The London Genie

29/03/2026

My latest article about a touching letter written during World War One that has now been reunited with its family.

17/02/2026

Anyone else spend a billion hours crafting the 'Why this book? Why now?' part of their book proposal about amazing overlooked women only to walk into and see FOUR SHELVES of books about Winston Churchill?

FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!

Please comment Amen so I don't feel so alone!!!!

11/02/2026

It's 1923 and undercover officers are inside The Palm Club.

My latest post on Substack will transport you back to a 1920's nightclub. Based on real reports kept in The National Archives, see what's behind the club doors.

https://open.substack.com/pub/thelondongenie/p/1923-the-brief-existence-of-the-palm?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=5lo80g

11/02/2026

It's 1923 and undercover officers are inside The Palm Club to catch after hours drinkers and s*x workers plying their trade.

Based on original records from see what they find in my latest post.

01/02/2026

My latest article in February's edition of Who Do You Think You Are Magazine.

Why the women of the NAAFI have often been overlooked and why they deserve better recognition.

31/01/2026

An afternoon's research suggests that this is a cough mixture recipe from around the turn of the century.

A 'drachm' (or dram) is an ancient Greek weight, later used in pharmaceutical language.

I wouldn't suggest that you try to recreate this today as Ipecacuanha and Squills fell out of common use around 1900-1910 due to concerns around toxicity.

The ingredients suggest that this home remedy was intended to shift catarrh. It might have been used by city dwellers affected by coal smoke, industrial workers, the elderly or those who were in long recovery from influenza or pneumonia.

This recipe could have been written around the time of the influenza outbreak in 1890 or perhaps it was an older family member imparting knowledge to later generations?

Whatever its origins, it was a delight to find.

Personally, somebody in our house swears by Wray and Nephew Rum, freshly squeezed lemon and honey but hit me up if you've got some Squills - I'm intrigued!!

08/01/2026

Enjoying this very much.

23/10/2025

Cocktails at followed by and then

15/07/2025

100 years ago today died of a botched abortion after being unable to.obtain one legally. After her death on 15th July 1925 it was discovered that she had no known family and it was thought that she had come to the UK from France. There are very few traces of her life for us to follow. She died in St. Stephen's Hospital, Chelsea and her final resting place is as yet unknown. Today we remember her, knowing that in some places in the world, the circumstances that led to Germaine's death, still exist. My research into Germaine life continues and I hope to be able to share her story with you in the not too distant future.

25/06/2025

Poets, bear's grease and jazz! My new blog post about and who was 's next door neighbour.

Laura Veal was born into Victorian Britain in 1846. At seventy-five she was living at 44 Gerrard Street, at the dawn of the jazz age as revellers at the chucked their guts up on her doorstep.

We explore what life was like for the neighbours and witness the transformation of this remarkable London street.

www.thelondongenealogist.com

25/03/2025

Bank of England Archive today. These books were huge!

11/03/2025

New podcast for Family History buffs and those interested in DNA.

Podcast · Finding Families · Our clients are searching for unknown birth family - often but not always their fathers. In each episode we talk to people about how it feels to finally have answers thanks to the magic of DNA.