Queen Victoria was born on 24 May 1819 and to celebrate the bicentenary of her birth we’re looking at some of the historic places named after her; from pubs to parks, streets to statues and even a phantom city. The Victorian age Perceptions of Queen Victoria’s legacy change with each generation and historians are frequently busting cliché’s about her. Whatever your views on Victoria and her era, particularly in the latter part of her reign, she was held in great affectionRead more
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War Art: Military and Civilian murals from the Second World War
Over the centuries soldiers and Prisoners of War (POWs), have left personal expressive art on the places where they lived or served. These murals, cartoons and graffiti were often subversive, humorous, risque, nostalgic or decorative. Some were tolerated by military authorities in the interests of morale, and others were officially sanctioned.Read more
5 Historic High Streets
There are around 5,000 high streets in the United Kingdom, and almost every city, town and village has one. Traditionally the epicentre of community life, their role has dramatically changed in the last few decades, and as our work, shopping and leisure habits transform, we’re at a vital crossroads to decide on the future of the high street.Read more
The story of London’s sewer system
Hidden beneath the city streets lie 2,000 kilometres of brick tunnels that take raw sewage direct from our homes, along with 130 kilometres of interconnecting main sewers the size of railway tunnels.Read more
A brief introduction to prehistoric caves
Scientific interest in caves and rock shelters began in the early 19th century, when discoveries of bones of extinct animals were thought by some to come from an age before the Biblical flood.Read more
A brief history of ships’ figureheads
Ships’ figureheads have a long history embodying religion, symbolism and superstition.Read more
A brief introduction to Brutalism
Loved and loathed, revered and reviled: Brutalism remains one of the most controversial and misunderstood architectural styles of the 20th century.Read more
Top blogs of 2018
In case you missed them, here are our most-read blogs of 2018. Thanks for following, we’ll be back with more great-reads in 2019.Read more
A brief introduction to the remarkable Gertrude Jekyll
Jekyll’s planting schemes and their harmonious colour palettes, and use of traditional crafts, remain the quintessential essence of English-style.Read more
A brief introduction to gargoyles
A brief history about gargoyles and grotesques for the Halloween season.Read more
