Yvonne
‘Wondrous Words Wednesday’ is a weekly meme where we share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading. It is hosted by Kathy, over at BermudaOnion’s Weblog. You can either stop by and leave a link to your own ‘mystery’ words of the week, or just browse the eclectic mix of words that others have discovered, there is always a great selection. Just don’t forget that Kathy and the rest of us, all love to read your comments as well!!
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My contribution to ‘Wondrous Words Wednesday’ this week, is more of a phrase than a word and is taken from my current book ‘All The Days Of Our Lives’ by Annie Murray.
A full ‘Amazon’ synopsis can be found by clicking the image:
“She hardly realized that jobs came and went. He worked in factories, on building sites, at the wharf, came home black for a time when he was a stoker in the ‘RETORT HOUSE’ at the gas works.”
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The ‘RETORT HOUSE’ is the place where gas was manufactured by heating coal in the absence of air.
‘All The Days Of Our Lives’ is set in Birmingham, UK and there is a comprehensive record of one of the ‘Retort Houses’, at 39 Gas Street, on Wikipedia, which can be found here, as it is the last remaining building of Birmingham’s first gas works, which closed production in 1850, and as such is a protected Grade 11 Listed Building.
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Interesting. Retort obviously has a meaning other than the one I’m used to. Thanks for participating!
Hi Kathy,
I was completely baffled by this word when I came across it in the story and although I could make a guess that it was in some way linked to industry, I had no idea in what context.
Some of these old buildings, which are now protected from demolition or structural alteration, have been adapted into some fantastic public facilities, or even reisdential housing, whilst still keeping the intrinsic beauty of the building.
Thanks for the visit today, Yvonne and the kind words. I wish blogger had a reply option on the comments like wordpress.
I want to read the 3 books in this series by Annie Murray. They sound wonderful. My TBR list has tripled in size since I started blogging in July! And I really like the link you gave to read up on the history of the retort houses. I love history and facts!
Macadam was a new word for me, I live in the states and we use the term black top. Our airport runways are called tarmacs though. I am reading a book by a Norwegian author right now and he has used the term tarmac for the road. First time I have come across that.
I really like your blog! See you soon.
Hi Peggy,
I always like to find great new blogs, with interesting people to talk to, so thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Having a reply facility on the blog does make two-way communicating possible and there have been some great conversations started up over the months, so please feel free to join in anytime you want, I love getting comments.
I recognise the term ‘black top’ from the many visits we have made to Florida over the years, although in that particular state, many of the roads do not appear to be surfaced in this way, whereas over here it is the standard dressing for all road surfaces.
I do try to research words and historical facts that I am unsure about as thoroughly as possible, but am often unsure whether I include too many links in my posts. I think that you can never have too much information at your fingertips, so I am not going to stop now.
I have read quite a few Annie Murray books over the years, but as luck would have it, not the two previous books in this series, although this book does work very well as a stand-alone story.
My TBR mountain is fast growing out of all control and I know full well that I shall never get to read all the books I actually own, let alone those I keep adding to the list on an almost daily basis. I have only been blogging for a little over a year, but it should come with a serious health warning about the amount of books you are going to adding to one list or another!!!
I have already added you to my ‘blogroll’, so that will prompt me to stop by on a pretty regular basis, so until then, take care.