Earlier this year I visited the Thackray Medical Museum in Leeds. This offers the public a wonderful mix of the history of medicine, medical innovations and of public sanitation in the Victorian era. It is the brainchild of Paul Thackray, grandson of Charles Frederick Thackray, the founder of Chas. F. Thackray Ltd of Leeds, a medical supply company that began trading as a pharmacy in … Continue reading Pictures of History: Thackray Medical Museum
Yesterday on the top deck of a London bus my husband and I passed some time spotting blue plaques! If you are not familiar with them they are plaques that are placed on historic buildings usually indicating that a person of note lived or worked there. The blue plaque project is now run by English Heritage. It was started in 1866 and is thought to … Continue reading Millicent Garrett Fawcett Lived Here
I love a good audiobook and so I thought I would share a few of my favourites with readers of my blog! When I was studying history at university I worked part to full-time and so I was always playing catch up with my reading for modules. Sometimes I’d have to drive a couple of hours to commute to work, so thinking outside the box, … Continue reading My Recommended History Audiobooks
Queen Victoria, born Alexandrina Victoria, was born 199 years ago today. She was the daughter of Edward, Duke of Kent and Princess Victoire of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. Edward was the fourth son of King George III and Queen Charlotte. She became Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. On 1 May 1876, Queen … Continue reading 24 May 1819: the Birth of Queen Victoria
Pictures of History is back this week with my visit to the Tower of London. The Tower began its life during the reign of William the Conqueror almost one thousand years ago. For hundreds of years it has been a home for royalty and a prison. It is the place of death and the final resting place of King Henry VIII’s beheaded queens. Today, it … Continue reading Pictures of History: Tower of London
This week I couldn’t resist a pre Royal Wedding visit to Windsor Castle. You can read my post here. Along with visiting the State Apartments I had the privilege of visiting St George’s Chapel. Quoting from my post Royal Weddings at Windsor Castle: a History; ‘the Chapel has centuries of significance for the royal family and is the last resting place of many previous monarchs … Continue reading Windsor Castle: a Visit to St George’s Chapel
Today Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. The Chapel has centuries of significance for the royal family and is the last resting place of many previous monarchs and their consorts, including King Henry VIII and his third queen, Jane Seymour, King Edward the IV and his queen Elizabeth Woodville and King George V and his consort Queen Mary, the present queen’s … Continue reading Royal Weddings at Windsor Castle: a History
This week I headed to Windsor Castle, I might have given it a miss but for the fact the the Royal Collection was bombarding my Facebook page with adverts inviting me to come! With 5 days to go before the Royal Wedding I was excited to visit on what turned out to be a beautiful late spring day. You can read my earlier post here. … Continue reading Windsor Castle: a Visit
The Natural History Museum, London, is the subject of my Pictures of History post this week. I visited on a sunny April day in 2011. I must go back soon, I know the diplodocus cast that had been exhibited in the grand central hall was changed last year and I wonder what else has changed? My pictures reflect my interests at the time: a lot … Continue reading Pictures of History: Natural History Museum
Royal Wedding fever has officially hit! We are 5 days away from watching Prince Harry and Ms Meghan Markle walk down the aisle of St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. Windsor Castle is resplendent in the sunshine today and, not surprisingly, is teeming with tourists and TV crews. People are dodging cameramen, royal reporters, news anchors and the ubiquitous selfie-sticks, and others are photobombing perfectly … Continue reading Windsor is Royal Wedding Ready!
This weekend I made a return visit to Hampton Court Palace. I’ve said it before that I’m lucky to live so close to so many of London’s historic venues. I walked through the portcullis at the West Gate to enter Base Court and happened to glance up at the ceiling and the above picture is what I saw. Looking up at the ceiling became a … Continue reading Hampton Court Palace: A Look up to the Ceiling
Welcome to the third post in my Pictures of History series! The concept is simple: I will share pictures of the places I have visited that are steeped in history. You will find more photos than text and if possible I will link to an official website for further information. A couple of summers ago I visited Blair Castle which is situated near the village … Continue reading Pictures of History: Blair Castle
On 8 May 1945 Europe celebrated the end of World War II, although it would be mid-August before the world saw peace with VJ Day (victory over the Japanese) when war in the Far-East was declared over. The German surrender was anticipated for days and General Jodl, the German Army Chief of Staff, finally signed their unconditional surrender at 2.41 a.m. on 7 May 1945. … Continue reading 8 May 1945: Victory in Europe
On the morning of 27 September 1950 an RAF twin-seater Meteor 7 aircraft crashed into the Irish Sea, off Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire. It was on its way from Jurby, Isle of Man to Driffield, Yorkshire. An RAF rescue attempt was launched immediately with assistance from those in the vicinity. It was briefly reported in some newspapers, where it was stated that one body was recovered … Continue reading RAF Plane Crash: Irish Sea Rescue Attempt
Last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting The National Gallery, London. I explored the Sainsbury Wing which houses their awe-inspiring Early Renaissance paintings. I was enthralled by their treasures on display, some of which were 700 years old! The above is a fragment from the Chapter House of the Sienese church of San Francesco. This depiction of serene nuns is one of my favourite … Continue reading The National Gallery, London: Early Renaissance Art
This blog is a selection of interesting things I've come across during my history research. I have a wide interest in history ranging from Wars of the Roses, country houses, Stuarts, Georgians, Louis XIV, Napoleon and criminals. So expect to see a bit of everything on here, with a focus on little known stories.
Sharing recipes, DIYs and lifestyle tips
The ramblings and obsessions of a longtime Avon lady
The Home Of T-Bird From The Dork Web.
Wellness • Poetry • Life
Adventures in motherhood, fitness, youth hockey & corporate America
Genealogy, Family history, and Whatnot
Piecing together my family history . . .
Stories of immigrants, expatriates and family evolution
Family and local stories and history, favorite books
Discover and re-discover Mexico’s cuisine, culture and history through the recipes, backyard stories and other interesting findings of an expatriate in Canada
Eats plants
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aka Helene Harrison, Author and Historian
Tonight I Dream. Tomorrow I Do!
Exploring historical thoughts and themes, a bit at a time.
HistorianRuby: An Historian's Miscellany 