It has been rumoured that Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein was inspired by Somerset electrical experimenter Andrew Crosse. Although this is unlikely, Crosse did experiments which resulted in the apparent creation of mites.
As a boy he was not averse to mischief. At school he liked to make fireworks and in a letter admitted the danger of it after nearly setting the school house on fire. His rebellious nature went too far when he joined other boys demanding longer school holidays.
A plan was hatched to barricade a schoolroom and defend themselves to the death with muskets. Their plot was thwarted and somehow Crosse avoided punishment, unlike others who were expelled or flogged.
Despite getting into trouble he was academically successful and became Head Boy at Dr. Seyer's School in Bristol. His interest in electricity came about accidentally when he sloped off to a tavern to eat boiled beef since the school meals were insufficient. One day he spotted a syllabus for a natural science course, which included electricity. He subscribed to the course after gaining permission from Dr. Seyer.
Denne historien er fra April 2020-utgaven av Somerset Life.
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Denne historien er fra April 2020-utgaven av Somerset Life.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Up on the Down
Try this easy-to-follow Exmoor walk with SIMONE STANBROOK-BYRNE
Shop until you drop
It’s Somerset’s county town, it’s the place to go for the big shops, but Taunton is also home to a thriving independent scene, discovers CATHERINE COURTENAY
Creatures of the night
Have you ever had something swoop past your ear, almost unseen? You may have had a brief encounter with a bat, says BERNARD BALE
Bowled over
Now that we can return to skittle and bowling alleys - albeit with new rules BERNARD BALE reveals that the sport of bowling has many Somerset links
Trackway through time
In the Somerset Levels SIMONE STANBROOK-BYRNE discovers a place where our Neolithic heritage rubs shoulders with the present day
SAVING THE SPLENDOUR OF EXMOOR
The splendour of Exmoor National Park may appear timeless and untroubled, but a new book reveals the long and often bitter struggle conservationists faced to save the landscape from the twin threats of afforestation and the plough
Decorative art
Not simply functional, treat your walls like an extension of your personality
Charity starts at home
How do we teach our children the importance of giving back?
Blooming brilliant
Will and Lauren Holley purchased a four-acre field in Somerset, converted it into a nursery, opened during lockdown and now their perennial plants are flying off the shelves. JULIE HARDING meets the go-getting couple
Age-old advice
Just become a grandparent for the first time? Perhaps you need a little guidance, so here are some top tips about how to embrace your new family role
