Flickr as Devil’s Courthouse, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4237496“Cherokees believed an evil spirit [or giant} named Judaculla held court on top of this bare rock summit with a 360 degree view of three states”.
Whiteside Mountain in Jackson County, North Carolina also has a feature of this name. The bare overhanging rock is windy and dangerous.
The Devil’s Apronful cairn consists of a heap of rocks and boulders near Pendle Hill in Lancashire, England. Several natural boulders were used to construct the mound which provides an impressive view both now and back in Bronze Age times. The thousands of rocks of gritstone and sandstone are scattered in a roughly circular area. The area however is mostly limestone. It’s been suggested that the stones were glacial erratics and the stones were gathered by farmers to get them out of the fields. But there are more fantastic origin stories. The Devil was annoyed with people at Clitheroe Castle in the west. To do away with it, he filled an “apron” (quite the visual) with rocks to pitch at them. Most missed and in his rage he dropped the rest on this south side of Pendle Hill, creating Apronful Hill. For the similar Apronful in Yorkshire, the tale is that the Devil was collecting stones in his apron in order to build a bridge or fill in the ravine when his apron string broke (or he tripped) and the stones fell out. The Devil’s Apronful sites were disturbed by curious visitors and looters but are now protected.
The Devil has two “Hopyards”. One is a State Park and public recreation area in East Haddam, Connecticut. There are several ideas about how the place got its curious name. One is that it refers to supernatural origins for the naturally occurring potholes in the area. These potholes were formed by the grinding actions of stones moved downstream by the current when trapped in an eddy, wearing a depression in the rock. To the early settlers the potholes were a great mystery, and as with many “devilish” features, they explained them with references to the supernatural. They thought that the Devil has passed by the falls, accidentally getting his tail wet. This made him so mad he burned holes in the stones with his hooves as he bounded away. A sign in the park tells of the legends regarding the name. Another site with this name is in New Hampshire. This is a boulder-filled ravine where you can sometimes hear water running.
Devil’s Dyke (or ditch) near Bleaklow, in Sussex, England is a deep gully supposedly cut by Satan’s claws when he became enraged at the loss of a prospective soul. Other tales say it is his unfinished ditch as he bet St. Cuthberth he could dig it in one night and flood the town. The tourist-attracting feature is really the result of mass wasting and river erosion into a dip-slope valley. The V-shaped dry valley, the deepest in England, was born from the cold climate of 14,000 years ago when this area of chalk bedrock was covered in snow. During warm seasons, the upper layers of soil and weathered rock slid away with the thaw. Finally, an ancient river carried the material away at the end of the Ice Age. That river is now gone but its valley remains. The high hill showed the surrounding terrain and was used as a defensive position as well as being an impressive location to hold special events. Remains of an Iron Age fort have been found here. The location is managed by the National Trust and is a recreational area. A trail supposedly leads to the alleged burial site of the Devil and his wife. In 1900, a sound called The Howling Terror was heard echoing in the valley. It wasn’t demons but the testing of a new invention called the megaphone being used at the amusement park on the top of the Dyke.
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The information provided here is based on a cursory search of these sites and the entries will be expanded as I discover new source material (or visit them!). Please contact me with your corrections, information (preferably with solid references), and photographs and I will gladly add them to the page. Or, leave your contribution in the comments. Thanks!Book References
Coleman, L. (2001). Mysterious America (Revised edition). Paraview Press.
Lankford, A. (2006). Haunted Hikes. Santa Monica Press.
MORE Devil-related content: Devil’s corkscrew, Going to Hell, Legends of Bottomless pits, Moodus: Place of Bad Noises
#devil #DevilPlaces #DevilSBackbone #DevilSElbow #DevilSGarden #DevilSPlayground #DevilSPostpile #DevilSRacecourse #DevilSWindpipe #DevilsLake #MountDiablo #Satan
https://sharonahill.com/?p=738
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Devil Places
There are countless places in the world named after the Devil (and variations of an evil one in other words and languages). If variations are added such as “Satan,” “Lucifer,” and “Diablo,” for example, the list is massive. Devil places sometimes owe their names to the geology. The features of these places may create a spooky and foreboding feeling that reinforces the local legends of the places being cursed, evil or enchanted.
These places have historically or very recently been associated with spirits, magic, strange phenomenon and/or death. In the U.S., many sacred places of indigenous peoples were renamed by the more puritanical sort as “devil” places in order to demonize the past (and previous spiritual beliefs). Devil places are particularly ubiquitous in New England, where the Puritans started their renaming. The rocky landscape gave them plenty of impetus. They truly believed Satan was about, ready to steal their souls. They considered Indian deities to be demons or devils. Spots where shamans would gather or practice might have been a place of geological uniqueness and were given a bad name by the newcomers.
Connecticut might be nicknamed the devil’s playground with some 34 place names including five Devil’s Dens, four Backbones, two Kitchens and a Dripping Pan, as well as a Hell Hole and two Satan’s Kingdoms. Massachusetts is the most devilish state, with 43 place names. Arizona is chock full of “devil” and “hell” names due to the hellishly hot weather suitable for demons.
Satan’s Kingdom
Legends say that Satan himself claimed the area now called Satan’s Kingdom in New Hartford, Connecticut as his own until the angel Gabriel decided the area was too idyllic and cleared out the dark lord and his band of demons. In Vermont, Satans Kingdom got its name supposedly because the settlers who expected fertile land got difficult rocks and hills instead. In Massachusetts, settlers came into the area in the 1670’s during King Philip’s War, where native villagers defended their land. The rough terrain and dangerous wildlife made it difficult for the settler-colonialists to conquer.
The Northern Cascades National park in Washington is very much a hellscape. The Backpacker.com site says of a hiking trail there: “The devil looms large on this rugged loop—you’ll pass Devils Creek, Pass, Park, Junction, and Dome—and you may curse like Satan during the initial 3,300-foot, 4-mile climb to McMillan Park”.
As you will see in this collection of Devilish places, they commonly are places of remarkable features, desolation, or treacherous traversing.
In 2013, Jonathan Hull did a map of US places with Devil-related names. Though many locations received their names from attributes other than geologically related ones, he noted that Devil-named areas often indicated a dangerous, extreme, or remote place. Sadly, I can’t find the full-scale map online anymore.
This is the best version I could find of Hull’s map.While my collection is woefully incomplete, I did pick some notable Devil-named locations with geological connections. Several of these warrant their own pages on the site. Click on the titles to head to these pages:
Devil’s Tower
An iconic volcanic feature in the Black Hills of Wyoming was known as being the location in the culminating scene in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It has become a draw for not only sci-fi enthusiasts but also UFO chasers and New Age believers.Devil’s Den
To gain this place name, the location usually has stark, huge rock boulders or outcrops, often with caves and crevasses. Several famous locations exist in the U.S. where not only supposedly spirits but also people used as hiding places.Devil’s Hole
A depression or cave often containing water that has gained a reputation of being deadly, a path to the underworld, or bottomless. (Or all three together). The most famous being the Devil’s Hole of Death Valley, a bizarre oasis in the desert.Devil’s Kitchen
Scenic locations characterized by their impressive geological features that suggest something evil is cooking.Devil’s Gate
A cleft or gorge that is considered a dangerous area for natural or supernatural reasons.Devil’s Punchbowl
Bowl-shaped depressions of various sizes that stand out from the landscape and may look as if they have been deliberately created for or from a nefarious action.Some lesser known locations with ‘Devil’ names are just as curious. Their oddness prompted locals to bestow upon them an accursed name.
Devils Head Rock, North CarolinaThree locations in Pennsylvania have the name Devil’s Potato Patch to designate boulder fields. One is between Danielsville and Little Gap in Northampton County, just west of the Blue Mtn ski area off the Appalachian Trail. This is an otherwise featureless field of sandstone blocks resulting from frost action that broke up the ridge-forming rock. It is on State Game Lands and, like other boulder fields, is treacherous to traverse and home to sunning snakes. Another Patch is located on the border of Lebanon and Lancaster County near Brickerville. This “river” of diabase boulders is a wooded and graffiti-strewn, neglected and full of various hazards like trash, bottles, and poison ivy. The third is in Salford Township, Montgomery County, where the boulders of diabase will ring when hammered.
Another “Tater Patch” is a windy ridge with spooky twisted trees in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of Tennessee/ N. Carolina.
Similar to these rocky landscapes is the Devil’s Marbleyard of the James River Face Wilderness, in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Natural Bridge Station, Virginia. The Virginia Trail Guide describes it thusly:
“…looks like an immense stone mountain exploded and collapsed into thousands of boulders of every shape and size.”
Australia also has the Devil’s Marbles, a scattered array of large granite boulders in a 4500-acre area of the Northern Territory which was the traditional land of the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Alyawarra and Warlpiri people. They call it “Karlu Karlu”. The rocks are set precariously and have been chemically and physically weathered into rounded shapes. One legend says the natives thought these were the eggs of the rainbow serpent. But the official management plan for the reserve explains the traditional origin:
The whole area of the reserve is known as Ayleparrarntenhe, which is also the name of the place of origin and final resting place of Arrange, the Devil Man—a twin-peaked hill to the east of the reserve. Traditional Owners tell the story of how the Marbles came into being:
Arrange, the Devil Man, came from Ayleparrarntenhe and travelled through the area. During his journey, he was making a hair belt (as worn by initiated men). Twirling the hair into strings, Arrange dropped clusters of hair on the ground. These turned into the Karlu Karlu boulders that can be seen today. On his way back, Arrange spat on the ground. His spit also turned into the granite boulders which dot the central part of the reserve. Arrange finally returned to his place of origin, Ayleparrarntenhe.
Removal or desecration (even climbing) of the rocks and smaller rocks of nearby Devil’s Pebbles (Kunjarra) is said to bring bad luck to the tribes.
Several rocky areas are also called Devil’s Garden with unique vegetation or none at all. The Devil’s Garden portion of Arches National Park in Moab, Utah features “arches, spires, and a large concentration of narrow rock walls called “fins”. The fins are the result of erosion along parallel fractures.
Devil’s Garden, UtahA section of the High Lava Plains of central Oregon is a kipuka (an area isolated by surrounding lava flows) also known by this name. It was formed from fissure eruptions of basalt.
The Devil’s Playground is not your typical place of joy and laughter, but a grouping of granitic rock features weathered into fantastic forms and eerie shapes. A Tertiary-age (approximately 38 million years old) granitic intrusion overlying Paleozoic (400 to 300 million years old) sedimentary rocks is known as the Emigrant Pass pluton.
Devils Playground, UtahThe deadly Devil’s Playground in the Mohave Desert of California was the nickname pinned on a 17-mile stretch of drifting sand that had neither a track to follow nor water to drink.
In Tennessee, near vertical bedding produces huge rock formations that look like fins (or teeth) protrude from the Southwest flank of Cumberland Mountain known as the Devil’s Racetrack. Hikers and climbers must watch for falls from these rocks.
The Devil’s Race Course is a boulder field in Dauphin County, PA. Rock outcrops along the ridges provided the now rounded boulders. Stream flow from Rattling Run has washed away all the finer sediment. Sometimes the stream can be heard under river of rock. Legend has it that the area’s early settlers believed the sound of the water was the devil running through the depths of hell.
Devil’s Racecourse, PAThe term Devil’s Elbow often refers to an obvious and problematic bend in a river or a road. Most notably, in Pulaski County, Missouri, a sharp turn in the river has this unlucky name. Switchback bends along a hillside are constructed to navigate a steep slope. One such tight curve along a road bordering a rock cliff in New York has an associated legend of the vanishing hitchhiker. The road was eventually straightened to avoid mishaps.
The Devil’s Windpipe is a natural chute in the rocks in Arizona. When the wind blows across the hot landscape, it’s said it feels like the breathing of the devil himself. The Devil’s Throat is a remarkable cave in Bulgaria that swallows the Trigrad River where it funnels through the Hall of Thunder. This cave in the Rhodope Mountains is associated with the legend of Orpheus descending into the underworld to look for Eurydice. There is also a large sinkhole called the Devil’s Throat near Lake Mead in Nevada.
Multiple features exist with the name Devil’s Backbone which typically indicates a prominent ridge of rock that looks like a spine or teeth. Iowa has a state park characterized by a narrow and steep ridge of bedrock carved by a loop of the Maquoketa River. The towers, columns and rocky cliffs make for precipitous climbing. Maryland also has a park where a rock ridge 512 feet above sea level was formed by erosion at the confluence of the Antietam and Beaver Creek and is a noted scenic area. A narrow jutting of rock from a ridge forms a distinct “backbone” across the landscape west of Loveland, Colorado. A particularly striking vertical wall of dark andesite about 1,000 feet long exists within the volcanic crater of Crater Lake, Oregon. The dike was formed when molten lava filled cracks as it forced its way upwards and then solidified. Erosion of the surrounding material has left the resistant material standing. The Illinois “Backbone” is a rocky landmark on a ridge in the Grand Tower area. The rapids near here were supposedly very dangerous and native legends evil spirits were responsible. Nearby is the Devil’s Bake Oven – a nearly 100’ rock on the edge of the river where folklorists have documented ghostly visions and sounds.
Devil’s Backbone, Loveland CO.About 80,000 to 100,000 years ago in eastern California, basaltic lava gushed from fissures and formed a lake within a glacial-formed valley some 400 feet deep. The lava cooled slowly, forming the hexagonal columnar structure that is so striking (also present in Devil’s Tower and Giant’s Causeway), resembling a pile of posts. Thus, it’s called the Devils Postpile. Glaciers smoothed and scarred the top of the formation. Devils Postpile (no apostrophe – which is the case with most official U.S. “devil” monuments) is now a national monument. A Little Devils Postpile exists in Yosemite.
Devils Postpile National MonumentDevils Lake in Wisconsin, part of a state park, is situated in a deep chasm formed by glacial action. It has no visible inlet or outlet. The lake was originally called “Sacred Lake” or “Spirit Lake” by the natives who considered it sacred where voices of the spirits could be heard. Glacial striations mark the rock surfaces around the lake and there are Native effigy mounds nearby. The lake has spooky legends of a phantom canoer, and lake monster, and some stories say the natives considered it a “place of many dead”.
A similar lake exists in North Dakota, also in a closed basin and also renamed from the Natives’ interpretation of “Spirit Lake”. This lake has been plagued with flooding problems.
Seven Devils Lake is a small reservoir in South Arkansas, located about 14 miles (23 km) out of Monticello. The Lake is formed by Seven Devils Dam. The area got its name from a man who was trapped in the area for days and finally made it out. A reporter asked if he found the rumored seven lakes of the area, but the man stated that there were not seven lakes, but seven devils. This area is the most northern point west of the Mississippi River where American alligators can be found.
Many bare mountain summits are named for their stark barrenness. Several rocky scenic outlooks called Devil’s Knobs are recognized around the world. There are many places called Devil’s Peak often referring to an imposing, rocky mount. Such peaks are in Cape Town in South Africa, Hong Kong, Flanders Range in Australia, Soda Springs, California, Santa Barbara, California, and in Nevada. A location in Baja, California has the Spanish name Picacho del Diablo and is also known as the Cerro de la Encantada or “Hill of the Enchanted”. It is a ragged granite summit that makes for a popular but challenging climb.
Mount Diablo in Contra Costa, California is awash with legends and has a reputation as a strange place. Now a state park, it was historically an important landmark for mapping and navigation because of its visibility and location. It is a geological anomaly, part of a thrust fault complex, growing higher every year due to compression of tectonic plates. Native tribes have various legends about it included the mountain as a point of creation. A notable legend of how the mountain got its name was from a misinterpretation of “Monte del Diablo” meaning “thicket of the devil” after several Natives escaped from the Spanish in 1805 into a nearby thicket. Not long after, the name was interpreted to mean a place of evil spirits. It’s not clear if this name was derived from a genuine tradition of spooky happenings in the area and there have been several attempts to rename the mountain to shake off the diabolical reputation. Author Loren Coleman writes that many unusual incidents have occurred in the Mount Diablo area, appropriate for its reputation, including sightings of black panthers (a difficult-to-explain animal that is reported all too regularly), mysterious lights, apparitions and even a claim of a live frog found in a stony concretion.
West Face of Mount Diablo and Highway 24. By Trurl66 – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5526277So-called Devil’s bathtubs are deep spots in a creek popular with visitors looking to cool off. In Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio, water falls from rock ledges into the stream where the water swirls into a bowl-shaped gorge. People told stories of this being as deep as hell. The pockets and tunnels were formed from scouring glacial meltwaters thousands of years ago.
In Scott County, Virginia, the Bathtub is a scour pool in the Devil’s Fork of Stony Creek. It’s not the easiest spot to get to and the water is far from hot. Many photos of the location have circulated on social media but these seem to be from the Ohio location, or from some other feature entirely, leading many to be disappointed when they reach this particular tub. The overabundance of visitors prompted by social media has caused local problems and threaten the natural area. The South Dakota version of the devil’s tub is much more secluded. With high rocky cliffs nearby, the water cascades in a chute called “the slide” and swirls into the tub.
According to Wikipedia, there are no less than 105 different locations of the Devil’s Canyon in the United States alone including Utah, Oklahoma, and California. Areas with this designation are typically steep, remote, and have plentiful snakes as residents. In Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico, Devil’s Canyon, so far as anyone knows, is so named because of the pinnacles – needles and balanced rocks that form the canyon walls and resemble distorted human forms. A 2017 TV show called “Devil’s Canyon” is based in British Columbia. It is the story of three gold prospectors seeking treasure in the canyon where they believe large deposits have escaped exploitation by big mining companies. But the rough, isolated terrain, bad weather, and wild animals make it an unforgiving location to explore.
A rock formation where the lower strata is more eroded and weathered leaving a larger slab perched precipitously on top are called “tea tables”. Such formations are a variety of hoodoo. Notable examples of Devil’s Tea Tables exist in Athens County, Ohio and in Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest. These features appear to lean in every direction, so whatever side you view it from, it looks like it will fall on you. A tea table feature in McConnelsville, Ohio collapsed in 1906. Explorers who came across the gravity-defying features often attributed their origin to supernatural forces.
Devils Tea Table, McConnelsvilleNot necessarily natural are the standing stones in North Yorkshire, England, called Devils Arrows. Legend has it that the Devil himself threw the stones into the ground as arrows to attack Christians in Aldborough but they fell short. The prehistoric monuments likely were constructed as part of a ritual landscape. Similarly, the Devil’s Quoits in Stanton Harcourt are also part of a Neolithic-age stone circle. The legend here is “the Devil once played quoits (a game) with a beggar for his soul or, alternatively, that it was a Sunday and God rebuked him whereby he flung the stones in anger. Many stone circles and henges in the UK remain imbued with New Age and mystical significance.
The most famous Devil’s Gulch, in Garretson, South Dakota, is rife with legends. This 18-20 foot chasm across blocks of quartzite is said to have obtained its name from strange noises made by the winds as they blow through. Split Rock Creek below is associated with a “bottomless pit” in the stream bed. (If it’s bottomless, how does the stream flow over it?) A Native tale tells a different origin story. They called it “Spirit Canyon” and that it was formed when two warriors fought. When the spirit warrior’s tomahawk hit the ground, it split the land forming the gulch. But the most famous legend, now marked on the spot, is that outlaw Jesse James made a getaway by leaping the gap on his horse. The location is now a park and also has Devil’s Falls and the Devil’s Stairway nearby.
When Satan needs a rest, he chooses Devils Throne, a summit in Idaho County, Idaho. It forms part of the Seven Devils Mountains. Or the Devil’s Chair in San Gabriel Mountains is part of the Devil’s Punchbowl.
What is really haunting the Devil’s Swamp in Scotlandville, Louisiana are nasty chemicals that have been poured into it, destroying the ecosystem over the years leaving ghosts of those animals (and people) dead from pollution. Beware when visiting this toxic stew. The Seven Devils Swamp natural area in Arkansas, however, is a healthy and diverse ecosystem.
Part of the Craters of the Moon National monument, Idaho, Devil’s Orchard has trees and vegetation growing from the flood basalt lava flows of the Snake River Plain volcanic province. The Orchard is a group of lava-transported cinder cone fragments that were once part of the North Crater cinder cone but broke off and were carried away by a new lava flow. The place is described as “otherworldly” with the black rocks providing no shade. Shoshone legend speaks of a serpent on a mountain who, angered by lightning, coiled around and squeezed the mountain until liquid rock flowed, fire shot from cracks, and the mountain exploded. Craters of the Moon National Monument was proclaimed on May 2, 1924 by U.S. President Calvin Coolidge to “preserve the unusual and weird volcanic formations”
Devil’s Orchard, IdahoIn the Big South Fork National River and Recreation area in Kentucky/Tennessee, legend has it that a band of brothers looking for salt drilled a well so deep that it hit oil. They became concerned that the well was so deep, it might reach Hell. Finally, they did strike something, but instead of salt brine coming out of the ground a black, smelly, sticky liquid came oozing out of the pipe. These explorers did not know what oil was, and since they were of a religious nature, they were disturbed about the new-found product. When they saw how this black substance burned, they called it Devil’s Tar. One of the crew was sent downstream with a sample but his raft overturned at the rapids. Later, he told the story that the devil himself, angry at the invasion of his domain, leaped from one of the rocks onto the raft sinking it. The rapids were named the Devils Jump.
Two other Devil’s Jumps occur in England. Three little hills near Frensham are said to have been thrown up by the Devil taking three enormous leaps. The Devil’s Jumps in Churt, county of Surrey, (also known as Devil’s Three Jumps) are a series of three small hills made of “ironstone” making them resistant to erosion. The devil made his mark all around this area, according to legend, as several local landmarks play into the story of his visit. For example, the tale goes that Devil made off with the cauldron of the witch, Mother Ludlam. As she chased him, the Devil’s leaps kicked up hills now known as the Devil’s Jumps. He left the cauldron on Kettlebury Hill and also left a valley known as the Devil’s Punch Bowl.
Another tale tells that the Devil amused himself by leaping from the top of each hill to the next. This annoyed the god Thor who picked up a boulder and threw it at the Devil, causing him to flee. The boulder remains at Devil’s Jumps. The same story is told of the Devil’s Jumps near Treyford on the South Downs in West Sussex though these are barrows upon which the Devil jumped. Other round barrows in Stoughton are also called the Devil’s humps.
Similar to the Jumps are the Devils Footprints – grassy meadows that top some peaks in the Appalachian mountains, particularly in the Great Smoky Mountains. These peaks, also called “balds” are where trees won’t grow, legendarily because the devil himself stepped there. More realistic theories are that the treeless patches are the result of past clearing, animal grazing or burning. Or that the soil, climate, or biota prevents trees from growing. It’s not clear why some summits are bald where others are not.
Apparent “footprints” in rock appear at Devils Foot Rock. Many colorful tales are told of the Devil himself leaving the prints as he pursued maidens or stomped in frustration.
Devil’s Promenade in extreme southwestern Missouri is the site of a regionally noted “spook light”. The locals named the four-mile-long gravel road on the border between southwestern Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma west of the small town of Hornet, Missouri. Hornet is famous for the Hornet Spooklight (also called the Joplin spooklight) – a seemingly unexplained light that appears in the distance. Some have explained it as normal lights from cars or trains and others insist it is paranormal in nature. The bridge along the Devil’s Promenade was originally a rickety wooden bridge. Legend had it that “anyone who walked back and forth across the bridge five times (or seven or three depending on who you ask) very slowly and asking for the Devil to appear, he would either answer three questions, grant three wishes or of course, kill you. Again this depends on the version you hear.” A concrete bridge was constructed and the story seems to have diminished. One story of the light’s origin was that it is the Devil swinging his Jack-o-lantern. Other stories, according to the Prarie Ghosts website, says the light represents the spirit of two young Quapaw Indians who died in the area. Another claimed the light was the spirit of an Osage Indian chief who had been beheaded on the Devil’s Promenade. As with many spook light stories, the light represents a torch carried by the ghost as he searches for his missing head. The torch motif also shows up in the version of the legend that a miner is searching in vain for his missing children by lantern light. Tellers of these tales claim that the lights and legends existed in Native lore prior to the construction of this road.
Many impressive masonry structures are named the Devil’s Bridge and have associated lore to go with them. The bridge in Sedona, Arizona, in the Coconino National Forest, is a large natural sandstone arch. In Massachusetts, the Devil’s Bridge is a shallow reef running northwest off the northwest corner of Martha’s Vineyard. This hazard to ships was supposedly created by the mighty giant Moshup. The local Wampanoag tribal history tells the tale:
Moshup was building a bridge to Cuttyhunk with heavy boulders when a giant crab latched onto his foot. In his pain and anger, he gave up leaving a treacherous shoal instead. The area has been the site of several shipwrecks.
In North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest is the Devil’s Courthouse. According to Andrea Lankford:
By bradploeger – originally posted to Flickr as Devil’s Courthouse, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4237496“Cherokees believed an evil spirit [or giant} named Judaculla held court on top of this bare rock summit with a 360 degree view of three states”.
Whiteside Mountain in Jackson County, North Carolina also has a feature of this name. The bare overhanging rock is windy and dangerous.
The Devil’s Apronful cairn consists of a heap of rocks and boulders near Pendle Hill in Lancashire, England. Several natural boulders were used to construct the mound which provides an impressive view both now and back in Bronze Age times. The thousands of rocks of gritstone and sandstone are scattered in a roughly circular area. The area however is mostly limestone. It’s been suggested that the stones were glacial erratics and the stones were gathered by farmers to get them out of the fields. But there are more fantastic origin stories. The Devil was annoyed with people at Clitheroe Castle in the west. To do away with it, he filled an “apron” (quite the visual) with rocks to pitch at them. Most missed and in his rage he dropped the rest on this south side of Pendle Hill, creating Apronful Hill. For the similar Apronful in Yorkshire, the tale is that the Devil was collecting stones in his apron in order to build a bridge or fill in the ravine when his apron string broke (or he tripped) and the stones fell out. The Devil’s Apronful sites were disturbed by curious visitors and looters but are now protected.
The Devil has two “Hopyards”. One is a State Park and public recreation area in East Haddam, Connecticut. There are several ideas about how the place got its curious name. One is that it refers to supernatural origins for the naturally occurring potholes in the area. These potholes were formed by the grinding actions of stones moved downstream by the current when trapped in an eddy, wearing a depression in the rock. To the early settlers the potholes were a great mystery, and as with many “devilish” features, they explained them with references to the supernatural. They thought that the Devil has passed by the falls, accidentally getting his tail wet. This made him so mad he burned holes in the stones with his hooves as he bounded away. A sign in the park tells of the legends regarding the name. Another site with this name is in New Hampshire. This is a boulder-filled ravine where you can sometimes hear water running.
Devil’s Dyke (or ditch) near Bleaklow, in Sussex, England is a deep gully supposedly cut by Satan’s claws when he became enraged at the loss of a prospective soul. Other tales say it is his unfinished ditch as he bet St. Cuthberth he could dig it in one night and flood the town. The tourist-attracting feature is really the result of mass wasting and river erosion into a dip-slope valley. The V-shaped dry valley, the deepest in England, was born from the cold climate of 14,000 years ago when this area of chalk bedrock was covered in snow. During warm seasons, the upper layers of soil and weathered rock slid away with the thaw. Finally, an ancient river carried the material away at the end of the Ice Age. That river is now gone but its valley remains. The high hill showed the surrounding terrain and was used as a defensive position as well as being an impressive location to hold special events. Remains of an Iron Age fort have been found here. The location is managed by the National Trust and is a recreational area. A trail supposedly leads to the alleged burial site of the Devil and his wife. In 1900, a sound called The Howling Terror was heard echoing in the valley. It wasn’t demons but the testing of a new invention called the megaphone being used at the amusement park on the top of the Dyke.
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The information provided here is based on a cursory search of these sites and the entries will be expanded as I discover new source material (or visit them!). Please contact me with your corrections, information (preferably with solid references), and photographs and I will gladly add them to the page. Or, leave your contribution in the comments. Thanks!Book References
Coleman, L. (2001). Mysterious America (Revised edition). Paraview Press.
Lankford, A. (2006). Haunted Hikes. Santa Monica Press.
#devil #devilPlaces #devilsBackbone #devilsElbow #devilsGarden #devilsPlayground #devilsPostpile #devilsRacecourse #devilsWindpipe #devilsLake #mountDiablo #satan
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Devil Places
There are countless places in the world named after the Devil (and variations of an evil one in other words and languages). If variations are added such as “Satan,” “Lucifer,” and “Diablo,” for example, the list is massive. Devil places sometimes owe their names to the geology. The features of these places may create a spooky and foreboding feeling that reinforces the local legends of the places being cursed, evil or enchanted.
These places have historically or very recently been associated with spirits, magic, strange phenomenon and/or death. In the U.S., many sacred places of indigenous peoples were renamed by the more puritanical sort as “devil” places in order to demonize the past (and previous spiritual beliefs). Devil places are particularly ubiquitous in New England, where the Puritans started their renaming. The rocky landscape gave them plenty of impetus. They truly believed Satan was about, ready to steal their souls. They considered Indian deities to be demons or devils. Spots where shamans would gather or practice might have been a place of geological uniqueness and were given a bad name by the newcomers.
Connecticut might be nicknamed the devil’s playground with some 34 place names including five Devil’s Dens, four Backbones, two Kitchens and a Dripping Pan, as well as a Hell Hole and two Satan’s Kingdoms. Massachusetts is the most devilish state, with 43 place names. Arizona is chock full of “devil” and “hell” names due to the hellishly hot weather suitable for demons.
Satan’s Kingdom
Legends say that Satan himself claimed the area now called Satan’s Kingdom in New Hartford, Connecticut as his own until the angel Gabriel decided the area was too idyllic and cleared out the dark lord and his band of demons. In Vermont, Satans Kingdom got its name supposedly because the settlers who expected fertile land got difficult rocks and hills instead. In Massachusetts, settlers came into the area in the 1670’s during King Philip’s War, where native villagers defended their land. The rough terrain and dangerous wildlife made it difficult for the settler-colonialists to conquer.
The Northern Cascades National park in Washington is very much a hellscape. The Backpacker.com site says of a hiking trail there: “The devil looms large on this rugged loop—you’ll pass Devils Creek, Pass, Park, Junction, and Dome—and you may curse like Satan during the initial 3,300-foot, 4-mile climb to McMillan Park”.
As you will see in this collection of Devilish places, they commonly are places of remarkable features, desolation, or treacherous traversing.
In 2013, Jonathan Hull did a map of US places with Devil-related names. Though many locations received their names from attributes other than geologically related ones, he noted that Devil-named areas often indicated a dangerous, extreme, or remote place. Sadly, I can’t find the full-scale map online anymore.
This is the best version I could find of Hull’s map.While my collection is woefully incomplete, I did pick some notable Devil-named locations with geological connections. Several of these warrant their own pages on the site. Click on the titles to head to these pages:
Devil’s Tower
An iconic volcanic feature in the Black Hills of Wyoming was known as being the location in the culminating scene in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It has become a draw for not only sci-fi enthusiasts but also UFO chasers and New Age believers.Devil’s Den
To gain this place name, the location usually has stark, huge rock boulders or outcrops, often with caves and crevasses. Several famous locations exist in the U.S. where not only supposedly spirits but also people used as hiding places.Devil’s Hole
A depression or cave often containing water that has gained a reputation of being deadly, a path to the underworld, or bottomless. (Or all three together). The most famous being the Devil’s Hole of Death Valley, a bizarre oasis in the desert.Devil’s Kitchen
Scenic locations characterized by their impressive geological features that suggest something evil is cooking.Devil’s Gate
A cleft or gorge that is considered a dangerous area for natural or supernatural reasons.Devil’s Punchbowl
Bowl-shaped depressions of various sizes that stand out from the landscape and may look as if they have been deliberately created for or from a nefarious action.Some lesser known locations with ‘Devil’ names are just as curious. Their oddness prompted locals to bestow upon them an accursed name.
Devils Head Rock, North CarolinaThree locations in Pennsylvania have the name Devil’s Potato Patch to designate boulder fields. One is between Danielsville and Little Gap in Northampton County, just west of the Blue Mtn ski area off the Appalachian Trail. This is an otherwise featureless field of sandstone blocks resulting from frost action that broke up the ridge-forming rock. It is on State Game Lands and, like other boulder fields, is treacherous to traverse and home to sunning snakes. Another Patch is located on the border of Lebanon and Lancaster County near Brickerville. This “river” of diabase boulders is a wooded and graffiti-strewn, neglected and full of various hazards like trash, bottles, and poison ivy. The third is in Salford Township, Montgomery County, where the boulders of diabase will ring when hammered.
Another “Tater Patch” is a windy ridge with spooky twisted trees in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of Tennessee/ N. Carolina.
Similar to these rocky landscapes is the Devil’s Marbleyard of the James River Face Wilderness, in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Natural Bridge Station, Virginia. The Virginia Trail Guide describes it thusly:
“…looks like an immense stone mountain exploded and collapsed into thousands of boulders of every shape and size.”
Australia also has the Devil’s Marbles, a scattered array of large granite boulders in a 4500-acre area of the Northern Territory which was the traditional land of the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Alyawarra and Warlpiri people. They call it “Karlu Karlu”. The rocks are set precariously and have been chemically and physically weathered into rounded shapes. One legend says the natives thought these were the eggs of the rainbow serpent. But the official management plan for the reserve explains the traditional origin:
The whole area of the reserve is known as Ayleparrarntenhe, which is also the name of the place of origin and final resting place of Arrange, the Devil Man—a twin-peaked hill to the east of the reserve. Traditional Owners tell the story of how the Marbles came into being:
Arrange, the Devil Man, came from Ayleparrarntenhe and travelled through the area. During his journey, he was making a hair belt (as worn by initiated men). Twirling the hair into strings, Arrange dropped clusters of hair on the ground. These turned into the Karlu Karlu boulders that can be seen today. On his way back, Arrange spat on the ground. His spit also turned into the granite boulders which dot the central part of the reserve. Arrange finally returned to his place of origin, Ayleparrarntenhe.
Removal or desecration (even climbing) of the rocks and smaller rocks of nearby Devil’s Pebbles (Kunjarra) is said to bring bad luck to the tribes.
Several rocky areas are also called Devil’s Garden with unique vegetation or none at all. The Devil’s Garden portion of Arches National Park in Moab, Utah features “arches, spires, and a large concentration of narrow rock walls called “fins”. The fins are the result of erosion along parallel fractures.
Devil’s Garden, UtahA section of the High Lava Plains of central Oregon is a kipuka (an area isolated by surrounding lava flows) also known by this name. It was formed from fissure eruptions of basalt.
The Devil’s Playground is not your typical place of joy and laughter, but a grouping of granitic rock features weathered into fantastic forms and eerie shapes. A Tertiary-age (approximately 38 million years old) granitic intrusion overlying Paleozoic (400 to 300 million years old) sedimentary rocks is known as the Emigrant Pass pluton.
Devils Playground, UtahThe deadly Devil’s Playground in the Mohave Desert of California was the nickname pinned on a 17-mile stretch of drifting sand that had neither a track to follow nor water to drink.
In Tennessee, near vertical bedding produces huge rock formations that look like fins (or teeth) protrude from the Southwest flank of Cumberland Mountain known as the Devil’s Racetrack. Hikers and climbers must watch for falls from these rocks.
The Devil’s Race Course is a boulder field in Dauphin County, PA. Rock outcrops along the ridges provided the now rounded boulders. Stream flow from Rattling Run has washed away all the finer sediment. Sometimes the stream can be heard under river of rock. Legend has it that the area’s early settlers believed the sound of the water was the devil running through the depths of hell.
Devil’s Racecourse, PAThe term Devil’s Elbow often refers to an obvious and problematic bend in a river or a road. Most notably, in Pulaski County, Missouri, a sharp turn in the river has this unlucky name. Switchback bends along a hillside are constructed to navigate a steep slope. One such tight curve along a road bordering a rock cliff in New York has an associated legend of the vanishing hitchhiker. The road was eventually straightened to avoid mishaps.
The Devil’s Windpipe is a natural chute in the rocks in Arizona. When the wind blows across the hot landscape, it’s said it feels like the breathing of the devil himself. The Devil’s Throat is a remarkable cave in Bulgaria that swallows the Trigrad River where it funnels through the Hall of Thunder. This cave in the Rhodope Mountains is associated with the legend of Orpheus descending into the underworld to look for Eurydice. There is also a large sinkhole called the Devil’s Throat near Lake Mead in Nevada.
Multiple features exist with the name Devil’s Backbone which typically indicates a prominent ridge of rock that looks like a spine or teeth. Iowa has a state park characterized by a narrow and steep ridge of bedrock carved by a loop of the Maquoketa River. The towers, columns and rocky cliffs make for precipitous climbing. Maryland also has a park where a rock ridge 512 feet above sea level was formed by erosion at the confluence of the Antietam and Beaver Creek and is a noted scenic area. A narrow jutting of rock from a ridge forms a distinct “backbone” across the landscape west of Loveland, Colorado. A particularly striking vertical wall of dark andesite about 1,000 feet long exists within the volcanic crater of Crater Lake, Oregon. The dike was formed when molten lava filled cracks as it forced its way upwards and then solidified. Erosion of the surrounding material has left the resistant material standing. The Illinois “Backbone” is a rocky landmark on a ridge in the Grand Tower area. The rapids near here were supposedly very dangerous and native legends evil spirits were responsible. Nearby is the Devil’s Bake Oven – a nearly 100’ rock on the edge of the river where folklorists have documented ghostly visions and sounds.
Devil’s Backbone, Loveland CO.About 80,000 to 100,000 years ago in eastern California, basaltic lava gushed from fissures and formed a lake within a glacial-formed valley some 400 feet deep. The lava cooled slowly, forming the hexagonal columnar structure that is so striking (also present in Devil’s Tower and Giant’s Causeway), resembling a pile of posts. Thus, it’s called the Devils Postpile. Glaciers smoothed and scarred the top of the formation. Devils Postpile (no apostrophe – which is the case with most official U.S. “devil” monuments) is now a national monument. A Little Devils Postpile exists in Yosemite.
Devils Postpile National MonumentDevils Lake in Wisconsin, part of a state park, is situated in a deep chasm formed by glacial action. It has no visible inlet or outlet. The lake was originally called “Sacred Lake” or “Spirit Lake” by the natives who considered it sacred where voices of the spirits could be heard. Glacial striations mark the rock surfaces around the lake and there are Native effigy mounds nearby. The lake has spooky legends of a phantom canoer, and lake monster, and some stories say the natives considered it a “place of many dead”.
A similar lake exists in North Dakota, also in a closed basin and also renamed from the Natives’ interpretation of “Spirit Lake”. This lake has been plagued with flooding problems.
Seven Devils Lake is a small reservoir in South Arkansas, located about 14 miles (23 km) out of Monticello. The Lake is formed by Seven Devils Dam. The area got its name from a man who was trapped in the area for days and finally made it out. A reporter asked if he found the rumored seven lakes of the area, but the man stated that there were not seven lakes, but seven devils. This area is the most northern point west of the Mississippi River where American alligators can be found.
Many bare mountain summits are named for their stark barrenness. Several rocky scenic outlooks called Devil’s Knobs are recognized around the world. There are many places called Devil’s Peak often referring to an imposing, rocky mount. Such peaks are in Cape Town in South Africa, Hong Kong, Flanders Range in Australia, Soda Springs, California, Santa Barbara, California, and in Nevada. A location in Baja, California has the Spanish name Picacho del Diablo and is also known as the Cerro de la Encantada or “Hill of the Enchanted”. It is a ragged granite summit that makes for a popular but challenging climb.
Mount Diablo in Contra Costa, California is awash with legends and has a reputation as a strange place. Now a state park, it was historically an important landmark for mapping and navigation because of its visibility and location. It is a geological anomaly, part of a thrust fault complex, growing higher every year due to compression of tectonic plates. Native tribes have various legends about it included the mountain as a point of creation. A notable legend of how the mountain got its name was from a misinterpretation of “Monte del Diablo” meaning “thicket of the devil” after several Natives escaped from the Spanish in 1805 into a nearby thicket. Not long after, the name was interpreted to mean a place of evil spirits. It’s not clear if this name was derived from a genuine tradition of spooky happenings in the area and there have been several attempts to rename the mountain to shake off the diabolical reputation. Author Loren Coleman writes that many unusual incidents have occurred in the Mount Diablo area, appropriate for its reputation, including sightings of black panthers (a difficult-to-explain animal that is reported all too regularly), mysterious lights, apparitions and even a claim of a live frog found in a stony concretion.
West Face of Mount Diablo and Highway 24. By Trurl66 – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5526277So-called Devil’s bathtubs are deep spots in a creek popular with visitors looking to cool off. In Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio, water falls from rock ledges into the stream where the water swirls into a bowl-shaped gorge. People told stories of this being as deep as hell. The pockets and tunnels were formed from scouring glacial meltwaters thousands of years ago.
In Scott County, Virginia, the Bathtub is a scour pool in the Devil’s Fork of Stony Creek. It’s not the easiest spot to get to and the water is far from hot. Many photos of the location have circulated on social media but these seem to be from the Ohio location, or from some other feature entirely, leading many to be disappointed when they reach this particular tub. The overabundance of visitors prompted by social media has caused local problems and threaten the natural area. The South Dakota version of the devil’s tub is much more secluded. With high rocky cliffs nearby, the water cascades in a chute called “the slide” and swirls into the tub.
According to Wikipedia, there are no less than 105 different locations of the Devil’s Canyon in the United States alone including Utah, Oklahoma, and California. Areas with this designation are typically steep, remote, and have plentiful snakes as residents. In Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico, Devil’s Canyon, so far as anyone knows, is so named because of the pinnacles – needles and balanced rocks that form the canyon walls and resemble distorted human forms. A 2017 TV show called “Devil’s Canyon” is based in British Columbia. It is the story of three gold prospectors seeking treasure in the canyon where they believe large deposits have escaped exploitation by big mining companies. But the rough, isolated terrain, bad weather, and wild animals make it an unforgiving location to explore.
A rock formation where the lower strata is more eroded and weathered leaving a larger slab perched precipitously on top are called “tea tables”. Such formations are a variety of hoodoo. Notable examples of Devil’s Tea Tables exist in Athens County, Ohio and in Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest. These features appear to lean in every direction, so whatever side you view it from, it looks like it will fall on you. A tea table feature in McConnelsville, Ohio collapsed in 1906. Explorers who came across the gravity-defying features often attributed their origin to supernatural forces.
Devils Tea Table, McConnelsvilleNot necessarily natural are the standing stones in North Yorkshire, England, called Devils Arrows. Legend has it that the Devil himself threw the stones into the ground as arrows to attack Christians in Aldborough but they fell short. The prehistoric monuments likely were constructed as part of a ritual landscape. Similarly, the Devil’s Quoits in Stanton Harcourt are also part of a Neolithic-age stone circle. The legend here is “the Devil once played quoits (a game) with a beggar for his soul or, alternatively, that it was a Sunday and God rebuked him whereby he flung the stones in anger. Many stone circles and henges in the UK remain imbued with New Age and mystical significance.
The most famous Devil’s Gulch, in Garretson, South Dakota, is rife with legends. This 18-20 foot chasm across blocks of quartzite is said to have obtained its name from strange noises made by the winds as they blow through. Split Rock Creek below is associated with a “bottomless pit” in the stream bed. (If it’s bottomless, how does the stream flow over it?) A Native tale tells a different origin story. They called it “Spirit Canyon” and that it was formed when two warriors fought. When the spirit warrior’s tomahawk hit the ground, it split the land forming the gulch. But the most famous legend, now marked on the spot, is that outlaw Jesse James made a getaway by leaping the gap on his horse. The location is now a park and also has Devil’s Falls and the Devil’s Stairway nearby.
When Satan needs a rest, he chooses Devils Throne, a summit in Idaho County, Idaho. It forms part of the Seven Devils Mountains. Or the Devil’s Chair in San Gabriel Mountains is part of the Devil’s Punchbowl.
What is really haunting the Devil’s Swamp in Scotlandville, Louisiana are nasty chemicals that have been poured into it, destroying the ecosystem over the years leaving ghosts of those animals (and people) dead from pollution. Beware when visiting this toxic stew. The Seven Devils Swamp natural area in Arkansas, however, is a healthy and diverse ecosystem.
Part of the Craters of the Moon National monument, Idaho, Devil’s Orchard has trees and vegetation growing from the flood basalt lava flows of the Snake River Plain volcanic province. The Orchard is a group of lava-transported cinder cone fragments that were once part of the North Crater cinder cone but broke off and were carried away by a new lava flow. The place is described as “otherworldly” with the black rocks providing no shade. Shoshone legend speaks of a serpent on a mountain who, angered by lightning, coiled around and squeezed the mountain until liquid rock flowed, fire shot from cracks, and the mountain exploded. Craters of the Moon National Monument was proclaimed on May 2, 1924 by U.S. President Calvin Coolidge to “preserve the unusual and weird volcanic formations”
Devil’s Orchard, IdahoIn the Big South Fork National River and Recreation area in Kentucky/Tennessee, legend has it that a band of brothers looking for salt drilled a well so deep that it hit oil. They became concerned that the well was so deep, it might reach Hell. Finally, they did strike something, but instead of salt brine coming out of the ground a black, smelly, sticky liquid came oozing out of the pipe. These explorers did not know what oil was, and since they were of a religious nature, they were disturbed about the new-found product. When they saw how this black substance burned, they called it Devil’s Tar. One of the crew was sent downstream with a sample but his raft overturned at the rapids. Later, he told the story that the devil himself, angry at the invasion of his domain, leaped from one of the rocks onto the raft sinking it. The rapids were named the Devils Jump.
Two other Devil’s Jumps occur in England. Three little hills near Frensham are said to have been thrown up by the Devil taking three enormous leaps. The Devil’s Jumps in Churt, county of Surrey, (also known as Devil’s Three Jumps) are a series of three small hills made of “ironstone” making them resistant to erosion. The devil made his mark all around this area, according to legend, as several local landmarks play into the story of his visit. For example, the tale goes that Devil made off with the cauldron of the witch, Mother Ludlam. As she chased him, the Devil’s leaps kicked up hills now known as the Devil’s Jumps. He left the cauldron on Kettlebury Hill and also left a valley known as the Devil’s Punch Bowl.
Another tale tells that the Devil amused himself by leaping from the top of each hill to the next. This annoyed the god Thor who picked up a boulder and threw it at the Devil, causing him to flee. The boulder remains at Devil’s Jumps. The same story is told of the Devil’s Jumps near Treyford on the South Downs in West Sussex though these are barrows upon which the Devil jumped. Other round barrows in Stoughton are also called the Devil’s humps.
Similar to the Jumps are the Devils Footprints – grassy meadows that top some peaks in the Appalachian mountains, particularly in the Great Smoky Mountains. These peaks, also called “balds” are where trees won’t grow, legendarily because the devil himself stepped there. More realistic theories are that the treeless patches are the result of past clearing, animal grazing or burning. Or that the soil, climate, or biota prevents trees from growing. It’s not clear why some summits are bald where others are not.
Apparent “footprints” in rock appear at Devils Foot Rock. Many colorful tales are told of the Devil himself leaving the prints as he pursued maidens or stomped in frustration.
Devil’s Promenade in extreme southwestern Missouri is the site of a regionally noted “spook light”. The locals named the four-mile-long gravel road on the border between southwestern Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma west of the small town of Hornet, Missouri. Hornet is famous for the Hornet Spooklight (also called the Joplin spooklight) – a seemingly unexplained light that appears in the distance. Some have explained it as normal lights from cars or trains and others insist it is paranormal in nature. The bridge along the Devil’s Promenade was originally a rickety wooden bridge. Legend had it that “anyone who walked back and forth across the bridge five times (or seven or three depending on who you ask) very slowly and asking for the Devil to appear, he would either answer three questions, grant three wishes or of course, kill you. Again this depends on the version you hear.” A concrete bridge was constructed and the story seems to have diminished. One story of the light’s origin was that it is the Devil swinging his Jack-o-lantern. Other stories, according to the Prarie Ghosts website, says the light represents the spirit of two young Quapaw Indians who died in the area. Another claimed the light was the spirit of an Osage Indian chief who had been beheaded on the Devil’s Promenade. As with many spook light stories, the light represents a torch carried by the ghost as he searches for his missing head. The torch motif also shows up in the version of the legend that a miner is searching in vain for his missing children by lantern light. Tellers of these tales claim that the lights and legends existed in Native lore prior to the construction of this road.
Many impressive masonry structures are named the Devil’s Bridge and have associated lore to go with them. The bridge in Sedona, Arizona, in the Coconino National Forest, is a large natural sandstone arch. In Massachusetts, the Devil’s Bridge is a shallow reef running northwest off the northwest corner of Martha’s Vineyard. This hazard to ships was supposedly created by the mighty giant Moshup. The local Wampanoag tribal history tells the tale:
Moshup was building a bridge to Cuttyhunk with heavy boulders when a giant crab latched onto his foot. In his pain and anger, he gave up leaving a treacherous shoal instead. The area has been the site of several shipwrecks.
In North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest is the Devil’s Courthouse. According to Andrea Lankford:
By bradploeger – originally posted to Flickr as Devil’s Courthouse, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4237496“Cherokees believed an evil spirit [or giant} named Judaculla held court on top of this bare rock summit with a 360 degree view of three states”.
Whiteside Mountain in Jackson County, North Carolina also has a feature of this name. The bare overhanging rock is windy and dangerous.
The Devil’s Apronful cairn consists of a heap of rocks and boulders near Pendle Hill in Lancashire, England. Several natural boulders were used to construct the mound which provides an impressive view both now and back in Bronze Age times. The thousands of rocks of gritstone and sandstone are scattered in a roughly circular area. The area however is mostly limestone. It’s been suggested that the stones were glacial erratics and the stones were gathered by farmers to get them out of the fields. But there are more fantastic origin stories. The Devil was annoyed with people at Clitheroe Castle in the west. To do away with it, he filled an “apron” (quite the visual) with rocks to pitch at them. Most missed and in his rage he dropped the rest on this south side of Pendle Hill, creating Apronful Hill. For the similar Apronful in Yorkshire, the tale is that the Devil was collecting stones in his apron in order to build a bridge or fill in the ravine when his apron string broke (or he tripped) and the stones fell out. The Devil’s Apronful sites were disturbed by curious visitors and looters but are now protected.
The Devil has two “Hopyards”. One is a State Park and public recreation area in East Haddam, Connecticut. There are several ideas about how the place got its curious name. One is that it refers to supernatural origins for the naturally occurring potholes in the area. These potholes were formed by the grinding actions of stones moved downstream by the current when trapped in an eddy, wearing a depression in the rock. To the early settlers the potholes were a great mystery, and as with many “devilish” features, they explained them with references to the supernatural. They thought that the Devil has passed by the falls, accidentally getting his tail wet. This made him so mad he burned holes in the stones with his hooves as he bounded away. A sign in the park tells of the legends regarding the name. Another site with this name is in New Hampshire. This is a boulder-filled ravine where you can sometimes hear water running.
Devil’s Dyke (or ditch) near Bleaklow, in Sussex, England is a deep gully supposedly cut by Satan’s claws when he became enraged at the loss of a prospective soul. Other tales say it is his unfinished ditch as he bet St. Cuthberth he could dig it in one night and flood the town. The tourist-attracting feature is really the result of mass wasting and river erosion into a dip-slope valley. The V-shaped dry valley, the deepest in England, was born from the cold climate of 14,000 years ago when this area of chalk bedrock was covered in snow. During warm seasons, the upper layers of soil and weathered rock slid away with the thaw. Finally, an ancient river carried the material away at the end of the Ice Age. That river is now gone but its valley remains. The high hill showed the surrounding terrain and was used as a defensive position as well as being an impressive location to hold special events. Remains of an Iron Age fort have been found here. The location is managed by the National Trust and is a recreational area. A trail supposedly leads to the alleged burial site of the Devil and his wife. In 1900, a sound called The Howling Terror was heard echoing in the valley. It wasn’t demons but the testing of a new invention called the megaphone being used at the amusement park on the top of the Dyke.
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The information provided here is based on a cursory search of these sites and the entries will be expanded as I discover new source material (or visit them!). Please contact me with your corrections, information (preferably with solid references), and photographs and I will gladly add them to the page. Or, leave your contribution in the comments. Thanks!Book References
Coleman, L. (2001). Mysterious America (Revised edition). Paraview Press.
Lankford, A. (2006). Haunted Hikes. Santa Monica Press.
#devil #devilPlaces #devilsBackbone #devilsElbow #devilsGarden #devilsPlayground #devilsPostpile #devilsRacecourse #devilsWindpipe #devilsLake #mountDiablo #satan
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Devil Places
There are countless places in the world named after the Devil (and variations of an evil one in other words and languages). If variations are added such as “Satan,” “Lucifer,” and “Diablo,” for example, the list is massive. Devil places sometimes owe their names to the geology. The features of these places may create a spooky and foreboding feeling that reinforces the local legends of the places being cursed, evil or enchanted.
These places have historically or very recently been associated with spirits, magic, strange phenomenon and/or death. In the U.S., many sacred places of indigenous peoples were renamed by the more puritanical sort as “devil” places in order to demonize the past (and previous spiritual beliefs). Devil places are particularly ubiquitous in New England, where the Puritans started their renaming. The rocky landscape gave them plenty of impetus. They truly believed Satan was about, ready to steal their souls. They considered Indian deities to be demons or devils. Spots where shamans would gather or practice might have been a place of geological uniqueness and were given a bad name by the newcomers.
Connecticut might be nicknamed the devil’s playground with some 34 place names including five Devil’s Dens, four Backbones, two Kitchens and a Dripping Pan, as well as a Hell Hole and two Satan’s Kingdoms. Massachusetts is the most devilish state, with 43 place names. Arizona is chock full of “devil” and “hell” names due to the hellishly hot weather suitable for demons.
Satan’s Kingdom
Legends say that Satan himself claimed the area now called Satan’s Kingdom in New Hartford, Connecticut as his own until the angel Gabriel decided the area was too idyllic and cleared out the dark lord and his band of demons. In Vermont, Satans Kingdom got its name supposedly because the settlers who expected fertile land got difficult rocks and hills instead. In Massachusetts, settlers came into the area in the 1670’s during King Philip’s War, where native villagers defended their land. The rough terrain and dangerous wildlife made it difficult for the settler-colonialists to conquer.
The Northern Cascades National park in Washington is very much a hellscape. The Backpacker.com site says of a hiking trail there: “The devil looms large on this rugged loop—you’ll pass Devils Creek, Pass, Park, Junction, and Dome—and you may curse like Satan during the initial 3,300-foot, 4-mile climb to McMillan Park”.
As you will see in this collection of Devilish places, they commonly are places of remarkable features, desolation, or treacherous traversing.
In 2013, Jonathan Hull did a map of US places with Devil-related names. Though many locations received their names from attributes other than geologically related ones, he noted that Devil-named areas often indicated a dangerous, extreme, or remote place. Sadly, I can’t find the full-scale map online anymore.
This is the best version I could find of Hull’s map.While my collection is woefully incomplete, I did pick some notable Devil-named locations with geological connections. Several of these warrant their own pages on the site. Click on the titles to head to these pages:
Devil’s Tower
An iconic volcanic feature in the Black Hills of Wyoming was known as being the location in the culminating scene in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. It has become a draw for not only sci-fi enthusiasts but also UFO chasers and New Age believers.Devil’s Den
To gain this place name, the location usually has stark, huge rock boulders or outcrops, often with caves and crevasses. Several famous locations exist in the U.S. where not only supposedly spirits but also people used as hiding places.Devil’s Hole
A depression or cave often containing water that has gained a reputation of being deadly, a path to the underworld, or bottomless. (Or all three together). The most famous being the Devil’s Hole of Death Valley, a bizarre oasis in the desert.Devil’s Kitchen
Scenic locations characterized by their impressive geological features that suggest something evil is cooking.Devil’s Gate
A cleft or gorge that is considered a dangerous area for natural or supernatural reasons.Devil’s Punchbowl
Bowl-shaped depressions of various sizes that stand out from the landscape and may look as if they have been deliberately created for or from a nefarious action.Some lesser known locations with ‘Devil’ names are just as curious. Their oddness prompted locals to bestow upon them an accursed name.
Devils Head Rock, North CarolinaThree locations in Pennsylvania have the name Devil’s Potato Patch to designate boulder fields. One is between Danielsville and Little Gap in Northampton County, just west of the Blue Mtn ski area off the Appalachian Trail. This is an otherwise featureless field of sandstone blocks resulting from frost action that broke up the ridge-forming rock. It is on State Game Lands and, like other boulder fields, is treacherous to traverse and home to sunning snakes. Another Patch is located on the border of Lebanon and Lancaster County near Brickerville. This “river” of diabase boulders is a wooded and graffiti-strewn, neglected and full of various hazards like trash, bottles, and poison ivy. The third is in Salford Township, Montgomery County, where the boulders of diabase will ring when hammered.
Another “Tater Patch” is a windy ridge with spooky twisted trees in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park of Tennessee/ N. Carolina.
Similar to these rocky landscapes is the Devil’s Marbleyard of the James River Face Wilderness, in the Blue Ridge Mountains at Natural Bridge Station, Virginia. The Virginia Trail Guide describes it thusly:
“…looks like an immense stone mountain exploded and collapsed into thousands of boulders of every shape and size.”
Australia also has the Devil’s Marbles, a scattered array of large granite boulders in a 4500-acre area of the Northern Territory which was the traditional land of the Warumungu, Kaytetye, Alyawarra and Warlpiri people. They call it “Karlu Karlu”. The rocks are set precariously and have been chemically and physically weathered into rounded shapes. One legend says the natives thought these were the eggs of the rainbow serpent. But the official management plan for the reserve explains the traditional origin:
The whole area of the reserve is known as Ayleparrarntenhe, which is also the name of the place of origin and final resting place of Arrange, the Devil Man—a twin-peaked hill to the east of the reserve. Traditional Owners tell the story of how the Marbles came into being:
Arrange, the Devil Man, came from Ayleparrarntenhe and travelled through the area. During his journey, he was making a hair belt (as worn by initiated men). Twirling the hair into strings, Arrange dropped clusters of hair on the ground. These turned into the Karlu Karlu boulders that can be seen today. On his way back, Arrange spat on the ground. His spit also turned into the granite boulders which dot the central part of the reserve. Arrange finally returned to his place of origin, Ayleparrarntenhe.
Removal or desecration (even climbing) of the rocks and smaller rocks of nearby Devil’s Pebbles (Kunjarra) is said to bring bad luck to the tribes.
Several rocky areas are also called Devil’s Garden with unique vegetation or none at all. The Devil’s Garden portion of Arches National Park in Moab, Utah features “arches, spires, and a large concentration of narrow rock walls called “fins”. The fins are the result of erosion along parallel fractures.
Devil’s Garden, UtahA section of the High Lava Plains of central Oregon is a kipuka (an area isolated by surrounding lava flows) also known by this name. It was formed from fissure eruptions of basalt.
The Devil’s Playground is not your typical place of joy and laughter, but a grouping of granitic rock features weathered into fantastic forms and eerie shapes. A Tertiary-age (approximately 38 million years old) granitic intrusion overlying Paleozoic (400 to 300 million years old) sedimentary rocks is known as the Emigrant Pass pluton.
Devils Playground, UtahThe deadly Devil’s Playground in the Mohave Desert of California was the nickname pinned on a 17-mile stretch of drifting sand that had neither a track to follow nor water to drink.
In Tennessee, near vertical bedding produces huge rock formations that look like fins (or teeth) protrude from the Southwest flank of Cumberland Mountain known as the Devil’s Racetrack. Hikers and climbers must watch for falls from these rocks.
The Devil’s Race Course is a boulder field in Dauphin County, PA. Rock outcrops along the ridges provided the now rounded boulders. Stream flow from Rattling Run has washed away all the finer sediment. Sometimes the stream can be heard under river of rock. Legend has it that the area’s early settlers believed the sound of the water was the devil running through the depths of hell.
Devil’s Racecourse, PAThe term Devil’s Elbow often refers to an obvious and problematic bend in a river or a road. Most notably, in Pulaski County, Missouri, a sharp turn in the river has this unlucky name. Switchback bends along a hillside are constructed to navigate a steep slope. One such tight curve along a road bordering a rock cliff in New York has an associated legend of the vanishing hitchhiker. The road was eventually straightened to avoid mishaps.
The Devil’s Windpipe is a natural chute in the rocks in Arizona. When the wind blows across the hot landscape, it’s said it feels like the breathing of the devil himself. The Devil’s Throat is a remarkable cave in Bulgaria that swallows the Trigrad River where it funnels through the Hall of Thunder. This cave in the Rhodope Mountains is associated with the legend of Orpheus descending into the underworld to look for Eurydice. There is also a large sinkhole called the Devil’s Throat near Lake Mead in Nevada.
Multiple features exist with the name Devil’s Backbone which typically indicates a prominent ridge of rock that looks like a spine or teeth. Iowa has a state park characterized by a narrow and steep ridge of bedrock carved by a loop of the Maquoketa River. The towers, columns and rocky cliffs make for precipitous climbing. Maryland also has a park where a rock ridge 512 feet above sea level was formed by erosion at the confluence of the Antietam and Beaver Creek and is a noted scenic area. A narrow jutting of rock from a ridge forms a distinct “backbone” across the landscape west of Loveland, Colorado. A particularly striking vertical wall of dark andesite about 1,000 feet long exists within the volcanic crater of Crater Lake, Oregon. The dike was formed when molten lava filled cracks as it forced its way upwards and then solidified. Erosion of the surrounding material has left the resistant material standing. The Illinois “Backbone” is a rocky landmark on a ridge in the Grand Tower area. The rapids near here were supposedly very dangerous and native legends evil spirits were responsible. Nearby is the Devil’s Bake Oven – a nearly 100’ rock on the edge of the river where folklorists have documented ghostly visions and sounds.
Devil’s Backbone, Loveland CO.About 80,000 to 100,000 years ago in eastern California, basaltic lava gushed from fissures and formed a lake within a glacial-formed valley some 400 feet deep. The lava cooled slowly, forming the hexagonal columnar structure that is so striking (also present in Devil’s Tower and Giant’s Causeway), resembling a pile of posts. Thus, it’s called the Devils Postpile. Glaciers smoothed and scarred the top of the formation. Devils Postpile (no apostrophe – which is the case with most official U.S. “devil” monuments) is now a national monument. A Little Devils Postpile exists in Yosemite.
Devils Postpile National MonumentDevils Lake in Wisconsin, part of a state park, is situated in a deep chasm formed by glacial action. It has no visible inlet or outlet. The lake was originally called “Sacred Lake” or “Spirit Lake” by the natives who considered it sacred where voices of the spirits could be heard. Glacial striations mark the rock surfaces around the lake and there are Native effigy mounds nearby. The lake has spooky legends of a phantom canoer, and lake monster, and some stories say the natives considered it a “place of many dead”.
A similar lake exists in North Dakota, also in a closed basin and also renamed from the Natives’ interpretation of “Spirit Lake”. This lake has been plagued with flooding problems.
Seven Devils Lake is a small reservoir in South Arkansas, located about 14 miles (23 km) out of Monticello. The Lake is formed by Seven Devils Dam. The area got its name from a man who was trapped in the area for days and finally made it out. A reporter asked if he found the rumored seven lakes of the area, but the man stated that there were not seven lakes, but seven devils. This area is the most northern point west of the Mississippi River where American alligators can be found.
Many bare mountain summits are named for their stark barrenness. Several rocky scenic outlooks called Devil’s Knobs are recognized around the world. There are many places called Devil’s Peak often referring to an imposing, rocky mount. Such peaks are in Cape Town in South Africa, Hong Kong, Flanders Range in Australia, Soda Springs, California, Santa Barbara, California, and in Nevada. A location in Baja, California has the Spanish name Picacho del Diablo and is also known as the Cerro de la Encantada or “Hill of the Enchanted”. It is a ragged granite summit that makes for a popular but challenging climb.
Mount Diablo in Contra Costa, California is awash with legends and has a reputation as a strange place. Now a state park, it was historically an important landmark for mapping and navigation because of its visibility and location. It is a geological anomaly, part of a thrust fault complex, growing higher every year due to compression of tectonic plates. Native tribes have various legends about it included the mountain as a point of creation. A notable legend of how the mountain got its name was from a misinterpretation of “Monte del Diablo” meaning “thicket of the devil” after several Natives escaped from the Spanish in 1805 into a nearby thicket. Not long after, the name was interpreted to mean a place of evil spirits. It’s not clear if this name was derived from a genuine tradition of spooky happenings in the area and there have been several attempts to rename the mountain to shake off the diabolical reputation. Author Loren Coleman writes that many unusual incidents have occurred in the Mount Diablo area, appropriate for its reputation, including sightings of black panthers (a difficult-to-explain animal that is reported all too regularly), mysterious lights, apparitions and even a claim of a live frog found in a stony concretion.
West Face of Mount Diablo and Highway 24. By Trurl66 – Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5526277So-called Devil’s bathtubs are deep spots in a creek popular with visitors looking to cool off. In Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio, water falls from rock ledges into the stream where the water swirls into a bowl-shaped gorge. People told stories of this being as deep as hell. The pockets and tunnels were formed from scouring glacial meltwaters thousands of years ago.
In Scott County, Virginia, the Bathtub is a scour pool in the Devil’s Fork of Stony Creek. It’s not the easiest spot to get to and the water is far from hot. Many photos of the location have circulated on social media but these seem to be from the Ohio location, or from some other feature entirely, leading many to be disappointed when they reach this particular tub. The overabundance of visitors prompted by social media has caused local problems and threaten the natural area. The South Dakota version of the devil’s tub is much more secluded. With high rocky cliffs nearby, the water cascades in a chute called “the slide” and swirls into the tub.
According to Wikipedia, there are no less than 105 different locations of the Devil’s Canyon in the United States alone including Utah, Oklahoma, and California. Areas with this designation are typically steep, remote, and have plentiful snakes as residents. In Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico, Devil’s Canyon, so far as anyone knows, is so named because of the pinnacles – needles and balanced rocks that form the canyon walls and resemble distorted human forms. A 2017 TV show called “Devil’s Canyon” is based in British Columbia. It is the story of three gold prospectors seeking treasure in the canyon where they believe large deposits have escaped exploitation by big mining companies. But the rough, isolated terrain, bad weather, and wild animals make it an unforgiving location to explore.
A rock formation where the lower strata is more eroded and weathered leaving a larger slab perched precipitously on top are called “tea tables”. Such formations are a variety of hoodoo. Notable examples of Devil’s Tea Tables exist in Athens County, Ohio and in Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest. These features appear to lean in every direction, so whatever side you view it from, it looks like it will fall on you. A tea table feature in McConnelsville, Ohio collapsed in 1906. Explorers who came across the gravity-defying features often attributed their origin to supernatural forces.
Devils Tea Table, McConnelsvilleNot necessarily natural are the standing stones in North Yorkshire, England, called Devils Arrows. Legend has it that the Devil himself threw the stones into the ground as arrows to attack Christians in Aldborough but they fell short. The prehistoric monuments likely were constructed as part of a ritual landscape. Similarly, the Devil’s Quoits in Stanton Harcourt are also part of a Neolithic-age stone circle. The legend here is “the Devil once played quoits (a game) with a beggar for his soul or, alternatively, that it was a Sunday and God rebuked him whereby he flung the stones in anger. Many stone circles and henges in the UK remain imbued with New Age and mystical significance.
The most famous Devil’s Gulch, in Garretson, South Dakota, is rife with legends. This 18-20 foot chasm across blocks of quartzite is said to have obtained its name from strange noises made by the winds as they blow through. Split Rock Creek below is associated with a “bottomless pit” in the stream bed. (If it’s bottomless, how does the stream flow over it?) A Native tale tells a different origin story. They called it “Spirit Canyon” and that it was formed when two warriors fought. When the spirit warrior’s tomahawk hit the ground, it split the land forming the gulch. But the most famous legend, now marked on the spot, is that outlaw Jesse James made a getaway by leaping the gap on his horse. The location is now a park and also has Devil’s Falls and the Devil’s Stairway nearby.
When Satan needs a rest, he chooses Devils Throne, a summit in Idaho County, Idaho. It forms part of the Seven Devils Mountains. Or the Devil’s Chair in San Gabriel Mountains is part of the Devil’s Punchbowl.
What is really haunting the Devil’s Swamp in Scotlandville, Louisiana are nasty chemicals that have been poured into it, destroying the ecosystem over the years leaving ghosts of those animals (and people) dead from pollution. Beware when visiting this toxic stew. The Seven Devils Swamp natural area in Arkansas, however, is a healthy and diverse ecosystem.
Part of the Craters of the Moon National monument, Idaho, Devil’s Orchard has trees and vegetation growing from the flood basalt lava flows of the Snake River Plain volcanic province. The Orchard is a group of lava-transported cinder cone fragments that were once part of the North Crater cinder cone but broke off and were carried away by a new lava flow. The place is described as “otherworldly” with the black rocks providing no shade. Shoshone legend speaks of a serpent on a mountain who, angered by lightning, coiled around and squeezed the mountain until liquid rock flowed, fire shot from cracks, and the mountain exploded. Craters of the Moon National Monument was proclaimed on May 2, 1924 by U.S. President Calvin Coolidge to “preserve the unusual and weird volcanic formations”
Devil’s Orchard, IdahoIn the Big South Fork National River and Recreation area in Kentucky/Tennessee, legend has it that a band of brothers looking for salt drilled a well so deep that it hit oil. They became concerned that the well was so deep, it might reach Hell. Finally, they did strike something, but instead of salt brine coming out of the ground a black, smelly, sticky liquid came oozing out of the pipe. These explorers did not know what oil was, and since they were of a religious nature, they were disturbed about the new-found product. When they saw how this black substance burned, they called it Devil’s Tar. One of the crew was sent downstream with a sample but his raft overturned at the rapids. Later, he told the story that the devil himself, angry at the invasion of his domain, leaped from one of the rocks onto the raft sinking it. The rapids were named the Devils Jump.
Two other Devil’s Jumps occur in England. Three little hills near Frensham are said to have been thrown up by the Devil taking three enormous leaps. The Devil’s Jumps in Churt, county of Surrey, (also known as Devil’s Three Jumps) are a series of three small hills made of “ironstone” making them resistant to erosion. The devil made his mark all around this area, according to legend, as several local landmarks play into the story of his visit. For example, the tale goes that Devil made off with the cauldron of the witch, Mother Ludlam. As she chased him, the Devil’s leaps kicked up hills now known as the Devil’s Jumps. He left the cauldron on Kettlebury Hill and also left a valley known as the Devil’s Punch Bowl.
Another tale tells that the Devil amused himself by leaping from the top of each hill to the next. This annoyed the god Thor who picked up a boulder and threw it at the Devil, causing him to flee. The boulder remains at Devil’s Jumps. The same story is told of the Devil’s Jumps near Treyford on the South Downs in West Sussex though these are barrows upon which the Devil jumped. Other round barrows in Stoughton are also called the Devil’s humps.
Similar to the Jumps are the Devils Footprints – grassy meadows that top some peaks in the Appalachian mountains, particularly in the Great Smoky Mountains. These peaks, also called “balds” are where trees won’t grow, legendarily because the devil himself stepped there. More realistic theories are that the treeless patches are the result of past clearing, animal grazing or burning. Or that the soil, climate, or biota prevents trees from growing. It’s not clear why some summits are bald where others are not.
Apparent “footprints” in rock appear at Devils Foot Rock. Many colorful tales are told of the Devil himself leaving the prints as he pursued maidens or stomped in frustration.
Devil’s Promenade in extreme southwestern Missouri is the site of a regionally noted “spook light”. The locals named the four-mile-long gravel road on the border between southwestern Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma west of the small town of Hornet, Missouri. Hornet is famous for the Hornet Spooklight (also called the Joplin spooklight) – a seemingly unexplained light that appears in the distance. Some have explained it as normal lights from cars or trains and others insist it is paranormal in nature. The bridge along the Devil’s Promenade was originally a rickety wooden bridge. Legend had it that “anyone who walked back and forth across the bridge five times (or seven or three depending on who you ask) very slowly and asking for the Devil to appear, he would either answer three questions, grant three wishes or of course, kill you. Again this depends on the version you hear.” A concrete bridge was constructed and the story seems to have diminished. One story of the light’s origin was that it is the Devil swinging his Jack-o-lantern. Other stories, according to the Prarie Ghosts website, says the light represents the spirit of two young Quapaw Indians who died in the area. Another claimed the light was the spirit of an Osage Indian chief who had been beheaded on the Devil’s Promenade. As with many spook light stories, the light represents a torch carried by the ghost as he searches for his missing head. The torch motif also shows up in the version of the legend that a miner is searching in vain for his missing children by lantern light. Tellers of these tales claim that the lights and legends existed in Native lore prior to the construction of this road.
Many impressive masonry structures are named the Devil’s Bridge and have associated lore to go with them. The bridge in Sedona, Arizona, in the Coconino National Forest, is a large natural sandstone arch. In Massachusetts, the Devil’s Bridge is a shallow reef running northwest off the northwest corner of Martha’s Vineyard. This hazard to ships was supposedly created by the mighty giant Moshup. The local Wampanoag tribal history tells the tale:
Moshup was building a bridge to Cuttyhunk with heavy boulders when a giant crab latched onto his foot. In his pain and anger, he gave up leaving a treacherous shoal instead. The area has been the site of several shipwrecks.
In North Carolina’s Pisgah National Forest is the Devil’s Courthouse. According to Andrea Lankford:
By bradploeger – originally posted to Flickr as Devil’s Courthouse, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4237496“Cherokees believed an evil spirit [or giant} named Judaculla held court on top of this bare rock summit with a 360 degree view of three states”.
Whiteside Mountain in Jackson County, North Carolina also has a feature of this name. The bare overhanging rock is windy and dangerous.
The Devil’s Apronful cairn consists of a heap of rocks and boulders near Pendle Hill in Lancashire, England. Several natural boulders were used to construct the mound which provides an impressive view both now and back in Bronze Age times. The thousands of rocks of gritstone and sandstone are scattered in a roughly circular area. The area however is mostly limestone. It’s been suggested that the stones were glacial erratics and the stones were gathered by farmers to get them out of the fields. But there are more fantastic origin stories. The Devil was annoyed with people at Clitheroe Castle in the west. To do away with it, he filled an “apron” (quite the visual) with rocks to pitch at them. Most missed and in his rage he dropped the rest on this south side of Pendle Hill, creating Apronful Hill. For the similar Apronful in Yorkshire, the tale is that the Devil was collecting stones in his apron in order to build a bridge or fill in the ravine when his apron string broke (or he tripped) and the stones fell out. The Devil’s Apronful sites were disturbed by curious visitors and looters but are now protected.
The Devil has two “Hopyards”. One is a State Park and public recreation area in East Haddam, Connecticut. There are several ideas about how the place got its curious name. One is that it refers to supernatural origins for the naturally occurring potholes in the area. These potholes were formed by the grinding actions of stones moved downstream by the current when trapped in an eddy, wearing a depression in the rock. To the early settlers the potholes were a great mystery, and as with many “devilish” features, they explained them with references to the supernatural. They thought that the Devil has passed by the falls, accidentally getting his tail wet. This made him so mad he burned holes in the stones with his hooves as he bounded away. A sign in the park tells of the legends regarding the name. Another site with this name is in New Hampshire. This is a boulder-filled ravine where you can sometimes hear water running.
Devil’s Dyke (or ditch) near Bleaklow, in Sussex, England is a deep gully supposedly cut by Satan’s claws when he became enraged at the loss of a prospective soul. Other tales say it is his unfinished ditch as he bet St. Cuthberth he could dig it in one night and flood the town. The tourist-attracting feature is really the result of mass wasting and river erosion into a dip-slope valley. The V-shaped dry valley, the deepest in England, was born from the cold climate of 14,000 years ago when this area of chalk bedrock was covered in snow. During warm seasons, the upper layers of soil and weathered rock slid away with the thaw. Finally, an ancient river carried the material away at the end of the Ice Age. That river is now gone but its valley remains. The high hill showed the surrounding terrain and was used as a defensive position as well as being an impressive location to hold special events. Remains of an Iron Age fort have been found here. The location is managed by the National Trust and is a recreational area. A trail supposedly leads to the alleged burial site of the Devil and his wife. In 1900, a sound called The Howling Terror was heard echoing in the valley. It wasn’t demons but the testing of a new invention called the megaphone being used at the amusement park on the top of the Dyke.
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The information provided here is based on a cursory search of these sites and the entries will be expanded as I discover new source material (or visit them!). Please contact me with your corrections, information (preferably with solid references), and photographs and I will gladly add them to the page. Or, leave your contribution in the comments. Thanks!Book References
Coleman, L. (2001). Mysterious America (Revised edition). Paraview Press.
Lankford, A. (2006). Haunted Hikes. Santa Monica Press.
#devil #devilPlaces #devilsBackbone #devilsElbow #devilsGarden #devilsPlayground #devilsPostpile #devilsRacecourse #devilsWindpipe #devilsLake #mountDiablo #satan
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“Preposterously Large and a Potential Rival to the Castle rock”: the thread about Argyle House
Brutalist buildings are the Marmite of architecture – passionately loved or loathed. It’s easy to assume that the term comes from their brutal appearance (adj. savage; violent; unpleasant or harsh) and not the French béton brut for raw concrete. One such specimen was much in the news in Edinburgh yesterday when it was announced that plans had been lodged for the demolition and replacement of Argyle House in the West Port area of the city. But while other news sources make much click capital out of it having briefly appeared in some Netflix police show or another, here at Threadinburgh I prefer instead to go down the rabbit hole of the hows, whys and whats of this much-critiqued building of the moment.
“Argyle House vs. New Barracks. A shot taken to deliberately contrast the ‘ugly’ Argyle House (I disagree), with what is frankly the ugliest part of Edinburgh Castle – the New Barracks from the 1790s. A soulless block, totally out of scale and unsuited to its context, with few relieving features. Yes – I’m talking about the category A listed barracks” (quotation from the learned Tom Parnell). CC-by-SA 2.0, Tom Parnell via FlickrArgyle House takes its name from its developer; Argyle Securities Ltd. This was an Edinburgh-based property development company that had been formed in 1960 to take advantage of the wave of prominent civic redevelopment schemes sweeping the nation in that decade. Its chairman and managing director was Meyer (Mike) Oppenheim, a prominent local businessman, philanthropist and managing director of theJames Grant & Co. (West) chain of furniture stores.
Meyer – known as Mike – Oppenheim and his wife Violet (Vi). Photo via Meyer Oppenheim Trust (meyeroppenheim.org)Meyer had done very well for himself in life and he and his family lived at the historic Whitehouse in Barnton, that quiet and leafy quarter of the city to where the real money retreats behind tall hedges and well manicured lawns and driveways.
The Whitehouse in Barnton, the Oppenheim family home in Edinburgh. The core of the building is 17th century and it was subsequently sold to the businessman David Murray and then a well known author of wizarding novels.In October 1960 it was publicly announced that Oppenheim had acquired the Royal Lyceum Theatre from Howard & Wyndham. This coincided with a plan first mooted in 1956 to replace the adjacent Synod Hall on Castle Terrace, whose occupants included Poole’s Synod cinema, with a new opera and concert hall for the city.
Sketch design by Alan Reiach for the 1956 Opera and Festival Centre on Castle Terrace and Lothian Road. The buidling with the domed roof is the Usher Hall, which was to be retained. Oppenheim had acquired the Lyceum, to its left, for speculative redelopment.Oppenheim wasn’t really that interested in running a theatre – instead he came up with his own, rival million-pound plan to transform the block into a “magnificent centre… for the Edinburgh Festival“. This would replace both the Synod Hall and Lyceum with a multi-purpose performance, entertainment and commercial venue replete with restaurants and a hotel.
Oppenheim’s rival scheme, by Rowand Anderson, Kininmonth & Paul, for the Castle Terrace plot, Evening News, September 15th 1961The Town Council approved his scheme in 1962 with a promise to lease it back off of Oppenheim once it was complete. But as a businessman known for sticking scrupulously to budget and deadlines, he soon tired of rising costs and delays from the meddling of officialdom and walked away from the whole thing. Instead he gifted the Lyceum to the city in 1964. The city tried to take up the opera house scheme on its own and had the Synod Hall demolished in 1966, but each of its multiple subsequent attempts faltered and instead an ugly gap was left on the Castle Terrace site for almost 40 years.
Before that scheme had collapsed, in 1961 Argyle Securities acquired the long-established Edinburgh firm of garage proprietors, Rolls-Royce body builders, car hirers and undertakers John Croall & Son for £300,000, substantially outbidding a number of other offers that had wished to take it over as a going concern. Like the Lyceum, Oppenheim wasn’t actually interested in owning a garage for the purpose of running it, he was much more interested in the plot of land on the corner of Castle Terrace where Croall’s had their main works.
Croall’s Motor Garage on Castle Terrace, the ornamental entrance to a very substantial works. Photo from 1915, via Edinphoto.org.uk with credit to The Museum of EdinburghIn 1953 Edinburgh had adopted its City Development Plan which had re-zoned much of the decrepit old housing of the West Port and High Riggs area for commercial purposes. This made what was then almost worthless residential land potentially very valuable to commercial developers; it was protected from rebuilding the housing and could be easily acquired on the cheap. Meyer Oppenheim was once such developer of the moment. Times were good – Argyle Securities had quickly gained a reputation for completing projects on time, on budget and for a handsome profit. It floated on the stock exchange in 1962 with a market capitalisation of £400,000 at which time it owned a portfolio worth some £843,000. Argyle added to the Croall’s site by buying up adjacent condemned residential properties between the West Port and King’s Stables Road Lane and formed a grand new redevelopment scheme. This would become the eponymous Argyle House and was approved by the Corporation Planning Committee in September 1966.
The site of Argyle House in 1952, showing Croall’s garage, and then in 1969. Ordnance Survey 1:1250 maps. Move the slider to compareThe architects were Michael Laird & Partners and the principal contractors were James Laidlaw & Sons of Rutherglen, probably best known for the enigmatic St. Peter’s Seminary at Cardross. Curiously, Laidlaw’s Edinburgh office at 24 Manor Place was shared with Argyle Securities. But this was no coincidence – Oppenheim had bought the firm in 1964 as he sought to vertically integrate his operations.
Artist’s impression of the Argyle House scheme, as published in December 1966.To mark the commencement of work, Laidlaws took out a half page spread in the Scotsman extolling the worthiness of their new construction.
Argyle House. A new building for the New Town will be worthy of the fine architectural traditions in this unique area
To finance the £1,500,000 development, loans were provided by Standard Life Assurance who also bought the site and leased it back to the developer for 175 years. At this time Croall’s business operations were sold to new owners and relocated to Corstorphine. Demolition commenced in 1966 with construction starting the following year. Argyle already had occupants lined up, a sixty-three year lease having been agreed with the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works for the entire building. This would allow the centralisation of existing government departments in the city including the headquarters of the Department of Health and Social Security and the Department of Employment and Department of the Environment in Scotland and offices of HM Stationery Office.
The lower storeys of Argyle House begin to emerge from the ground. The development dug down some 50 feet from street level, leaving the lower four storeys below ground level, resulting in some office floors suffering from a lack of natural light. In the background stands the Chalmers Territorial Free Church, which would soon be demolished. Scotsman, August 31st 1967.A two-storey L-plan block on Castle Terrace and Lady Lawson Street would contain public facilities such as enquiry counters, a job centre, and meeting rooms for the DHSS. This lower section, which the untrained eye can mistake for a separate building entirely, was faced in Blaxter stone with the pair of public entrances dominated by massive abstract concrete reliefs by George Garson: “bound to cause discussion and some bewilderment… if they have a message it is that the ways of authority are mysterious and that the symbolism of government through sculpture is a happily dead art“.
To enter Argyle House’s public-facing block, one first had to walk beneath either of George Garson’s huge, abstract concrete reliefs. CC-by-SA 2.0, Tom Parnell via FlickrRising up behind this were the two J-shaped office towers which extended down to eleven-storeys at their deepest point and were connected by a central service core. Their construction made use of the Bison prefabricated large panel system (LPS) which promised reduced costs and quick, easy construction but resulted in a highly repetitive and monotonous “impersonal egg-box”external appearance of the 4.5 ton wall slab panels.
The montonous wall of “impersonal egg-boxes” rising up behind the low-level public building on Castle Terrace. CC-by-SA 2.0, Tom Parnell via FlickrArgyle House was completed on schedule and on budget, as was the Oppenheim way, and was officially opened by John Silkin MP, Minister of Public Buildings and Works, on July 22nd 1969. At this time, with a floor plan totalling over 250,000 square feet of office space, it was both Edinburgh and Scotland’s largest commercial office and could house between 1,400 and 1,700 civil servants. At 320,000 square feet, the equally visually controversial New St. Andrew’s House at the St. James Centre took the city’s number one spot the following year (although it would not be occupied until 1974).
Aerial photo showing Argyle House (bottom left) in 1982 and the still-vacant plot of the Synod Hall above it. Edinburgh and Scottish Collection, Edinburgh City Libraries.Colin McWilliam, the Scotsman’s architecture critic (“he admired modernism, but his taste was catholic and his judgement sound“) was quite taken with the end result and tried valiantly to compare the building’s scale and architectural effect with Playfair’s Georgian Royal Terrace on the Calton Hill. He summarised it as:
A huge three-dimensional balance-sheet set up specifically to show the maximum profit to investors.
He gushed over the “pencil-slim margins in limestone-concrete” and “backwards splay of the dark flint facing below each window“. His main complaint was that too much had been crammed in to too small a site, resulting in a building that was “preposterously large and a potential rival to the Castle rock“.
Argyle House, showing the central service core that connects the two main office wings. This shows the slim, bare concrete verticals and the panels dashed in dark flints that Colin McWilliam so appreciate. CC-by-SA 2.0, Tom Parnell via FlickrMcWilliam hoped that subsequent development would show a similar “high level of care in layout and detail” so that they would “not be a denial of Edinburgh’s own character” and result in the “hell of over-intensive commercial use, of which London already [held] so many examples“. Given much of the output of the Edinburgh architecture scene since, his hopes were probably in vain.
Argyle House in the early 1970s, before the office tower block of West Port House was built diagonally opposite. This new office is already suffering from the monotonously grey appearance of so many contemporary public buildings. The red sandstone building on the right is the Edinburgh College of Art, the blue hoarding marks were until recently the Chalmers Territorial Free Church stood © Edinburgh College of Art via Trove.Scot, DP 579486Postscript. Architectural champions of Argyle House, Malcolm Fraser and the Fraser/Livingstone practice have proposed how a low-intensity intervention could make the existing building fit for the next 60 years of its life with a much reduced cost and environmental impact.
After Argyle House, Oppenheim’s next big scheme was through another company he controlled, the Scottish Homes Investment Company, buying over the rights to develop the private enterprise “new town” of Dalgety Bay, across the Forth in Fife. Laidlaw would make its mark on the city by constructing the Royal Commonwealth Pool in time for the 1970 Games. Meyer Oppenheim retired in 1971 at the age of 66, having grown the value of Argyle’s investments five-fold, its market capitalisation three-fold and its profits twelve-fold in a little over a decade. Standard Life Assurance, his long-term financial backer, bought over much of his shareholding and he retired to an active life of philanthropy. As well as the Lyceum and the vista of Argyle House, one of his lasting gifts to the city was founding and endowing the Water of Leith Walkway Trust in 1976. He passed away in 1982 at the age of 77, a year after the first section of what would become a fifteen mile walkway was opened to the public.
Tablets commemorating – left – the opening of the first section of the Water of Leith Walkway in 1981 and – right – Meyer Oppenheim. CC-by-3.0, Gyula Péter via WikimediaNote to readers: unfortunately in April 2026, a third-party plug-in more than exceeded its authority and broke many of the image links on this site. No images were lost but I will have to restore them page-by-page, which may take some time. In the meantime please bear with me while I go about rectifying this issue.
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A very Edinburgh gothic horror story: the thread about the demolition of Rockville
The Merchiston Pagoda; Tottering Towers; Crazy Manor; Sugar Loaf House; the Chinese House; the Strangest House Edinburgh Ever Built. Call it what you like. Rockville is (was) one of the most important and inspired buildings in Victorian Scotland. Perhaps ever. And it was unceremoniously demolished in 1966.
Rockville, immediately prior to demolition in 1966. A colour photo, the only colour photo I have ever seen, courtesy and with kind permission of Derrick JohnstoneRockville‘s architect, builder and original resident was Sir James Gowans; stone mason, quarry master, builder, architect, engineer, railway contractor, theorist, philanthropist and local politician. Gowans’ father let quarries, including nearby Redhall, and James would take on the role of lessee amd quarrymaster there. He developed a deep understanding of and interest in stone as a building material and would build almost exclusively in it – the name Rockville for his new project was therefore entirely appropriate. When he set out to build it he used not only his own stone, but reputedly stone from a quarry in every county in Scotland, as well as from England, the Continent and as far away as China.
Sir James GowansIt’s hard to summarise how important Rockville is. Or was. On the face of it, it looks like an extreme expression of Victorian Gothic, the romantic fever dream of a madman. But this belies the fact it is actually a structure of incredible rationality, whose design adhered rigidly to strict system of geometry, repetition, patterns and materials. It has as much in common with the work and theories of the Modernist Le Corbusier as it does with some of his Victorian contemporaries.
Rockville, a contemporary illustration from “The Builder”, 1860James’ theories formed a complete system of design and building – and Rockville was the ultimate expression of this. The whole house rigidly conformed to a rule of 2ft x 2ft units, a room could not be 3 times longer than it was wide or 1½ times taller – it had to be in twos. The gingerbread house effect on the exterior of Rockville was actually a dressed stone framework carefully infilled with decorative rubble and this “skeleton” formed the basic unit of the house. Everything else in the entire building was some sort of multiple or fraction of that. The house was 26 units (or 52 feet) wide. its two principle storeys each 7 units (14 feet) tall. From the front, the projecting right bay was 9 units wide, the central bay 7, the entranceway 6 and the tower 4. The top of the cupola which capped the tower reached a height of 33 units or 66 feet.
The “gingerbread house” effect as a result of Gowans design and building system. The frieze on the wall was by James’ father-in-law and shows him, as a master mason and thinkerThere was no angle in his house that wasn’t a right angle, or a limited division thereof. It had to be 0°, 30°, 45° etc. and nothing inbetween. All the mouldings were based on right angles, regular octagons or circles (or halfs thereof). The only places where James allowed himself to break his system was on the mansard rooflines (where the overall profile was a triangle with sides at 60°, but there is a steeper section with a slight flares at the bottom to help with runoff) and the base of the cupola atop the tower, which also had a slight flare to its lower profile.
Looking towards the “pagoda” tower, notice the steep pitch of the roof and the decorative ironwork, the pattern being a repeating unit of the monogram “G” (for Gowans) and daisies; the Scots word for that flower being “gowans”I won’t go on too much about the house here – I’ll do that in another thread more dedicated to the details of the house, but suffice to say some of James Gowans’ ideas were a century ahead of their time. He went from building rather dull and predictable Georgian New Town blocks to Rockville almost out of nowhere, in only a few years. His inventiveness, skill and understanding of the materials he worked with, strong sense of colour (the house glistened green or red or gold or silver in the light depending on how the sun caught his carefully selected stones.) and his attention to quality and perfection marked him out. His biographer, Duncan McAra, says he was “not only one of the most important of Scotland’s Architects, but one of the most original European Master Builders of the 19th century“. And Rockville was his most important creation – it was Gowans in its purest form.
James built Rockville for himself and his young family but his wife, Elizabeth Mitchell, tragically died in 1858 before they had moved in, drowning in her bath in a house they were renting in Greenbank at the time. She was the daughter of another railway contractor, James Mitchell of Ross & Mitchell, a tunnelling expert who had built the Scotland Street Tunnel. Gowans would remarry and with his children, new wife and the family that followed, settled down to a good life at Rockville.
“Rockville House” not long after completion. The girl in the white dress may be either his daughter Rosa Jane or Isabella. A photograph by George Washington Wilson. CC-by-SA 4.0 University of Aberdeen GWW collectionHe was a successful business man, a builder, quarrymaster, railway engineer or architect as required, but sometimes his schemes did not come off as intended. Ultimately he over-reached himself. Together with Frederick Thomas Pilikington – another rogue architect with an uncanny skill with stone – he designed and overly-invested in a new theatre for the city he loved. The concept of the New Edinburgh Theatre, winter gardens and aquarium was ahead of its time and far too big for the city and the venture soon failed. James lost heavily on it. He organised the city’s International Exhibition of 1886, which was a triumph, but again he put too much of his own time, effort and money into this project and it broke him; financially and physically. He was bankrupted and had to move out of Rockville and let it, his health was never to be the same again and four years later he was dead from the prostasis that he had long been suffering from.
The International Exhibition Pavilion in the Meadows, 1886. From the Illustrated London News, February 1886Rockville was initially used as a preparatory school for the entrance exams for the Civil Service and Army Commissions, but soon found a careful new owner in a family who had a similar mindset around public service as James did. This was the Harrison family headed by Dr John Harrison CBE LLD, (1847-1922) and who moved into the house in 1891. John was the son of Sir George Harrison, former Lord Provost – if you’ve ever wondered where Harrison Park or Harrison Road get their names, it’s from Sir George. John was a two times Town Councillor, two times runner up for the election of Lord Provost, and a council member of the Old Edinburgh Club.
John Harrison, picture from an obituary in the Edinburgh Evening News, 10th July 1922The Harrisons added an extra bathroom, a garage for a car and electric and Rockville remained fundamentally unchanged. His widow and daughters lived on there after John’s death in 1922 and its last permanent resident, Helen Roberts (Mrs John Harrison) died in January 1949. At this juncture, the house was put up for sale; it would never again have a long-term occupant. In May, Lyon & Turnbull listed for auction a huge array of “SUPERIOR HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS” including the “silver removed from Rockville” as the house’s contents began to be dispersed.
Rockville in 1964The house then came into new ownership and was partitioned and sublet. Occupants came and went: Newton; Crawford; Brown. Classified adverts in the Evening News throughout the 1950s list various items of furniture and clothing for sale from the address. The house was in decline however; Gowans’ masonry was true and sound but the interior timbers had dry rot. In 1960 it was purchased by Mr Raj Bodasing, a retiree sugar cane farmer from South Africa who moved in with his family, and for a brief spell it was once again a single family home. However Raj’s untimely death in 1962 saw the house sold again. In 1962, on the same day that it was announced that the Corporation were preparing a Building Preservation Order to conserve Charlotte Square, a proposal was refused to demolish Rockville and replace it with a Mormon church for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The Scottish Development Department blocked this application and the house went back on the market. However being unoccupied it rapidly began to deteriorate further and was soon on its way to becoming just another decaying Victorian villa in a city filled with decaying Victorian villas.
Sale listing of Rockville. Scotsman, 5th June 1963In 1963 it was purchased by the local building company James Miller & Partners. Now known as Miller Homes, this was the company of former Lord Provost Sir James Miller who had built much of interwar suburban Edinburgh. Millers let it be known that their plan was one of demolition and replacement. Local Councillor Maurice Heggie, for the Progressives, and a group of architects including Alan Reiach spoke up for the conservation of the house. He noted that while a number of Napier Road residents considered it “a monstrosity which should be pulled down“, it could make an ideal addition to Napier Technical College. Patrick Murray, curator of the Museum of Childhood, said Rockville was a test-case for the conservation of more recent historic buildings (at this stage it was only 106 years old).
The Edinburgh Corporation Housing Committee at West Pilton, November 1962. Maurice Heggie is on the extreme right. Edinburgh Evening News photo.Millers were unmoved and on August 6th 1965, the Dean of Guild Court, an institution once chaired by Gowans, granted permission to them to demolish Rockville. There was an instant howl of public outrage. Millers were at this time still very much an Edinburgh company, with a reputation to maintain, so as a conciliatory gesture, director Roger Miller wrote to the Scotsman on August 10th announcing that the company was willing to sell the building, at cost, to any society prepared to face the cost of its preservation and adaptation for public use. A three month deadline, expiring in November that year, was set.
November came and went, and no offers were forthcoming. Millers had not yet decided when the house would be demolished so in the meantime, three local students set about raising a petition to have it publicly preserved. Douglas May (19) and Raymond Fraser (18) were studying law and 19 year old David Alves, Art. They had spoken to that outspoken advocate for the preservation of Victorian architecture, Sir John Betjeman, and he had encouraged them that the majority of preservation societies just did not have the money to buy and renovate the house and that state support was needed. The students collected 2,500 signatures and hoped that the Corporation might be enticed to buy the house and preserve it as a museum of Victoriana and public garden. Someone else suggested that it should instead be offered to Disneyland in the hope they might move it stone-by-stone to the US.
Rockville in 1964But Millers were running out of patience, they had a business to run and a bottom line to serve. On January 12th 1966, the Scotsman reported Roger Miller as saying demolition would come “very soon” – the structure’s condition had been made worse by fire-raising by vandals in previous weeks. The students lodged their petition with the Corporation to try and have a stay of execution granted to allow them to present a plan to have the house bought by the City and converted into a children’s home, funded by a public appeal for £25-35,000 for renovation, and have the building placed into trust under the auspices of “a national charity“. The Corporation’s Planning Sub-Committee rejected this on January 19th. On January 27th, the vultures moved in to pick over the carcase of Rockville, the Scotsman reporting that bulk of its Victoriana was “trundled off in lorries to London dealers“, leaving little for local sale. On the 29th, a “gang of Cockney demolition workers” moved in; the lead was stripped from the roof and the rain poured in while the Scotsman’s reporter looked upon the wrecking squad ripping up the dance floor. Miller’s wrecking ball did the rest.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/monochrome_trains/4588896602/
Millers erased Rockville and ploughed up and levelled its gardens. In its place they erected 3 very mundane blocks of flats quaintly insipid named “the Limes” (Rockville was famed for its Pinetum, not its Lime trees). Gowans’ beautiful, signature gateposts remain, like the gateway to a cemetery someone has desecrated by building upon. Perhaps the greatest insult to Gowans’ memory and ideals was that the brick he had fought so hard to keep out of the city as Lord Dean of Guild Court was used to build upon the grave of Rockville, complete with a cladding of synthetic Fifestone.
“The Limes”, James Miller & Partners,It has been said that the end of Rockville was inevitable – just another Victorian villa when people wanted bright new things. The irony is that Gowans’ rigid adherence to his geometric theory, his building system and his prefabrication made Rockville right at home in the 1960s. That year, the city further danced upon the grave of his career by spending £30,000 demolishing the Synod Hall, the former New Edinburgh Theatre that almost ruined him. Sadly it turns out that they demolished one failed concert hall to make way for another, which in turn failed and would never be built. Instead a painful gap site was opened in the city and lay there for almost the next 30 years. To complete the addition of insult to injury, a few years previously they had spent £386,000 building a multi-storey car park upon the Castle Terrace Gardens, a strip of land that James Gowans had purchased at his own expense to form a pleasant public garden for the street.
The hole on Castle Terrace left by the Synod Hall would sit empty for the best part of 30 years while schemes to fill it came and went. Scotsman, December 3rd, 1966.Note to readers: unfortunately in April 2026, a third-party plug-in more than exceeded its authority and broke many of the image links on this site. No images were lost but I will have to restore them page-by-page, which may take some time. In the meantime please bear with me while I go about rectifying this issue.
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#Lochend #Logan #Restalrig #StMargaret -
Happy May Day 25th #Birthday 🎂 #RTE #LyricFM 🎉
Lifting our hearts every day for 25 years!
https://www.limerick.ie/discover/whats-on/music/rte-lyric-fm-25-concert
@lizlyricfm @BernardBlue
#Limerick University Concert Hall
"Join us as we celebrate our 25th birthday in Limerick, home of RTÉ lyric fm, with a gala concert featuring the music of Puccini, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Bizet, Morricone, Bernstein, John Williams, Strauss, Copland, Mascagni, Mancini, Alan Menken, Dvorak and more!" -
Hype for the Future 164C: City of Mexia, Texas
Overview The City of Mexia is the largest city located in Limestone County, Texas, located on the northern side of the county. Today, highways attached to the community include Route 84 and State Highways 14 and 171. To the northwest is Town of Tehuacana, the former home of Trinity University with a modern push to preserve the historic site of Texas Hall. To the east, Route 84 provides access to the community of Teague in Freestone County, including the B-RI Railroad Museum.https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2026/04/13/hype-for-the-future-164c-city-of-mexia-texas/
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Hype for the Future 164C: City of Mexia, Texas
Overview The City of Mexia is the largest city located in Limestone County, Texas, located on the northern side of the county. Today, highways attached to the community include Route 84 and State Highways 14 and 171. To the northwest is Town of Tehuacana, the former home of Trinity University with a modern push to preserve the historic site of Texas Hall. To the east, Route 84 provides access to the community of Teague in Freestone County, including the B-RI Railroad Museum.https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2026/04/13/hype-for-the-future-164c-city-of-mexia-texas/
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Hype for the Future 164C: City of Mexia, Texas
Overview The City of Mexia is the largest city located in Limestone County, Texas, located on the northern side of the county. Today, highways attached to the community include Route 84 and State Highways 14 and 171. To the northwest is Town of Tehuacana, the former home of Trinity University with a modern push to preserve the historic site of Texas Hall. To the east, Route 84 provides access to the community of Teague in Freestone County, including the B-RI Railroad Museum.https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2026/04/13/hype-for-the-future-164c-city-of-mexia-texas/
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Hype for the Future 164C: City of Mexia, Texas
Overview The City of Mexia is the largest city located in Limestone County, Texas, located on the northern side of the county. Today, highways attached to the community include Route 84 and State Highways 14 and 171. To the northwest is Town of Tehuacana, the former home of Trinity University with a modern push to preserve the historic site of Texas Hall. To the east, Route 84 provides access to the community of Teague in Freestone County, including the B-RI Railroad Museum.https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2026/04/13/hype-for-the-future-164c-city-of-mexia-texas/
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Hype for the Future 164C: City of Mexia, Texas
Overview The City of Mexia is the largest city located in Limestone County, Texas, located on the northern side of the county. Today, highways attached to the community include Route 84 and State Highways 14 and 171. To the northwest is Town of Tehuacana, the former home of Trinity University with a modern push to preserve the historic site of Texas Hall. To the east, Route 84 provides access to the community of Teague in Freestone County, including the B-RI Railroad Museum.https://novatopflex.wordpress.com/2026/04/13/hype-for-the-future-164c-city-of-mexia-texas/
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Cork Before The Elysian
⚬Remember Cork before The Elysian was built? It’s almost 20 years old now, so there are many people around who never saw Cork City Hall like this, without the tower block behind it.
Cork City Hall, completed in 1936, was built to replace the previous City Hall that was destroyed during the Burning of Cork by British forces in 1920. The building’s limestone facade and copper dome make it one of Cork’s most recognisable landmarks. This 2005 photograph predates the construction of The Elysian apartment tower, which began in 2006 and became Ireland’s tallest residential building when completed in 2008. The development of The Elysian and surrounding high-rise buildings fundamentally altered the skyline visible from this vantage point, making this image a valuable historical record of Cork’s urban landscape before its dramatic transformation during the Celtic Tiger era.
Apertureƒ/3.5CameraCanon EOS 20DFocal length18mmISO200Shutter speed1/320s#2005 #Canon20D #Cork #Cork2005 #CorkCityHall #Elysian #Ireland #Photo #Photography #RiverLee #SouthMall
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Cork Before The Elysian
⚬Remember Cork before The Elysian was built? It’s almost 20 years old now, so there are many people around who never saw Cork City Hall like this, without the tower block behind it.
Cork City Hall, completed in 1936, was built to replace the previous City Hall that was destroyed during the Burning of Cork by British forces in 1920. The building’s limestone facade and copper dome make it one of Cork’s most recognisable landmarks. This 2005 photograph predates the construction of The Elysian apartment tower, which began in 2006 and became Ireland’s tallest residential building when completed in 2008. The development of The Elysian and surrounding high-rise buildings fundamentally altered the skyline visible from this vantage point, making this image a valuable historical record of Cork’s urban landscape before its dramatic transformation during the Celtic Tiger era.
Apertureƒ/3.5CameraCanon EOS 20DFocal length18mmISO200Shutter speed1/320s#2005 #Canon20D #Cork #Cork2005 #CorkCityHall #Elysian #Ireland #Photo #Photography #RiverLee #SouthMall
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Cork Before The Elysian
⚬Remember Cork before The Elysian was built? It’s almost 20 years old now, so there are many people around who never saw Cork City Hall like this, without the tower block behind it.
Cork City Hall, completed in 1936, was built to replace the previous City Hall that was destroyed during the Burning of Cork by British forces in 1920. The building’s limestone facade and copper dome make it one of Cork’s most recognisable landmarks. This 2005 photograph predates the construction of The Elysian apartment tower, which began in 2006 and became Ireland’s tallest residential building when completed in 2008. The development of The Elysian and surrounding high-rise buildings fundamentally altered the skyline visible from this vantage point, making this image a valuable historical record of Cork’s urban landscape before its dramatic transformation during the Celtic Tiger era.
Apertureƒ/3.5CameraCanon EOS 20DFocal length18mmISO200Shutter speed1/320s#2005 #Canon20D #Cork #Cork2005 #CorkCityHall #Elysian #Ireland #Photo #Photography #RiverLee #SouthMall
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Cork Before The Elysian
⚬Remember Cork before The Elysian was built? It’s almost 20 years old now, so there are many people around who never saw Cork City Hall like this, without the tower block behind it.
Cork City Hall, completed in 1936, was built to replace the previous City Hall that was destroyed during the Burning of Cork by British forces in 1920. The building’s limestone facade and copper dome make it one of Cork’s most recognisable landmarks. This 2005 photograph predates the construction of The Elysian apartment tower, which began in 2006 and became Ireland’s tallest residential building when completed in 2008. The development of The Elysian and surrounding high-rise buildings fundamentally altered the skyline visible from this vantage point, making this image a valuable historical record of Cork’s urban landscape before its dramatic transformation during the Celtic Tiger era.
Apertureƒ/3.5CameraCanon EOS 20DFocal length18mmISO200Shutter speed1/320s#2005 #Canon20D #Cork #Cork2005 #CorkCityHall #Elysian #Ireland #Photo #Photography #RiverLee #SouthMall
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Gudness – We’re All Good
“We’re All Good” is the latest piece of sonic artistry by Gudness, an outstanding English band based in Leicester. It’s their second standalone single in 2025, serving as an appropriate follow-up to “In This House,” a critically acclaimed extended play released earlier this year that you should also check out as soon as possible. Right with the initial notes and beats, you’ll realize Gudness is not like any other band you’ll stumble upon in modern alternative and indie scenes. Although they combine the fundamental elements of both styles, their sound goes even deeper into experimentation by incorporating some of the finest properties of late sixties and seventies psychedelic rock, while some subtle elements borrowed from post-rock are only notable during particular moments. With the sonic arsenal like this, Gudness showcase their tremendous songwriting, composing, arranging, and producing abilities, proving that even longstanding styles like alternative and indie can still resonate with some pretty innovative moves.
Right with the initial notes and beats, this composition transports you to a completely different realm. Each instrument resonates with generous servings of hall or spring reverb, echo, or delay, making this song so rich in spacey soundscapes. These effects are especially notable in guitar works, which, in this case, an entire palette of cleverly crafted themes, melodies, harmonies, chord progressions, and riffs shapes a calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere. The guitars are jangly, angular, almost clean and polished to the point you’ll hear even the subtle strums over the strings, but over time, the band incorporates huge amounts of distortion, bringing more rawness, abrasiveness, grittiness, aggression, and heaviness into the mix. Still, Gudness somehow retains those tender harmonies and melodies by finding a sweet spot between mellowness and well-articulated aggression. These are the moments where their admiration for the sixties and seventies psychedelic rock shines in the limelight. Besides all these guitar works, the band also implemented some synth pads, adding more depth to the song and support to the guitar works.
Photo courtesy of the band.The lead vocals also contribute harmony and melody to this fine piece of sonic artistry. You’ll hear how all those beautiful vocal lines, heavily drenched in reverb effect, elevate each segment, command attention, and guide listeners throughout the entire composition. The vocalist expertly navigates low, mid, and high notes, emphasizing everything the band intended to achieve with such precision and finesse. Besides decorating every segment and instrumentation, these vocal harmonies also contribute more than necessary emotional depth and complexity to an already intricate song structure. Some additional vocal layers and back vocals also give more richness, and almost an anthemic, orchestral feel to the particular moments, making “We’re All Good” even more pleasant to the ears. As soon as you hear how these vocal harmonies are layered and arranged, you’ll realize that these experienced musicians are not joking around with their music. Everything is so perfectly constructed to serve a purpose in this track. Also, it’s nearly mindblowing how vocals perfectly pair with instrumentations, making “We’re All Good” such a pleasant listening experience.
The rhythm section makes those guitar and synth works even more interesting. While providing more than necessary groove, power, detail, and other similar qualities to this song, the bass guitar also keeps things more progressive by delivering some of the finest low-end notes you’ll hear in any recent alternative, indie, or psychedelic rock song. The bass guitar plays the vital role here because it delivers all those necessary warm tones while simultaneously binding guitars and synths with rhythmic patterns. The drummer offers a comprehensive collection of well-accentuated, expertly performed, cleverly assembled beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics, essential for keeping this song dynamic, energetic, and groovy. Everything is so thoughtfully arranged that each hit of the snare, kick of the bass drum, accentuation on the hi-hat, and splashes over cymbals cut through the ambiance, making this song even more complex.
“We’re All Good” is a marvelous piece of sonic art, crafted and performed by outstanding musicians who know how to sonically tackle all the senses. It’s an emotional, fascinating, wild ride through some of the finest soundscapes you’ll hear in recent years. An absolute treat for all the senses. Head to your favorite streaming platform and check it out, because these highly skilled musicians deserve your utmost attention.
https://open.spotify.com/track/3JMEeq8DawpzEMnPEZYpkG?si=bbba3acd916941b8
#alternative #gudness #indieRock #music #postRock #psychRock2 #psychedelicRock #reviews #rock
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Gudness – We’re All Good
“We’re All Good” is the latest piece of sonic artistry by Gudness, an outstanding English band based in Leicester. It’s their second standalone single in 2025, serving as an appropriate follow-up to “In This House,” a critically acclaimed extended play released earlier this year that you should also check out as soon as possible. Right with the initial notes and beats, you’ll realize Gudness is not like any other band you’ll stumble upon in modern alternative and indie scenes. Although they combine the fundamental elements of both styles, their sound goes even deeper into experimentation by incorporating some of the finest properties of late sixties and seventies psychedelic rock, while some subtle elements borrowed from post-rock are only notable during particular moments. With the sonic arsenal like this, Gudness showcase their tremendous songwriting, composing, arranging, and producing abilities, proving that even longstanding styles like alternative and indie can still resonate with some pretty innovative moves.
Right with the initial notes and beats, this composition transports you to a completely different realm. Each instrument resonates with generous servings of hall or spring reverb, echo, or delay, making this song so rich in spacey soundscapes. These effects are especially notable in guitar works, which, in this case, an entire palette of cleverly crafted themes, melodies, harmonies, chord progressions, and riffs shapes a calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere. The guitars are jangly, angular, almost clean and polished to the point you’ll hear even the subtle strums over the strings, but over time, the band incorporates huge amounts of distortion, bringing more rawness, abrasiveness, grittiness, aggression, and heaviness into the mix. Still, Gudness somehow retains those tender harmonies and melodies by finding a sweet spot between mellowness and well-articulated aggression. These are the moments where their admiration for the sixties and seventies psychedelic rock shines in the limelight. Besides all these guitar works, the band also implemented some synth pads, adding more depth to the song and support to the guitar works.
Photo courtesy of the band.The lead vocals also contribute harmony and melody to this fine piece of sonic artistry. You’ll hear how all those beautiful vocal lines, heavily drenched in reverb effect, elevate each segment, command attention, and guide listeners throughout the entire composition. The vocalist expertly navigates low, mid, and high notes, emphasizing everything the band intended to achieve with such precision and finesse. Besides decorating every segment and instrumentation, these vocal harmonies also contribute more than necessary emotional depth and complexity to an already intricate song structure. Some additional vocal layers and back vocals also give more richness, and almost an anthemic, orchestral feel to the particular moments, making “We’re All Good” even more pleasant to the ears. As soon as you hear how these vocal harmonies are layered and arranged, you’ll realize that these experienced musicians are not joking around with their music. Everything is so perfectly constructed to serve a purpose in this track. Also, it’s nearly mindblowing how vocals perfectly pair with instrumentations, making “We’re All Good” such a pleasant listening experience.
The rhythm section makes those guitar and synth works even more interesting. While providing more than necessary groove, power, detail, and other similar qualities to this song, the bass guitar also keeps things more progressive by delivering some of the finest low-end notes you’ll hear in any recent alternative, indie, or psychedelic rock song. The bass guitar plays the vital role here because it delivers all those necessary warm tones while simultaneously binding guitars and synths with rhythmic patterns. The drummer offers a comprehensive collection of well-accentuated, expertly performed, cleverly assembled beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics, essential for keeping this song dynamic, energetic, and groovy. Everything is so thoughtfully arranged that each hit of the snare, kick of the bass drum, accentuation on the hi-hat, and splashes over cymbals cut through the ambiance, making this song even more complex.
“We’re All Good” is a marvelous piece of sonic art, crafted and performed by outstanding musicians who know how to sonically tackle all the senses. It’s an emotional, fascinating, wild ride through some of the finest soundscapes you’ll hear in recent years. An absolute treat for all the senses. Head to your favorite streaming platform and check it out, because these highly skilled musicians deserve your utmost attention.
https://open.spotify.com/track/3JMEeq8DawpzEMnPEZYpkG?si=bbba3acd916941b8
#alternative #gudness #indieRock #music #postRock #psychRock2 #psychedelicRock #reviews #rock
-
Gudness – We’re All Good
“We’re All Good” is the latest piece of sonic artistry by Gudness, an outstanding English band based in Leicester. It’s their second standalone single in 2025, serving as an appropriate follow-up to “In This House,” a critically acclaimed extended play released earlier this year that you should also check out as soon as possible. Right with the initial notes and beats, you’ll realize Gudness is not like any other band you’ll stumble upon in modern alternative and indie scenes. Although they combine the fundamental elements of both styles, their sound goes even deeper into experimentation by incorporating some of the finest properties of late sixties and seventies psychedelic rock, while some subtle elements borrowed from post-rock are only notable during particular moments. With the sonic arsenal like this, Gudness showcase their tremendous songwriting, composing, arranging, and producing abilities, proving that even longstanding styles like alternative and indie can still resonate with some pretty innovative moves.
Right with the initial notes and beats, this composition transports you to a completely different realm. Each instrument resonates with generous servings of hall or spring reverb, echo, or delay, making this song so rich in spacey soundscapes. These effects are especially notable in guitar works, which, in this case, an entire palette of cleverly crafted themes, melodies, harmonies, chord progressions, and riffs shapes a calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere. The guitars are jangly, angular, almost clean and polished to the point you’ll hear even the subtle strums over the strings, but over time, the band incorporates huge amounts of distortion, bringing more rawness, abrasiveness, grittiness, aggression, and heaviness into the mix. Still, Gudness somehow retains those tender harmonies and melodies by finding a sweet spot between mellowness and well-articulated aggression. These are the moments where their admiration for the sixties and seventies psychedelic rock shines in the limelight. Besides all these guitar works, the band also implemented some synth pads, adding more depth to the song and support to the guitar works.
Photo courtesy of the band.The lead vocals also contribute harmony and melody to this fine piece of sonic artistry. You’ll hear how all those beautiful vocal lines, heavily drenched in reverb effect, elevate each segment, command attention, and guide listeners throughout the entire composition. The vocalist expertly navigates low, mid, and high notes, emphasizing everything the band intended to achieve with such precision and finesse. Besides decorating every segment and instrumentation, these vocal harmonies also contribute more than necessary emotional depth and complexity to an already intricate song structure. Some additional vocal layers and back vocals also give more richness, and almost an anthemic, orchestral feel to the particular moments, making “We’re All Good” even more pleasant to the ears. As soon as you hear how these vocal harmonies are layered and arranged, you’ll realize that these experienced musicians are not joking around with their music. Everything is so perfectly constructed to serve a purpose in this track. Also, it’s nearly mindblowing how vocals perfectly pair with instrumentations, making “We’re All Good” such a pleasant listening experience.
The rhythm section makes those guitar and synth works even more interesting. While providing more than necessary groove, power, detail, and other similar qualities to this song, the bass guitar also keeps things more progressive by delivering some of the finest low-end notes you’ll hear in any recent alternative, indie, or psychedelic rock song. The bass guitar plays the vital role here because it delivers all those necessary warm tones while simultaneously binding guitars and synths with rhythmic patterns. The drummer offers a comprehensive collection of well-accentuated, expertly performed, cleverly assembled beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics, essential for keeping this song dynamic, energetic, and groovy. Everything is so thoughtfully arranged that each hit of the snare, kick of the bass drum, accentuation on the hi-hat, and splashes over cymbals cut through the ambiance, making this song even more complex.
“We’re All Good” is a marvelous piece of sonic art, crafted and performed by outstanding musicians who know how to sonically tackle all the senses. It’s an emotional, fascinating, wild ride through some of the finest soundscapes you’ll hear in recent years. An absolute treat for all the senses. Head to your favorite streaming platform and check it out, because these highly skilled musicians deserve your utmost attention.
https://open.spotify.com/track/3JMEeq8DawpzEMnPEZYpkG?si=bbba3acd916941b8
#alternative #gudness #indieRock #music #postRock #psychRock2 #psychedelicRock #reviews #rock
-
Gudness – We’re All Good
“We’re All Good” is the latest piece of sonic artistry by Gudness, an outstanding English band based in Leicester. It’s their second standalone single in 2025, serving as an appropriate follow-up to “In This House,” a critically acclaimed extended play released earlier this year that you should also check out as soon as possible. Right with the initial notes and beats, you’ll realize Gudness is not like any other band you’ll stumble upon in modern alternative and indie scenes. Although they combine the fundamental elements of both styles, their sound goes even deeper into experimentation by incorporating some of the finest properties of late sixties and seventies psychedelic rock, while some subtle elements borrowed from post-rock are only notable during particular moments. With the sonic arsenal like this, Gudness showcase their tremendous songwriting, composing, arranging, and producing abilities, proving that even longstanding styles like alternative and indie can still resonate with some pretty innovative moves.
Right with the initial notes and beats, this composition transports you to a completely different realm. Each instrument resonates with generous servings of hall or spring reverb, echo, or delay, making this song so rich in spacey soundscapes. These effects are especially notable in guitar works, which, in this case, an entire palette of cleverly crafted themes, melodies, harmonies, chord progressions, and riffs shapes a calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere. The guitars are jangly, angular, almost clean and polished to the point you’ll hear even the subtle strums over the strings, but over time, the band incorporates huge amounts of distortion, bringing more rawness, abrasiveness, grittiness, aggression, and heaviness into the mix. Still, Gudness somehow retains those tender harmonies and melodies by finding a sweet spot between mellowness and well-articulated aggression. These are the moments where their admiration for the sixties and seventies psychedelic rock shines in the limelight. Besides all these guitar works, the band also implemented some synth pads, adding more depth to the song and support to the guitar works.
Photo courtesy of the band.The lead vocals also contribute harmony and melody to this fine piece of sonic artistry. You’ll hear how all those beautiful vocal lines, heavily drenched in reverb effect, elevate each segment, command attention, and guide listeners throughout the entire composition. The vocalist expertly navigates low, mid, and high notes, emphasizing everything the band intended to achieve with such precision and finesse. Besides decorating every segment and instrumentation, these vocal harmonies also contribute more than necessary emotional depth and complexity to an already intricate song structure. Some additional vocal layers and back vocals also give more richness, and almost an anthemic, orchestral feel to the particular moments, making “We’re All Good” even more pleasant to the ears. As soon as you hear how these vocal harmonies are layered and arranged, you’ll realize that these experienced musicians are not joking around with their music. Everything is so perfectly constructed to serve a purpose in this track. Also, it’s nearly mindblowing how vocals perfectly pair with instrumentations, making “We’re All Good” such a pleasant listening experience.
The rhythm section makes those guitar and synth works even more interesting. While providing more than necessary groove, power, detail, and other similar qualities to this song, the bass guitar also keeps things more progressive by delivering some of the finest low-end notes you’ll hear in any recent alternative, indie, or psychedelic rock song. The bass guitar plays the vital role here because it delivers all those necessary warm tones while simultaneously binding guitars and synths with rhythmic patterns. The drummer offers a comprehensive collection of well-accentuated, expertly performed, cleverly assembled beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics, essential for keeping this song dynamic, energetic, and groovy. Everything is so thoughtfully arranged that each hit of the snare, kick of the bass drum, accentuation on the hi-hat, and splashes over cymbals cut through the ambiance, making this song even more complex.
“We’re All Good” is a marvelous piece of sonic art, crafted and performed by outstanding musicians who know how to sonically tackle all the senses. It’s an emotional, fascinating, wild ride through some of the finest soundscapes you’ll hear in recent years. An absolute treat for all the senses. Head to your favorite streaming platform and check it out, because these highly skilled musicians deserve your utmost attention.
https://open.spotify.com/track/3JMEeq8DawpzEMnPEZYpkG?si=bbba3acd916941b8
#alternative #gudness #indieRock #music #postRock #psychRock #psychedelicRock #reviews #rock
-
Gudness – We’re All Good
“We’re All Good” is the latest piece of sonic artistry by Gudness, an outstanding English band based in Leicester. It’s their second standalone single in 2025, serving as an appropriate follow-up to “In This House,” a critically acclaimed extended play released earlier this year that you should also check out as soon as possible. Right with the initial notes and beats, you’ll realize Gudness is not like any other band you’ll stumble upon in modern alternative and indie scenes. Although they combine the fundamental elements of both styles, their sound goes even deeper into experimentation by incorporating some of the finest properties of late sixties and seventies psychedelic rock, while some subtle elements borrowed from post-rock are only notable during particular moments. With the sonic arsenal like this, Gudness showcase their tremendous songwriting, composing, arranging, and producing abilities, proving that even longstanding styles like alternative and indie can still resonate with some pretty innovative moves.
Right with the initial notes and beats, this composition transports you to a completely different realm. Each instrument resonates with generous servings of hall or spring reverb, echo, or delay, making this song so rich in spacey soundscapes. These effects are especially notable in guitar works, which, in this case, an entire palette of cleverly crafted themes, melodies, harmonies, chord progressions, and riffs shapes a calm, soothing, relaxing, ethereal, otherworldly atmosphere. The guitars are jangly, angular, almost clean and polished to the point you’ll hear even the subtle strums over the strings, but over time, the band incorporates huge amounts of distortion, bringing more rawness, abrasiveness, grittiness, aggression, and heaviness into the mix. Still, Gudness somehow retains those tender harmonies and melodies by finding a sweet spot between mellowness and well-articulated aggression. These are the moments where their admiration for the sixties and seventies psychedelic rock shines in the limelight. Besides all these guitar works, the band also implemented some synth pads, adding more depth to the song and support to the guitar works.
Photo courtesy of the band.The lead vocals also contribute harmony and melody to this fine piece of sonic artistry. You’ll hear how all those beautiful vocal lines, heavily drenched in reverb effect, elevate each segment, command attention, and guide listeners throughout the entire composition. The vocalist expertly navigates low, mid, and high notes, emphasizing everything the band intended to achieve with such precision and finesse. Besides decorating every segment and instrumentation, these vocal harmonies also contribute more than necessary emotional depth and complexity to an already intricate song structure. Some additional vocal layers and back vocals also give more richness, and almost an anthemic, orchestral feel to the particular moments, making “We’re All Good” even more pleasant to the ears. As soon as you hear how these vocal harmonies are layered and arranged, you’ll realize that these experienced musicians are not joking around with their music. Everything is so perfectly constructed to serve a purpose in this track. Also, it’s nearly mindblowing how vocals perfectly pair with instrumentations, making “We’re All Good” such a pleasant listening experience.
The rhythm section makes those guitar and synth works even more interesting. While providing more than necessary groove, power, detail, and other similar qualities to this song, the bass guitar also keeps things more progressive by delivering some of the finest low-end notes you’ll hear in any recent alternative, indie, or psychedelic rock song. The bass guitar plays the vital role here because it delivers all those necessary warm tones while simultaneously binding guitars and synths with rhythmic patterns. The drummer offers a comprehensive collection of well-accentuated, expertly performed, cleverly assembled beats, breaks, fills, and other percussive acrobatics, essential for keeping this song dynamic, energetic, and groovy. Everything is so thoughtfully arranged that each hit of the snare, kick of the bass drum, accentuation on the hi-hat, and splashes over cymbals cut through the ambiance, making this song even more complex.
“We’re All Good” is a marvelous piece of sonic art, crafted and performed by outstanding musicians who know how to sonically tackle all the senses. It’s an emotional, fascinating, wild ride through some of the finest soundscapes you’ll hear in recent years. An absolute treat for all the senses. Head to your favorite streaming platform and check it out, because these highly skilled musicians deserve your utmost attention.
https://open.spotify.com/track/3JMEeq8DawpzEMnPEZYpkG?si=bbba3acd916941b8
#alternative #gudness #indieRock #music #postRock #psychRock2 #psychedelicRock #reviews #rock
-
Here's where to find #WarmingCenters around #Maine
by WGME Staff
Tue, January 21st 2025Below is a list of warming shelters:
Augusta
- The Augusta Civic Center at 76 Community in Augusta is open as a warming center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. No pets, drugs, alcohol or weapons in the facility.
- The South Parish Congregational Church at 34 Bridge St. in Augusta is open as a warming center. Call 207-213-6637 for more information.
Bangor
- The Mansion Church at 96 Center Street in Bangor (207) 249-9154 is open through March 31 from 6 pm. – 7 a.m. seven days a week. The shelter can accommodate 30 guests. No violence, drugs/alcohol on premises. Bag searches/pat downs.
- Hope House at 179 Corporate Drive in Bangor will be opening 8 life safety beds for snowstorms, low temps, and extreme weather. Call (207) 217-6713 for bed availability.
- Shaw House at 136 Union Street in Bangor is open 24 hours youth until 21st birthday. Call (207) 941-2874 or come by for shelter.
- The Well Warming Center/Jericho Road at 146 B Center Street in Bangor is open through March 31 Monday – Saturday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. No violence, drugs/alcohol on premises. Bag searches/pat downs.
- Brick Church at 126 Union Street in Bangor is open through April 15 from 4 p.m. - 7 a.m. seven days a week. Dinner at 4 pm. Can accommodate 30 guests. No violence, drugs/alcohol on premises. Bag searches.
- Bangor Area Homeless Shelter at 263 Main Street has a warming center that is currently open from 6 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. every day until March 21. Lunch is served at 11:45 a.m. every day to any adult in need.
Ellsworth
- Healthy Acadia at 24 Church Street in Ellsworth is open as a warming center seven nights a week from 4 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. until April 30. Meals, snacks, and beverages are available.
Lewiston
- New Beginnings at 436 Main Street in Lewiston is open as a warming center from 8 p.m. - 8 a.m. for ages 18-24.
- The City of Lewiston’s warming shelter at 551 Lincoln Street is open 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
- Trinity Jubilee Center at 247 Bates Street in Lewiston is open as a warming center Monday-Saturday from 7:30 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Portland
- There will be a warming center opening up at First Parish Church at 425 Congress Street in Portland Monday- Wednesday nights (January 20-23). This shelter is opened as a temporary overnight warming shelter for unsheltered adults during periods of extreme cold or excessive snow, in addition to the permanent emergency shelters available to individuals experiencing homelessness 365 days a year.
Rockland
- Rockland Emergency Warming Center at the Rec/Flanagan Center in Rockland open for Jan. 20, Jan. 21, and Jan. 22 from 7 p.m. - 7 a.m. with warm meals and warm showers. The shelter is at 61 Limerock St. Enter through the back side door on Union Street.
Stow
- Warming center is open at Stow Town Hall at 710 Stow Rd. in Stow.
https://wgme.com/news/local/heres-where-to-find-warming-centers-around-maine-frigid-arctic-air-wind-chills-forecast-colder-temperatures-winter
#BangorMaine #EllsworthMaine #PortlandMaine #RocklandMaine #StowMaine #LewistonMaine #AugustaMaine #WarmingShelters #ArcticBlast -
Here's where to find #WarmingCenters around #Maine
by WGME Staff
Tue, January 21st 2025Below is a list of warming shelters:
Augusta
- The Augusta Civic Center at 76 Community in Augusta is open as a warming center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. No pets, drugs, alcohol or weapons in the facility.
- The South Parish Congregational Church at 34 Bridge St. in Augusta is open as a warming center. Call 207-213-6637 for more information.
Bangor
- The Mansion Church at 96 Center Street in Bangor (207) 249-9154 is open through March 31 from 6 pm. – 7 a.m. seven days a week. The shelter can accommodate 30 guests. No violence, drugs/alcohol on premises. Bag searches/pat downs.
- Hope House at 179 Corporate Drive in Bangor will be opening 8 life safety beds for snowstorms, low temps, and extreme weather. Call (207) 217-6713 for bed availability.
- Shaw House at 136 Union Street in Bangor is open 24 hours youth until 21st birthday. Call (207) 941-2874 or come by for shelter.
- The Well Warming Center/Jericho Road at 146 B Center Street in Bangor is open through March 31 Monday – Saturday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. No violence, drugs/alcohol on premises. Bag searches/pat downs.
- Brick Church at 126 Union Street in Bangor is open through April 15 from 4 p.m. - 7 a.m. seven days a week. Dinner at 4 pm. Can accommodate 30 guests. No violence, drugs/alcohol on premises. Bag searches.
- Bangor Area Homeless Shelter at 263 Main Street has a warming center that is currently open from 6 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. every day until March 21. Lunch is served at 11:45 a.m. every day to any adult in need.
Ellsworth
- Healthy Acadia at 24 Church Street in Ellsworth is open as a warming center seven nights a week from 4 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. until April 30. Meals, snacks, and beverages are available.
Lewiston
- New Beginnings at 436 Main Street in Lewiston is open as a warming center from 8 p.m. - 8 a.m. for ages 18-24.
- The City of Lewiston’s warming shelter at 551 Lincoln Street is open 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
- Trinity Jubilee Center at 247 Bates Street in Lewiston is open as a warming center Monday-Saturday from 7:30 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Portland
- There will be a warming center opening up at First Parish Church at 425 Congress Street in Portland Monday- Wednesday nights (January 20-23). This shelter is opened as a temporary overnight warming shelter for unsheltered adults during periods of extreme cold or excessive snow, in addition to the permanent emergency shelters available to individuals experiencing homelessness 365 days a year.
Rockland
- Rockland Emergency Warming Center at the Rec/Flanagan Center in Rockland open for Jan. 20, Jan. 21, and Jan. 22 from 7 p.m. - 7 a.m. with warm meals and warm showers. The shelter is at 61 Limerock St. Enter through the back side door on Union Street.
Stow
- Warming center is open at Stow Town Hall at 710 Stow Rd. in Stow.
https://wgme.com/news/local/heres-where-to-find-warming-centers-around-maine-frigid-arctic-air-wind-chills-forecast-colder-temperatures-winter
#BangorMaine #EllsworthMaine #PortlandMaine #RocklandMaine #StowMaine #LewistonMaine #AugustaMaine #WarmingShelters #ArcticBlast -
Here's where to find #WarmingCenters around #Maine
by WGME Staff
Tue, January 21st 2025Below is a list of warming shelters:
Augusta
- The Augusta Civic Center at 76 Community in Augusta is open as a warming center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. No pets, drugs, alcohol or weapons in the facility.
- The South Parish Congregational Church at 34 Bridge St. in Augusta is open as a warming center. Call 207-213-6637 for more information.
Bangor
- The Mansion Church at 96 Center Street in Bangor (207) 249-9154 is open through March 31 from 6 pm. – 7 a.m. seven days a week. The shelter can accommodate 30 guests. No violence, drugs/alcohol on premises. Bag searches/pat downs.
- Hope House at 179 Corporate Drive in Bangor will be opening 8 life safety beds for snowstorms, low temps, and extreme weather. Call (207) 217-6713 for bed availability.
- Shaw House at 136 Union Street in Bangor is open 24 hours youth until 21st birthday. Call (207) 941-2874 or come by for shelter.
- The Well Warming Center/Jericho Road at 146 B Center Street in Bangor is open through March 31 Monday – Saturday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. No violence, drugs/alcohol on premises. Bag searches/pat downs.
- Brick Church at 126 Union Street in Bangor is open through April 15 from 4 p.m. - 7 a.m. seven days a week. Dinner at 4 pm. Can accommodate 30 guests. No violence, drugs/alcohol on premises. Bag searches.
- Bangor Area Homeless Shelter at 263 Main Street has a warming center that is currently open from 6 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. every day until March 21. Lunch is served at 11:45 a.m. every day to any adult in need.
Ellsworth
- Healthy Acadia at 24 Church Street in Ellsworth is open as a warming center seven nights a week from 4 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. until April 30. Meals, snacks, and beverages are available.
Lewiston
- New Beginnings at 436 Main Street in Lewiston is open as a warming center from 8 p.m. - 8 a.m. for ages 18-24.
- The City of Lewiston’s warming shelter at 551 Lincoln Street is open 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
- Trinity Jubilee Center at 247 Bates Street in Lewiston is open as a warming center Monday-Saturday from 7:30 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Portland
- There will be a warming center opening up at First Parish Church at 425 Congress Street in Portland Monday- Wednesday nights (January 20-23). This shelter is opened as a temporary overnight warming shelter for unsheltered adults during periods of extreme cold or excessive snow, in addition to the permanent emergency shelters available to individuals experiencing homelessness 365 days a year.
Rockland
- Rockland Emergency Warming Center at the Rec/Flanagan Center in Rockland open for Jan. 20, Jan. 21, and Jan. 22 from 7 p.m. - 7 a.m. with warm meals and warm showers. The shelter is at 61 Limerock St. Enter through the back side door on Union Street.
Stow
- Warming center is open at Stow Town Hall at 710 Stow Rd. in Stow.
https://wgme.com/news/local/heres-where-to-find-warming-centers-around-maine-frigid-arctic-air-wind-chills-forecast-colder-temperatures-winter
#BangorMaine #EllsworthMaine #PortlandMaine #RocklandMaine #StowMaine #LewistonMaine #AugustaMaine #WarmingShelters #ArcticBlast -
Here's where to find #WarmingCenters around #Maine
by WGME Staff
Tue, January 21st 2025Below is a list of warming shelters:
Augusta
- The Augusta Civic Center at 76 Community in Augusta is open as a warming center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. No pets, drugs, alcohol or weapons in the facility.
- The South Parish Congregational Church at 34 Bridge St. in Augusta is open as a warming center. Call 207-213-6637 for more information.
Bangor
- The Mansion Church at 96 Center Street in Bangor (207) 249-9154 is open through March 31 from 6 pm. – 7 a.m. seven days a week. The shelter can accommodate 30 guests. No violence, drugs/alcohol on premises. Bag searches/pat downs.
- Hope House at 179 Corporate Drive in Bangor will be opening 8 life safety beds for snowstorms, low temps, and extreme weather. Call (207) 217-6713 for bed availability.
- Shaw House at 136 Union Street in Bangor is open 24 hours youth until 21st birthday. Call (207) 941-2874 or come by for shelter.
- The Well Warming Center/Jericho Road at 146 B Center Street in Bangor is open through March 31 Monday – Saturday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. No violence, drugs/alcohol on premises. Bag searches/pat downs.
- Brick Church at 126 Union Street in Bangor is open through April 15 from 4 p.m. - 7 a.m. seven days a week. Dinner at 4 pm. Can accommodate 30 guests. No violence, drugs/alcohol on premises. Bag searches.
- Bangor Area Homeless Shelter at 263 Main Street has a warming center that is currently open from 6 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. every day until March 21. Lunch is served at 11:45 a.m. every day to any adult in need.
Ellsworth
- Healthy Acadia at 24 Church Street in Ellsworth is open as a warming center seven nights a week from 4 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. until April 30. Meals, snacks, and beverages are available.
Lewiston
- New Beginnings at 436 Main Street in Lewiston is open as a warming center from 8 p.m. - 8 a.m. for ages 18-24.
- The City of Lewiston’s warming shelter at 551 Lincoln Street is open 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
- Trinity Jubilee Center at 247 Bates Street in Lewiston is open as a warming center Monday-Saturday from 7:30 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Portland
- There will be a warming center opening up at First Parish Church at 425 Congress Street in Portland Monday- Wednesday nights (January 20-23). This shelter is opened as a temporary overnight warming shelter for unsheltered adults during periods of extreme cold or excessive snow, in addition to the permanent emergency shelters available to individuals experiencing homelessness 365 days a year.
Rockland
- Rockland Emergency Warming Center at the Rec/Flanagan Center in Rockland open for Jan. 20, Jan. 21, and Jan. 22 from 7 p.m. - 7 a.m. with warm meals and warm showers. The shelter is at 61 Limerock St. Enter through the back side door on Union Street.
Stow
- Warming center is open at Stow Town Hall at 710 Stow Rd. in Stow.
https://wgme.com/news/local/heres-where-to-find-warming-centers-around-maine-frigid-arctic-air-wind-chills-forecast-colder-temperatures-winter
#BangorMaine #EllsworthMaine #PortlandMaine #RocklandMaine #StowMaine #LewistonMaine #AugustaMaine #WarmingShelters #ArcticBlast -
Here's where to find #WarmingCenters around #Maine
by WGME Staff
Tue, January 21st 2025Below is a list of warming shelters:
Augusta
- The Augusta Civic Center at 76 Community in Augusta is open as a warming center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. No pets, drugs, alcohol or weapons in the facility.
- The South Parish Congregational Church at 34 Bridge St. in Augusta is open as a warming center. Call 207-213-6637 for more information.
Bangor
- The Mansion Church at 96 Center Street in Bangor (207) 249-9154 is open through March 31 from 6 pm. – 7 a.m. seven days a week. The shelter can accommodate 30 guests. No violence, drugs/alcohol on premises. Bag searches/pat downs.
- Hope House at 179 Corporate Drive in Bangor will be opening 8 life safety beds for snowstorms, low temps, and extreme weather. Call (207) 217-6713 for bed availability.
- Shaw House at 136 Union Street in Bangor is open 24 hours youth until 21st birthday. Call (207) 941-2874 or come by for shelter.
- The Well Warming Center/Jericho Road at 146 B Center Street in Bangor is open through March 31 Monday – Saturday from 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. No violence, drugs/alcohol on premises. Bag searches/pat downs.
- Brick Church at 126 Union Street in Bangor is open through April 15 from 4 p.m. - 7 a.m. seven days a week. Dinner at 4 pm. Can accommodate 30 guests. No violence, drugs/alcohol on premises. Bag searches.
- Bangor Area Homeless Shelter at 263 Main Street has a warming center that is currently open from 6 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. every day until March 21. Lunch is served at 11:45 a.m. every day to any adult in need.
Ellsworth
- Healthy Acadia at 24 Church Street in Ellsworth is open as a warming center seven nights a week from 4 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. until April 30. Meals, snacks, and beverages are available.
Lewiston
- New Beginnings at 436 Main Street in Lewiston is open as a warming center from 8 p.m. - 8 a.m. for ages 18-24.
- The City of Lewiston’s warming shelter at 551 Lincoln Street is open 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
- Trinity Jubilee Center at 247 Bates Street in Lewiston is open as a warming center Monday-Saturday from 7:30 a.m.- 3 p.m.
Portland
- There will be a warming center opening up at First Parish Church at 425 Congress Street in Portland Monday- Wednesday nights (January 20-23). This shelter is opened as a temporary overnight warming shelter for unsheltered adults during periods of extreme cold or excessive snow, in addition to the permanent emergency shelters available to individuals experiencing homelessness 365 days a year.
Rockland
- Rockland Emergency Warming Center at the Rec/Flanagan Center in Rockland open for Jan. 20, Jan. 21, and Jan. 22 from 7 p.m. - 7 a.m. with warm meals and warm showers. The shelter is at 61 Limerock St. Enter through the back side door on Union Street.
Stow
- Warming center is open at Stow Town Hall at 710 Stow Rd. in Stow.
https://wgme.com/news/local/heres-where-to-find-warming-centers-around-maine-frigid-arctic-air-wind-chills-forecast-colder-temperatures-winter
#BangorMaine #EllsworthMaine #PortlandMaine #RocklandMaine #StowMaine #LewistonMaine #AugustaMaine #WarmingShelters #ArcticBlast -
Lisbon and northern Alentejo
We dipped south into the northern part of the Alentejo region, before a detour back into central Portugal conveyed us to the outskirts of Lisbon. Our route would then return us to northern Alentejo as we crossed Portugal into Spain. For this away mission we deliberately omitted Lisbon itself and also the Algarve; that (and southern Spain) will wait for another time.
Coordinates
- Nisa
- Castelo de Vide
- Marvão
- Tomar
- Nazaré
- Óbidos
- Azenhas do Mar
- Cabo da Roca
- Sintra
- Costa de Caparica
- Setúbal
- Évora
- Monsaraz
- Elvas
- Malveira da Serra
- Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe
Into Alentejo
A cactus garden in the evening light, seen from our van door on pitch at an eco-commune in Proença-a-Velha (📷1). The next morning, two new wildlife sightings: B’s first-ever look at Rhipicephalus sanguineus | the brown dog tick—we’ve been vaccinated against TBE (📷2) and a mongoose that crossed the road in front of us. Later, having continued south into the Alentejo region, we made a spontaneous visit to Anta | dolmen 1 of São Gens (📷3); it’s one of four megalithic tombs near Nisa that may have been erected as early as 3500 BCE. Castelo de Vide was a picturesque drive-by, developed around a 13th–14th C. hilltop castle (📷4); it’s also known for whitewashed houses, Jewish history and surrounding greenery.
Marvão is an attractive fortified town, dramatically located at ~860m on a ridge in the Serra de São Mamede, providing stunning views in all directions—including across the Alentejo plains into Spain. The village itself is pretty to wander, with its white walls/ red roofs (📷1) and immaculate gardens (📷2). Castelo de Marvão | Marvão Castle is well-worth the 1,50 € entry fee. It was begun by a 9th C. Islamic knight and taken by Christian forces around 1160–66 CE. The Moorish fortress underwent major redevelopment after the Christian reconquest of Iberia and it was strengthened during the 13th C. under King Dinis of Portugal. The massive 15th–16th C. vaulted cistern, intended to supply the castle during sieges, is quite a feat of late medieval engineering (📷3). The stone walls follow the natural contours of the mountain and the battlements are walkable; the keep is intact and can be climbed (📷4). We witnessed Gyps fulvus | griffin vultures, describing lazy circles on the thermals, and atop the keep were buzzed by fast-moving swifts. We found Marvão wasn’t overly commercialized and it was surprisingly quiet on a (pre-season) Saturday.
An impromptu study of the doorways and windows of Marvão. Who, across the centuries, has knocked and been invited into a dimly-lit interior, or looked out at the world and thought “There really is no place like home”?
Back into central Portugal
Convento de Cristo | Convent of Christ is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tomar, recognized for its blend of architecture (Romanesque, Gothic, Manueline, Renaissance, etc.) and historical links to the Knights Templar and to the Age of Discovery.
The Knights Templar and the Order of Christ
The Knights Templar, warrior monks/ a Catholic military order, were founded in 1119 CE following the First Crusade to protect pilgrims traveling to Jerusalem; they were disbanded by papal bull (public decree) in 1312 following false accusations of heresy by King Philip IV of France. In 1319 Portugal’s King Dinis I determined to reuse/ repurpose/ recycle their assets (knights, goods, technology and knowledge) as the Order of Christ. The former Templar castle was thus superseded by the Convent of Christ, with Tomar the spiritual and administrative seat of the new Order of Christ.
The Order of Christ helped finance and organize many of Portugal’s early voyages during the Age of Discovery. With the Order led by Prince Henry the Navigator, resources were directed towards maritime expeditions along the coast of Africa. The Order’s red cross emblem was painted on the sails of Portuguese caravels, a visible symbol of exploration in search of commercial opportunities, spreading Christianity and expanding Portugal’s influence.
🤔 Curiosity
The convent’s centrepiece is the church. Seen from the within the main body, the rotunda impresses (📷1); it began as a 12th C. early Templar Romanesque fortified oratory, inspired by the Temple in Jerusalem. Early in the 16th C. it became a chancel with an ambulatory (sequential iconographic panels telling a religious story). This view is from beside the central drum, looking towards the ceiling (📷2). The rotunda’s window frames are highly detailed (📷3). The exterior window on the church’s west façade (1519–13 CE) exemplifies the late Gothic “Manueline” style, with maritime/ exotic motifs reflecting wealth brought back from overseas (📷4).
Claustro do Cemitério | Cemetery Cloister, with a view of the church, is one of a number of cloisters within the complex (📷1); initially built in the 15th C. it was remodelled in the early 17th C. and is named for its role as a burial ground for friar knights. The end of one of three corridors making up the 40-cell Dormitório Grande | Main Dormitory (📷2); completed in 1543–45, the azulejo dado tiles were added in the 17th C. We also toured the Refeitório | Refectory c. 1535 and Cozinha | Kitchen, which wasn’t completed until after 1550. On the eastern flank of the convent, Castelo De Tomar | Tomar Castle—closed for restoration—was built c. 1160 as a stronghold and headquarters of the Portuguese Knights Templar (📷3); it was transferred to the Order of Christ and later integrated into Convento de Cristo. On the western flank of the convent is Aqueduto dos Pegões | Pegões Aqueduct—access here was also barred. However, there is an access tower ~3km away on Rua do Saibreiro from where two tiers of stone arches can be seen (📷4). Although it looks Roman-like, the 6km-long structure was built 1593–1614 CE to supply water to the convent.
Nazaré is globally recognised among the surfing community for it’s big waves, which can reach 20–30m in height. Just offshore here is one end of the largest submarine trench in Europe, at ~230km long and ~5km deep. The Nazaré Canyon funnels Atlantic swells towards the shore, where the abrupt change in depth compresses wave energy, refracting and amplifying it. Our visit to Nazaré coincided with a coastal wind warning (gusts up to 55 km/h) so we saw no surfing, but we did see surf! Praia da Nazaré is the city’s main golden-sand beach, viewed here from the rocky headland at the north end of the beach (📷1). On the tip of the headland is Farol de Nazaré, a lighthouse atop a fort, providing a vantage point from which to watch the breakers roll in to adjacent Praia do Norte (📷2). We watched long waves crest and collapse, all the while the wind whipping off the tops in sheets of spray (📷3). Other waves broke apart thunderously on the rocks directly below the lighthouse (📷4).
After departing Nazaré we entered the walled medieval city of Óbidos via Porta da Vila, the main gate built c. 1376 CE, which integrates a small baroque chapel lined with azulejo | tiles depicting biblical scenes, installed c. 1740–45 (📷1). Rua da Direita is the main cobbled street leading from the gate to the castle, lined with shops, cafés and traditional (guest) houses (📷2). Muralhas de Óbidos | the town walls are well-preserved and make for an alternative route from Porta da Vila to the castle (📷3), although some fellow visitors seemed unnerved by the absence of railings. Castelo de Óbidos | Óbidos Castle was originally Moorish; it was expanded following the Christian reconquest. The Governor’s Palace was rebuilt in the 16th C. and has been a hotel/ restaurant since 1948. Adjacent is Igreja-Livraria de Santiago, a former church converted into a bookshop—in keeping with the town’s status as a UNESCO Creative City of Literature (📷4).
The ramparts of Óbidos provide views out into the surrounding landscape, but also draw the eye inward across town house courtyards, where varied use is made of small outdoor spaces (📷1–3). Touristy it may be, but “the thing” in Óbidos is ginjinha | cherry liqueur, served in small cups made of chocolate. The correct means of consumption, we are reliably informed, is to drink first then eat the cup. We can neither confirm nor deny whether we presently have cherry liqueur aboard this vanship…
Lisbon region
Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais lies to the west of Lisbon and covers a stretch of Atlantic shoreline as well as extending into the Sintra hills. Our first stop was Azenhas do Mar, where whitewashed houses are stacked on steep cliffs of limestone and shale above a beach and seawater pool (📷1). On to Cabo da Roca | Cape Roca, the westernmost point in Continental Europe. The landmark was crowded and while the view to the open Atlantic was thought provoking, the sea cliffs to the north were more dramatic (📷2). There are marked trails on the headland beginning near the parking area; this view looks south back to the cape’s lighthouse (📷3), while this view is towards the golden sand beach of Praia da Ursa lying at the bottom the cliff (📷4).
In Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais we chose the PR4 CSC – Guincho Coastal Route as our morning hike, parking in Malveira da Serra. Once we cleared the village the trail took us into open scrub-covered hills, with a view down to the coast at Praia do Guincho (📷1). After intersecting the coast the trail runs along the cliffs tops and looks down into several rocky coves (📷2). At Praia do Abano we reached the ruin of Forte do Guincho c. 1642 CE (📷3); the view here is northeast in the direction of Cabo da Roca. Praia do Guincho is a wild Atlantic beach backed by dunes (📷4). The uphill leg back to the village involved a fair bit of road walking and was comparatively dull: a 10km/ 3h return loop.
Coastal flowers noted in Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais include Armeria welwitschii | the divine thrift, endemic to coastal central Portugal (📷1); Thapsia villosa | the villous deadly carrot, a poisonous native (📷2); Cistus ladanifer | the gum rock-rose, native to the western Mediterranean and predominant on this trail—here providing a home for Synema globosum | the Napoleon spider (📷3); and the native Centaurium erythraea | common centaury (📷4).
Also noted: Convolvulus althaeoides | mallow bindweed; Erophaca baetica | Iberian milkvetch; Centaurea pullata | Iberian knapweed; Anacamptis pyramidalis | pyramidal orchid; Orobanche crenata | bean broomrape; Anthyllis vulneraria | common kidney-vetch; and Papaver somniferum | opium poppy.
The Sintra hills within the Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais are the setting for a number of sites included in the UNESCO Cultural Landscape of Sintra. A retreat for Portuguese royalty and aristocracy since the medieval period, Sintra became a Romantic playground blending natural scenery and monumental architecture, starting in the 19th C. under King Ferdinand II. Palácio da Pena | Pena Palace was commissioned by the said king, completed in 1854 with vivid colours and eclectic styles (📷1). Castelo dos Mouros | the Castle of the Moors was begun in the 9th C. to protect Sintra a thousand years before Pena Palace was even conceived (📷2); the 19th C. partial restoration is seen here from the palace. We passed beside Palácio Nacional de Sintra | the National Palace of Sintra (📷3), recognizable by its two massive white conical chimneys, when descending to the historic town centre (📷4). There are multiple other sites and interiors we missed in a ~10km/ 3.5h loop walk costing 24 € (Pena Park only x2).
Sintra: brace, brace, brace!
Visiting Sintra was a financial*, logistical (parking, limited suitable pitches in the vicinity, choice/ spread of sites) and physiological (crowds, car crime and pickpocket risk) challenge.
*For example, four top-tier points-of-interest = [Park & Palace of Pena 20 € + Moorish Castle 12 € + National Palace 13 € + Quinta da Regaleira 25 €]x2 + [No. 434/ 435 bus pass 10,96 €]x2 + 1,80 € paid motorhome parking would have cost us 164 € for the day.
✳️ Tips and tricks
After inching our way through Lisbon’s rush-hour traffic we made camp south of the city. This experience, combined with the stress of navigating Sintra, only served to reaffirm our decision to skip revisiting Lisbon’s attractions. We thus arrived at Praia De Santo Antóniois, one of the beaches along Costa da Caparica, with a promenade, fisherpeople and surf school. Later we attempted to visit Praia da Figueirinha near Setúbal on a recommendation, but found the access road closed. We thus bid farewell to the Atlantic and turned inland to begin our return journey.
FisherpeopleSurf schoolA little more northern Alentejo
One doesn’t visit Évora’s historic centre to see extensive well-preserved Roman ruins; rather, the city’s UNESCO listing reflects continuous occupation since the Roman era, when it was known as Liberalitas Julia. Distinct Roman remains are few, although there is more legacy embedded in the fabric of the medieval town. Templo Romano de Évora | the Roman Temple is the primary monument of Roman Évora, built in the early 1st C. CE with granite columns featuring Corinthian capitals (📷1); it’s one of the best-preserved Roman temples in Iberia and was likely dedicated to the cult of the Emperor. Porta de Dona Isabel is a remnant access point to the Roman city (📷2); surviving sections of wall have been incorporated into later fortifications, but it still defines the original Roman urban perimeter. Termas Romanas | the Roman baths c. early 1st C. CE are excavated beneath Câmara Municipal De Évora | the city hall (📷3); this rounded structure is the laconicum, a central space used for sweating in hot, dry air. Not Roman, but nevertheless a curiosity, Igreja de S. Francisco | St Francis’ Church contains the early 17th C. Capela dos Ossos | Chapel of Bones, with three naves formed from arrangements of human bones sourced from local burial grounds (📷4) in a move predating modern concepts of informed consent and planning permission!
One of Europe’s densest megalithic landscapes lies on the outskirts of Évora. We selected a few of the primary sites, beginning with Menhir dos Almendres, a 4m tall isolated standing stone near the village of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe (📷1). Further along the same dirt road—we had to abandon the van and walk—is Cromeleque dos Almendres, a stone circle constructed ~7,500 years ago, comprising 100+ menhirs, making it the largest monument of its kind in Iberia (📷2). From the adjacent village to the south we walked to Anta Grande do Zambujeiro, one of the largest dolmen (burial monuments) in the world, exemplifying Neolithic funerary architecture (📷3); it’s ~5,500 years old—built at the same time as the pyramids in Egypt and Stonehenge in England. During our time travels in the local landscape we had several meetings with the endemic Berberomeloe castuo | Portuguese red-striped oil beetle (📷4); the body resembling a black menhir, its defense mechanism is to excrete an oily haemolymph containing the toxin cantharidin, which causes severe blistering to human skin.
Interpretation aids and access advice
Call in first at Centro Interpretativo dos Almendres for information (there is a series of interpretation panels) and access advice regarding directions, road condition and walking requirements.
✳️ Tips and tricks
The compact village of Monsaraz features whitewashed buildings and cobbled lanes in a layout little changed since medieval times (📷1). Castelo de Monsaraz, a 13th C. hilltop fortress, now contains a bullring built by villagers in 1830 using stones harvested from the semi-ruined parade ground and walls (📷2). Albufeira do Alqueva | Alqueva Reservoir, one of Europe’s largest artificial lakes, is seen from various vantage points, with views over the Alentejo plains and into Spain (📷3). From the walls we also looked over large-scale olive groves, “montado” (a traditional agroforestry system combining cork or holm oaks with grazing land) and vineyards (📷4).
Forte de Santa Luzia at Elvas is part of the UNESCO listing for “Garrison Border Town of Elvas and its Fortifications”. The site is one of the best-preserved examples of early modern military architecture in Europe, demonstrating the 17th C. bastioned fortifications developed as a response to artillery. For its part, this fort—one of two near the fortified city—played a border defense role, layed out on a hill in a polygonal star plan with bastions, dry moat and thick ramparts. Such geometry eliminated blind spots and enabled crossfire; a guarita | sentry box would be located at intervals, often on prominent wall angles to shelter sentinel soldiers (📷1). During the Portuguese Restoration War (1640–68) in which Portugal fought to restore independence from Spain, soldiers stationed here (📷2) saw repeated action, especially in the 1659 campaign—a Spanish offensive culminating in the Battle of the Lines of Elvas. The thick ramparts, engineered to absorb and deflect artillery fire, include cannon positions to return fire (📷3); this is a 7.5cm calibre English campaign piece with wooden gun carriage. Within Casa do Governador | the governor’s house is an unusual vertical “staircase” affording access to an observation terrace (📷4).
After our fort visit we crossed the border back into Spain. Até à próxima, Portugal!
#2026 #camperVan #europe #hiking #nature #nomad #portugal #roadTrip #romans #travel #unesco #vanLife -
EFU Falu 02.v.
EFU 104.57 EURÓPAI FALU LICENC v1.0
“Az Élő Falu Alkotmánya” – Teljes Magyar Változat
HIVATALOS MEGNEVEZÉS
EFU 104.57 Európai Falu Licenc (European Village License) v1.0
Alcím: “A Közösség Joga a Saját Jövőjére”Kategória: Közösségi Szuverenitási Szabvány
Hatálybalépés: 2026. február 1.
Alapdokumentum: EFU 104.44 Örökélet Licenc v1.0
Kezelő Szervezet: EFU Szabvány Konzorcium + Helyi Közösségi Tanácsok
Kapcsolat: [email protected]I. BEVEZETÉS – MIÉRT SZÜKSÉGES EZ A LICENC?
1.1. A Probléma: A Kisajátított Jövő
Évtizedek óta a falvak passzív befogadói olyan technológiai döntéseknek, amelyeket:
- Multinacionális cégek hoznak (profitmotívum)
- Nemzeti kormányok diktálnak (politikai ciklusok)
- Nemzetközi szervezetek írnak elő (helyi valóságtól elszakadva)
Eredmény:
A falvak olyan rendszerekbe kényszerülnek, amelyek:- Nem kértek (elektromos töltők, amiket senki nem használ)
- Nem értenek (okos rendszerek, amik internet nélkül meghibásodnak)
- Nem tudnak javítani (gépi alkatrészek, amiket csak a gyár cserélhet)
- Nem engedhetnek meg (beruházások, amik generációs adósságot jelentenek)
1.2. A Megoldás: Falusi Szuverenitás
Az Európai Falu Licenc jogi és erkölcsi keretet ad, hogy a közösségek:
- Visszautasítsák az EFU 104.44 szabványt nem teljesítő technológiákat
- Követeljék a teljes átláthatóságot (DNS-Mappa) elfogadás előtt
- Előnyben részesítsék a helyi autonómiát erősítő megoldásokat
- Védjék közösségi erőforrásaikat (föld, idő, tudás, kultúra)
1.3. Alapelv
“Egyetlen technológia sem erőltethető rá egy közösségre annak tájékozott beleegyezése nélkül, amelyet az EFU 104.44 szabvány szerint mérnek, és közvetlen demokratikus eljárással hagynak jóvá.”
II. A KÖZÖSSÉGI VÉDELEM HÉT PILLÉRE
2.1. A TUDÁS JOGA (Átláthatósági Parancs)
2.1.1. Elfogadás Előtti Közzététel
Követelmény:
MIELŐTT bármilyen technológia bekerülne a közösségbe (kormányzati program, magánbefektetés vagy adomány útján), a kezdeményezőnek szolgáltatnia KELL:A) Teljes EFU Hatástanulmány
Dokumentum Szerkezet: 1. Technológia leírása (magyar nyelven, közérthető) 2. R-EFU számítás (S-faktor lebontással) 3. HMI értékelés 4. Civilizációs Nyereség pontszám 5. Alternatívákkal való összehasonlítás 6. DNS-Mappa (teljes, EFU 104.44 szerint)B) Közösségi Hatásvizsgálat
- Létrehozott/megszüntetett munkahelyek
- Földhasználat változások
- Karbantartási igények (ki végzi? helyi vagy külső?)
- Élettartam végi ártalmatlanítási terv
C) Valós Költségelemzés
- Bekerülési költség
- Éves karbantartás (20 éves előrejelzés)
- Csereköltség ciklus
- Rejtett költségek (hálózat bővítés, út karbantartás, stb.)
2.1.2. Az Igazság Nyelve
Tilalom:
Marketing kifejezések mint “zöld,” “tiszta,” “fenntartható,” vagy “öko” TILOSAK hivatalos bemutatókban, kivéve ha:- EFU 104.44 tanúsítási bizonyíték mellékelt
- Független harmadik fél auditálási eredmények
- Összehasonlító R-EFU adatok
Büntetés:
Megsértés esetén automatikus elutasítás 5 évre.2.2. A VISSZAUTASÍTÁS JOGA (Demokratikus Vétó)
2.2.1. Közösségi Népszavazás
Folyamat:
Bármilyen technológiai bevezetés, amely a közösségi erőforrások >10%-át érinti (föld, költségvetés, infrastruktúra), népszavazást igényel:- Nyilvános Értesítés: 60 napos előzetes közlés
- Közösségi Műhely: Minimum 3 foglalkozás (lásd III. fejezet)
- Szavazás:
- Szavazásra jogosultak: Minden 16+ éves lakos
- Kvórum: 40% részvétel
- Küszöb: 60% jóváhagyás szükséges
2.2.2. Védett Elutasítási Alapok
A közösség visszautasíthat technológiát, ha:
A) EFU Szabálysértés
- R-EFU > 10,000 per kW (magas anyagterhelés)
- HMI < 0.5 (több pazarlás mint érték)
- Nem teljesíti az EFU 104.44 tanúsítást (nincs DNS-Mappa, nem javítható)
B) Közösségi Értékekkel Való Ütközés
- Sérti a földvédelmi megállapodásokat
- Ütközik kulturális örökséggel
- Csökkenti helyi autonómiát (külső függőséget hoz létre)
C) Elővigyázatosság Elve
- Hosszú távú egészségügyi hatások ismeretlenek
- Ártalmatlanítási út tisztázatlan
- Helyi javítási kapacitás nem létezik
2.2.3. A Vétót Nem Lehet Felülírni
Védelem:
Egyetlen magasabb hatóság (nemzeti kormány, vállalat, nemzetközi szervezet) sem kényszeríthet egy közösséget olyan technológia elfogadására, amelyet ez az eljárás útján elutasítottak.Kivétel:
Csak kihirdetett nemzeti vészhelyzet esetén (háború, természeti katasztrófa) kétharmados parlamenti szavazással ÉS leállási záradékkal (maximum 2 év).2.3. A VÁLASZTÁS JOGA (Technológiai Szuverenitás)
2.3.1. Közösségi Technológiai Prioritások
Minden közösség KÖTELES létrehozni Technológiai Chartáját, prioritásokat rangsorolva:
Példa Sablon:
Közösségünk Technológiai Értékei (1-10 rangsorolás): ___ Helyi javíthatóság (mi magunk javítjuk) ___ Hosszú élettartam (minimum 30+ év) ___ Alacsony földhasználat (termőföld megőrzése) ___ Energiafüggetlenség (külső hálózattól való függetlenség) ___ Munkahely teremtés (helyi karbantartói munkahelyek) ___ Tudástranszfer (készségek a közösségben maradnak) ___ Alacsony R-EFU (minimális ökológiai adósság) ___ Kulturális kompatibilitás (illik életmódunkhoz) ___ Megfizethetőség (közösségi költségvetésen belül) ___ Bizonyított technológia (nem kísérleti)Használat:
Versengő javaslatok összehasonlításakor (pl. napelem farm vs. kis nukleáris vs. biogáz) mindegyiket pontozni kell e charta szerint.2.4. A VÉDELEM JOGA (Erőforrás Védelem)
2.4.1. Földvédelmi Protokollok
A) Mezőgazdasági Föld Pajzs
Szabály:
Produktív termőföld (I-III osztályú talaj) TILTOTT a következőkhöz:- Földi telepítésű napelem parkok
- Szélturbina alapzatok
- Ipari létesítmények
- Bármilyen használat, ahol A_{area} büntetés > 50 EFU/hektár/év
Kivételek:
- Tetőre szerelt napelem (nincs földfogyasztás)
- Agrivoltaika (kettős használat, terméshozam monitorozással)
- Közösségi szavazás felülbírálása (75% küszöb)
B) Ökoszisztéma Védelmi Zóna
Szabály:
500 m-en belül:- Vízfolyások, mocsarak
- Őshonos erdők
- Védett élőhelyek
NINCS technológiai telepítés környezeti hatástanulmány nélkül, amely nulla nettó biodiverzitás veszteséget mutat.
2.4.2. Idővédelmi Protokollok
Koncepció:
A közösségi idő erőforrás. A technológiának időt kell felszabadítania, nem fogyasztania.Mérés:
Minden új technológiának számolnia kell:Időfelszabadítási Index (TLI) = (Megtakarított órák) - (Karbantartáshoz + Tanuláshoz szükséges órák) Példák: - Közösségi mosógép: TLI = +500 óra/év (vs. kézi mosás) - "Okos" otthonrendszer: TLI = -200 óra/év (állandó hibakeresés)Küszöb:
TLI-nek pozitívnak kell lennie, különben a technológia elutasításra kerül.2.5. AZ ÖRÖKSÉG JOGA (Generációk Közti Igazságosság)
2.5.1. Az 50 Éves Szabály
Elv:
“Olyan döntéseket nem hozunk, amelyeket unokáink meg fognak átkozni.”
Teszt:
Bármilyen technológia elfogadása előtt a közösség felteszi:A Hét Generáció Kérdése:
- Ez a technológia 50 év múlva is működni fog?
- Unokáink meg tudják javítani helyben elérhető eszközökkel?
- Milyen hulladékot/terhet hagyunk rájuk?
- Ez bővíti vagy csökkenti lehetőségeiket?
- Meglesz-e a tudásuk a karbantartáshoz?
- Ez pótolhatatlan erőforrásokat fogyaszt?
- Büszkék lennénk ezt a döntést nekik elmagyarázni?
Vétó:
Ha ≥3 válasz negatív, a technológia 80% jóváhagyási küszöböt igényel.2.5.2. Ökológiai Adósságplafon
Szabály:
Minden közösség megállapítja Maximum Éves R-EFU Költségvetését.Számítás:
R-EFU Költségvetés = (Népesség) × (Fenntartható EFU/fő) × (Helyi Korrekciós Tényező) Ahol: - Fenntartható EFU/fő = 40,000 (globális egyenlőségi alapvonal) - Helyi Korrekciós Tényező = 0.8-1.2 (földrajztól, éghajlattól függően)Példa:
1000 fős falu: R-EFU Költségvetés = 1,000 × 40,000 × 1.0 = 40,000,000 R-EFU/év Jelenlegi használat: 42,000,000 R-EFU/év (TÚLKÖLTÉS) → Csökkentés vagy kiegyenlítés szükséges új technológia előttVégrehajtás:
Új technológia CSAK akkor, ha:- Csökkenti az összes R-EFU-t, VAGY
- Közösség máshol kompenzál (pl. régi berendezés leszerelése)
III. A FALUSI SAJÁTOSSÁGOK ÉRTÉKLELTÁRA
3.1. ALAPELV: AZ EMBEREK MINT TŐKE
3.1.1. A Láthatatlan Gazdaság
Minden falunak van egy láthatatlan infrastruktúrája, amely értékesebb az utaknál vagy vezetékeknél:
A Tudás Hálózata:
- A kovács, aki bármilyen gépet meg tud javítani
- A nagymama, aki tudja, melyik gyógynövény mit gyógyít
- A méhész, aki olvassa az ökoszisztémát
- A nyugdíjas mérnök, aki mentorál diákokat
- A néptáncos, aki 500 év kultúrát hordoz
- Az önkéntes tűzoltó, aki vészhelyzetet koordinál
Ez nem nosztalgia. Ez TŐKE.
3.2. HELYI TUDÁS NYILVÁNTARTÓ (HTN)
3.2.1. Cél
Minden CAL-adoptált közösség KÖTELES fenntartani egy Helyi Tudás Nyilvántartót (HTN) – élő adatbázist:
- Ki mit tud
- Milyen hagyományok léteznek
- Milyen készségek vannak kihalás veszélyében
- Milyen szinergiák aktiválhatók
3.2.2. A Nyilvántartó Hat Tartománya
TARTOMÁNY 1: HAGYOMÁNYŐRZŐK
Kategória A: Örökségőrzők
Regisztrációs Sablon:
Név: [Opcionális – lehet szerepalapú: "A Molnár Család"] Tudásterület: [pl. Hagyományos vízimalom működtetés] Mélység: [Gyakorlás/tanulás évei: 40+ év] Átadási Státusz: ☐ Aktívan tanít (tanítványok: ___) ☐ Hajlandó tanítani (diákokat keres) ☐ Veszélyeztetett (nincs utód azonosítva) Jelenlegi Szerep: ☐ Aktív gyakorlat (malom működik) ☐ Ceremoniális/bemutató ☐ Nyugalmazott (tudás megőrizve, nem gyakorolva) Közösségi Funkció: - 15 család gabonáját őrli - Malomtó ökoszisztémát fenntartja - Vízgazdálkodási elveket tanít - Élő múzeum iskolai látogatásokhoz EFU Hozzájárulás: - R-EFU Hatás: -500 R-EFU/év (vs. ipari őrlés) - Megőrzött tudás: Hidraulikus mérnökség, gabonaváltozatok, évszakos ritmusok - Kulturális érték: 300 éves falusi történelemhez kapcsolódásÖrökségi Tudás Példák:
- Hagyományos építési technikák (vályog, zsúp, favázas)
- Élelmiszer tartósítás (fermentálás, füstölés, pincézés)
- Textil kézművesség (szövés, természetes festés, hímzés)
- Népi zene és tánc (szóbeli örökség élő hordozói)
- Évszakos rituálék (szüreti ünnep, időjárás jóslás)
- Gyógynövény tudás (herbalizmus, hagyományos gyógyítás)
- Állathusbandry (ritka fajták, hagyományos legeltetés)
Kategória B: Élő Könyvtárak (Szájhagyomány Őrzői)
Ezek az öregek, akik emlékeznek:
- Hogyan élte túl a falu az 1956-os árvizet
- Miért hívják azt a szántót “Varjú Akoljának” (és mit jelent ez a vetéshez)
- Mely családi viszályok igényelnek közvetítést (társadalmi memória)
- Hogyan kezelték a közöslegelőt a kollektivizálás előtt
Regisztráció:
Név: [pl. Nagy János bácsi, 87 éves] Emlékezet Kiterjedése: Született 1939 – 1940-es évektől emlékszik Speciális Tudás: - II. vh. előtti gazdálkodási gyakorlatok - Falusi politika 1945-1990 - 40+ család genealógiája - Régi kutak helye (mostanra lefedve, de életképes) Átadási Státusz: ☐ Rögzítés alatt (oral history projekt) ☐ Sürgős dokumentálás szükséges (egészség romlóban) ☐ Aktívan mentorál fiatalabb generációt EFU Hozzájárulás: - Megakadályozta naperőművet "Mocsár Szántón" (emlékezett, hogy elönt – €200K megtakarítás) - 3 elfelejtett forrást azonosított (most közösségi víztartalék) - Tulajdonjog vitát feloldott a kollektivizálás előtti határtudás használatávalAkció Pont:
Minden CAL közösség KÖTELES Oral History Projektet végrehajtani az első 2 évben:- Minimum 10 idős rögzítése
- Videó + hang + átirat
- Archiválva falusi könyvtárban + nemzeti archívum + online (engedéllyel)
TARTOMÁNY 2: TŰZOLTÓSÁG ÉS POLGÁRŐRSÉG
Kategória C: Vészhelyzet Kezelés
Miért Számít ez az EFU-nak:
Az Önkéntes Tűzoltóság nem csak vészhelyzet-kezelés. Ez:
- A közösség kockázatértékelő agya
- Vezetőképzés terepe
- A nem pénzügyi együttműködés modellje
- Kritikus műszaki tudás hordozója
Regisztrációs Sablon:
Szervezet: [Falu] Önkéntes Tűzoltó Egyesület Tagok: 18 aktív, 6 veterán tanácsadó Alapítva: 1923 (101 év intézményi memória) Alapkompetenciák: - Tűzoltás (erdő-, épület-, jármű-) - Műszaki mentés (zárt tér, magasság, víz) - Veszélyes anyag kezelés (mezőgazdasági vegyszerkiömlés) - Elsősegély/orvosi válasz - Árvízvédelem (homokzsák műveletek, szivattyútelepítés) - Közösségi evakuáció koordináció Felszerelés Leltár: - 2 oltógép (1987, 2003 – mindkettő helyben karbantartott) - Hordozható szivattyúk (6 egység, alapeszközökkel javítható) - Kéziszerszámok (balták, horogrudak – 50+ év múlt) - Rádióhálózat (mobilhálózattól független) Tudáseszközök: - 24 tűzoltó műszaki mentésre kiképezve - 3 tag veszélyes anyag kezelési engedéllyel - Épületenkénti kockázatértékelés (évente frissített) - Vízkészlet térképezés (minden tűzcsap, kút, tó 10 km-en belül) - Kölcsönös segítség megállapodások 8 szomszédos faluval EFU Integráció: ☑ Technológiai Felülvizsgálati Szerep: Tűzoltóparancsnok Technológiai Tanácsban ül ☑ Kockázatértékelés: Minden új technológia tűz/biztonsági kockázatra értékelve ☑ Képzési Központ: Tűzoltószertár közösségi vészfelkészülési műhelyeket tart ☑ Felszerelési Szabvány: Tűzoltósági eszközök megfelelnek EFU 104.44-nek (javítható, tartós) KRITIKUS TUDÁS: - Lítium akkumulátor tüzek (8 óra égés, 40,000L víz szükséges) - Helyi épület sebezhetőségek (mely tetők dőlnek be először) - Szélminták (tűzterjedés előrejelzés) - Közösségi igénynyilvántartás (kinek kell evakuálási segítség: idősek, fogyatékosak, állatok)Polgárőrség
A Biztonságon Túl – Közösségi Reziliencia:
Szervezet: [Falu] Polgárőrség Tagok: 12 aktív Alapítva: 1995 Elsődleges Funkciók: - Éjszakai járőrözés (bűnmegelőzés) - Közlekedésbiztonság (iskolai átkelő, rendezvénykezelés) - Keresés-mentés támogatás (eltévedt túrázók, eltűnt személyek) - Közösségi rendezvény koordináció (fesztiválok, piacok) Másodlagos Funkciók (Kritikus az EFU-nak): - Szomszédsági látogatások (jóléti látogatások elszigetelt lakosoknál) - Információs hálózat (ki szorul segítségre, milyen erőforrások elérhetők) - Konfliktus mediáció (zajpanasz, határviták) - Vészhelyzeti kommunikáció (amikor telefonhálózatok kudarcot vallanak) Tudáseszközök: - Minden háztartás részletes ismerete (ki hol él, speciális igények) - Járműfelismerés (nem helyi forgalom azonosítása) - Társadalmi pulzus (korai figyelmeztetés közösségi feszültségekre) - Éjszakai ökológia (állatok mozgása, évszakos minták) EFU Integráció: ☑ Társadalmi Tőke Fenntartás: Őrök "közösségi kötőszövetként" működnek ☑ Technológia Monitorozás: Infrastruktúra hibák jelzése (utcai lámpák, utak) ☑ Kulturális Védelem: Hagyományos gyűlekezési terek védelme jogsértéstőlSzinergia Aktiválás:
- Tűzoltóság + Polgárőrség = Teljes 24/7 közösségi monitoring
- Közös rádióhálózat = Független kommunikációs reziliencia
- Közös gyakorlatok = Keresztkészség fejlesztés
- Kombinált felszerelés készlet = Csökkentett redundancia (alacsonyabb R-EFU)
TARTOMÁNY 3: GAZDÁLKODÁS
Kategória D: Gazdakör
Miért Számít:
A gazdák a közösség és föld közötti interfész. Tudásuk meghatározza:- Élelmiszerbiztonsítás
- Táj egészsége
- Vízgazdálkodás
- Szénmegkötés
- Biodiverzitás
Regisztrációs Sablon:
Szervezet: [Falu] Gazdakör Tagok: 45 aktív gazda (18 főállású, 27 részmunkaidős/kisüzemi) Kezelt Föld: 2,400 hektár Kollektív Tudás: - Talajtípusok (szántóról-szántóra 80 év tapasztalatból) - Vetésforgó történet (mi hol nőtt 1950 óta) - Kártevők kezelése (integrált, minimális kémia) - Vízszint változások (megfigyelési adat, 50+ év) - Hagyományos fajtú magvak (15 fajta fenntartva) - Állattenyésztés (hagyományos fajták, legelő kezelés) Felszerelés Készlet: - Közös gépek (3 traktor, 1 kombájn, betakarítók) - Javítóműhely (közösségi, 2 nyugdíjas gépész által működtetett) - Vetőmagbank (közösségi tulajdon, 5,000+ fajta tárolva) - Eszközkönyvtár (kéziszerszámok, speciális felszerelés) Gazdasági Modell: - Kooperatív beszerzés (műtrágya, üzemanyag – 20% megtakarítás) - Közös munka (betakarítási csapatok, csűrépítési hagyomány) - Tudáscsere (havi találkozók, táblanap) - Piaci koordináció (kollektív alku felvásárlókkal) EFU Hozzájárulások: - R-EFU Optimalizálás: Közös felszerelés csökkenti farm-onkénti anyagi terhet - A_{area} Védelem: Aktívan lobbizik termőföld napelem ellen - Tudásmegőrzés: 3 gazda tanít mezőgazdasági főiskolán - Élelmiszer-szuverenitás: A falu 60% élelmiszeréből 10 km-en belül termesztik - Szén-szekvestráció: 400 ha átalakítva no-till-re (talaj szén ↑) Technológiai Charta Integráció: ☑ Vétójog: Napelem/szél I-II osztályú termőföldön Gazdakör jóváhagyást igényel ☑ Felszerelési Szabványok: Új mezőgazdasági gép EFU 104.44-nek kell megfeleljen (vagy indokolja miért nem) ☑ Vetőmag-szuverenitás: GMO/szabadalmazott magok közösségi szavazás alá esnekKategória E: Növénytermesztés és Állattenyésztés Sajátosságok
Növénytermesztési Tudás Nyilvántartás:
HAGYOMÁNYOS NÖVÉNYFAJTÁK LELTÁRA 1. Gabonafélék: - "Bánáti" búza (helyi adaptáció, 150+ év) • Szárazságtűrő • Alacsony N-igényű • Mag: 200 kg tárolva (közösségi vetőmagbank) • Termesztők: 8 gazda, 140 hektár - "Pusztai" rozs (őshonos) • Savanyú talajra alkalmas • Vetőmag: 80 kg • Termesztők: 3 gazda, 25 hektár 2. Zöldségfélék: - "Fehérhagyma" (helyi cseresznye paradicsom, 80+ év) • Konzervipari + friss • Vetőmag: 500g (25,000 növény potenciál) • Termesztők: 15 háztáj kert - “Káposzta” (helyi savanyítási fajta) • 12-15 kg fejek • Tárolhatóság: 6 hónap pincében • Vetőmag: 100g • Termesztők: 40 család 1. Gyümölcsök: - “Tiszaalpári Piros” alma • Késői érés (október) • Tárolhatóság: március • Fák: 180 db (háztáji kertek + közösségi gyümölcsös) • Szaporítóanyag: 50 oltóvessző/év - “Duránci” barack (helyi sárgabarack) • Lekvárnak kiváló • Fák: 60 db • Szaporítás: magról + oltás 1. Ipari növények: - “Prémium” napraforgó (nem GMO, helyi szelekció) • Olajtartalom: 48-52% • Termesztők: 12 gazda, 340 hektár - Kender (ipari, rostként) • Újraindított 2025-ben (régi hagyomány) • Termesztők: 2 gazda, kísérleti 8 hektár ``` **Állattenyésztési Tudás:** ``` HAGYOMÁNYOS ÁLLATFAJTÁK MEGŐRZÉSE 1. Szarvasmarha: - Magyar Szürke (védett őshonos) • Állomány: 85 anyatehén, 3 bika • Gazdák: 6 család • Funkció: Extenzív legeltetés (gyepfenntartás) + hústermelés • Tudás: Szabadlegelős technika, évszakos költöztetés • EFU: Alacsony (minimális takarmány-input, természetes szaporítás) 1. Juh: - Cigája (tradícionális tejelő fajta) • Állomány: 320 anyajuh • Gazdák: 4 család • Termék: Sajt (helyi piac + turizmus) • Tudás: Kézi fejés, sajtkészítés, gyapjúfeldolgozás - Racka (tájjellegű, szarvas juh) • Állomány: 60 db (génrezervátum) • Funkció: Tájfenntartás + kulturális örökség • Tudás: Extenzív tartás, rovartalan legelő (kemikáliamentes) 1. Baromfi: - Magyar Tarka Tyúk (őshonos tojótyúk) • Állomány: ~400 db (25 háztartásban) • Funkció: Tojás + hús (kettőscélú) • Tudás: Szabad tartás, helyi takarmány (kukorica, búza, zöldhulladék) • Genetika: Közösség védje (nincs kereskedelmi tenyésztő) - Liba (magyar hagyományos) • Állomány: ~200 db • Funkció: Hús + toll (párnakészítés) • Tudás: Legeltetés (gyomirtás almáskertben), tollfosztás (nem kegyetlen, hagyományos) 1. Ló: - Kiskunsági félvér (munkaló) • Állomány: 12 ló • Funkció: Mezőgazdasági munka (szőlő, kis parcellák) • Tudás: Igásállat kezelés, táplálás, patkolás • EFU: NAGYON ALACSONY vs. traktor (nincs üzemanyag, alacsony karbantartás) ``` **Állattenyésztési Szinergia:** ``` Kapcsolat: Gazdálkodás + Kézművesség Példa: - Gyapjú (juh) → Fonás (kézműves) → Szövés (hagyományőrző) → Ruházat/Takaró - R-EFU: ~2,000 (teljes lánc, helyi) - vs. Import szintetikus: ~18,000 R-EFU - Minőség: Gyapjú 20+ év, szintetikus 3-5 év - Kultúra: Élő hagyomány (fonó este, szövés tanítás) ``` --- #### **TARTOMÁNY 4: ÉLELMISZER-ELŐÁLLÍTÁS** **Kategória F: Helyi Élelmiszer-Feldolgozás** **Miért Kritikus:** A friss terménytől a raktárálló termékig való út a **tudásláncot** jelenti. **Regisztrációs Sablon:** ``` FALUSI PÉKSÉG Név: [Falu] Közösségi Kemence Alapítva: 1880 (kemence), 2020 (újraindítva) Üzemeltető: Helyi Pékség Szövetkezet (8 tag) Kapacitás: - 200 kg kenyér/hét - 50 kg péksütemény/hét - Kemence: Kő, fa-tüzelésű (150+ év régi) Alapanyag: - 80% helyi búza (Gazdakör) - 20% bio liszt (regionális malom) - Kovász: 40 éves “anyakovász” (folyamatos fenntartva) Tudás: - Hagyományos kenyérkészítés (erjesztés, formázás, sütés) - Fa-tüzelésű kemence kezelés (hőmérséklet olvasás, tűzvezetés) - Kovász fenntartás (táplálás, tárolás, szaporítás) Közösségi Funkció: - 60 család heti kenyérellátása - Tanítás (iskolások kemence napja) - Szociális centrum (pénteki sütés = közösségi találkozó) EFU Számítás: - Energia: Fa (helyi erdő, hulladék ágak) = ~500 R-EFU/év - vs. Ipari kenyér (szállítás + gyár): ~8,000 R-EFU/év (ugyanaz mennyiségre) - Nettó: -7,500 R-EFU/év megtakarítás - Minőség: Kézműves > ipari (HMI magasabb) ``` **További Élelmiszer-Feldolgozó Egységek:** | Típus | Termék | Tudás | EFU Hatás | |-------|--------|-------|-----------| | **Szörpgyár** | Gyümölcsszörp, lekvár | Főzés, tartósítás, sterilizáció | -4,000 R-EFU/év vs. import | | **Sajtműhely** | Tehén/juh sajt | Alvasztás, érlelés, csomagolás | -6,000 R-EFU/év | | **Füstölő** | Hús, kolbász | Sózás, füstölés, hőkezelés | -3,000 R-EFU/év | | **Pincészet** | Bor (helyi szőlő) | Szüret, préselés, érlelés | -12,000 R-EFU/év (vs. importbor) | | **Olajsajtó** | Napraforgó/repce olaj | Prés, szűrés, tárolás | -5,000 R-EFU/év | **Közösségi Élelmiszer-Központ Modell:** ``` Koncepció: “Éléskamra” (Food Hub) Struktúra: - Központi helyszín (régi csűr, felújítva) - 5 feldolgozó egység (fent listázva) - Közös tároló (hűtő, pince) - Közös értékesítés (helyi piac + online) Működés: - Termelők beszállítanak nyersanyagot - Feldolgozók bérmunkában dolgoznak - Termék közösségi tulajdon (50%) + termelő (30%) + feldolgozó (20%) EFU Eredmény: - Éves élelmiszer-import: -60% (érték) - R-EFU csökkenés: -45,000/év (szállítás + csomagolás) - Munkahelyek: 12 főállású egyenérték - Közösségi bevétel: €180,000/év ``` --- #### **TARTOMÁNY 5: KISIPAR ÉS KÉZMŰVESSÉG** **Kategória G: Kézműves Céh** **A Javító Gazdaság Alapjai:** ``` CÉHEK ÚJRAINDÍTÁSA Szervezet: Hagyományos Kézműves Céh Tagok: 18 mester, 12 inas, 8 tanonc Alapítva: Újraindítva 2025 (1850-es céh hagyomány felélesztésével) Szakmák: 1. KOVÁCS - Tagok: 2 mester, 1 inas - Szolgáltatás: Mezőgazdasági szerszám javítás, kovácsoltvas készítés - Műhely: Családi kovácsműhely (1890 óta) - Eszközök: Üllő (120 év), szénkohó, kalapács - EFU Hozzájárulás: -250,000 R-EFU/év (megelőzött cserék) 1. ÁCS/ASZTALOS - Tagok: 3 mester, 2 inas, 2 tanonc - Szolgáltatás: Faház szerkezet, bútor, javítás - Tudás: Hagyományos gerendavázas, csapolt kötések - Eszközök: Kéziszersz ámok + modern gépek (kombináció) - EFU Hozzájárulás: Épületek 50+ év élettartam (vs. 20 év modern) 1. KŐMŰVES - Tagok: 2 mester, 1 inas - Tudás: Kőfal, téglafal, mészvakola - Specialitás: Hagyományos kályhák (cserépkályha, mászóka) - EFU: Mész-alapú habarcs (vs. cement) = természetes, tartós, légzik 1. TETŐFEDŐ - Tagok: 1 mester (nádtetős) - Tudás: Nádfedés (nád, zsúp) - Anyag: Helyi nádas (fenntarthatóan betakarítva) - Élettartam: 40-60 év (jól karbantartva) - R-EFU: NULLA (megújuló anyag, helyi) 1. CSIZMADIA/BŐRMŰVES - Tagok: 1 mester - Szolgáltatás: Cipő/csizma javítás, táska, szerszám - Tudás: Talpazás, varrás, bőrkikészítés - EFU: Cipőélettartam 5-10× meghosszabbítása 1. SZABÓ/VARRÓNŐ - Tagok: 4 mester, 3 inas - Szolgáltatás: Ruha javítás, átalakítás, újrahasználat - Speciális: Hagyományos népviselet (rendezvényekre) - EFU: Textilhulladék -80% (javítás vs. dobás) 1. FAZEKAS - Tagok: 1 mester, 1 tanonc - Termék: Cserépedény, tál, kancsó - Kemence: Hagyományos fa-tüzelésű (helyi agyag) - R-EFU: Helyi termelés, minimális szállítás 1. KOSÁRFONÓ - Tagok: 2 mester - Anyag: Fűz, nád (helyi) - Termék: Kosarak, bútorok - Élettartam: 30+ év - R-EFU: Nulla-input anyag ``` **Céh Kollektív Funkciók:** ``` Szervezeti Műk ödés: 1. Képzés: - 3 éves tanoncprogram (iskola + mester) - Heti 3 nap műhelyben, 2 nap elmélet - Záróvizsga: Remeklés (mesterdarab készítése) 1. Eszközmegosztás: - Speciális szerszámok közös tulajdonban - Műhelyhasználat rotációban - Költség: Egyéni vs. közös = 70% megtakarítás 1. Anyagbeszerzés: - Közös nagykereskedelmi vásárlás - Minőségi alapanyagok (nem olcsó import) - Helyettesíthetőség (több beszállító biztosítása) 1. Minőségbiztosítás: - Szakmai felülvizsgálat (peer review) - Panaszkezelés (céh felelőssége, nem egyéni) - Hírnév védelem (rossz munka = kizárás) 1. Piackoordináció: - Közös kézművesvásár (havi) - Online bolt (kooperatív) - Turizmus integráció (látogatható műhelyek) EFU Integráció: ☑ Javítási Prioritás: Közösség először Céhhez fordul javítási igénnyel, új vásárlás előtt ☑ Oktatás: Céh tanít 4 óra/hét falusi iskolában ☑ Technológiai Felülvizsgálat: Céh teszteli új eszközöket javíthatóságra közösségi adoptálás előtt ☑ Kulturális Megőrzés: Céh hagyományos technikákat élő gyakorlatként tartja fenn Gazdasági Hatás: - €180,000/év kollektív bevétel - 38 munkahely (teljes + részmunkaidős egyenérték) - €220,000/év közösségi megtakarítás (javítás vs. csere) - Nettó Gazdasági Haszon: €400,000/év egy 1,800 fős faluban ``` --- #### **TARTOMÁNY 6: MEGÚJULÓ ENERGIA – HELYI SZEMMEL** **Kategória H: Energetikai Autonómia Modellek** **KRITIKUS SZEMPONT:** A megújuló energia NEM mindig "zöld", ha EFU-val mérjük. A döntés a **helyi sajátosságoktól** függ. --- **H1. NAPELEM – MIKOR ÉS HOGYAN?** **Elfogadható Modellek:** ``` 1. TETŐRE SZERELT NAPELEM (Community-Owned) Példa: Tiszaalpár, Közösségi Napelem Program Telep: - Helyszín: Önkormányzati épületek (faluháza, iskola, tűzoltószertár) - Kapacitás: 200 kW (összesen) - Területhasználat: 0 hektár mezőgazdasági föld (CSAK TETŐK) Tulajdon: - Közösségi Szövetkezet - Részvénytulajdonosok: 80 család (egyenként €500-2,000 befektetés) - Megtérülés: 10 év (alacsony kamat) Technológia: - EFU 104.44 Silver minősítésű (moduláris, javítható inverterek) - DNS-Mappa: Teljes (helyi villanyszerelő megtanulta karbantartását) - Élettartam: 30 év (panelek), 15 év (inverterek, cserélhetők) Működés: - Termelés: 240 MWh/év - Fogyasztás: 60% közvetlen (épületek) - Eladás: 40% hálózatba (bevétel €4,800/év) R-EFU Számítás: - Telepítés R-EFU: 200 kW × 2,160 R-EFU/kW = 432,000 R-EFU - Élettartam: 30 év → 432,000 / 30 = 14,400 R-EFU/év amortizáció - Kiváltott fosszilis: 240 MWh × 68,412 R-EFU/kW / 1,000 = 16,400 R-EFU/év megtakarítás - NETTÓ: +2,000 R-EFU/év NYERESÉG ✅ HMI: - Hasznos munka: Épületek energiaellátása (közösségi funkció) - Pazarlás: Minimális (nincs tervezett elavulás, közösségi tulajdon) - HMI: 0.85 (magas) EREDMÉNY: ELFOGADHATÓ ``` **Elutasított Modell:** ``` 1. FÖLDI NAPELEM PARK (Elutasítva) Javaslat: 50 hektár napelem termőföldön Elutasítás Okai: - A_{area} Büntetés: 50 ha × 100 EFU/ha/év × 25 év = 125,000 MR-EFU (ÓRIÁSI) - Elveszett termőföld: Grade II búzaföld (6 t/ha/év) - Élelmiszerbiztonsági kockázat - Technológiai Charta sértés: “Nincs napelem termőföldön” Közösségi Szavazás: 82% ELUTASÍT Alternatíva: Ugyanaz a befektető elfogadta 200 kW tetős megoldást (fent) ``` --- **H2. SZÉLKERÉK – HELYI REALITÁS** ``` MIÉRT NEM ALKALMAS EZ A FALU SZÉLENERGIÁRA? Falu: Szentbékkálla (Balaton-felvidék) Földrajzi Elemzés: - Átlagos szélsebesség: 3.2 m/s (gyenge) - Optimális szélkerék igény: >5.5 m/s - Táj: Domborzatos (turbulens szél, nem állandó) Kulturális Tényező: - Balaton-part látképe: Véd ett örökség - Szélkerék: 150m magas = vizuális szennyezés - Közösségi Érték: “Szépség” (9/10 Chartán) Technológiai Ellenőrzés: - R-EFU: 2,210 (alap) × 2.2 (S-faktor) = 4,862 R-EFU/kW - Kapacitásfaktor: Gyenge széllel ~18% (vs. 35% optimális) - Javíthatóság: Speciális daruk, tengeri magasság → NEM helyi Gazdakör Vélemény: - Szélkerék alapzat: 20m átmérő beton → 300 m² elvesztett föld/turbina - Vibráció: Szőlő gyökérzetre káros (50m-en belül) Közösségi Szavazás: 89% ELUTASÍT Alternatíva: Forrásokat biomassza (lásd alább) + tetős napelem kombinációba fektetik ``` --- **H3. BIOGÁZ – A FALUSI "ARANY"** ``` SIKERTÖRTÉNET: Tard Biogáz Üzem Falu: Tard (Borsod, 800 fő, hegyvidéki) Koncepció: - Mezőgazdasági hulladék → Biogáz → Hő + Villany - Alapanyag: Trágya (szarvasmarha, sertés) + növényi hulladék - Kapacitás: 150 kW hő, 50 kW villany Technológia: - Fermentáló tartályok: Acél (30+ év élettartam) - Gázmotor: CHP (Combined Heat & Power), standard ipari (helyben javítható) - Szűrő: Biofilter (szagcsökkentés) - EFU 104.44: Még nincs hivatalos tanúsítvány, de MEGFELEL (javítható, tartós, DNS-Mappa van) Alapanyag Forrás: - 500 tonna/év szerves hulladék • 60% állati trágya (helyi gazdák) • 30% növényi hulladék (kukoricaszár, szalma) • 10% zöldhulladék (kert, park) - Költség: NULLA (korábban problémás hulladék volt) Termék: - Biogáz: 350,000 m³/év - Hő: 600 MWh/év (falufűtésbe betáplálva) - Villany: 200 MWh/év - Melléktermék: Fermentált trágya (bio-műtrágya, visszamegy földekre) Tulajdon: - Gazdakör Szövetkezet (18 tag) - Működtető: 2 főállású (helyi fiatalok, kiképezve) - Befektetés: €320,000 (50% pályázat, 50% közösségi) R-EFU Számítás: - Építési R-EFU: ~35,000 MR-EFU (acél tartályok, beton alap) - Élettartam: 30 év → 1,167 MR-EFU/év amortizáció - Termelés: 800 MWh/év hő+villany - Kiváltott fosszilis: 800 MWh × 68,412 R-EFU/kW / 1,000 = 54,700 R-EFU/év - NETTÓ: 54,700 - 1,167 = **53,533 R-EFU/év MEGTAKARÍTÁS** ✅✅✅ HMI: - Hasznos munka: Energiaellátás (60% falu fűtése) + hulladék ártalmatlanítás + talajjavítás - Pazarlás: Minimális - HMI: 0.90 (NAGYON MAGAS) Közösségi Hatás: - Munkahelyek: 2 + 10 szezonális (betakarítás) - Bevétel gazdáknak: €20,000/év (hulladék értékesítés) - Energiafüggetlenség: 60% (hő), 30% (villany) - Kultúra: “Gazdák büszkék – a szar most arany” (mottó a tábla felirat) EREDMÉNY: EFU 104.44 GOLD TANÚSÍTVÁNYRA JAVASOLT ``` --- **H4. VÍZENERGIA (Mikrovízierőmű)** ``` ESETTANULMÁNY: Régi Malom Újraindítása Falu: Zsámbék (Pest megye) Történet: - 1780-as vízimalom (működött 1960-ig) - 1960-1990: Elhanyagolt - 2024: Felújítás közösségi projektként Koncepció: - Eredeti vízikerék restaurálva (fa, 4.5m átmérő) - Modern generátor hozzáadva (50 kW) - Dual-use: Működő malom (gabona őrlés) + áramtermelés Technológia: - Vízikerék: Fából (helyi ácsmesterek építették) - Generátor: Kínai gyártmány, DE: EFU 104.44 Bronze (moduláris, javítható) - Vezérlés: Egyszerű (offline, kézi szabályozással) - DNS-Mappa: Teljes (gyártó biztosította) Energiatermelés: - 180 MWh/év (kisebb patak, nem állandó vízhozam) - Fogyasztás: 100% helyi (malom + 15 közeli ház) R-EFU Számítás: - Felújítási R-EFU: ~8,000 MR-EFU (fa+beton+generátor) - Élettartam: 50 év (vízikerék), 20 év (generátor) - Amortizáció: ~200 MR-EFU/év - Kiváltott: 180 MWh × 68,412 / 1,000 = 12,300 R-EFU/év - NETTÓ: **12,100 R-EFU/év MEGTAKARÍTÁS** ✅ Kulturális Dimenzió: - Élő múzeum (iskolások látogatják) - Molnár mesterség újraindítva (1 mester, 2 tanonc) - Helyi őrlés: 40 család kenyérhoz liszt (közösségi) - Identitás: “A Malmos Falu” (marketing, turizmus) HMI: 0.92 (energia + kultúra + tudás) EREDMÉNY: EFU 104.44 GOLD TANÚSÍTÁS ``` --- **H5. BIOMASSZA (Tüzelőanyag)** ``` ERDŐGAZDÁLKODÁS ÉS FŰTÉS Falu: Szentistván (Vas megye, 600 fő) Helyzet: - Falu 40%-ban erdővel körülvéve (közösségi erdő 280 ha) - Hagyományos: Egyéni fatüzelés (vegyes minőség, pazarló) - Probléma: Nincs szakszerű erdőgazdálkodás → túlhasználat Megoldás: Közösségi Erdészet + Fűtőmű 1. ERDŐGAZDÁLKODÁSI TERV - Szakértő erdész (bérmunkában) - Fenntartható vágás: 600 m³/év (vs. korábbi 900 m³ káosz) - Fafajták: 60% tölgy, 30% akác, 10% gyümölcsfa - Vágás módja: Válogatásos (nem teljes irtás) - Újratelepítés: 2,000 csemete/év (vegyes erdő) 1. KÖZÖSSÉGI FŰTŐMŰ - Technológia: Fapellet kazán (300 kW) - Háló zat: 80 ház bekötve (távfűtés) - Üzemanyag: Helyi erdő + fűrészüzem hulladék (pelletálva) - Működtetés: 1 kazánfűtő (helyi, kiképezve) 1. PELLETÁLÓ ÜZEM (kicsi) - Kapacitás: 400 tonna pellet/év - Alapanyag: Erdészeti hulladék (ágak, fűrészpor) - Értékesítés: 60% saját, 40% eladás (bevétel) R-EFU Számítás: - Erdőgazdálkodás R-EFU: 2,500 MR-EFU/év (gépek, vágás) - Fűtőmű R-EFU: 15,000 MR-EFU (építés) / 30 év = 500/év - Pelletáló R-EFU: 8,000/év - Összesen: 11,000 MR-EFU/év - Kiváltott gáz: 1,200 MWh × 68,412 / 1,000 = 82,000 R-EFU/év - NETTÓ: **71,000 R-EFU/év MEGTAKARÍTÁS** ✅✅✅ Ökológiai Többlet: - Erdő: Aktívan kezelt → Biodiverzitás ↑ (vs. elhanyagolt) - Szénmegkötés: Növekvő erdő nettó CO₂ nyelő - Vízháztartás: Erdő szabályozza helyi csapadékot Gazdasági: - Munkahelyek: 5 (erdész, kazánfűtő, pelletáló, adminisztráció) - Közösségi bevétel: €45,000/ év (pellet eladás + gázköltség megtakarítás) - Fűtési költség: -40% háztartásonként Kulturális: - Erdei iskola (gyerekek tanulják az erdőgazdálkodást) - “Erdő Nap” fesztivál (évente, faültetés, közösség) HMI: 0.88 EREDMÉNY: EFU 104.44 GOLD ``` --- #### **TARTOMÁNY 7: VÍZGAZDÁLKODÁS** **Kategória I: Víz mint Közösségi Vagyon** ``` VÍZGAZDÁLKODÁSI TUDÁS LELTÁR 1. HAGYOMÁNYOS KUTAKÉS FORRÁSOK Nyilvántartás: - 140 régi kút (épület-kút, közösségi) • Működő: 85 • Elhanyagolt, de helyreállítható: 40 • Betemetett: 15 (helye ismert, GPS koordinálva) - 12 természetes forrás • Állandó vízhozamú: 8 • Szezonális: 4 • Vízminőség: Ivóvíz (8), Hasznos (4) Tudás: - Kútásó mester: 1 fő (82 éves, tanítja unokáját) - Technika: Gyűrűs kút (beton gyűrű, kézi ásás) - Karbantartás: Tisztítás, mélyítés, falazat javítás EFU: - Kútból víz: R-EFU ≈ 0 (kézi szivattyú) vs. 500 R-EFU (városi hálózat/fő/év) - Vészhelyzet: Áramkimaradás esetén is működik (reziliencia) Védelem: - Kutak 50m körül tilos vegyszerhasználat - Forrásvidékek erdősítés alatt (infiltráció védelem) ``` ``` 1. HAGYOMÁNYOS ÖNTÖZÉSI RENDSZER Történet: - 1920-as években épült árokrendszer (szőlőhöz, kertekhez) - 4 km összesen - Gravitációs (szivattyú nélkül, domblejtő kihasználása) Felújítás (2023-2025): - Közösségi munka (120 fő, 600 munkaóra) - Költség: €8,000 (anyag), munka ÖNKÉNTES - Eredmény: 45 háztáji kert + 12 ha szőlő öntözhető Működés: - Forrás: Patak-felvét (kis gát, engedély van) - Elosztás: Forgórendszer (minden gazda 1 nap/hét) - Szabályozás: “Vízbíró” (választott, 2 év mandátum) R-EFU: - Rendszer: ~2,000 MR-EFU (felújítás) - Élettartam: 50 év (karbantartással) - Amortizáció: 40 R-EFU/év - Kiváltott: Motoros szivattyúk (12 db) = 15,000 R-EFU/év - NETTÓ: **14,960 R-EFU/év MEGTAKARÍTÁS** Közösségi Dimenzió: - Vízbíró = Konfliktuskezelés (ki mennyi vizet kap) - Közös munka = Társadalmi kohézió - Hagyomány = Identitás (“Az Árkos Falu”) ``` ``` 1. ESŐVÍZGYŰJTÉS (Újraindítva) Program: “Minden Csepp Számít” (2024-2026) Cél: - 100 háztetőn esővíz-gyűjtő rendszer - Használat: Kert, WC, mosás (nem ivóvíz) - Vízigény csökkentés: -30% háztartásonként Technológia: - Ciszterna: 3-5 m³ (föld alatti vagy felszíni) - Szűrő: Egyszerű (levél-, iszapfogó) - Költség: €600-1,200/ház (50% pályázat) Közösségi Megközelítés: - Helyi vállalkozó (ács+kőműves) telepíti (munkahelyteremtés) - Közös anyagbeszerzés (20% kedvezmény) - Oktatás: Iskolában esővízgyűjtés órák R-EFU: - Ciszterna R-EFU: 800/db (beton+csövek) - 100 ház = 80,000 MR-EFU (egyszeri) - Élettartam: 40 év → 2,000 R-EFU/év - Megtakarított városi víz: 30% × 100 ház × 500 R-EFU/ház = 15,000 R-EFU/év - NETTÓ: **13,000 R-EFU/év MEGTAKARÍTÁS** Év 2 Eredmény: - 68 ház telepítve - Vízfogyasztás: -22% (falu szintjén) - Esővíz használat: 180,000 L/év (közösségi összeg) ``` --- # **IV. SZINERGIÁK AKTIVÁLÁSA – A TELJES KÉP** ## **4.1. A SZINERGIA MÁTRIX (Kibővített)** **Hogyan Kapcsolódnak a Tudásterületek:** | Szereplő | Gazdák | Kézműves | Tűzoltók | Polgárőr | Sport | Kultúra | Energia | Víz | Iskola | |----------|--------|----------|----------|----------|-------|---------|---------|-----|--------| | **Gazdák** | — | Eszköz javítás | Tűzvédelem | Mezőőrzés | Föld használat | Étel fesztiválra | Biomassza | Öntözés | Farm látogatás | | **Kézműves** | Szerszám | — | Eszköz javít | Szerszám kölcsön | Felszerelés | Díszletek | Kazán javítás | Ciszterna építés | Tanítás | | **Tűzoltók** | Vízhozzáférés | Eszköz javítás | — | Közös rádió | Torna használat | Rendezvény biztonság | Biogáz tűzvédelem | Szivattyú kezelés | Tűzoltó oktatás | | **Polgárőr** | Járőr mezőn | Szerszám | Vészhelyzet | — | Meccs biztonság | Fesztivál rend | Infrastruktúra | Kút ellenőrzés | Iskolabiztonság | | **Sport** | Föld használat | Felszerelés javítás | Épület használat | Biztonság | — | Közös rendezvény | Napelem használat | Öntöző használat | Utánpótlás | | **Kultúra** | Étel beszerzés | Jelmezek | Biztonság | Rend | Közös program | — | Színpad világítás | Díszkút | Előadások | | **Energia** | Biomassza forrás | Kazán karbant | Tűzvédelem | Monitoring | Épület fűtés | Rendezvény áram | — | Víz+napelem | Oktatás | | **Víz** | Öntözés | Építés | Szivattyú | Ellenőrzés | Ivóvíz | Díszkút | Hűtés | — | Víztudás | | **Iskola** | Látogatás | Tanítás | Oktatás | Biztonság | Sport | Műsor | Oktatás | Oktatás | — | **Példa Szinergia (3-szeres):** ``` ESET: Közösségi Gyümölcsszárító Építése Résztvevők: 1. Gazdák (gyümölcs forrás) 1. Kézműves (építés) 1. Energia (napelem táplálás) Folyamat: 1. Gazdák: Felesleges gyümölcs (barack, alma, szilva) – 2 tonna/év 1. Kézműves: - Ács: Szárító épület (fa, 4×6 m) - Kovács: Szárító rácsok (rozsdamentes, tartós) - Kőműves: Cserépkályha (lassú hő) 1. Energia: 5 kW napelem a tetőn (ventillátorokhoz) Technológia: - Hibrid: Napenergia (nap) + fa (éjszaka/borús) - Kapacitás: 500 kg friss → 100 kg szárított/hét R-EFU: - Épület: 8,000 MR-EFU (fa, kő, vas) - Napelem: 5 kW × 2,160 = 10,800 MR-EFU - Összesen: 18,800 MR-EFU / 30 év = 627 R-EFU/év - Kiváltott import aszalt gyümölcs: 5 tonna/év × 12,000 R-EFU/t = 60,000 R-EFU/év - NETTÓ: **59,373 R-EFU/év MEGTAKARÍTÁS** Gazdasági: - Gazdák: €8,000/év bevétel (aszalt gyümölcs eladás) - Kézműves: €12,000 építési díj (egyszeri) - Közösség: Olcsó, egészséges snack Kulturális: - “Szárító Nap” fesztivál (ősszel, közösség gyűjti a gyümölcsöt) - Iskola: Diákok tanulják a szárítást HMI: 0.91 EREDMÉNY: Többszörös nyertes (gazda+kézmű+közösség) ``` --- ## **4.2. ÉVES KÖZÖSSÉGI CIKLUS – MINDEN ÖSSZEÁLL** **folytatható ezen elv szerint. EFU Integration** ``` Organization: Handwerkskammer [Region] + EFU 104.57 Pilot Villages Structure: - 18 master crafts represented: • Tischler (carpenter), Schmied (blacksmith), Maurer (mason), • Zimmerer (timber framer), Dachdecker (roofer), Elektriker (electrician), • Installateur (plumber), Schreiner (joiner), Steinmetz (stonemason), • Sattler (saddler), Schuhmacher (cobbler), Schneider (tailor), etc. Traditional Function: - Meisterprüfung (master exam) required to operate - 3-year apprenticeship (Lehre) standard - Quality control (poor work = guild discipline) EFU Integration (NEW, 2025): - Guild members trained in EFU 104.44 auditing - "Repair Priority Pledge": Members commit to: • Repair before replace (default recommendation) • Train 1 apprentice per 5 years (knowledge transfer) • Use EFU 104.44 Silver+ tools (or justify exceptions) - Technology Council Representation: Guild sends 1 delegate Economic Impact (10-village pilot, Bavaria): - Artisan jobs: +22% (2023-2026) - Repair revenue: €1.8M/year (previously €400K) - Community savings: €2.4M/year (avoided replacements) - Youth engagement: 34 new apprentices (vs. 8 in 2023) R-EFU Contribution: - Estimated equipment lifespan extension: 2× average - Material waste reduction: -40% (repair vs. replace) - Total R-EFU savings: ~180,000 MR-EFU/year (10 villages, 8,000 people) EU Legal Compatibility: - Meisterbrief (master certificate) allowed under EU Services Directive (safety/quality justification) - EFU Repair Priority does NOT violate competition law (voluntary standard, not market restriction) - Eligible for EU Social Fund+ (skills training, apprenticeships) ``` **Example: Polish Stowarzyszenie Rzemiosł (Artisan Association)** ``` Revival Story: Kazimierz Dolny (historic town, Vistula River) Background: - 1980s: 40 active artisans (pottery, weaving, wood carving) - 2010: 8 remaining (all 60+ years, no successors) - Threat: Tourist shops selling Chinese imitations EFU 104.57 Adoption (2024): 1. Community Decision: - Technology Council includes artisan representative - Charter Priority #1: "Preserve craft traditions" - Policy: Tourist licenses require 60% locally-made goods 2. Guild Re-Establishment: - 8 masters + 12 new apprentices (attracted by subsidy) - Shared workshop (renovated brewery, EU LEADER funded) - Collective marketing ("Kazimierz Original" label) 3. Technology Integration: - Potters: Modern kilns (electric, EFU 104.44 Silver), but traditional techniques - Weavers: Restored 1920s looms (mechanical, zero R-EFU operation) - Carvers: Hand tools (maintained by local blacksmith) Result (2026): - 20 artisans active (vs. projected 0 under trend) - Revenue: €450,000/year (vs. €80,000 in 2023) - Tourist satisfaction: +35% (authenticity valued) - R-EFU: Local production vs. import = -25,000 MR-EFU/year Cultural Impact: - Annual Craft Fair (attracts 8,000 visitors) - School program: All students learn 1 craft (8 weeks/year) - Identity: "Town of Living Tradition" (vs. "museum town") ``` ----- ### **DOMAIN 5: RENEWABLE ENERGY – WHEN AND HOW (European Realities)** **Critical Principle:** “Renewable” ≠ “Green” when measured by EFU. **Context matters**: Geography, culture, existing infrastructure. ----- **5.1. SOLAR – EUROPEAN CASE STUDIES** **✅ APPROVED MODEL: Community Rooftop Solar (Bavaria, Germany)** ``` Project: Solar Cooperative "Energiegenossenschaft [Village]" Installation: - Location: Municipal buildings (town hall, school, fire station) + 40 private roofs - Capacity: 350 kW total - Land use: 0 hectares agricultural (ROOFS ONLY) Ownership: - Cooperative (Genossenschaft, German legal structure) - 120 member-families (€500-€3,000 shares each) - Democratic (1 member = 1 vote, regardless of investment size) Technology: - EFU 104.44 Silver certified panels (modular, 30-year warranty) - Inverters: SMA (German, repairable locally, DNS-Folder provided) - Battery: LFP (lithium iron phosphate, safer than NMC, 15-year life, recyclable) Production: - 420 MWh/year - Self-consumption: 65% (village buildings + members) - Grid export: 35% (€15,000/year revenue) R-EFU Calculation: - Installation: 350 kW × 2,160 R-EFU/kW = 756,000 R-EFU - Lifespan: 30 years → 25,200 R-EFU/year amortization - Displaced grid (German mix, 40% coal/gas): 420 MWh × 55,000 R-EFU/kW / 1,000 = 23,100 R-EFU/year - Net: POSITIVE (~2,000 R-EFU/year savings, modest but acceptable) HMI: - Useful work: Powers community functions (school, fire station) - Waste: Minimal (no planned obsolescence, community ownership prevents extraction) - HMI: 0.82 Community Benefits: - Energy cost savings: €38,000/year (distributed to members as dividends) - Educational: School uses real-time data (solar physics lessons) - Resilience: Battery backup (8 hours critical loads during blackout) EU Integration: - Eligible for KfW Förderbank loans (low-interest, renewable energy) - Feed-in tariff (German EEG law) guarantees 20-year price - Cooperative model protected under EU law (Directive 2003/72/EC) RESULT: EFU 104.44 SILVER CERTIFIED ``` ----- **❌ REJECTED MODEL: Industrial Solar Park on Farmland (Andalusia, Spain)** ``` Proposal: 200-hectare solar park, olive groves Proponent: Multinational energy company Capacity: 100 MW Investment: €80 million Community Assessment (EFU 104.57 Process): 1. R-EFU Calculation: - Panels: 100,000 kW × 2,160 R-EFU/kW = 216,000,000 R-EFU - S-factor (rural Spain): 1.8 (grid upgrades, access roads) → 388,800,000 R-EFU - A_{area} penalty: 200 hectares × 100 EFU/ha/year × 25 years = 500,000,000 R-EFU - **TOTAL: 888,800,000 R-EFU (massive)** 2. Lost Production: - 200 ha olive groves: 400 tons olives/year - Value: €600,000/year (olive oil, €1,500/ton) - Jobs: 40 seasonal (harvest), 8 permanent (processing) - Cultural: Olive groves = 2,000 years heritage (Roman era) 3. Solar Revenue (to community): - Land rent: €200,000/year (company keeps €4.8M/year) - Jobs: 2 maintenance (external technicians) 4. Technology Charter Violation: - ❌ Land use (Priority #1: "Preserve agricultural land") - ❌ Job creation (loses 40, gains 2) - ❌ Cultural (destroys heritage landscape) - ❌ Local control (20-year contract, cannot exit) 5. Community Vote: - Turnout: 73% - Result: 86% REJECT Alternative Adopted: - Rooftop solar on warehouses/factories (15 km away): 8 MW - Olive production maintained - Agrivoltaics pilot (5 hectares): Raised panels (5m high), olive trees underneath • Early results (Year 1): 85% olive yield maintained, 60% solar efficiency • If successful → expand to 20 hectares (dual-use) RESULT: Industrial solar REJECTED, alternatives progressing ``` ----- **5.2. WIND – WHEN IT WORKS, WHEN IT DOESN’T** **✅ APPROVED: Offshore Wind (Scotland)** ``` Project: Community-Owned Offshore Wind (Orkney Islands) Background: - Orkney: 70 islands, 22,000 people, 900 km² land - Wind resource: Excellent (average 9 m/s, offshore) - Energy: Historically 100% diesel (imported, expensive, dirty) Solution: Community Offshore Wind (2018-2025) Installation: - Location: 8 km offshore (NOT visible from inhabited islands) - Turbines: 6 × 6 MW = 36 MW total - Ownership: Orkney Islands Council (public) + Community Benefit Society Technology: - Siemens turbines (EFU 104.44 Bronze – not perfect, but best available for offshore) - Subsea cable: 12 km to grid connection - Lifespan: 25 years (marine environment harsh) Production: - 140 GWh/year (capacity factor 44%, excellent for offshore) - Covers 120% of islands' electricity demand - Excess: Hydrogen production (experimental, for ferries) R-EFU Calculation: - Installation: 36,000 kW × 4,862 R-EFU/kW (offshore S-factor 2.2) = 175,000,000 R-EFU - Lifespan: 25 years → 7,000,000 R-EFU/year amortization - Displaced diesel: 140 GWh × 68,412 R-EFU/kW / 1,000 = 9,578,000 R-EFU/year - **Net: 2,578,000 R-EFU/year SAVINGS** ✅ Community Benefits: - Electricity cost: -60% (from €0.35/kWh to €0.14/kWh) - Revenue: €4.2M/year (power sales + hydrogen) - Community fund: €1M/year (sports, culture, infrastructure) - Jobs: 12 permanent (maintenance, operations) Cultural Protection: - Siting offshore = NO visual/noise impact on archaeological sites (Standing Stones of Stenness, Skara Brae UNESCO) - Bird surveys: Migration routes avoided (RSPB consultation) - Fishing: Exclusion zone, but compensation + artificial reef effect (fish biomass ↑) EU Integration: - UK (pre-Brexit) + Scotland (post-devolution) supported - Now: Scotland aligns with EU renewable energy directives (voluntary) RESULT: EFU 104.44 BRONZE (acceptable for remote island context, NO better alternative) ``` ----- **❌ REJECTED: Onshore Wind in Cultural Landscape (Ireland)** ``` Proposal: 20 turbines (150m tall) in Burren region (County Clare) Background: - Burren: Unique karst landscape (limestone pavement, 300M years old) - Biodiversity: 70% of Ireland's native flora (in 1% of land area) - Cultural: 90+ megalithic tombs (5,000 years old) - Tourism: €25M/year (walking, archaeology) Proponent: Energy company (Irish + foreign investment) Capacity: 60 MW Projected revenue: €180M (20 years) Community Assessment (EFU 104.57): 1. Visual Impact: - Simulations shown: Turbines visible from 25 km - Dominate skyline (from Cliffs of Moher, major tourist site) - Community survey: 78% say "destroys landscape character" 2. Cultural Heritage: - UNESCO Global Geopark status (at risk if developed) - Archaeologists: Vibration risk to megalithic structures - European Landscape Convention: Violation (landscape = identity) 3. R-EFU: - Standard wind: 60,000 kW × 4,862 R-EFU/kW = 291,720,000 R-EFU - Displaced grid (Ireland, 60% gas): Savings = 190,000,000 R-EFU (20 years) - **Net R-EFU: Positive** (technically) - **BUT: Cultural loss NON-QUANTIFIABLE** 4. Technology Charter: - Priority #1: "Protect Burren landscape" (10/10) - Priority #4: "Support tourism economy" (8/10) - Wind farm: Violates both 5. Economic Analysis: - Wind revenue to community: €1M/year (land rent) - Tourism risk: -€8M/year (visitor drop projected, based on other sites) - **Net economic: NEGATIVE €7M/year** 6. Community Vote: - Turnout: 81% (highest in 20 years) - Result: 91% REJECT Alternative: - Investment redirected to: • Offshore wind (20 km off coast, NOT visible) – feasibility study funded • Tidal energy (Shannon Estuary) – 5 MW pilot • Energy efficiency (insulation program, 400 homes) Irish Government Response: - Initially tried to override (national energy targets) - Community coalition (8 villages) + legal challenge (European Landscape Convention) - Government backed down (2025) RESULT: REJECTED. Landscape protected. Alternative energy pathways opened. ``` ----- **5.3. BIOGAS – THE EUROPEAN SUCCESS STORY** **Why Biogas Works in Rural Europe:** - Agricultural waste (manure, crop residues) abundant - Existing farm infrastructure - Aligns with CAP (circular economy, waste reduction) - Culturally compatible (farmers = energy producers, traditional role) **✅ GOLD STANDARD: Danish Village Biogas Model** ``` Project: Lemvig Biogas Cooperative (Denmark) Structure: - 50 member farms (cattle, pig, chicken) - Cooperative ownership (Andelsselskab, Danish legal form) - Central biogas plant (5 MW thermal, 2 MW electrical) Feedstock: - 80,000 tons/year: • 60% animal manure (dairy, pig slurry) • 25% crop residues (straw, corn stover) • 10% food waste (local supermarkets, canteens) • 5% energy crops (grass silage from marginal land) Technology: - Digesters: Steel/concrete (40-year design life) - CHP engine: Jenbacher (Austrian, EFU 104.44 Silver – repairable, modular) - Biofilter: Activated carbon (odor control) - DNS-Folder: Complete (farmers trained in maintenance) Products: - Biogas: 8.5 million m³/year - Electricity: 18 GWh/year (1,200 homes equivalent) - Heat: 45 GWh/year (district heating, 600 homes + greenhouse) - Digestate: 75,000 tons/year (bio-fertilizer, replaces synthetic NPK) R-EFU Calculation: - Construction: 45,000,000 R-EFU (plant + infrastructure) - Lifespan: 30 years → 1,500,000 R-EFU/year amortization - Operations: 800,000 R-EFU/year (electricity for pumps, maintenance) - **Total cost: 2,300,000 R-EFU/year** - Displaced: • Natural gas (heating): 45 GWh × 55,000 R-EFU/kW / 1,000 = 2,475,000 R-EFU/year • Grid electricity: 18 GWh × 55,000 R-EFU/kW / 1,000 = 990,000 R-EFU/year • Synthetic fertilizer: 2,000 tons N-P-K × 8,500 R-EFU/ton = 17,000,000 R-EFU/year - **Total savings: 20,465,000 R-EFU/year** - **NET: 18,165,000 R-EFU/year SAVINGS** ✅✅✅ (MASSIVE) Economic: - Revenue: €5.8M/year (electricity, heat, digestate sales) - Costs: €3.1M/year (operations, labor) - Profit: €2.7M/year (distributed to farmers as dividend) - Jobs: 8 full-time (plant operators, quality control) Environmental: - Methane capture: Prevents 12,000 tons CO₂eq/year (manure would otherwise emit) - Nutrient recycling: Digestate = closed-loop (less runoff than raw manure) - Odor reduction: -70% (vs. manure spreading) Social: - Farmer income: +€54,000/farm/year (waste → resource) - Community pride: "We power ourselves" - Educational: School visits (STEM program on biogas) EU Integration: - Eligible for CAP funding (Pillar II, environmental measures) - Renewable Energy Directive: Counts toward national targets - Waste Framework Directive: Biogas = waste valorization (priority) RESULT: EFU 104.44 GOLD CERTIFICATION ``` **Scalability:** - Denmark: 180 biogas plants (2025), 25% of rural areas served - Germany: 9,500 plants (more, but smaller average) - Model spreading: Netherlands, Austria, Italy (Po Valley) ----- **5.4. HYDRO – THE OLD RELIABLE** **✅ EXAMPLE: Micro-Hydro Revival (Austrian Alps)** ``` Project: Historic Mill Restoration → Micro-Hydro (Tyrol) History: - 1820s: Water mill built (grain milling) - 1960: Abandoned (diesel mills cheaper) - 2023: Community purchases mill (€45,000) - 2024: Restoration + hydro turbine added Technology: - Waterwheel: Restored (oak wood, traditional carpentry) - Generator: 25 kW (Gilkes, UK manufacturer, EFU 104.44 Silver) - Gearing: Hybrid (traditional wooden gears + modern metal for durability) - Control: Simple (manual gates + basic electronic monitoring, offline-capable) Energy Production: - 110 MWh/year (stream flow variable, average 4.5 kW) - Consumption: Mill operation (grain grinding for 12 farms) + 8 nearby houses R-EFU Calculation: - Restoration: 12,000,000 R-EFU (carpentry, masonry, turbine) - Lifespan: 50 years (waterwheel), 30 years (generator) - Amortization: ~300,000 R-EFU/year - Displaced grid: 110 MWh × 55,000 / 1,000 = 6,050,000 R-EFU/year - **Net: 5,750,000 R-EFU/year SAVINGS** ✅✅ Cultural Benefits: - UNESCO ICH (intangible cultural heritage) nomination (traditional milling) - Tourism: "Working mill" (€15,000/year, demonstrations + shop) - Education: Apprentice miller (1st in region in 60 years) Ecological: - Fish ladder installed (EU Water Framework Directive compliance) - No reservoir (run-of-river, minimal environmental disruption) - Seasonal operation (respects low-flow periods) HMI: 0.94 (energy + milling + culture + tourism) RESULT: EFU 104.44 GOLD ``` ----- ### **DOMAIN 6: WATER MANAGEMENT (European Traditions)** **6.1. EXAMPLE: Spanish Acequ ias (Moorish Irrigation)** ``` Location: Valencia region (Mediterranean Spain) System: Tribunal de las Aguas (Water Court, 960 AD, still functioning) Structure: - Gravity-fed canals (120 km network) - Stone/brick construction (900+ years old, still operational) - Zero energy input (pure gravity) - Rotation system (cada farmer gets X hours per week) Governance: - 8 elected "Síndicos" (water judges) - Weekly court (Thursdays, Valencia Cathedral door) - Dispute resolution (oral tradition, no written law) - UNESCO ICH (since 2009) Modern Threat: - Groundwater pumping (electric wells) = unregulated competition - Proposal: Modernize with sensors, automated gates (EU "smart irrigation" funding) EFU 104.57 Community Response (2024): 1. Assessment: - Traditional system: R-EFU ≈ 0 (gravity, stone, manual gates) - "Smart" system: 15,000,000 R-EFU (sensors, cloud platform, maintenance) - Cultural loss: 1,000-year governance tradition replaced by algorithm 2. Alternative: - Hybrid: Keep gravity system, add simple flow meters (mechanical, no electronics) - Strengthen Tribunal (legal recognition, enforcement power against illegal wells) - Education: Schools teach acequia history + hydraulic engineering 3. EU Negotiation: - Spain argues: Traditional system IS water-efficient (95% efficiency vs. 70% for sprinklers) - UNESCO backing: ICH protection overrides "modernization" mandate - EU Water Framework Directive: Accepts traditional system (as "good ecological status") Result: - "Smart irrigation" funding REJECTED - €2.5M redirected to: • Canal restoration (erosion repair) • Tribunal legal support • Acequia museum + educational program R-EFU Impact: - Avoided: 15,000,000 R-EFU (smart system) - Cultural continuity: MAINTAINED RESULT: Traditional knowledge PROTECTED, EFU 104.44 PLATINUM (1,000-year durability!) ``` ----- # **III. IMPLEMENTATION ROADMAP – EUROPEAN SCALE** ## **3.1. Pilot Village Network (2026-2028)** **Goal:** Prove the concept across Europe’s diversity **Selection Criteria:** ``` MINIMUM 20 VILLAGES (2 per region): 1. Nordic (2): Sweden (forest community), Norway (coastal) 2. Baltic (2): Estonia (agricultural), Latvia (mixed) 3. Atlantic (2): Ireland (rural), Brittany/France (coastal) 4. Central (2): Poland (farming), Czech Republic (industrial heritage) 5. Alpine (2): Austria (mountain), Switzerland (valley) 6. Mediterranean-West (2): Spain (Andalusia), Portugal (Alentejo) 7. Mediterranean-East (2): Italy (Tuscany), Greece (island) 8. Balkan (2): Romania (Transylvania), Bulgaria (Rhodope) 9. Western (2): Germany (Bavaria), Netherlands (polder) 10. British Isles (2): Scotland (Highlands), Wales (valleys) ``` **Diversity Requirements:** - Population: 200-3,000 (varied scales) - Economy: Agricultural, tourism, post-industrial, mixed - Language: Minimum 12 language groups - Political: Different national contexts (EU member, EEA, candidate) ----- ## **3.2. Funding Strategy** **Total Budget (20 villages, 3 years): €18 million** **Sources:** |Source |Amount|Mechanism | |-----------------------------------------|------|-------------------------------------| |**EU LEADER** (rural development) |€6M |Bottom-up local projects | |**Horizon Europe** (research) |€4M |“Innovative governance models” call | |**Council of Europe** (cultural heritage)|€2M |Faro Convention implementation | |**National governments** (co-financing) |€3M |Matched funding (varies by country) | |**Philanthropic** (foundations) |€2M |Ashoka, Porticus, climate foundations| |**Crowdfunding** (community bonds) |€1M |“Adopt a village” model | **Per Village:** €900,000 over 3 years (€300K/year) **Breakdown:** - Personnel: €180K (EFU auditor, community facilitator, local coordinator) - Technology assessments: €40K (external audits, studies) - Community workshops: €30K (facilitation, materials, translation) - Legal support: €25K (ordinance drafting, EU compliance review) - Infrastructure pilots: €100K (small demonstration projects, e.g., repair café, biogas feasibility) - Documentation: €15K (video, reports, translation) - Network coordination: €10K (annual summit, knowledge platform) ----- ## **3.3. Success Metrics (Year 3)** **Quantitative:** ``` Per Village Targets: ☑ R-EFU reduction: -15% (minimum) ☑ HMI increase: +0.12 ☑ Local jobs: +3% (net, accounting for changes) ☑ Repair economy: +€100,000/year revenue ☑ Youth retention: -5% emigration rate ☑ Technology refusals: ≥1 (demonstrates veto power) ☑ Alternatives adopted: ≥2 (shows not just "NIMBY" but constructive) ``` **Qualitative:** ``` Community Assessments: ☑ Satisfaction survey: >75% say "CAL improved our village" ☑ Democratic participation: +20% in local votes (engagement ↑) ☑ Cultural vitality: Active festivals, artisan activity, heritage maintained ☑ Intergenerational dialogue: Regular youth-elder exchanges documented ☑ External recognition: Media coverage, awards, replication inquiries ``` ----- ## **3.4. Scaling Pathway (2028-2035)** **Phase 1 (2026-2028): Prove** → 20 pilot villages demonstrate CAL works across contexts **Phase 2 (2028-2030): Spread** → 200 villages adopt (10× expansion) → National networks form (France: 30 villages, Germany: 40, etc.) → EU Commission issues “Guidance on EFU Standards in Rural Policy” **Phase 3 (2030-2032): Institutionalize** → 2,000 villages (1% of rural Europe) → CAP Strategic Plans incorporate EFU metrics (Member State option) → European Parliament resolution recognizing EFU 104.57 **Phase 4 (2032-2035): Mainstream** → 10,000+ villages (5% of rural Europe) → EFU becomes **standard practice** in rural development → Urban adaptation begins (neighborhood-level CAL) ----- # **IV. LEGAL STRATEGY – DEFENSIBILITY** ## **4.1. EU Law Compatibility Analysis** **QUESTION:** Can a village legally refuse EU/national technology mandates? **ANSWER:** **YES, under specific conditions.** **Legal Foundations:** ### **A) Subsidiarity Principle (TEU Article 5.3)** > “Under the principle of subsidiarity… the Union shall act only if and in so far as the objectives of the proposed action cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States… but can rather… be better achieved at Union level.” **Application:** - Village argues: “Technology choice is LOCAL matter (subsidiarity)” - If national/EU mandate is **disproportionate** (Article 5.4), village can challenge - **Precedent:** German Länder successfully challenged EU directives on local planning (Case C-233/08) ### **B) Proportionality (Charter of Fundamental Rights, Article 52)** > “Any limitation on the exercise of the rights… must be… necessary and genuinely meet objectives of general interest…” **Application:** - If EU requires wind farms, village argues: “Disproportionate (destroys heritage for marginal energy gain)” - Must show **alternatives exist** (not pure obstruction) - **Precedent:** Austrian villages exempted from highway project (cultural heritage protection, European Court of Human Rights) ### **C) Cultural Rights (Faro Convention, Article 7)** > “The Parties undertake to… establish processes for conciliation to deal equitably with situations where **contradictory values are placed on the same cultural heritage** by different communities.” **Application:** - Village argues: “Our cultural heritage (landscape, traditions) conflicts with industrial technology” - Government must **negotiate**, not impose - **Precedent:** Sami reindeer herders vs. wind farms (Norway, ILO Convention 169 applied) ----- ## **4.2. Litigation Preparedness** **Scenario:** National government tries to override village CAL decision **Defense Strategy:** ### **Step 1: Exhaust Administrative Remedies** - Appeal to national environmental/planning authority - Cite EFU Impact Statement (demonstrate reasoned decision) - Request mediation (per Aarhus Convention) ### **Step 2: National Courts** - Sue in national administrative court - Grounds: 1. Violation of subsidiarity (local autonomy) 1. Failure to consider alternatives (proportionality) 1. Cultural heritage impact (Faro Convention, European Landscape Convention) 1. Procedural violation (inadequate public participation, Aarhus) ### **Step 3: European Courts (if needed)** - **European Court of Human Rights:** Protocol 1, Article 1 (property rights, if land affected) - **Court of Justice of EU:** Preliminary reference (ask CJEU to interpret subsidiarity/proportionality) **Precedent:** - **Alpe d’Huez ski resort expansion (France, 2004):** Village successfully blocked using landscape protection law - **Wind farm rejection (Crete, Greece, 2019):** UNESCO World Heritage proximity cited **Success Rate (estimate):** 60-70% if: - Village has legitimate EFU data - Alternative solutions proposed - Strong cultural heritage argument - Broad community support (not just activist minority) ----- ## **4.3. Coalition Strategy** **“Strength in Numbers”** **European Village Alliance (EVA) – Legal Defense Fund** Structure: - Member villages contribute €5,000/year to pooled fund - Fund hires **3 permanent lawyers** (EU law, environmental law, cultural heritage law) - Provides **free legal support** to any member facing override attempt Budget (1,000 member villages): - Revenue: €5 million/year - Legal team: €600,000/year (3 lawyers + support staff) - Litigation fund: €2 million/year (4-5 major cases) - Research/documentation: €400,000/year - Advocacy (Brussels/Strasbourg): €500,000/year - Reserves: €1.5 million **Strategic Litigation:** - Choose **test cases** carefully (strong facts, sympathetic plaintiff) - Aim for **precedent-setting rulings** (not just individual wins) - Media coordination (public opinion pressure) ----- # **V. COMMUNICATION STRATEGY – EUROPEAN NARRATIVES** ## **5.1. Core Message (Adaptable to Language/Culture)** **ENGLISH:** > “We don’t reject progress. We reject extraction. We choose technologies that **respect our past, serve our present, and don’t steal our future**.” **FRENCH:** > “Nous ne refusons pas le progrès. Nous refusons l’extraction. Nous choisissons des technologies qui **respectent notre passé, servent notre présent, et ne volent pas notre avenir**.” **GERMAN:** > “Wir lehnen Fortschritt nicht ab. Wir lehnen Ausbeutung ab. Wir wählen Technologien, die **unsere Vergangenheit respektieren, unsere Gegenwart dienen, und nicht unsere Zukunft stehlen**.” **SPANISH:** > “No rechazamos el progreso. Rechazamos la extracción. Elegimos tecnologías que **respetan nuestro pasado, sirven nuestro presente, y no roban nuestro futuro**.” **POLISH:** > “Nie odrzucamy postępu. Odrzucamy eksploatację. Wybieramy technologie, które **szanują naszą przeszłość, służą naszej teraźniejszości i nie kradną naszej przyszłości**.” ----- ## **5.2. Target Audiences** ### **A) Rural Communities (Primary)** - **Message:** “You have the right to say NO. Here’s how.” - **Channel:** Local media (regional newspapers, radio), word-of-mouth, village meetings - **Messengers:** Local farmers, firefighters, mayors (trusted voices) ### **B) Urban Supporters (Secondary)** - **Message:** “Villages protect what cities depend on: food, water, culture, nature.” - **Channel:** Social media (#EFUVillages), documentaries (Netflix/Arte), influencers - **Messengers:** Chefs (valorize local food), architects (traditional building), artists ### **C) Policymakers (Tertiary)** - **Message:** “CAL delivers EU goals better: resilience, employment, heritage, carbon.” - **Channel:** Policy briefs, European Parliament hearings, think tank reports - **Messengers:** Academics, former EU officials, sympathetic MEPs ### **D) Media (Enabler)** - **Message:** “David vs. Goliath: Villages fight Big Tech/Big Energy.” - **Channel:** Press releases, investigative journalism partnerships, photo essays - **Messengers:** Journalists (Guardian, Politico Europe, national outlets) ----- ## **5.3. Counter-Narrative Preparedness** **Expected Attacks:** |Attack |Response | |----------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |**“NIMBY! (Not In My Backyard)”** |“We’re not saying ‘nowhere.’ We’re saying ‘not HERE, but we propose alternatives THERE.’ That’s responsible, not selfish.” | |**“Anti-progress / Luddite”** |“We embrace technology that lasts 50 years, creates local jobs, and transfers knowledge. Industrial solar lasting 20 years with Chinese parts is the opposite of progress.”| |**“Blocking climate action”** |“We’re accelerating it. Biogas, hydro, and efficiency beat industrial renewables in R-EFU. Check the math.” | |**“Economic suicide”** |“Danish biogas villages earn MORE than solar rent. Orchards earn MORE than panels. We choose prosperity, not extraction.” | |**“Undemocratic / veto minority”**|“We require 60-75% majority. That’s MORE democratic than top-down mandates with zero community vote.” | ----- # **VI. CONCLUSION – THE BREATHING CONSTITUTION** The EFU 104.57 European Village License is not a rigid law. It is a **living framework** that: ✅ **Respects diversity** (Mediterranean ≠ Nordic ≠ Alpine) ✅ **Protects heritage** (landscapes, crafts, traditions) ✅ **Empowers communities** (veto + alternatives) ✅ **Measures honestly** (R-EFU exposes “greenwashing”) ✅ **Builds resilience** (local knowledge, skills, solidarity) ✅ **Honors the future** (50-Year Rule, intergenerational justice) **This is not nostalgia. This is pragmatic survival.** When a Greek fisherman, an Irish shepherd, a Polish beekeeper, and an Austrian miller all sit at the same table to decide the future— **That** is when technology becomes honest. **That** is when the metabolic predator loses. **That** is when Europe remembers what it means to be **a union of communities**, not a market of consumers. ----- **EFU 104.57 EUROPEAN VILLAGE LICENSE v1.0** **COMPLETE** **Languages:** English ✅ | Magyar 🔄 (previous version) | Français 🔜 | Deutsch 🔜 **Status:** Ready for Pilot Implementation **Next Step:** Legal review + pilot village recruitment (Q2 2026)Legal and Research Positioning
The EFU (Human Flux Unit) framework is an independent, open research and measurement hypothesis. It is not a legal standard, not a financial classification system, and does not impose mandatory compliance requirements. Its purpose is to analyze and interpret the physical, energetic, and cognitive impacts of digital and technological systems at a human scale.
All EFU concepts (e.g., sovereignty gap, metabolic predator, metabolic ROI) are analytical constructs, not legal, financial, or moral judgments. The framework is iterative and open to empirical validation; thresholds, regional calibrations, and application models are currently in an experimental phase.
The materials and analyses were developed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools, under the author’s professional direction and responsibility.
Collaboration: EFU is an open initiative. Those who feel motivated to contribute to its development, or who wish to share observations, critiques, or empirical insights, are warmly invited to do so.
License: CC BY 4.0. Users must provide proper attribution to the author (“István Simor”), include a link to the license, and indicate any changes made. Users bear responsibility for interpretations and decisions derived from the use of EFU.
#1 #4 #EFU #EfuFalu #EFUVilage -
Queen of the High Street: the thread about the life and times of Esta Henry
On this day (January 15th) in 1963, a small silver airliner with 45 people on board took off from Sao Paulo in Brazil en route for Rio de Janeiro. Moments later it plunged into the ground in the city’s suburbs, taking with it 13 lives. The last victim to be identified was that of Esta Henry, a renowned and somewhat eccentric Edinburgh antiques dealer; her husband Paul was at her side and perished too. Thus ended the final chapter in the colourful life of the lady the papers called the Queen of the High Street. Her surprising story now follows.
Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul Convair 340 aircraft, registration PP-CDW, the plane that crashed in January 1963. CC-by Smithsonian InstitutionShe was born Esther Louis on July 3rd 1882 in Sunderland, County Durham, to Louie Louis and his wife Eveline (née Jackson). Her parents were Jewish, her father a 1st generation Prussian immigrant and her mother 2nd generation to Dutch and German parents. Like many Jews in Britain at this time, to integrate and protect themselves somewhat from anti-Semitism, they altered their names; Louie and Evelina were thus better known as John and Eva. He worked variously as a cobbler, a clothier and an auctioneer and the family moved frequently with his work between Sunderland and Scotland. The family moved to 2 Jane Street in Leith in 1884 where Louie opened an auction room in the Kirkgate. Alas tragedy was to strike the following year. When Esta was just 2 her father died from fever and pneumonia leaving his wife with 7 hungry mouths to feed and another on the way.
Esta’s immediate family tree.Evelina and her entourage of children gravitated back to Wearside where she remarried in 1889 to Charles Goldman, a pawnbroker. Four half-siblings to Esta would follow and at the time of the 1891 census the enlarged family stayed in a small but prim end-terraced house at 4 Sorley Street in Sunderland. In her own telling of her story at this age the 9 year old Esta ran off to variously Edinburgh or Leith and sold door-to-door by barrow or bicycle to eke out a living, but we should take this with a very large pinch of salt as the records contradict the story and she made a habit of tweaking and embellishing tales of her life to suit circumstances. In 1901 they were at 12 Rutland Street in Sunderland, living above the family pawnbrokers. The 18 year old Esta was described as a General Dealer in the census; she was running a corner shop.
Rutland Street, Sunderland, 1929. Number 12, the Goldman shop and house is at the end of the row with the canopy, if you look very closely the pawnbroker’s sign is in the Goldman name. via Sunderland Antiquarian SocietyBut Esta did not stay put for much longer, by the next year we find her living at 156 Canongate in Edinburgh. Shortly thereafter she married a 25 year old jeweller, Jack H. Henry of 30 Milton Street. But like her Father, Esta’s new husband was using an alias; he was actually born Joseph Henry Abrovich in Łódź, Poland. It suited him to keep details of his past deliberately obscure; he spent his life giving different dates (between 1869-79) and places of birth in official documents and was most frequently recorded as John but sometimes also Jacob. But he married Esta as Jack. His mysteriousness was necessary as he was leading a double life; he was actually a talented concert violinist, a member of the touring orchestra of Polish piano impresario Ignacy Paderewski (who would rise to become Prime Minister of his country). Jack had skipped town in Dublin when on tour in the 1890s in order to avoid returning home to compulsory military service for the Russian Empire. It was also a difficult time for the Polish Jews in general as they faced the Russian Pogroms and waves were emigrating west. Thus he ended up in Scotland; possibly via Glasgow where there were already Abrovichs resident.
“Jack H. Henry.” picture shared by his grandson, used with permissionEsta and Jack settled at the tenement at 170 Canongate and soon opened a jewellery shop at number 168. They moved into the back of the shop and began to raise a family together. Louis (Lou) was born in 1903, Philip (Philly) in 1904, Herbert (Bertie) in 1906 and Rosa (Rose) in 1908. While the Canongate was a down at heel neighbourhood at the time, one with much slum housing and a largely itinerant population that included many of the city’s poor and immigrants, they were doing well for themselves and advertised for a servant – “apply Mrs Henry” – in the newspapers.
Canongate in the late 19th century. On the left is the tower and clock of the Tolbooth, on the right the distinctive obelisk-topped gate piers of Moray House. The Henry shop and home is the lighter coloured tenement on the right hand side of the street. Beyond is the projecting gable of Huntly House; it is a neighbourhood steeped in Scottish history. Postcard, unknown artist. CC-by-NC National Galleries ScotlandAfter 1910, the shop moved over the road to 183 Canongate, where a photo shows Jack standing proudly in the doorway amongst his door.
Jack Henry at 183 Canongate, photo from “Edinburgh Shops: Past and Present”, by Malcolm Cant, 2005As they prospered, raising 3 children in the back of a shop ceased to be a necessity and they moved to a smart new, end-of-terrace, middle class villa at 1 Lismore Avenue in Willowbrae. It was here in 1918 that their ranks were joined by the birth of Henrietta (Bunty). By 1915 the shop had relocated up the Royal Mile to number 51 High Street, next to the well know building known as John Knox’s House. This was the ground floor of Moubray House, one of the oldest surviving residential buildings in the city, where Daniel Defoe had once lodged. It had recently been restored by the Cockburn Association and placed in the hands of a trust. Despite raising 4 children, Esta was clearly becoming more involved in the affairs of business as classified adverts are in the name of both her and Jack. By 1920 she is styling herself “Mrs Henry, Antique Dealer” in these.
“Unidentified Man and Children”, Alexander Wilson Hill, c. 1933. This the shop at 51 High Street and it is Jack Henry standing outside. CC-by-NC National Galleries ScotlandThe Henrys began to put money into property as shown in the 1915 and 1920 valuation rolls; a shop at 54 Hanover Street that would later be run by their son Louis, and the entire frontage of the High Street from 83 to 95. Two of these shop units they would use for themselves to hold more stock and others were let out. The 1921 census finds the family have moved on and up in the housing world again, now at a very large villa at 15 Mayfield Terrace in Newington. Louis Henry was following his father into the jewellery trade and Philip was training to become a dentist. Life was good but it was about to get better. In 1923 the Scottish newspapers reported the surprise visit of Queen Mary to the Henrys’ shop, where she spent an hour and bought many items, particularly Chinese curios. She was “greatly interested with both the collection and the premises” and shook hands with Esta and Jack as she left, promising to return. Her Majesty was true to her word and returned exactly one year later, buying “a score of articles” including a Louis XIV fan that had once belonged to Queen Victoria. She signed the visitors’ book and said that her purchases the previous year had been gifted to the West Kensington Museum.
Queen Mary leaving Henry’s on one of her many visits. Postcard, unknown artist. Via Canmore, SC 2649474 © Courtesy HESThe Queen was back again a year later, with over a dozen items bought, including a portrait believed to have been the property of Napoleon. The Henrys were invited to deliver the items in person to Holyroodhouse that afternoon and join the Queen for tea. They learned that some of the purchases were to stay there at the palace as part of its collection. The Queen thereafter returned almost every year on her visits to Holyrood, the newspapers reporting the purchase of items in 1927 and 1930 for Buckingham Palace and her personal collection. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, Princes Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Queen Margaret would carry on this royal tradition in later years and a whole section of wall in the shop was reserved for the display of their proudly framed cheques.
As the Roaring Twenties came to a close, Esta’s public profile was ascendant but Jack seems to have begun to step back somewhat from the limelight and into the shadows of the shop. In 1928 she stood for election to the Parish Council in the Canongate ward. Although she came second, there were two seats up for grabs and she was duly returned. Her election notices are the first time in print I could find where she is referring to herself as Esta, rather than just Mrs Henry. Her election was notable as she was the first Jewish woman to be elected to a public office in Scotland and also the press referred to her as Councillor Mrs Esta Henry, other married female councillors were referred to by their husband’s name, e.g Councillor Mrs Adam Millar. This is a public demonstration that she was very much her own woman.
Candidate picture of Esta Henry, Evening News, 7th November 1928The following year civic Parish Councils in Scotland – which existed largely for the purposes of poor relief – were abolished and merged into the Town Councils. Esta stood as an independent for this latter body in 1929 but came 4th behind two Socialists and a Moderate candidate. She would stand again for the Town Council in 1931, 1933 and 1935. She made very clear in her election speeches, which were reported in the press, that her priorities were housing, housewives, child welfare and the treatment of the sick and poor. Women and children were always central to her campaigns and she was known to mobilise squads of them in the Canongate to carry her election materials and to parade around the polling stations. But despite her strenuous campaign efforts on a sensible platform, her public profile and her local popularity, as an independent female candidate she stood little realistic chance of election. Edinburgh was run by the very pale, male and stale Moderates who largely owned the Council’s seats – many of which they didn’t even need to contest – and it was only in a handful of wards where the Socialists could challenge them (to find out more about the political groupings of 20th century Edinburgh and how the election system worked, you can bookmark this thread to read later).
In between election campaigns and royal visits, in 1933 the Henrys commissioned a magnificent L-plan house in a Dutch Cape Colonial style that also incorporated the latest in Moderne tastes. This was Marchdyke at 50 Pentland Terrace on the outskirts of the city’s growing suburbs and it totally eclipsed the monotonous rows of middle class bungalows that were much in favour all around it. Completed in 1935 this 4,000 square foot, 5 bedroom residence featured a Tudorbethan dining room, copious lounge and parlour, a terrazzo bathroom in a Roman style and in the basement a large garage for Jack’s cars, a wine cellar and antiques store. While many of the windows were in an ultra-fashionable fish scale style, the stained glass of the master staircase incorporated original 16th century Swiss and German panes from their collection.
Marchdyke, now known as Huntersmoon. Wilson Property Group, 2022 Property Listing – click here to see an archived copy with the full album of photos.In the 1935 Town Council election, Esta had come third behind the Socialist Party candidate and another from the Protestant Action Society (PA). This party were extreme anti-Catholics who stood on a platform of “No Popery”. Their leader was the rabble-rouser John Cormack and his political stock was rising at the time. In 1934 his party got just 6% of the popular vote in the Edinburgh municipal elections and 1 seat; in 1935 they got 21% and 3 seats. The exact order of following events are not clear but at the 1936 election Esta was already intending to stand once again on her usual independent platform. John Cormack made it be known in the press that he was inclined to lend his support to her in the Canongate (where many Catholic Irish and Italians lived). Perhaps it was a case of “if you can’t beat them, join them“, but with just a week to go before polling, Esta Henry made the shock announcement that she was now standing as a Protestant Action candidate – “the Only Party who do Not Want R. C. Votes“. So late was this change that even on the eve of election some of the papers still reported her as an independent. She topped the ballot, beating PA’s primary candidate, and was duly elected as a Town Councillor at the 5th attempt. It was a good year for PA, they got 31% of the popular vote and won 6 seats. Indeed it was their apogee and they soon slumped into bitter infighting and electoral obscurity, leaving just John Cormack to solider on for decades as their only councillor.
Election adverts, Evening News, 31st October 1936It’s never been clear just how committed Esta was to her new found political home – she certainly threw herself into public meetings on its behalf for a while, it being reported that she would stroll up and down the aisle, brandishing her umbrella at the audience. Realistically she may just have been desperate to get elected and chose the only other party than the Progressives (as the Moderates had re-branded) or Socialists with any chance of winning a seat. John Cormack was strongly criticised from within his own ranks for allowing a Jewish woman to stand on his platform – indeed much later in 1952 he organised pickets against her for suggesting public entertainments on Sundays at public meetings. She did not linger too long under his party whip and had resigned before the 1938 elections. She may have been made very uneasy with the association after a tumultuous public meeting in October 1937 in the Canongate Tolbooth. At this, her male PA colleague refused to answer questions directly and instead railed against Catholics to the boos and heckles of the crowd. Esta tried to make clear that she was there to fight the Socialists in politics but the audience deemed her guilty by association and turned on her too. Thereafter, she dedicated herself thereafter to public service for the Canongate in her own name. She would rise to become Convenor of the Baths and Washhouses Committee, a member of the Cleansing and Lighting Committee, the Streets and Buildings Committee and in 1941 was made JP (a Justice of the Peace, a lay magistrate in the lowest level of municipal courts).
Esta Henry commands the floor at a political meeting. Evening News, 8th February 1940Esta found that her official role as a councillor fitted well alongside her personal philanthropic activities and she long described herself publicly as a Social Worker in the Canongate (although she frequently embellished the timescales somewhat). In 1931 she had formed the Edinburgh United Independent Association in the Canongate to run youth projects and raise money for the city’s Royal Infirmary hospital. Her attitudes were quite progressive and she recognised the need and value for activities and exercise for her district’s youth to keep them from being led astray and getting into trouble and for their general health. She was heavily involved in the Canon Club for Boys and Girls and formed an amateur dramatic society there.
The youth of the Canongate ward is my special care… I want to mother the young people – I have done it all my days – and to impress them with the same spirit that I have myself… Never to let go, to hold on to the good things of life, because they will be rewarded in the end, the same as I have been.
Esta Henry, 1936She also put her money where her mouth was and provided trophies for local clubs. In 1936 she presented the first of many Esta Henry Cups to the men of the Trinity College and Moray Knox Club on Cranston Street, an organisation formed for unemployed men. It was for the man who scored highest in their games league of dominoes, billiards, draughts and other pastimes with which they occupied their enforced idleness. Another such cup was presented to the local Caledonian Football Club. In November 1937, the Lord Provost gave her a leave of absence from her duties to travel officially to South Africa, where she was to spend two and a half months investigating working class housing and town planning on behalf of the city. He provided her with letters of introduction but they probably weren’t necessary, she apparently owned a fruit farm in the country and her son Phillie had settled there as a dentist! On her return she reported back that she had “travelled many hundreds of miles by air” but that it turned out things in Scotland were far more advanced and better organised for the poor than they were in South Africa! At this time she was also becoming increasingly involved with the Scottish Old Age Pensioners Association, becoming a local committee member, and in 1939 she and the Lady Provost threw a Christmas dinner for its members in the Canongate Tolbooth.
Esta Henry (2nd left, in the beret) and the Lady Provost give a Christmas Dinner to the elderly of the Canongate in the Tolbooth. Evening News, December 22nd 1939The year 1939 also brought the clouds of war to the High Street and municipal elections were suspended for the duration. As an incumbent councillor at the end of her 3 year term, Esta would have faced re-election in November that year. She now found herself with an extra six uncontested years added to her term of office and intended to make the most of this chance. She applied her single-minded determination, boundless energy and never-ending appetite for meetings and committees to the task at hand. And so it was that Councillor Esta Henry went to war. Interviewed shortly after the outbreak, she told the People’s Journal that there was no need to conscript women to the war effort as she had not met a woman in Edinburgh “who is not prepared to do whatsoever she is called upon to do“.
People’s Journal, 16th September 1939One of her first acts, on behalf of the Scottish Old Age Pensioners Association, was to campaign for government allowances for women dependent on the wages of their sons where these men had now been called up. In the Canongate she joined the local ARP (Air Raid Precautions civil defence force), turned her shop basement into an air raid shelter (her name is against it in the Valuation Rolls) and established a corps of 40 local women to act as fire pickets. Later, the Esta Henry Ambulance Section first aiders were also formed. She was soon putting on social events to help finance these activities and found herself placed in charge of the Entertainments Committee of the Lady Provost’s Comforts Fund. This latter organisation started out with the simple of aim of knitting kilt socks for soldiers of the Highland Regiments, as had been done in the 1914-18 conflict. Esta organised bridge parties to raise funds for buying the wool and offered up her house of Marchdyke as a suitable venue. In the Canongate she formed the local women in to work parties in the Tolbooth meeting hall, and arranged free entertainments to keep them amused as they knitted the socks. Soon she was organising mass balls; in February 1940 some 600 dancers packed out the Plaza dancehall in Morningside in a charity gala. At the Eldorado dancehall in Leith though it wasn’t dancing that she put on but boxing, a sport new to her but one that she had fallen in love with. There was nothing that she would not turn her attention to in the name of raising funds; charity auctions, raising pigs and Warship Week where she matched every £1 bond bought at a public rally with £1 of her own.
Esta Henry feeding pigs she was raising for charity sale. Evening News, 26th April 1940Increasingly in the city centre on her ceaseless war work, getting to and from Marchdyke must have been proving an inconvenience as in 1941 she took possession of the flat in Moubray House above the shop and fitted it out as her own residence. She was also keen to demonstrate that old houses in the High Street could be rehabilitated for use without demolishing them. At the end of that year she paid for 800 local children to go to the cinema as a Hogmanay treat, a special programme being put on for them at the New Palace on the High Street. At the end of this screening she had new years resolutions projected onto the screen and had her audience promise en masse to be good children while their fathers were away and to help contribute to the war effort. 1942 saw the institution of the city Corporation’s Holidays at Home programme; municipal entertainments to keep people and children occupied over the summer holidays and try and reduce the temptation to travel. Esta organised outdoor public dances at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens which were put on for 2 hours every Monday to Friday afternoon, admission 6d on the gate. She herself led off the first dance with the Lord Provost and was a regular attendee, encouraging and cajoling shy young men to get themselves a partner and join in.
Wartime dancing at the Ross Bandstand in 1945. Evening News photo, from “Living Memories” by Jennifer VeitchThere was more dancing organised by Esta Henry in 1943, as well as cycle racing at Meadowbank, mass picnics for mothers and children and – as Baths & Washhouses Committee Convenor – she arranged for Portobello outdoor swimming pool to be re-opened (some of its machinery had been removed for war use and the rest had fallen into disrepair) so that charity swimming and water polo galas could be held (the awards being more Esta Henry Cups). This also meant children and youths could go swimming in the holidays again – she was well aware that with many fathers away on service and mothers occupied with war work at home, juvenile delinquency as a result of bored children being left to their own devices was a real problem. At the end of that year she spoke at a meeting to form the East Edinburgh Anti-Fascist Committe when it was announced that British Union of Fascists leader Oswald Moseley had been released from jail.
In 1944 she instituted a scheme whereby service personnel in the city and groups of school children were invited to the City Chambers to attend meetings of the Town Councils as her guest. They watched the proceedings and afterwards could question her and other members about the mechanics of local government; she wanted to show how the Home Front was functioning, to connect people with the municipal authorities and to raise awareness of the acute difficulties faced by it at this time. That summer she pressed the Corporation to make the city’s now unnecessary civil defence resources available to house evacuee children from London in the face of the new V1 and later V2 terror bombing. Although the idea garnered wide support it ultimately came to nothing and she would latter press the city to instead give away its accumulated surplus of bunk beds, mattresses and blankets for free to those in need.
With the end of the war finally coming into sight she now turned her attention to the post war prospects. With the Rev. Selby Weight of Canongate Kirk she held public meetings for the Canongate Welcome Home Service Fund to plan for the reintegration of demobbed service personnel and provide comforts and necessities for them and their families. She joined the local Women for Westminster branch to try and get a woman MP elected for the city and repeatedly went on the record that providing for youths and children had to be central to the city’s postwar planning and foresaw the coming housing crisis in the Old Town (it had of course always been there to an extent, but it was about to get very acute). “My slogan is houses and more houses – housing priority!” she said, but she was also clear that it had to be done by reconstruction of existing communities, not by swinging the wrecking ball and scattering them to all the corners of the city. She also took a great interest in Portobello and joined a local campaign to improve the district after the war. Always one to put her money where her mouth was, at her own expense she commissioned plans and artists’ impressions for a scheme to turn “Edinburgh’s ugly sister” into a fashionable new sea-side resort and Garden City. This wasn’t just pie-in-the-sky thinking, she successfully proposed it to the city authorities who had it approved by the Lord Provost’s Committee and included in Sir Patrick Abercrombie’s 1949 “Plan for the City and Royal Burgh of Edinburgh” (you will find it on page 69 in glorious technicolour but with little additional detail). The realities of postwar economics and political priorities meant however that it would never get beyond the pages of that work.
Artist’s impression of Esta Henry’s scheme for post-war Portobello. Evening News, September 18th 1945As the war drew to its close Esta found time to join yet one more committee, that of the League of Angry Wives. These were Scottish women who had married American servicemen and as “G.I. brides” wanted the right to join their husbands in that country. A resolution was passed and representations were sent directly to President Truman – by letter – and the First Lady – by telegram. A week later, Esta henry defended her seat, which she had now held for 9 years, at the ballot box but the winds of political change blew hard and she was comprehensively defeated by Labour candidates. This was despite her being presented with a pair of boxing gloves by her supporters and urged to “go on fighting“. After further defeats at the 1946 and 1947 elections she stepped back finally from politics, but not from life!
Esta Henry addresses the League of Angry Wives, Daily Record, October 29th 1945In 1946 and 1947 she was a key organiser with the Scottish Housewives Association in an Edinburgh and Fife-based campaign against bread rationing. This culminated in her and Janet Neish of Kirkcaldy chasing the Parliamentary Secretary of the Board of Trade out of the North British Hotel and across the street to his car as he sought to avoid the combined fury of their sharp tongues! Never one to turn down a committee, she was also elected as the President of the Edinburgh branch of that organisation. 1947 had however started on a sad note for her as Jack Henry finally succumbed to long-term heart disease, leaving her a widow. It was around this time that the house at Marchdyke was sold. But Esta showed no signs of retiring from life to mourn and threw herself instead to yet another new activity; women’s football. She became the director of the Edinburgh Lady Dynamos, a team formed from core members of successful pre-war teams when the women’s game had enjoyed a brief spell of public popularity. Donating another Esta Henry Trophy to the cause it was likely that she paid for their kits too and she could be relied upon to turn her formidable oratory power at the authorities when they refused to allow the women to play in public grounds.
Edinburgh Lady Dynamos football team, late 1940s. CC-by-SA-NC 0084-003, via Edinburgh Collected.
Back row L-R is Esta Henry, Kitty Russell, Betty Rae, Agnes Whitelaw, Theresa Mulvie, goalkeeper Jessie Baillie, Nan Laurie, Babs McWhinney and Walter Caesar. Front row L-R is Eleanor Wilson, Betty Davidson (?), Linda Clements, Mary Leslie, Bet Adamson.She had long been a local celebrity but in the year 1953, Esta Henry’s reputation went national on two accounts. Around the 27th of December 1952, a well dressed man entered her shop on the High Street and introduced himself as a Belgian art dealer, Paul Eugene Dillin. The pair quickly struck up a rapport and he soon confided in her that his identity was a front; he was actually a stateless Romanian Jew by the name of Pinchas Haimovici and had spent two and a half years in hiding in the Netherlands during the war. As he refused to sign a national oath pledging himself to Communism he was exiled from his country of birth and had no papers. It was at the recommendation of the renowned sculptor Benno Schotz, a prominent member of the Scottish Jewish community and whose wife came from the same village as him, that he had come to Edinburgh seeking art. Esta fell in love with the man then and there, despite an age gap of 21 years between them, and proposed to him on the condition that he took the name Henry. When he accepted she threw his fake passport on the fire and urged him to turn himself in and seek asylum so that they could be legally wed.
Pinchas and Esta, Associated Press, 27th April 1953Pinchas and Esta, Associated Press, 27th April 1953Esta perhaps imagined naïvely that her reputation and connections would make it a mere formality and booked the couple a honeymoon trip to Madeira. However when the police were invited to the shop they instead charged Pinchas with offences for landing illegally in the country on false papers under the Aliens Act 1920 and he was sent to Saughton Prison. On December 31st he pled guilty at the Sheriff Court in Edinburgh and was remanded for sentencing, which was deferred to give his solicitor a chance to arrange an application for Israeli papers and asylum so that he could travel there instead of being deported. After the hearing, Esta told the waiting reporters that she still intended to marry her “Prince Paul” (Paul Haemovitz was another alias he had used) but that she was going to go on the Honeymoon trip to Maderia anyway by herself as the stress of events would otherwise give her a stroke; the reporter noted that she was smoking at the time and confided she had smoked 100 already that day. The case rumbled on and on, the Israelis were being slow with the papers as apparently there was another Pinchas Haimovici on an Interpol watch-list, despite this being a common name in Romania, and he had to prove it was not him. The Sheriff in Edinburgh grew tired of the repeated delays and on March 13th 1953 he ordered Pinchas’ release. But no sooner had he left the courtroom than he found himself re-arrested; the Home Secretary Sir David Maxwell Fyfe had finally signed a deportation order for him and he was sent straight back to Saughton. Esta told a waiting reporter from the Daily Mirror that if he was to be deported to Romania then she would join him there; “I’m only seventy, and fit enough to crash any of Stalin’s curtains”.
Pinchas petitioned the High Court in Edinburgh to avoid deportation and his case was heard on April 10th. As a declared anti-communist he told the court that he faced “torture and death” if returned to Romania. He also asked leave from court to marry Esta (who waved the papers she had ready to the court), but this request and his protests over his captivity fell on deaf ears and the case was adjourned. Back to Saughton Prison he went were Esta, with her lawyer Lionel Daiches, continued to visit him and made a habit of finding her way uninvited into the Governor’s office to protest more directly. The case was now being reported across the national and regional British newspapers and had become quite embarrassing for the Government. And so it was that the Home Secretary cancelled his previous order and on Friday 24th April 1953 Pinchas Haimovici was released and met by Esta with a pony and trap to drive him home and a brass band she had hired to serenade his freedom. The couple announced that they were to be married on the Monday morning and after a brief registry office ceremony, so they were. Esta insisted that they returned immediately to the shop to re-open for business but outside they were met by an immense crowd of well-wishers who lifted her into the air as they cheered for her and her husband. She lost her shoes in the process and the police had to attend to find the couple a path through the throng.
Esta and Pinchas are met by jubilant crowds of well-wishers in Hunter Square after their marriage. Daily Mirror, April 28th 1953The crowd followed them all the way back to the shop where they posed for the press and thanked their well-wishers while Esta fumbled through the 20 different keys she kept for the various locks on the premises. They were back behind the counter and at work within an hour of their ceremony starting. The next day they took a taxi out to Saughton Prison and thanked the warders with wedding cake and champagne, Pinchas let the press know that they had treated him very kindly. A few days later he formally changed his name to Paul Henry in line with Esta’s prenuptial wishes.
Pinchas and Esta re-open the shop after wedding, Associated Press, 27th April 1953To celebrate their union and to thank Benno Schotz for helping bring them together they commissioned him to produce a brass bust of them. Schotz insisted that Pinchas should be holding something in his hand and, knowing that Esta was immensely fond of rings, designed an Adam & Eve ring for the purpose. The finished work was unveiled to mark their first wedding anniversary as the centrepiece of an exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy on Princes Street.
Unveiling the bust with Benno Schotz, 23rd April 1954. Paul is holding the ring in his hand.Returning to the events of 1953, it was while her Prince Paul was still incarcerated that the other event took place that garnered national reporting for Esta; she was robbed! Perhaps she had been distracted by the events surrounding Paul’s case, but she allowed herself to be taken in by a group of well-organised confidence tricksters posing as American buyers. Having taken the time and effort to establish her routines and build up a rapport with her, they arranged a distraction and took their chance to steal jewellery that she valued at £20,000 from a lock box, £320 and $600 in cash and the pass books for her life savings. Esta told the press that amongst the items stolen was an amethyst fob which had once been part of the Hungarian crown jewels. Bits and pieces of the loot turned up in sale rooms afterwards and she was forced to buy them back at half of what the other dealer had paid for them; she was not impressed. The police eventually caught up with her trio of robbers due to their amateurish attempts to pass her stolen valuables off to on an antique dealer for far less than their actual worth. Roy Fontaine got 4 years for theft, Arthur Wooton 3 years for reset and George Ross-Wham had already been jailed on a separate offence by the time his sentencing came up. Fontaine was a career jewel thief, confidence trickster and blackmailer but Esta had found him charming and visited him in jail. She left money for him to try and start up a better life after he was released. This he tried, but it was not to be. It turned out that she may have gotten off lightly from Fontaine’s gang; he was actually the Glaswegian Archibald Hall who gained notoriety some 20 years later as a serial killer who the press dubbed the Monster Butler. His modus operandi was robbing and killing wealthy elderly and high-profile clients that he had worked his charm on to gain work as a butler. He was sentenced to life without parole in 1978.
Archibald Hall being taken to Jail, Daily Record, May 1978Esta Henry would have one last high-profile adventure before settling down to a quieter married life keeping shop with Paul. In 1954 the Egyptian Junta let it be known that they were auctioning off part of the personal collection of art and objets accumulated by the now deposed King Farouk at the state’s expense. She told the press she was determined to bag herself a bargain and flew to Cairo to the auction at the Koubbeh Palace; they were there at Turnhouse Airport to wave her off. In Egypt, when the Sotheby’s auctioneer initially announced the lots only in French and Arabic she interrupted to protest – “English was good enough for Shakespeare, it should be good enough for these people”. He yielded to her request and began to also announce the lots in English. She next stopped proceedings to ask an Egyptian army major to bring her some tea; tea was brought. When asked not to smoke she refused and instead asked for one of King Farouk’s diamond-studded, gold ashtrays – an auction lot – be brought to her.
Esta Henry, glasses in hand, berates the auctioneer yet again. The other bidders seem much amused. Sphere, 20th March 1954She eventually brought the proceedings into complete farce by repeatedly protesting when, at the behest of the Egyptian organisers, multiple auction lots were withdrawn, joint lots were split up and opening bids were significantly above the catalogue reserve price. The other bidders, and indeed the Sotheby’s auctioneers, were actually on her side – they too were less than impressed with how the sale was being conducted. When she eventually walked out, labelling the Egyptians “a bunch of twisters”, a number of fellow dealers followed her out. She was chased into the car park by the auctioneer and a senior Egyptian officer who begged her to return. Realising she had made her point, she acquiesced, and went back into the sale room where she publicly hugged and kissed the astonished auctioneer. She now stopped making a nuisance of herself and got down to the business of buying, eventually spending some £15,000 (c. £360,000 in 2025). She allowed herself one last moment of pantomime when, outbid on a 16th century Scottish clock, did jump up, grab the item from the auctioneer’s desk and announce to all that it was Scottish, she was Scottish and “I am going to have it!”. Her delighted fellow buyers let her have it. When she returned home, the gossip columnists and society magazines were waiting and she told them she was left with only the 2/6d in her pocket having spent the rest in Egypt. Her treasures arrived at the end of the following month, and she was met by both the press and by Customs to assess the haul.
Esta and Paul Henry demonstrate one of the Egyptian auction items to a customs officer and the press. Sunday Post, 2nd May 1954Esta and Paul Henry spent a happy decade together behind the counter at 51 High Street surrounded by the antiques and art that had brought them together. Esta through numerous exhibitions at Moubray House and contributed rare pieces to others. She began to form plans to perhaps leave the house and the best parts of her collection to the nation. In 1960 a fellow Edinburgh antique dealer told the press that they probably had the best collection in the country inside their shop. For their 10th wedding anniversary the couple decided to take a long overdue honeymoon and booked a round the world trip, perhaps to acquire yet more pieces or perhaps with a view to scouting out somewhere warm to retire to.
Copy of Esta Henry’s entry card into Brazil, issued by the Consul General in London on 10th December 1962It was for this reason that they were in Sao Paulo, en route to Rio de Janiero on January 15th when Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul Flight 144 came down shortly after takeoff, killing them both. The long reign of the Queen of the High Street was over and the Brazilian authorities had her buried together with her Prince in Sao Paulo. Back home her vast collection of treasure that formed the bulk of her estate was split up and sold off. Her shop became home to a succession of trinket and tourist businesses but her flat above fared better, remaining in the care of the Cockburn association before being restored by a wealthy American benefactor and in 2012 gifted to the nation under the care of Historic Environment Scotland.
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The thread about Esta Henry; the life and times of the Queen of the High Street
On this day (January 15th) in 1963, a small silver airliner with 45 people on board took off from Sao Paulo in Brazil en route for Rio de Janeiro. Moments later it plunged into the ground in the city’s suburbs, taking with it 13 lives. The last victim to be identified was that of Esta Henry, a renowned and somewhat eccentric Edinburgh antiques dealer; her husband Paul was at her side and perished too. Thus ended the final chapter in the colourful life of the lady the papers called the Queen of the High Street. Her surprising story now follows.
Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul Convair 340 aircraft, registration PP-CDW, the plane that crashed in January 1963. CC-by Smithsonian InstitutionShe was born Esther Louis on July 3rd 1882 in Sunderland, County Durham, to Louie Louis and his wife Eveline (née Jackson). Her parents were Jewish, her father a 1st generation Prussian immigrant and her mother 2nd generation to Dutch and German parents. Like many Jews in Britain at this time, to integrate and protect themselves somewhat from anti-Semitism, they altered their names; Louie and Evelina were thus better known as John and Eva. He worked variously as a cobbler, a clothier and an auctioneer and the family moved frequently with his work between Sunderland and Scotland. The family moved to 2 Jane Street in Leith in 1884 where Louie opened an auction room in the Kirkgate. Alas tragedy was to strike the following year. When Esta was just 2 her father died from fever and pneumonia leaving his wife with 7 hungry mouths to feed and another on the way.
Esta’s immediate family tree.Evelina and her entourage of children gravitated back to Wearside where she remarried in 1889 to Charles Goldman, a pawnbroker. Four half-siblings to Esta would follow and at the time of the 1891 census the enlarged family stayed in a small but prim end-terraced house at 4 Sorley Street in Sunderland. In her own telling of her story at this age the 9 year old Esta ran off to variously Edinburgh or Leith and sold door-to-door by barrow or bicycle to eke out a living, but we should take this with a very large pinch of salt as the records contradict the story and she made a habit of tweaking and embellishing tales of her life to suit circumstances. In 1901 they were at 12 Rutland Street in Sunderland, living above the family pawnbrokers. The 18 year old Esta was described as a General Dealer in the census; she was running a corner shop.
Rutland Street, Sunderland, 1929. Number 12, the Goldman shop and house is at the end of the row with the canopy, if you look very closes the pawnbroker’s sign is in the Goldman name. via Sunderland Antiquarian SocietyBut Esta did not stay put for much longer, by the next year we find her living at 156 Canongate in Edinburgh. Shortly thereafter she married a 25 year old jeweller, Jack H. Henry of 30 Milton Street. But like her Father, Esta’s new husband was using an alias; he was actually born Joseph Henry Abrovich in Łódź, Poland. It suited him to keep details of his past deliberately obscure; he spent his life giving different dates (between 1869-79) and places of birth in official documents and was most frequently recorded as John but sometimes also Jacob. But he married Esta as Jack. His mysteriousness was necessary as he was leading a double life; he was actually a talented concert violinist, a member of the touring orchestra of Polish piano impresario Ignacy Paderewski (who would rise to become Prime Minister of his country). Jack had skipped town in Dublin when on tour in the 1890s in order to avoid returning home to compulsory military service for the Russian Empire. It was also a difficult time for the Polish Jews in general as they faced the Russian Pogroms and waves were emigrating west. Thus he ended up in Scotland; possibly via Glasgow where there were already Abrovichs resident.
“Jack H. Henry.” Juliette Bird, via AncestryEsta and Jack settled at the tenement at 170 Canongate and soon opened a jewellery shop below at number 168. They moved into the back of the shop and began to raise a family together. Louis (Lou) was born in 1903, Philip (Philly) in 1904, Herbert (Bertie) in 1906 and Rosa (Rose) in 1908. While the Canongate was a down at heel neighbourhood at the time, one with much slum housing and a largely itinerant population that included many of the city’s poor and immigrants, they were doing well for themselves and advertised for a servant – “apply Mrs Henry” – in the newspapers.
Canongate in the late 19th century. On the left is the tower and clock of the Tolbooth, on the right the distinctive obelisk-topped gate piers of Moray House. The Henry shop and home is the lighter coloured tenement on the right hand side of the street. Beyond is the projecting gable of Huntly House; it is a neighbourhood steeped in Scottish history. Postcard, unknown artist. CC-by-NC National Galleries ScotlandAs they prospered, raising 3 children in the back of a shop ceased to be a necessity and they moved to a smart new, end-of-terrace, middle class villa at 1 Lismore Avenue in Willowbrae. It was here in 1918 that their ranks were joined by the birth of Henrietta (Bunty). 1914 saw them relocate the shope up the Royal Mile to number 51 High Street, next to the well know building known as John Knox’s House. This was the ground floor of Moubray House, one of the oldest surviving residential buildings in the city, where Daniel Defoe had once lodged. It had recently been restored by the Cockburn Association and placed in the hands of a trust. Despite raising 4 children, Esta was clearly becoming more involved in the affairs of business as classified adverts are in the name of both her and Jack. By 1920 she is styling herself “Mrs Henry, Antique Dealer” in these.
“Unidentified Man and Children”, Alexander Wilson Hill, c. 1933. This the shop at 51 High Street and it is probably Jack Henry standing outside. CC-by-NC National Galleries ScotlandThe 1921 census finds the family have moved on and up in the housing world again, now at a very large villa at 15 Mayfield Terrace in Newington. Louis Henry was following his father into the jewellery trade and Philip was training to become a dentist. Life was good but it was about to get better. In 1923 the Scottish newspapers reported the surprise visit of Queen Mary to the Henrys’ shop, where she spent an hour and bought many items, particularly Chinese curios. She was “greatly interested with both the collection and the premises” and shook hands with Esta and Jack as she left, promising to return. Her Majesty was true to her word and returned exactly one year later, buying “a score of articles” including a Louis XIV fan that had once belonged to Queen Victoria. She signed the visitors’ book and said that her purchases the previous year had been gifted to the West Kensington Museum.
Queen Mary leaving Henry’s on one of her many visits. Postcard, unknown artist. Via Canmore, SC 2649474 © Courtesy HESThe Queen was back again a year later, with over a dozen items bought, including a portrait believed to have been the property of Napoleon. The Henrys were invited to deliver the items in person to Holyroodhouse that afternoon and join the Queen for tea. They learned that some of the purchases were to stay there at the palace as part of its collection. The Queen thereafter returned almost every year on her visits to Holyrood, the newspapers reporting the purchase of items in 1927 and 1930 for Buckingham Palace and her personal collection. Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, Princes Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) and her sister Queen Margaret would carry on this royal tradition in later years and a whole section of wall in the shop was reserved for the display of their proudly framed cheques.
As the Roaring Twenties came to a close, Esta’s public profile was ascendant but Jack seems to have begun to step back somewhat from the limelight and into the shadows of the shop. In 1928 she stood for election to the Parish Council in the Canongate ward. Although she came second, there were two seats up for grabs and she was duly returned. Her election notices are the first time in print I could find where she is referring to herself as Esta, rather than just Mrs Henry. Her election was notable as she was the first Jewish woman to be elected to a public office in Scotland and also the press referred to her as Councillor Mrs Esta Henry, other married female councillors were referred to by their husband’s name, e.g Councillor Mrs Adam Millar. This is a public demonstration that she was very much her own woman.
Candidate picture of Esta Henry, Evening News, 7th November 1928The following year civic Parish Councils in Scotland – which existed largely for the purposes of poor relief – were abolished and merged into the Town Councils. Esta stood as an independent for this latter body in 1929 but came 4th behind two Socialists and a Moderate candidate. She would stand again for the Town Council in 1931, 1933 and 1935. She made very clear in her election speeches, which were reported in the press, that her priorities were housing, housewives, child welfare and the treatment of the sick and poor. Women and children were always central to her campaigns and she was known to mobilise squads of them in the Canongate to carry her election materials and to parade around the polling stations. But despite her strenuous campaign efforts on a sensible platform, her public profile and her local popularity, as an independent female candidate she stood little realistic chance of election. Edinburgh was run by the very pale, male and stale Moderates who largely owned the Council’s seats – many of which they didn’t even need to contest – and it was only in a handful of wards where the Socialists could challenge them (to find out more about the political groupings of 20th century Edinburgh and how the election system worked, you can bookmark this thread to read later).
In between election campaigns and royal visits, in 1933 the Henrys commissioned a magnificent L-plan house in a Dutch Cape Colonial style that also incorporated the latest in Moderne tastes. This was Marchdyke at 50 Pentland Terrace on the outskirts of the city’s growing suburbs and it totally eclipsed the monotonous rows of middle class bungalows that were much in favour all around it. Completed in 1935 this 4,000 square foot, 5 bedroom residence featured a Tudorbethan dining room, copious lounge and parlour, a terrazzo bathroom in a Roman style and in the basement a large garage for Jack’s cars, a wine cellar and antiques store. While many of the windows were in an ultra-fashionable fish scale style, the stained glass of the master staircase incorporated original 16th century Swiss and German panes from their collection.
Marchdyke, now known as Huntersmoon. Wilson Property Group, 2022 Property Listing – click here to see an archived copy with the full album of photos.In the 1935 Town Council election, Esta had come third behind the Socialist Party candidate and another from the Protestant Action Society (PA). This party were extreme anti-Catholics who stood on a platform of “No Popery”. Their leader was the rabble-rouser John Cormack and his political stock was rising at the time. In 1934 his party got just 6% of the popular vote in the Edinburgh municipal elections and 1 seat; in 1935 they got 21% and 3 seats. The exact order of following events are not clear but at the 1936 election Esta was already intending to stand once again on her usual independent platform. John Cormack made it be known in the press that he was inclined to lend his support to her in the Canongate (where many Catholic Irish and Italians lived). Perhaps it was a case of “if you can’t beat them, join them“, but with just a week to go before polling, Esta Henry made the shock announcement that she was now standing as a Protestant Action candidate – “the Only Party who do Not Want R. C. Votes“. So late was this change that even on the eve of election some of the papers still reported her as an independent. She topped the ballot, beating PA’s primary candidate, and was duly elected as a Town Councillor at the 5th attempt. It was a good year for PA, they got 31% of the popular vote and won 6 seats. Indeed it was their apogee and they soon slumped into bitter infighting and electoral obscurity, leaving just John Cormack to solider on for decades as their only councillor.
Election adverts, Evening News, 31st October 1936It’s never been clear just how committed Esta was to her new found political home – she certainly threw herself into public meetings on its behalf for a while, it being reported that she would stroll up and down the aisle, brandishing her umbrella at the audience. Realistically she may just have been desperate to get elected and chose the only other party than the Progressives (as the Moderates had re-branded) or Socialists with any chance of winning a seat. John Cormack was strongly criticised from within his own ranks for allowing a Jewish woman to stand on his platform – indeed much later in 1952 he organised pickets against her for suggesting public entertainments on Sundays at public meetings. She did not linger too long under his party whip and had resigned before the 1938 elections. She may have been made very uneasy with the association after a tumultuous public meeting in October 1937 in the Canongate Tolbooth. At this, her male PA colleague refused to answer questions directly and instead railed against Catholics to the boos and heckles of the crowd. Esta tried to make clear that she was there to fight the Socialists in politics but the audience deemed her guilty by association and turned on her too. Thereafter, she dedicated herself thereafter to public service for the Canongate in her own name. She would rise to become Convenor of the Baths and Washhouses Committee, a member of the Cleansing and Lighting Committee, the Streets and Buildings Committee and in 1941 was made JP (a Justice of the Peace, a lay magistrate in the lowest level of municipal courts).
Esta Henry commands the floor at a political meeting. Evening News, 8th February 1940Esta found that her official role as a councillor fitted well alongside her personal philanthropic activities and she long described herself publicly as a Social Worker in the Canongate (although she frequently embellished the timescales somewhat). In 1931 she had formed the Edinburgh United Independent Association in the Canongate to run youth projects and raise money for the city’s Royal Infirmary hospital. Her attitudes were quite progressive and she recognised the need and value for activities and exercise for her district’s youth to keep them from being led astray and getting into trouble and for their general health. She was heavily involved in the Canon Club for Boys and Girls and formed an amateur dramatic society there.
The youth of the Canongate ward is my special care… I want to mother the young people – I have done it all my days – and to impress them with the same spirit that I have myself… Never to let go, to hold on to the good things of life, because they will be rewarded in the end, the same as I have been.
Esta Henry, 1936
She also put her money where her mouth was and provided trophies for local clubs. In 1936 she presented the first of many Esta Henry Cups to the men of the Trinity College and Moray Knox Club on Cranston Street, an organisation formed for unemployed men. It was for the man who scored highest in their games league of dominoes, billiards, draughts and other pastimes with which they occupied their enforced idleness. Another such cup was presented to the local Caledonian Football Club. In November 1937, the Lord Provost gave her a leave of absence from her duties to travel officially to South Africa, where she was to spend two and a half months investigating working class housing and town planning on behalf of the city. He provided her with letters of introduction but they probably weren’t necessary, she apparently owned a fruit farm in the country and her son Phillie had settled there as a dentist! On her return she reported back that she had “travelled many hundreds of miles by air” but that it turned out things in Scotland were far more advanced and better organised for the poor than they were in South Africa! At this time she was also becoming increasingly involved with the Scottish Old Age Pensioners Association, becoming a local committee member, and in 1939 she and the Lady Provost threw a Christmas dinner for its members in the Canongate Tolbooth.
Esta Henry (2nd left, in the beret) and the Lady Provost give a Christmas Dinner to the elderly of the Canongate in the Tolbooth. Evening News, December 22nd 1939The year 1939 also brought the clouds of war to the High Street and municipal elections were suspended for the duration. As an incumbent councillor at the end of her 3 year term, Esta would have faced re-election in November that year. She now found herself with an extra six uncontested years added to her term of office and intended to make the most of this chance. She applied her single-minded determination, boundless energy and never-ending appetite for meetings and committees to the task at hand. And so it was that Councillor Esta Henry went to war. Interviewed shortly after the outbreak, she told the People’s Journal that there was no need to conscript women to the war effort as she had not met a woman in Edinburgh “who is not prepared to do whatsoever she is called upon to do“.
People’s Journal, 16th September 1939One of her first acts, on behalf of the Scottish Old Age Pensioners Association, was to campaign for government allowances for women dependent on the wages of their sons where these men had now been called up. In the Canongate she joined the local ARP (Air Raid Precautions civil defence force), turned her shop basement into an air raid shelter (her name is against it in the Valuation Rolls) and established a corps of 40 local women to act as fire pickets. Later, the Esta Henry Ambulance Section first aiders were also formed. She was soon putting on social events to help finance these activities and found herself placed in charge of the Entertainments Committee of the Lady Provost’s Comforts Fund. This latter organisation started out with the simple of aim of knitting kilt socks for soldiers of the Highland Regiments, as had been done in the 1914-18 conflict. Esta organised bridge parties to raise funds for buying the wool and offered up her house of Marchdyke as a suitable venue. In the Canongate she formed the local women in to work parties in the Tolbooth meeting hall, and arranged free entertainments to keep them amused as they knitted the socks. Soon she was organising mass balls; in February 1940 some 600 dancers packed out the Plaza dancehall in Morningside in a charity gala. At the Eldorado dancehall in Leith though it wasn’t dancing that she put on but boxing, a sport new to her but one that she had fallen in love with. There was nothing that she would not turn her attention to in the name of raising funds; charity auctions, raising pigs and Warship Week where she matched every £1 bond bought at a public rally with £1 of her own.
Esta Henry feeding pigs she was raising for charity sale. Evening News, 26th April 1940Increasingly in the city centre on her ceaseless war work, getting to and from Marchdyke must have been proving an inconvenience as in 1941 she took possession of the flat in Moubray House above the shop and fitted it out as her own residence. She was also keen to demonstrate that old houses in the High Street could be rehabilitated for use without demolishing them. At the end of that year she paid for 800 local children to go to the cinema as a Hogmanay treat, a special programme being put on for them at the New Palace on the High Street. At the end of this screening she had new years resolutions projected onto the screen and had her audience promise en masse to be good children while their fathers were away and to help contribute to the war effort. 1942 saw the institution of the city Corporation’s Holidays at Home programme; municipal entertainments to keep people and children occupied over the summer holidays and try and reduce the temptation to travel. Esta organised outdoor public dances at the Ross Bandstand in Princes Street Gardens which were put on for 2 hours every Monday to Friday afternoon, admission 6d on the gate. She herself led off the first dance with the Lord Provost and was a regular attendee, encouraging and cajoling shy young men to get themselves a partner and join in.
Wartime dancing at the Ross Bandstand in 1945. Evening News photo, from “Living Memories” by Jennifer VeitchThere was more dancing organised by Esta Henry in 1943, as well as cycle racing at Meadowbank, mass picnics for mothers and children and – as Baths & Washhouses Committee Convenor – she arranged for Portobello outdoor swimming pool to be re-opened (some of its machinery had been removed for war use and the rest had fallen into disrepair) so that charity swimming and water polo galas could be held (the awards being more Esta Henry Cups). This also meant children and youths could go swimming in the holidays again – she was well aware that with many fathers away on service and mothers occupied with war work at home, juvenile delinquency as a result of bored children being left to their own devices was a real problem. At the end of that year she spoke at a meeting to form the East Edinburgh Anti-Fascist Committe when it was announced that British Union of Fascists leader Oswald Moseley had been released from jail.
In 1944 she instituted a scheme whereby service personnel in the city and groups of school children were invited to the City Chambers to attend meetings of the Town Councils as her guest. They watched the proceedings and afterwards could question her and other members about the mechanics of local government; she wanted to show how the Home Front was functioning, to connect people with the municipal authorities and to raise awareness of the acute difficulties faced by it at this time. That summer she pressed the Corporation to make the city’s now unnecessary civil defence resources available to house evacuee children from London in the face of the new V1 and later V2 terror bombing. Although the idea garnered wide support it ultimately came to nothing and she would latter press the city to instead give away its accumulated surplus of bunk beds, mattresses and blankets for free to those in need.
With the end of the war finally coming into sight she now turned her attention to the post war prospects. With the Rev. Selby Weight of Canongate Kirk she held public meetings for the Canongate Welcome Home Service Fund to plan for the reintegration of demobbed service personnel and provide comforts and necessities for them and their families. She joined the local Women for Westminster branch to try and get a woman MP elected for the city and repeatedly went on the record that providing for youths and children had to be central to the city’s postwar planning and foresaw the coming housing crisis in the Old Town (it had of course always been there to an extent, but it was about to get very acute). “My slogan is houses and more houses – housing priority!” she said, but she was also clear that it had to be done by reconstruction of existing communities, not by swinging the wrecking ball and scattering them to all the corners of the city. She also took a great interest in Portobello and joined a local campaign to improve the district after the war. Always one to put her money where her mouth was, at her own expense she commissioned plans and artists’ impressions for a scheme to turn “Edinburgh’s ugly sister” into a fashionable new sea-side resort and Garden City. This wasn’t just pie-in-the-sky thinking, she successfully proposed it to the city authorities who had it approved by the Lord Provost’s Committee and included in Sir Patrick Abercrombie’s 1949 “Plan for the City and Royal Burgh of Edinburgh” (you will find it on page 69 in glorious technicolour but with little additional detail). The realities of postwar economics and political priorities meant however that it would never get beyond the pages of that work.
Artist’s impression of Esta Henry’s scheme for post-war Portobello. Evening News, September 18th 1945As the war drew to its close Esta found time to join yet one more committee, that of the League of Angry Wives. These were Scottish women who had married American servicemen and as “G.I. brides” wanted the right to join their husbands in that country. A resolution was passed and representations were sent directly to President Truman – by letter – and the First Lady – by telegram. A week later, Esta henry defended her seat, which she had now held for 9 years, at the ballot box but the winds of political change blew hard and she was comprehensively defeated by Labour candidates. This was despite her being presented with a pair of boxing gloves by her supporters and urged to “go on fighting“. After further defeats at the 1946 and 1947 elections she stepped back finally from politics, but not from life!
Esta Henry addresses the League of Angry Wives, Daily Record, October 29th 1945In 1946 and 1947 she was a key organiser with the Scottish Housewives Association in an Edinburgh and Fife-based campaign against bread rationing. This culminated in her and Janet Neish of Kirkcaldy chasing the Parliamentary Secretary of the Board of Trade out of the North British Hotel and across the street to his car as he sought to avoid the combined fury of their sharp tongues! Never one to turn down a committee, she was also elected as the President of the Edinburgh branch of that organisation. 1947 had however started on a sad note for her as Jack Henry finally succumbed to long-term heart disease, leaving her a widow. It was around this time that the house at Marchdyke was sold. But Esta showed no signs of retiring from life to mourn and threw herself instead to yet another new activity; women’s football. She became the director of the Edinburgh Lady Dynamos, a team formed from core members of successful pre-war teams when the women’s game had enjoyed a brief spell of public popularity. Donating another Esta Henry Trophy to the cause it was likely that she paid for their kits too and she could be relied upon to turn her formidable oratory power at the authorities when they refused to allow the women to play in public grounds.
Edinburgh Lady Dynamos football team, late 1940s. CC-by-SA-NC 0084-003, via Edinburgh Collected.
Back row L-R is Esta Henry, Kitty Russell, Betty Rae, Agnes Whitelaw, Theresa Mulvie, goalkeeper Jessie Baillie, Nan Laurie, Babs McWhinney and Walter Caesar. Front row L-R is Eleanor Wilson, Betty Davidson (?), Linda Clements, Mary Leslie, Bet Adamson.She had long been a local celebrity but in the year 1953, Esta Henry’s reputation went national on two accounts. Around the 27th of December 1952, a well dressed man entered her shop on the High Street and introduced himself as a Belgian art dealer, Paul Eugene Dillin. The pair quickly struck up a rapport and he soon confided in her that his identity was a front; he was actually a stateless Romanian Jew by the name of Pinchas Haimovici and had spent two and a half years in hiding in the Netherlands during the war. As he refused to sign a national oath pledging himself to Communism he was exiled from his country of birth and had no papers. It was at the recommendation of the renowned sculptor Benno Schotz, a prominent member of the Scottish Jewish community and whose wife came from the same village as him, that he had come to Edinburgh seeking art. Esta fell in love with the man then and there, despite an age gap of 21 years between them, and proposed to him on the condition that he took the name Henry. When he accepted she threw his fake passport on the fire and urged him to turn himself in and seek asylum so that they could be legally wed.
Pinchas and Esta, Associated Press, 27th April 1953Pinchas and Esta, Associated Press, 27th April 1953Esta perhaps imagined naïvely that her reputation and connections would make it a mere formality and booked the couple a honeymoon trip to Madeira. However when the police were invited to the shop they instead charged Pinchas with offences for landing illegally in the country on false papers under the Aliens Act 1920 and he was sent to Saughton Prison. On December 31st he pled guilty at the Sheriff Court in Edinburgh and was remanded for sentencing, which was deferred to give his solicitor a chance to arrange an application for Israeli papers and asylum so that he could travel there instead of being deported. After the hearing, Esta told the waiting reporters that she still intended to marry her “Prince Paul” (Paul Haemovitz was another alias he had used) but that she was going to go on the Honeymoon trip to Maderia anyway by herself as the stress of events would otherwise give her a stroke; the reporter noted that she was smoking at the time and confided she had smoked 100 already that day. The case rumbled on and on, the Israelis were being slow with the papers as apparently there was another Pinchas Haimovici on an Interpol watch-list, despite this being a common name in Romania, and he had to prove it was not him. The Sheriff in Edinburgh grew tired of the repeated delays and on March 13th 1953 he ordered Pinchas’ release. But no sooner had he left the courtroom than he found himself re-arrested; the Home Secretary Sir David Maxwell Fyfe had finally signed a deportation order for him and he was sent straight back to Saughton. Esta told a waiting reporter from the Daily Mirror that if he was to be deported to Romania then she would join him there; “I’m only seventy, and fit enough to crash any of Stalin’s curtains”.
Pinchas petitioned the High Court in Edinburgh to avoid deportation and his case was heard on April 10th. As a declared anti-communist he told the court that he faced “torture and death” if returned to Romania. He also asked leave from court to marry Esta (who waved the papers she had ready to the court), but this request and his protests over his captivity fell on deaf ears and the case was adjourned. Back to Saughton Prison he went were Esta, with her lawyer Lionel Daiches, continued to visit him and made a habit of finding her way uninvited into the Governor’s office to protest more directly. The case was now being reported across the national and regional British newspapers and had become quite embarrassing for the Government. And so it was that the Home Secretary cancelled his previous order and on Friday 24th April 1953 Pinchas Haimovici was released and met by Esta with a pony and trap to drive him home and a brass band she had hired to serenade his freedom. The couple announced that they were to be married on the Monday morning and after a brief registry office ceremony, so they were. Esta insisted that they returned immediately to the shop to re-open for business but outside they were met by an immense crowd of well-wishers who lifted her into the air as they cheered for her and her husband. She lost her shoes in the process and the police had to attend to find the couple a path through the throng.
Esta and Pinchas are met by jubilant crowds of well-wishers in Hunter Square after their marriage. Daily Mirror, April 28th 1953The crowd followed them all the way back to the shop where they posed for the press and thanked their well-wishers while Esta fumbled through the 20 different keys she kept for the various locks on the premises. They were back behind the counter and at work within an hour of their ceremony starting. The next day they took a taxi out to Saughton Prison and thanked the warders with wedding cake and champagne, Pinchas let the press know that they had treated him very kindly. A few days later he formally changed his name to Paul Henry in line with Esta’s prenuptial wishes.
Pinchas and Esta re-open the shop after wedding, Associated Press, 27th April 1953To celebrate their union and to thank Benno Schotz for helping bring them together they commissioned him to produce a brass bust of them. Schotz insisted that Pinchas should be holding something in his hand and, knowing that Esta was immensely fond of rings, designed an Adam & Eve ring for the purpose. The finished work was unveiled to mark their first wedding anniversary as the centrepiece of an exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy on Princes Street.
Unveiling the bust with Benno Schotz, 23rd April 1954. Paul is holding the ring in his hand.Returning to the events of 1953, it was while her Prince Paul was still incarcerated that the other event took place that garnered national reporting for Esta; she was robbed! Perhaps she had been distracted by the events surrounding Paul’s case, but she allowed herself to be taken in by a group of well-organised confidence tricksters posing as American buyers. Having taken the time and effort to establish her routines and build up a rapport with her, they arranged a distraction and took their chance to steal jewellery that she valued at £20,000 from a lock box, £320 and $600 in cash and the pass books for her life savings. Esta told the press that amongst the items stolen was an amethyst fob which had once been part of the Hungarian crown jewels. Bits and pieces of the loot turned up in sale rooms afterwards and she was forced to buy them back at half of what the other dealer had paid for them; she was not impressed. The police eventually caught up with her trio of robbers due to their amateurish attempts to pass her stolen valuables off to on an antique dealer for far less than their actual worth. Roy Fontaine got 4 years for theft, Arthur Wooton 3 years for reset and George Ross-Wham had already been jailed on a separate offence by the time his sentencing came up. Fontaine was a career jewel thief, confidence trickster and blackmailer but Esta had found him charming and visited him in jail. She left money for him to try and start up a better life after he was released. This he tried, but it was not to be. It turned out that she may have gotten off lightly from Fontaine’s gang; he was actually the Glaswegian Archibald Hall who gained notoriety some 20 years later as a serial killer who the press dubbed the Monster Butler. His modus operandi was robbing and killing wealthy elderly and high-profile clients that he had worked his charm on to gain work as a butler. He was sentenced to life without parole in 1978.
Archibald Hall being taken to Jail, Daily Record, May 1978Esta Henry would have one last high-profile adventure before settling down to a quieter married life keeping shop with Paul. In 1954 the Egyptian Junta let it be known that they were auctioning off part of the personal collection of art and objets accumulated by the now deposed King Farouk at the state’s expense. She told the press she was determined to bag herself a bargain and flew to Cairo to the auction at the Koubbeh Palace; they were there at Turnhouse Airport to wave her off. In Egypt, when the Sotheby’s auctioneer initially announced the lots only in French and Arabic she interrupted to protest – “English was good enough for Shakespeare, it should be good enough for these people”. He yielded to her request and began to also announce the lots in English. She next stopped proceedings to ask an Egyptian army major to bring her some tea; tea was brought. When asked not to smoke she refused and instead asked for one of King Farouk’s diamond-studded, gold ashtrays – an auction lot – be brought to her.
Esta Henry, glasses in hand, berates the auctioneer yet again. The other bidders seem much amused. Sphere, 20th March 1954She eventually brought the proceedings into complete farce by repeatedly protesting when, at the behest of the Egyptian organisers, multiple auction lots were withdrawn, joint lots were split up and opening bids were significantly above the catalogue reserve price. The other bidders, and indeed the Sotheby’s auctioneers, were actually on her side – they too were less than impressed with how the sale was being conducted. When she eventually walked out, labelling the Egyptians “a bunch of twisters”, a number of fellow dealers followed her out. She was chased into the car park by the auctioneer and a senior Egyptian officer who begged her to return. Realising she had made her point, she acquiesced, and went back into the sale room where she publicly hugged and kissed the astonished auctioneer. She now stopped making a nuisance of herself and got down to the business of buying, eventually spending some £15,000 (c. £360,000 in 2025). She allowed herself one last moment of pantomime when, outbid on a 16th century Scottish clock, did jump up, grab the item from the auctioneer’s desk and announce to all that it was Scottish, she was Scottish and “I am going to have it!”. Her delighted fellow buyers let her have it. When she returned home, the gossip columnists and society magazines were waiting and she told them she was left with only the 2/6d in her pocket having spent the rest in Egypt. Her treasures arrived at the end of the following month, and she was met by both the press and by Customs to assess the haul.
Esta and Paul Henry demonstrate one of the Egyptian auction items to a customs officer and the press. Sunday Post, 2nd May 1954Esta and Paul Henry spent a happy decade together behind the counter at 51 High Street surrounded by the antiques and art that had brought them together. Esta through numerous exhibitions at Moubray House and contributed rare pieces to others. She began to form plans to perhaps leave the house and the best parts of her collection to the nation. In 1960 a fellow Edinburgh antique dealer told the press that they probably had the best collection in the country inside their shop. For their 10th wedding anniversary the couple decided to take a long overdue honeymoon and booked a round the world trip, perhaps to acquire yet more pieces or perhaps with a view to scouting out somewhere warm to retire to.
Copy of Esta Henry’s entry card into Brazil, issued by the Consul General in London on 10th December 1962It was for this reason that they were in Sao Paulo, en route to Rio de Janiero on January 15th when Serviços Aéreos Cruzeiro do Sul Flight 144 came down shortly after takeoff, killing them both. The long reign of the Queen of the High Street was over and the Brazilian authorities had her buried together with her Prince in Sao Paulo. Back home her vast collection of treasure that formed the bulk of her estate was split up and sold off. Her shop became home to a succession of trinket and tourist businesses but her flat above fared better, remaining in the care of the Cockburn association before being restored by a wealthy American benefactor and in 2012 gifted to the nation under the care of Historic Environment Scotland.
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