This is the September 2025 edition of my fascinating facts newsletter, which includes a range of interesting topics. This includes write-ups about early wristwatches, treadwheel cranes and the UK’s oldest pubs.
Fascinating Facts September 2025 Contents
“Fascinating Facts” is a free monthly e-magazine focusing on personal, historical, and military interests. Contributions are welcomed with appropriate credit given. You can download the full newsletter to read HERE; however, some snippets are listed below.
Treadwheel Cranes
Treadwheel cranes, used since Roman times, were wooden, human-powered lifting devices that could hoist loads of up to 6,000 kg thanks to their large wheels. The Roman polyspaston crane was 60 times more efficient than the methods used to build the pyramids. Surviving examples include a 17th-century crane in Guildford and a double-wheeled crane in Harwich. Read More…
World’s Worst Natural Disasters
Natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, cyclones, and tsunamis kill about 60,000 people yearly. The deadliest recorded disasters include the 1931 Yangtze River flood (approx. 2 million deaths), the 1976 Tangshan earthquake (700,000 deaths), the 1970 Bhola cyclone (up to 500,000 deaths), the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Other major events include Typhoon Nina, Cyclone Nargis, and the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. Read More…
The Decimalisation of Time
France briefly adopted decimal time from 1794 to 1800, dividing the day into 10 hours, each with 100 minutes and 100 seconds, for easier mathematical conversions. Later efforts in 1897 and 1900 failed to revive it. Swatch launched a digital decimal time called “Internet Time” in 1998, dividing the day into 1,000 “.beats,” but it never caught on. Decimal time remains a curiosity mostly used in niche scientific contexts. Read More…
The ‘Poem in Clockwork’ Watch
Commissioned in 1783 and finished in 1802, the Marie Antoinette watch by Breguet took 19 years to build and includes 823 parts, 23 complications, and innovations like a perpetual calendar and automatic winding. Valued at $30 million, it was stolen in 1983 and recovered in 2007. A replica was built in 2005 using wood from Marie Antoinette’s favourite tree. It remains one of the most intricate and valuable watches ever made. Read More…
Early Wristwatches
Wristwatches existed as early as the 16th century but were mostly worn by women until the late 19th century. Breguet made a watch for the Queen of Naples in 1810. Military use during colonial campaigns and World War I popularised wristwatches among men for practical reasons. Companies like Longines, Mappin & Webb, and Rolex capitalised on this demand, with wristwatches becoming standard by the 1930s. Read More…
The Art of Sand Sculpting
There are two main types of sand sculptures: soft-packed, which make up most beach creations, and hard-packed, which are compressed into solid blocks for more intricate designs. Carving subtracts material, while sculpting allows both addition and removal. This niche art form showcases remarkable creativity and technical skill. Read More…
Women and Children First
The “women and children first” protocol, though not law, gained fame during the 1852 sinking of HMS Birkenhead. It became a symbol of Victorian chivalry but was inconsistently applied, as shown during the Titanic disaster, where officers interpreted the order differently. Criticism emerged over time, questioning the fairness of prioritising women over men, especially as gender equality advanced. Read More…
Some of the UK’s Oldest Pubs
Numerous British pubs claim ancient origins. The Old Ferryboat Inn (560 AD) and The Porch House (947 AD) top the list. Other notable pubs include The Bingley Arms, The Royal Standard of England, Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, and The Mermaid Inn. Many have rich histories tied to war, smuggling, hauntings, and historic figures. The George Inn, The Guinea, Cittie of Yorke, and The Prospect of Whitby also boast centuries-old legacies. Read More…
