Colne Valley Beagles and other things of interest.: October 2017

Steampunk never impinged on my sheltered existence until a visit to Hebden Bridge on a weekend this September. The first couple I met early one Saturday morning made me think they were from some Star Wars type fantasy, but then I discovered Steampunk.

For those like me who knew not of it, the concept is one of dressing up in Victorian steam age attire and then imaginatively embellishing to create a fantasy outfit.

The first couple I came across on the Saturday morning took me by surprise and on enquiry I got a bit of an idea what it was about although it was limited due to the mask. From then on more appeared and paraded about for the weekend which was nicely fine for the event.

I am given to understand the goggles, while not an essential, represent the genre and are worn on the forehead.

For those still unfamiliar with the concept I quote from Wikipedia since I couldn't put it better myself - 'Steampunk perhaps most recognizably features anachronistic technologies or retro-futuristic inventions as people in the 19th century might have envisioned them, and is likewise rooted in the era's perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, and art.' LINK

This intriguing device featured a constantly rotating hamster wheel thanks to the activity of the artificial hamster, which was the principal aspect of its allure. What it represented I have no idea.

I liked the 'blunderbuss' that he made from bits bought off EBay.

Clearly they have made a start, they have got the goggles. There were some stalls inside the Town Hall, which had some of the weird and wonderful accoutrements as well as garments, necessary to develop into a fully fledged Steampunker.

In the forefront of battle

I think I see him ride,

With the drawn sabre gleaming

That swings at his side;

With a bearing erect and stalwart,

And a look calm and keen,

The strong son of England,

The servant of the Queen.

-From 'A Cavalry Soldier' by Cicely Fox Smith

If the wife should go wrong with a comrade, be loath
To shoot when you catch 'em -- you'll swing, on my oath! --
Make 'im take 'er and keep 'er:  that's Hell for them both,
An' you're shut o' the curse of a soldier.

- From 'The Young British Soldier' - Kipling LINK

Now, if you must marry, take care she is old --
A troop-sergeant's widow's the nicest I'm told,
For beauty won't help if your rations is cold,
Nor love ain't enough for a soldier.

- From 'The Young British Soldier' - Kipling LINK

This Steampunk stuff seems, mostly, to attract those of middle age and also men with beards.

No goggles, but does it matter!

Just a flavour of the 'event'. They just wander about to be admired!

It is all a bit aimless just wandering around The following weekend nothing was happening in Hebden Bridge and it felt dead by comparison, so it was an interesting and enjoyable event.

Tuesday, 3 October 2017

STEAMPUNK AT HEBDEN BRIDGE