Category Archives: History
How do you solve a problem like Victoria: was Queen Victoria illegitimate?
Of the 41 monarchs of England since the arrival of William the Conqueror, only 7 have been women. But stop and think of the 41 figures on that list: how many do you feel any real connection with, how many produce an emotional response when you picture them? And, crucially, how many do you have [...]
Also posted in 19th Century, Biography, British History, Royal History Tagged 19th century, george III, illegitimate, queen victoria Leave a comment
Site of the Week: Atlas Obscura, a compendium of curiousities from around the globe
It’s a well-worn, but absolutely true, travelling cliche that the best way to get to know a place is to get lost in it. The aim of most travel sites on the internet is to enable you to plan your trips better, separating the wheat from the chaff and ensuring that not a second is [...]
Also posted in Historical Places, Site of the Week, World History Tagged salzburg, Site of the Week, travel, World History Leave a comment
A King of Beasts in Revolutionary Paris
I’ve just started reading the eclectic and lively Georgian London blog, and came across this piece about the menagerie at the Tower of London, which existed in various forms from 1252 until its closure in 1835, at which point its collection of animal inhabitants formed the basis for London Zoo.
The story of the menagerie (once [...]
Also posted in 18th Century, Animals, British History, French History, London, Paris, Royal History Tagged 18th century, french revolution, History, London, Paris Leave a comment
Site of the Week: Oscar Kirk’s Diary
Oscar Kirk was born and raised in Poplar, East London, close to the substantial complex known as the West and East India Docks. A few days before the end of the First World War, Oscar, then just 14, got a job at the docks, and started to write a diary of his everyday experiences.
His entries [...]
Also posted in 20th Century, Biography, Site of the Week Tagged 20th Century, Biography, diary, Site of the Week Leave a comment
Frederick, The Hated Prince
Over Christmas I visited Hampton Court Palace, in the middle of their annual Christmas festivities. Jesters strolled the courtyards, and re-enactors scuttled around the cavernous kitchen, distilling rose water as if by magic and turning spits, perched next to roaring fires. In a corner of the kitchen, one man was making elaborate sweets and [...]
Also posted in 18th Century, Biography, British History, Royal History Tagged 18th century, Biography, britain, Royal History 1 Comment
Queen Victoria’s Black Sheep: Prince Eddy and the Ripper Rumours, Part 1