William Hogarth

The recent resignation of David Davis over increased detention for terrorist suspects has let to a debate as to how he can be so strongly against this and be in favour of the death penalty. Yet history often shows that people have complex belief systems. William Hogarth, the father of English Painting, was an interesting character. Arch xenophobe with a particular hatred of the French and Roman Catholic Church. Yet he had no problem depicting some of eighteenth century London's black population in his pictures of capital life. He was extremely concerned with children's welfare and was an early campaigner for animal rights.

You can see his 'Roast Beef of Olde England' in Tate Britain and his bust in Leicester Square. There is a lot on him in the Foundling Museum. But probably the best place to soak up Hogarth is in Chiswick. See his statue in the main road, his grave in St Nicholas' churchyard and visit his house near the roundabout named after him

Hadrian's Wall

Reading English Heritage's book on Hadrian's Wall I was surprised by its scope, considering it is really a guide with lots of of pictures. (You'll probably be able to pick it up on Amazon quite cheaply). It quickly demolishes the two great myths of the Wall - that it was like a medieval castle constantly under attack from tribes to the north. These would have been met by a Roman field army long before they got near the Wall, if they had massed to attack in huge numbers and there is no evidence they ever did. Myth 2 - that it was staffed by Romans from Italy who must have shivered to death in the cold of northern Britain. In reality soldiers were recruited locally.

It touches on the Wall's affect on the locals, its later history and covers over sites in the area like South Shields, Wallsend, Corbridge and Vindolanda. The Wall beyond Housesteads is explained and there is a section on the Turf Wall. It could have mentioned the Roman Army Museum in passing and used the Latin term Vicus to describe the civilian settlements that sprung up next to the forts but these are minor points.

One thing that is highlighted very well is the need to think in colour when looking at Roman remains. The reconstructed Bath House at Walls End and the representation of the Temple of Mithras in the Museum of Antiquities, Newcastle show the bright colours of Roman interiors.

Its the same for other ancient civilisations. The next time you are in the British Museum looking at Assyrian carvings or the Marbles themselves look beyond the grey and think colour.

Museum ( Brands, Packaging and Advertising )

If you are in the Westbourne Grove area of London you might like to take in this collection tucked into a mews towards Notting Hill. Its about three years old and its the Robert Opie Collection that used to be in Gloucester. My first thought looking at the goods and games, the bottles and boxes, the posters and postcards was that I hope it survives this time. Museums and collections like everything in London come and go but there are some major food and drink sponsors and Opie's collection is too important to disappear completely. Its not just a mass of household items from kitchens and shops of the past there is social history lurking here. Its well stocked( no pun intended) with some valuable stuff on show from original Star Trek toys to WW1 Crested China. Its come along way since that first munchie wrapper. Long may it inform and entertain and confront middle aged visitors with their childhood.

Colville Mews Lonsdale Road W11 Tuesday-Sunday Admission charge

Emanuel Swedenborg

The old dispute between the established Church and William Blake's 'Jerusalem' recently resurfaced in the press. This is often written up as the trendy liberal C of E attempting to to ban the patriotic hymn. But really the ill feeling runs much deeper. Blake in his time was a thorn in the Church's side rejecting the doctrine of God as Lord and objecting to the Church suppressing natural desire and discouraging earthly joy.

To make matters worse Blake was for a long time influenced by the 17th/18th century Swedish scientist and Christian mystic Emanuel Swedenborg. Swedenborg believed in life on other planets and his book Heaven and Hell recounted the six steps of man's birth from a materialistic to a spiritual being. To him the Trinity was not a Trinity of persons, there was one God the Lord Jesus. Salvation had to come through faith and charity not faith alone. He spoke of a New Jerusalem symbolising a new era in God's relationship with humans. It was enough to earn him a heresy trial in Sweden.

Was Blake's Jerusalem influenced by Swedenborg? - there is considerable debate but the possibility hardly endears Blake with the church establishment. If you want to know more about Emanuel then it is possible to do a Swedenborg trip across London. He has a street and open space named after him in the shadow of The Tower- just off the famous Cable Street you will find Swedenborg Gardens. It contains a memorial to the first Swedish Church in London where Emanuel was buried before repatriation to Sweden. Onto Holborn where you will find the Swedenborg Society at 20/21 Bloomsbury Way WC1. Pick up a book by him or on him. Further west in Pembridge Villas at the end of Westbourne Grove you will find a bricks and mortar example of the New Church a movement based on Swedenborg's idea's.