All articles in History
26th January, 2018 in History, Maritime, Society & Culture
Transportation to Australia
Transportation overseas as the punishment for many criminal offences, next in severity to the death sentence, was first introduced into English law by the Elizabethan Act of 1597 ‘For the punishment of Rogues, Vagabonds, and Sturdy Beggars – to be banished out of this Realm and a…
22nd January, 2018 in History, Women in History
End of an era: The death of Queen Victoria
As the January mist enveloped Osborne House, a short line of mourners passed silently through the grounds towards Queen Victoria’s private apartments. In the corridor outside her rooms a tall Indian man stood alone. It was Abdul Karim, the Queen’s Indian Munshi or teacher. He had…
17th January, 2018 in Biography & Memoir, History
No reconciliation, no address: King Charles I in exile
In January 1648 a measure was passed declaring that the two Houses would ‘make no further Addresses or Applications to the King’ and ‘receive no more any Message from the King’. To complete Charles’ isolation from power, it was also made treasonable for anyone else to apply…
8th January, 2018 in Biography & Memoir, History, Maritime
Vice Admiral Lord Nelson’s state funeral
The funeral of Vice Admiral Lord Nelson on 9 January 1806 was a vast spectacle, at the time probably the largest public event in London’s long history. Advertisements appeared for days beforehand promoting the best vantage points for the procession to St Paul’s Cathedral, newspap…
14th December, 2017 in History, Society & Culture
Lost Countries: A treasure trove of history from an old stamp album
A few years ago Stuart wrote a book titled All the Countries We’ve Ever Invaded and the Few We Never Got Round To, exploring how Britons have fought in almost every nation on earth. A few years ago Chris wrote First Class, a quirky look at British history through its stamps. We w…
30th November, 2017 in History
Llywelyn the Last
Llywelyn the Last was born into the Royal family of Wales as the grandson of Llywelyn the Great. Wales had been unified under his grandfather so just how did Wales come under English control within one generation? When Llywelyn the Great died, his eldest legitimate son by his Que…
28th November, 2017 in History
The Eleanor Crosses: Longshanks’ love set in stone
Nowadays people remember Eleanor of Castile as the queen for whom the beautiful ‘Eleanor Crosses’ were made, the most famous of which gives the name to Charing Cross in London. However, had it not been for her husband’s dramatic memorials to her, the first queen of King Edwa…
23rd November, 2017 in History, Local & Family History, Society & Culture
The Manchester Martyrs of 1867
In 1858, a young man by the name of James Stephens founded a secret society which he called the Irish Republican Brotherhood (an early forerunner of the IRA). This soon became known as the Fenian Movement, derived from the Fianna Eirann, a legendary band of Irish warriors led by…
18th November, 2017 in History
The Windsor Castle fire: 25 facts
On 20 November 1992, Windsor Castle, the largest inhabited castle in Europe and one of the official residences of Queen Elizabeth II, suffered extensive damage in a huge fire. The fire began in the Queen’s private chapel at around 11:30 a.m. and the blaze quickly spread to…
16th November, 2017 in Biography & Memoir, History
The death of Henry III
Henry III ascended to the throne at the age of nine in 1216 and reigned for the rest of his life. He held the record for the longest-serving English monarch until modern times. It was on 16 November in 1272 that his reign of 56 years came to an end. That figure stood for 544…
13th November, 2017 in Archaeology, History, Local & Family History
The secret history of London’s oldest house
It is the oldest private home in the City of London but its outward appearance gives few clues to its fascinating and ancient heritage. In fact, most people are unaware of its existence. It hides in plain sight at numbers 41-42 Cloth Fair – a narrow street sandwiched between the…
10th November, 2017 in Biography & Memoir, History
The man who found Dr Livingstone
Famous for having found the great missionary and explorer Dr David Livingstone on the shores of Lake Taganyika and immortalised as the utterer of perhaps the four most quoted words of greetings of all time – ‘Dr Livingstone, I presume?’ – Henry Morton Stanley was himself a man wh…