Curious American wants to know...

"Michael A. Covington" wrote
in message ...
Actually I just realized it's on the railway line from Paddington to
Oxford,
so I've been through it on the train maybe a dozen times (none of them
especially recent). Next time I make that trip, I'll get off the train
and
look around in Slough for a little while. I realize Herschel's house
isn't
standing, but the site is interesting nonetheless.

Bring a weapon

Steve wrote in article
...
Michael A. Covington wrote:
What is the correct pronunciation of the name "Slough" (Berkshire), where
Herschel lived for a while?

Datchet? Bath? ;-)
You've probably picked up that it ryhmes with now as in "It isn't fit
for humans now." See below sig for the full poem.

...and AFAIK, his former home is now underneath the Observatory shopping
centre.

I'm not sure that is correct (though don't quote me on it). I think
it is named in honour of the fact that Herschel did his work in
Slough. My reason for this? There is a monument that marks the
approximate position of his observatory and that is at the other end
of the town centre. AIUI the observatory was in his garden and I
can't help feeling that even then, even with the King's support, this
would have been a massive property. But, like I said, this is an
assumption and I'll be happy to stand corrected.

--
Simon
51:31N 0:38W
http://www.cookie-pool.co.uk/Pool1.htm
http://www.maidenhead.astronomical.s...care4free.net/
http://www.popastro.com/home.htm

Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough
It isn't fit for humans now,
There isn't grass to graze a cow
Swarm over, Death!

Come, bombs, and blow to smithereens
Those air-conditioned, bright canteens,
Tinned fruit, tinned meat, tinned milk, tinned beans
Tinned minds, tinned breath.

Mess up the mess they call a town --
A house for ninety-seven down
And once a week for half-a-crown
For twenty years,

And get that man with double chin
Who'll always cheat and always win,
Who washes his repulsive skin
In women's tears,

And smash his desk of polished oak
And smash his hands so used to stroke
And stop his boring dirty joke
And make him yell.

But spare the bald young clerks who add
The profits of the stinking cad;
It's not their fault that they are mad,
They've tasted Hell.

It's not their fault they do not know
The birdsong from the radio,
It's not their fault they often go
To Maidenhead

And talk of sports and makes of cars
In various bogus Tudor bars
And daren't look up and see the stars
But belch instead.

In labour-saving homes, with care
Their wives frizz out peroxide hair
And dry it in synthetic air
And paint their nails.

Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough
To get it ready for the plough.
The cabbages are coming now;
The earth exhales.

John Betjeman

James wrote in article
...

"Michael A. Covington" wrote
in message ...
Actually I just realized it's on the railway line from Paddington to
Oxford,
so I've been through it on the train maybe a dozen times (none of them
especially recent). Next time I make that trip, I'll get off the train
and
look around in Slough for a little while. I realize Herschel's house
isn't
standing, but the site is interesting nonetheless.

Excuse the out of sequence post but I've been waiting all day for
google to update to reply to James and it isn't happening :-(
Anyway...

TBH there isn't a vast amount to see. There is the Observatory
shopping centre that has a few stars and constellations (unnamed if
memory serves). Ottakers the bookshop has a mural that includes
reference to Herschel (and a nice coffee shop at the back, I could
spend some serious time in there!)
Then there is the memorial tucked away near the end of Herschel
Street, which runs parallel to the main high street. It is set back
from the pavement, with bushes either side and an office block behind.
You have to know it's there otherwise, in a car, you would miss it.
That said just knowing that he lived and worked in Slough makes living
there a little bit special (not that I wouldn't move given half the
chance ;-)
Seriously if anyone's in the area and wants to see the "sight(s)" and
grab a coffee feel free to drop me a line.

Bring a weapon

And after that comment, James, you'll have to ;-)

--
Simon
51:31N 0:38W
http://www.cookie-pool.co.uk/Pool1.htm
http://www.maidenhead.astronomical.s...care4free.net/
http://www.popastro.com/home.htm

"SimonP" wrote in message
om...
James wrote in article
Bring a weapon

And after that comment, James, you'll have to ;-)

Hehe, indeed - my only experience of it is dropping a friend off to
relatives there a lot when I was in Uni, and bypassing through it to get to
my girlfriends' house sometimes as well...
I'm sure its fine, don't want to scare any interested parties )

In message , SimonP
writes
Steve wrote in article
.. .
Michael A. Covington wrote:
What is the correct pronunciation of the name "Slough" (Berkshire), where
Herschel lived for a while?

Datchet? Bath? ;-)
You've probably picked up that it ryhmes with now as in "It isn't fit
for humans now." See below sig for the full poem.

...and AFAIK, his former home is now underneath the Observatory shopping
centre.

I'm not sure that is correct (though don't quote me on it). I think
it is named in honour of the fact that Herschel did his work in
Slough. My reason for this? There is a monument that marks the
approximate position of his observatory and that is at the other end
of the town centre. AIUI the observatory was in his garden and I
can't help feeling that even then, even with the King's support, this
would have been a massive property. But, like I said, this is an
assumption and I'll be happy to stand corrected.

I've mentioned this before, but according to an article I read in New
Scientist or Nature (can't remember when or where, but it was the last
few months) the post-war Socialist council went to some lengths to
destroy all trace of the observatory.
--
"Forty millions of miles it was from us, more than forty millions of miles of
void"
Remove spam and invalid from address to reply.

"Jonathan Silverlight" wrote
in message news
I've mentioned this before, but according to an article I read in New
Scientist or Nature (can't remember when or where, but it was the last
few months) the post-war Socialist council went to some lengths to
destroy all trace of the observatory.

Why? Because preserving it would imply a fondness for George III?

Jonathan Silverlight wrote in message ...
I've mentioned this before, but according to an article I read in New
Scientist or Nature (can't remember when or where, but it was the last
few months) the post-war Socialist council went to some lengths to
destroy all trace of the observatory.

It sounds like the same council is still in power :-(

--
Simon
51:31N 0:38W
http://www.cookie-pool.co.uk/Pool1.htm
http://www.maidenhead.astronomical.s...care4free.net/
http://www.popastro.com/home.htm

James wrote in article
...
Hehe, indeed - my only experience of it is dropping a friend off to
relatives there a lot when I was in Uni, and bypassing through it to get to
my girlfriends' house sometimes as well...
I'm sure its fine, don't want to scare any interested parties )

James, I realise your comments were somewhat tongue in cheek but in
defence of my home town…
…it's fine – would I practice ‘Sidewalk' astronomy in the town centre?
At night on my own, no.
Do I have any problem going to the town centre at any time? No.
I don't think Slough is any worse than any other large town I know –
either day or night. As with any town, there are certain no-go areas
(especially at night). Would I move? To a quieter, darker location,
in a second! While I can't move, am I bothered by the area? No!

And my offer still stands.
--
Simon
51:31N 0:38W
http://www.cookie-pool.co.uk/Pool1.htm
http://www.maidenhead.astronomical.s...care4free.net/
http://www.popastro.com/home.htm

(SimonP) wrote:

James, I realise your comments were somewhat tongue in cheek but in
defence of my home town…
…it's fine – would I practice ‘Sidewalk' astronomy in the town centre?
At night on my own, no.
Do I have any problem going to the town centre at any time? No.
I don't think Slough is any worse than any other large town I know –
either day or night. As with any town, there are certain no-go areas
(especially at night). Would I move? To a quieter, darker location,
in a second! While I can't move, am I bothered by the area? No!

Simon - you are not alone - I wans't born in sluff but quite near - it
was where we went for the shopping. Everywhere you live there is a
town designated the pits by its neighbours and many of its
inhabitants, more in affection than accuracy. Nations do it - to their
neighbours, to regions within the nation and, each region does it to a
town.

And every town has the equivalent of Herschel's house on its
conscience.

So 2 cheers for Slough, setting for the Office, the town where I
passed my driving test and would have lost my virginity if a young
lady of Slough hadn't made such a silly decision.

Cheers

Martin

--------------
Martin Frey
N 51 02 E 0 47
--------------

What is the correct pronunciation of the name "Slough" (Berkshire), where
Herschel lived for a while?

Slou? Sloo? Sluff?


Thanks!


As nobody's yet referred to THAT poem, here's a link :-)

http://www.vanschip.com/nerds/slough.html

AndyK