The Festival of Britain was a government-sponsored nationwide exhibition celebrating and promoting Britain’s excellence in design, technology, industry, architecture, science and the arts. Read more
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10 Eccentric English Customs, Traditions and Ceremonies — and the Stories Behind Them
All over England, customs, traditions and ceremonies brighten our lives throughout the year.Read more
Britain brought to a standstill: The General Strike of 1926
On 3 May 1926, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) called a general strike across Britain to start at one minute before midnight. Read more
Empress Matilda and ‘The Anarchy’
If your image of a medieval noblewoman is someone in a tall pointed hat passively swooning at her knight’s jousting abilities, we forgive you: this is indeed a theme in medieval art and literature. But there were a number of medieval women leaders whose careers clearly break this stereotypical mould.Read more
Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians
Here we take a look at the career of the determined ruler of Mercia, Aethelflaed, daughter of Alfred the Great, who battled Vikings, built forts and founded towns.Read more
Football, Beerhouses and Books: How Victorian Mill Workers Entertained Themselves
The lives of Victorian mill workers were far from easy. Fines, beatings, maiming and even death, were commonplace.Read more
From Prototype to Defender of the Skies: The Story of the Spitfire
The British Spitfire – the iconic, high performance aircraft, celebrated for its maneuverability, speed and fire power – helped the RAF turn the tide of the Second World War in the Allies’ favour.Read more
5 Significant Historic Sites in Shropshire
Many of Shropshire’s towns have connections to influential events on the national and global stage, and many offer unusual heritage stories.Read more
The Untold Story of the Highway Code
The British Highway Code – ‘…a guide to the proper use of the highway and a code of good manners…’ – celebrates the 90th anniversary of its first publication in 2021.Read more
6 Fascinating Stories About Historic Lancashire
We’ve delved into the Historic England Archive to uncover some of the people, places and heritage of North West England.Read more