Leslie Scase Author

 Just saw a newspaper article from 1918 on a local history site. It referred to a new railway station to be built at Treforest. Initial impact - aargh, did I get it wrong? Thankfully no. The article referred to a proposed new one by a different company. The TVR station was built in 1847. Phew..... 

  Sometimes authors of historical fiction can be accused of stretching credibility too far, but often truth is stranger than fiction. I was tempted (when writing Sabrina's Teardrop in particular) to put a couple of gadgets at Chard's disposal but restrained myself. Here's one which was considered, brought to my attention via a post by one of my favourite sites (the Virtual Museum of Police in Wales. )some time ago :- This newspaper article comes from 1897........................ BETTER THAN THE TRUNCHEON. In the midst of the discussion as to the best means of dealing with the street ruffian, Mr. Frank Garrett, of Armscote Manor, Stratford, appropriately puts forward the claims of a new weapon, which he has patented, and which he suggests should be placed in the hands of every policeman. Mr. Garrett's invention is a small revolver-shaped instrument, which discharge fluid instead of lead, and the idea is to disable the assailant by directing the charge into the eyes. It...

  I like libraries, I always have; at least the quiet ones. This one is probably the best I've visited. Built on the site of a Victorian one. It's at Hawarden. What's the relevance to my writing? If you know, you know

  The Golden Cross pub in #cardiff as featured in Flames of Anarchy. Current building is from 1903 but the glazed ceramic tiles are typical of the late Victorian period. The original building was a brothel in the mid 1800s before becoming a pub in Inspector Chard's time. The clientele today is rather.....let's say.....different. (though much friendlier than in the novel).

  Another modern photo of a location from Flames of Anarchy. The Blue Bell in Cardiff, known by many including myself as The Goat Major, until it reverted back to its original name a couple of years ago.

  The former Coal Exchange taken in 2024 (then a hotel). My original post on Fb was :- As part of my research for Flames of Anarchy I visited the The Coal Exchange Hotel the site of the former National Coal Exchange. The main hall is absolutely stunning. It is rumoured that the first million pound cheque was written here.