Comments on: Messing about in Eton

By: Abel

Abel — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 15:44:46 +0000

Bob – sounds like you speak from painful experience. We didn’t suggest this was Eton College’s birching block – but that it does look very like a public whipping post.

(There’s an interesting ‘Time’ magazine article about the demise of the College’s block in WW2, which Haron’s going to post about sometime).

By: bob miles

bob miles — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:56:34 +0000

NO! This is NOT the Eton birching block!
The block which was used for generations was destroyed by fire, some years after it was last used.
I can testify that it was uncomfortable to the knees when you were upon it — and your bottom was even more so when you stood up!

By: catherine

catherine — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:37:24 +0000

I’m glad Harriet said it first, but the poor chap’s name was the first thing I noticed about the pic too!

Evie, you have been unlucky. Not *every* Eton boy is a complete arse. I do think it’s funny how you can always tell an OE though – boys from other schools have “public school” accents, but boys from Eton have an accent all their own

By: Harriet

Harriet — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:14:56 +0000

Ooh just googled and apparently it’s the name of a primary school on Eton hight street!

Some of the terms in the glossary of Eton expressions give food for thought:

The Long Walk…..the space in front of the office !!!

The Tardy Book,the Order Card and Private Business,I can feel my imagination beginning to run riot!

Sweet Dreams everyone. xx

By: Evie

Evie — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:44:25 +0000

Not so much posh as really really unlucky, Eton boys really are such arses- to be avoided as much as possible.

By: Abel

Abel — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:28:26 +0000

Harriet – well spotted. I believe the school is actually referred to in the history books as “The Porny School”. Sounds like a dodgy video, to me!

Evie must be posh, spending time with Eton boys! I love the thought of a group of the local girls, one of whose number was due to be whipped, stealing the post. Needless to say, once the whipping post was recovered, the whole group (and not just the original offender) would be tied in place for a public thrashing.

By: Evie

Evie — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 11:59:39 +0000

Ergh Eton boys. I’ve never met one who wasn’t a complete bastard.. What I do like is that the whipping post has a chain around it- perhaps there have been previous attempts to steal it?

By: Harriet

Harriet — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:56:18 +0000

Monsieur Porny???? What an amazing name! One can only wonder at what may have gone on in his school!