The Churchill Casebook of Curiosities

A narrow-faced older man with sharp features, a goatee, and suspicious eyes

From his home outside Thornton Heath, just south of London, Major Harding, 3rd Baron Churchill writes to selected individuals whom, for one reason or another, he believes may be able to assist him with certain enquiries. Although still as sharp and tenacious as he was the day he led the 2nd Division charge at the battle of Inkerman, the Baron is now confined to a wheelchair as a result of an encounter with a Russian field gun at same said battle. Frustrated by his immobility, the Baron seeks, with some reticence, the aid of others in his pursuit of matters now concerning him.

Having received such a letter from the good Baron, you prepare to join him as his guest at his rural home, Lichfield Hall. If travelling by train, the Baron has sent a coach to meet the 3:15 from Victoria Station. Those making their own way can enquire in the village for direction to the Hall.

Daphne James Marleybone

A curly-haired fop with pale features offset by a burgundy-red jacket with a cape draped over the shoulder

Hello, I am Daphne James Marleybone, Esq. Yes of the London Marleybones not that Shropshire rabble.

I am the second son of Lord Marleybone who runs the govt, or is it the Army, not sure something incredibly boring.

First son, Is Thomas who is down at Oxford reading Law as ordered by Daddy.

I am on forced sabbatical from Eton after the Tea Cart scandal…and no I am not the Scone in that scenario.

Third son is Luke who just went to Sandringham to join the whatevers are stationed there.

Fourth son is Algernon…Hmm where is Algie?

And then there is Daisy, who is a treasure worthy of Aladdin’s Cave…I am going to keep her snaffled away in my pocket away from the Horde as long as possible.

Ms. Gideon Harrow

A woman with defined features looks sidelong at the portrait, dark hair tressed back, wearing a velvet dining jacket over a pale red dress

Ms. Gideon Harrow, Abbess of Harrow’s Exotic Coffee House, is of course delighted to answer the Major’s summons. Ms Harrow started servicing Major Harding in his younger days as a robust, hungry young man (inserting the missing ‘en’ in his name through her expert ministrations) and, mirroring the Major’s rise, worked her way to the position of Abbess in a popular establishment in Covent Garden, which she soon rebadged as her own.

Harrow’s Exotic Coffee House was soon ‘the’ London establishment, the house decorated to the highest standards with fine furniture and exclusive paintings adorning the walls, and a restaurant with liveried waiters to serve the guests. Services many and varied were provided beyond the public areas, Ms Harrow famed for her ability to deliver no matter how lavish the request. Nonetheless she established very strict boundaries beyond which none should step (word of mouth from those that tested those boundaries have ensured that her clientele now cause very few problems).

As a result Ms Harrow is on intimate terms with many influential people, both men and women, and has a particularly close friendship with Major Harding. Whilst she no longer services the Major personally, they are old and trusted friends, and she continues to provide those that can assuage his peculiar desires.

Few leave the employ of Ms Harrow: her staff adore her for her largesse and care, and she reputation means she attracts only the finest young men, women, and everything in between. Indeed such is the quality of the great horizontals in her maison de tolerance that the Abbess has started to educate some in the more hidden areas of her expertise.

For Ms Harrow has a predilection for nocturnal adventure that flavours more toward risk than risqué, leaving her business in the safe hands of her hand-picked covey whilst she roams the night and procures what she—and her select clients—desire. This habit is bolstered by two things: an addiction to stimulants (often administered via a dose of Elixir Mariani) and her terrifying effectiveness with a pistol at close range.

Jonathan ‘Jack’ Blackwood

An army portrait of a civilian volunteer depicting a serious young man with neat beard, neat workman's clothes with a cravat and engineer's cap

Background: Jonathan Blackwood, known to his friends as Jack, was born into a family of modest means in the bustling East End of London. His father, a dockworker, and his mother, a seamstress, instilled in him a strong work ethic and a sense of duty from a young age. Despite the hardships of his upbringing, Jack was a bright and curious child, always eager to learn and explore.

Education and Career: Jack’s intelligence and determination earned him a scholarship to a local grammar school, where he excelled in his studies. Fascinated by the burgeoning field of science, he pursued a career in engineering. By 1879, Jack had become a respected mechanical engineer, known for his innovative designs and problem-solving skills. He worked for a prominent engineering firm, contributing to major projects like the construction of the Thames Embankment and the expansion of the railway network.

The Turning Point: Jack’s life took an unexpected turn when he encountered “electricity” when tasked with a job a workplace. Intrigued, Jack began investigating the uses of the electric telegraph, electric motor, electric lighting and illumination such as arc lamps and incandescent bulbs. Jack’s “investigations” caught the attention of the British military, and he was presented with a unique opportunity to travel to Abyssinia to assist with a rescue mission and punitive expedition against the Ethiopian Empire. There Jack pursued his engineering skills overseeing various

Major Harding, 3rd Baron Churchill, recognizing Jack’s skill and bravery, even though he was just as a civil engineer. Jack quickly adapted to having a new benefactor upon his return to London, using his engineering expertise to develop and maintain several electric devices. His mechanical prowess and analytical mind made him an invaluable asset to a number of noble families. Personality: Jack is resourceful, pragmatic, and fiercely loyal to his friends and allies. He possesses a dry wit and a calm demeanour, even in the face of danger.

Motivation: Jack is driven by a desire to use his skills for the greater good. His loyalty to the Baron and his commitment to engineering are unwavering.

Dr. Silas Hawthorne

A tall man in waistcoat and jacket, curls of hair framing a prodigious moustache but bare chin, wearing distinctive round eyeglasses

Dr. Silas Hawthorne is a successful London physician in his early thirties, running a private practice from his townhouse in Belgravia, as well as maintaining a surgery at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, where is a senior staff member and a member of the teaching faculty.

A proud Scotsman, son of a Glasgow ship-builder, Hawthorne learned his trade at the prestigious University of Edinburgh Medical School, graduating with high honours, at the top of his class. Since moving to London almost 10 years ago to take up his position at St Bart’s, he has developed a significant reputation for the quality of his research, and for his innovative and groundbreaking discoveries in the medical field.

Of late, he is known throughout London for his abilities as a general practitioner and surgeon, and for his willingness to take on complex and unusual cases with a single-minded focus.

While providing for the needs of common folk at his St Bart’s clinic, in private practice he serves as the personal physician to many of London’s middle and upper classes, including one Major Harding, 3rd Baron Churchill.

Session played: 18 November, 2024