Forum Topic

Chiswick House Goes WOKE

Discuss....

Nicholas James ● 1847d24 Comments

You haven't given us much to work with here.

Ross MacDonald ● 1847d

I suspect that the use of WOKE in capitals in the style of the Mail or Express says more than enough.However, in my opinion this sounds like a potentially interesting take on the history of CH, telling stories we've not previously heard.

Chris Jenkins ● 1847d

I think it's just a general whine because Chiswick House is presenting on Black history. It's a red flag to people like this.

Carl Wynne ● 1847d

"Woke":  a portmanteau word for something you don't like (generally about someone else's views) but cannot justify why, or would rather not do so because of your paucity of reasoning. It's a cop-out term that's meaningless, but used to try and diminish the views of others.

T P Howell ● 1847d

Interesting project, although I imagine there may not be a lot of source material specifically relating to Chiswick. Still, it's got to be a huge improvement on the cheap costume-drama presentation of alternative history that was Bridgerton!

Robert Fish ● 1847d

Happy if 'woke' includes the appalling treatment of women, including that of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire who called Chiswick House her 'earthly paradise'.  I believe the monument to the pug by the enclosed pond is to one of her dogs, but I may be wrong. Not sure how accurate the film was with Keira Knightely portaraying Georgiana but according to records her husband was a brute and insisted on a long term threesome with his mistress, her bringing up his out of wedlock daughter while her out of wedlock child was shipped off.

Claire Moran ● 1847d

Do you mean the monument to Lily in front of the orange tree garden? There's no evidence that she was a pug, but according to Gillian Clegg, she may have belonged to Lady Elizabeth Foster, the other woman in the 5th Duke's ménage à trois.

Robert Fish ● 1847d

One is reminded of the hanky-panky activities of the future Edward VII whilst resident at Chiswick House and his documented racist views. Slavery in the whaling trade can be linked to the other Chiswick House in Canada..linked to the Hudson Bay Company, Simon MacTavish,Chief Freemason in Canada at one time..and his family link to CH W4, the School on the Mall and burials at St Nicholas Church etc etc. There's a lot to be woked about...previously suggested on this Forum years ago.

Jim Lawes ● 1847d

I thought 'woke' originally meant 'awake to' or aware of or more sensitive to wider or deeper issues, but it's rapidly been turned into a term of abuse by those who don't want greater awareness or sensitivity being brought to bear.

Peter Evans ● 1847d

'"Woke":  a portmanteau word for something you don't like'Surely a portmanteau word is one made up from two other words, such as brunch or motel.

Susan Kelly ● 1846d

You are right. I stand corrected.

T P Howell ● 1846d

Sometimes you wonder why people feel the need for a new word, that just replaces an older word or phrase that was clearer. Woke is I think the latest word that we’ll all put our own spin on. I’m going to try not to use it.

Maggie Dodge ● 1844d

Woke up this morning feeling fine,There's something special on my mind,Last night I met  new girl in the neighbourhood woah yeah,Somethin' tells me I'm into something good.Herman's Hermits. They don't write 'em like that any more

Alan Green ● 1844d

Showing your age 😂about the same as mine👍

Maggie Dodge ● 1844d

My dad liked Herman’s Hermits (so I didn’t, natch), and if he were still alive he would be well, well old.  Telegrams from her maj old.  I can’t believe you’re that ancient, Maggie!  And I’m somewhat ‘over-ripe’.

Alastair Banton ● 1844d

Im 69 Alistair.  I remember the 60s and 70s with great affection.

Maggie Dodge ● 1844d

I thought the term 'Woke' first appeared in the 60s. Fell out of use for a few decades clearly.

Simon Temple ● 1844d

Please do elaborate on what you mean by 'woke'.

Sharon Hanley ● 1841d

I didn't start this.

Simon Temple ● 1841d

Where's that man of empathy, Nigel Fartage to tell us the real meaning of WOKE?

Basil Finnis ● 1841d

When Queen Victoria was on the throne during the 1800s...her heir to the throne,I understand, was to be the Prince Albert Victor who at one time lived in Chiswick House and was schooled there. His younger brother lived there too. The News of the World would have had a field day reporting on their "activities"!Albert Victor (Duke of Clarence) died before his mother and thus the future Edward V11 became heir. How much will this WOKE exercise reveal one wonders?

Jim Lawes ● 1840d

Not quite correct, Jim - Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence, was the eldest son of the future King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, and therefore the grandson of Queen Victoria. His younger brother was the future King George V. Albert Victor died in 1892 at the age of 28 from pneumonia brought on from an influenza pandemic.

Richard Greenhough ● 1840d

Hooray!

Simon Temple ● 1840d

What makes you think that Lilly was a pug? Also, I don't think that she was definitely owned by Georgiana either.

Charlotte Kasner ● 1837d