This History Museum Has Made Such A Fascinating Discovery That Even J. K. Rowling Responded
Ever been caught not paying attention in class? Well, thirteen-year-old Richard Beale was – just 234 years later. The Museum of English Rural Life uncovered a math book belonging to the teenager, filled not only with lovely handwritten equations but delightful doodles.
The journal was acquired as part of a set of 42 diaries that belonged to the Beale family. So taken and entertained by young Beale’s drawings, the museum tweeted out pages of the notebook which then went viral. However, it was one illustration, in particular, that seemed to grab people’s eye, a sketch of a chicken wearing pants. Sure it might sound silly to some, but try telling that to Harry Potter author JK Rowling who tweeted the doodles were “truly wonderful” and even teased her next novels would be “the adventures of a chicken who wears trousers.”
The museum programme manager, Adam Koszary, told the Guardian he hoped the viral tweet would draw attention to the archives, “When you see a 13-year-old from the 18th century doing the kind of doodles that kids are doing today, it is so relatable – there’s an instant connection.” Scroll down below to see this delightful piece of history and all the reactions!
The Museum of English Rural Life is notorious for tweeting out entertaining history tweets of their cool archives
This week while going through some old journals they made a discovery they thought was worth sharing
A 234-year-old school diary from a 13-year-old boy…filled with more than just equations
However, there was one illustration that captivated everyone’s attention above the others
People quickly started to respond
It was so great that it even caught the attention of Harry Potter author J.K Rowling
People not only appreciated the funky chicken but the boy’s exquisite handwriting as well
Nowadays he could make money doing calligraphy for high end invitation cards.
Load More Replies...That's not a chicken wearing pants.... He was holding the chicken on his lap and it laid an egg... Silly people!!!
The chicken in trousers could be Hensbroek, a village in Holland has this in their coat of arms https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hensbroek. Could there be a link?
Being a bit of a nut is probably necessary to do something great.
Load More Replies...I would not have survived living during this time... the beautiful handwriting is an expensive talent in our time.
I am completely dazzled by his penmanship. And his trousered rooster.
This is fabulous and I'd love to see more! But too bad the person taking the photographs didn't set up with the plane of the lens parallel to the plane of the paper. Shooting at an angle makes it very difficult to appreciate this young man's artistry fully. The bad perspective made me positively woozy scrolling through. Or was it INTENDED to be just a tease?? That's pretty mean, if so :(
His family must have been fairly well off or connected. From what I've read not many children got an education back then.
If they where to make a book from his diary's I would buy it! The handwriting is gorgeous and jealous making and the doodles are so cute!
I'm worried that I'm the only one who was hoping for a 100 year old W***y drawing....the chicken in the trousers was much better yho
Nah, it's the simple historical finds that interest us.
Load More Replies...Nowadays he could make money doing calligraphy for high end invitation cards.
Load More Replies...That's not a chicken wearing pants.... He was holding the chicken on his lap and it laid an egg... Silly people!!!
The chicken in trousers could be Hensbroek, a village in Holland has this in their coat of arms https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hensbroek. Could there be a link?
Being a bit of a nut is probably necessary to do something great.
Load More Replies...I would not have survived living during this time... the beautiful handwriting is an expensive talent in our time.
I am completely dazzled by his penmanship. And his trousered rooster.
This is fabulous and I'd love to see more! But too bad the person taking the photographs didn't set up with the plane of the lens parallel to the plane of the paper. Shooting at an angle makes it very difficult to appreciate this young man's artistry fully. The bad perspective made me positively woozy scrolling through. Or was it INTENDED to be just a tease?? That's pretty mean, if so :(
His family must have been fairly well off or connected. From what I've read not many children got an education back then.
If they where to make a book from his diary's I would buy it! The handwriting is gorgeous and jealous making and the doodles are so cute!
I'm worried that I'm the only one who was hoping for a 100 year old W***y drawing....the chicken in the trousers was much better yho
Nah, it's the simple historical finds that interest us.
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