The Stuart Passion for Secret Marriages
The House of Stuart seem to have been particularly prone to making secret marriages, but they were hardly the first royals to do so….
THIS JUST IN
The Beautiful and Intelligent Božena Němcová: one of the great Czech writers of the nineteenth century
There was once a young girl who lived with her mother, a Viennese maid, and her father, a coachman, in a servants’ cottage of…
10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About America’s First FEMALE Presidential Candidate
Victoria C. Woodhull ran for President 48 years before women were granted the right to vote, yet most Americans aren’t aware she existed. Here…
History’s Top 4 Most Awesome Swords. EVER
There are three things in this world that are true. The Sun is hot. Water is wet… and swords are awesome. As I sit…
Vowess: The Medieval Vocation You’ve Probably Never Heard of
When you think of women in the Middle Ages/early Renaissance, you probably imagine fair maidens, wives, mothers, nuns and possibly widows. Some people know…
The Other Anne Boleyn
Two Anne’s. One fighting for her Queen-ship, the other head of Princess Mary’s household. They may have shared the same name, but it seems…
The historical theme park of your dreams you have never heard of but will definitely want to visit after reading this
Picture the scene, you are inside the Colosseum. The crowd’s going crazy for a gang of Christians who have just been sentenced to death…
How hindsight could have saved the people of Pompeii
When Vesuvius erupted on the morning of 24 August, AD 79, the local population was utterly unprepared. Frustratingly evidence today suggest that all the tell-tale signs were…
Rare Historical Photographs You Must See
Ernest Hemingway’s passport photo – 1923 Source: Distractify Queen Elizabeth during her WWII service. Source: Distractify Hilter as the best man in Joseph Goebbels…
Deception, Heartbreak and Hostility: The short life of Charles II’s sister, Minette
Much has been written over the years about King Charles the 1st who lost his head and his son Charlie the 2nd aka ‘The…
What would the giants of history be doing today?
This is a piece we wrote last year for Ross Wittenham‘s fantastic blog, History Mine – please go and check it out for gems such as Anne…
How to become a (Medieval) Saint
Saints come in many shapes and sizes and yet only a select few of all the faithful have ever been canonised. What marks you…
WHY WRITERS OF THE REGENCY PERIOD HAD TO BE THICK-SKINNED
Most popular magazines of the Regency period accepted submissions from readers. In fact, many magazines found a significant percentage of their content from reader…
Concentration Camps of the Second Boer War
“Actually, the British invented the concentration camp”- a claim many will be familiar with if they have ever studied or discussed the Holocaust to…
A look into the past and future of sex toys
You know, that little battery-operated toy, or snuggly-fitting stroker that you keep in your nightstand wasn’t always so perfect. It took a lot of…
Supporting a career in heritage
I have been back and forth about writing this post for a few months now, because it seems to open a cultural can of…
Random History
History’s Top 4 Most Awesome Swords. EVER
There are three things in this world that are true. The Sun is hot. Water is wet… and swords are awesome. As I sit…
Rare Historical Photographs You Must See
Ernest Hemingway’s passport photo – 1923 Source: Distractify Queen Elizabeth during her WWII service. Source: Distractify Hilter as the best man in Joseph Goebbels…
What would the giants of history be doing today?
This is a piece we wrote last year for Ross Wittenham‘s fantastic blog, History Mine – please go and check it out for gems such as Anne…
How to become a (Medieval) Saint
Saints come in many shapes and sizes and yet only a select few of all the faithful have ever been canonised. What marks you…
A look into the past and future of sex toys
You know, that little battery-operated toy, or snuggly-fitting stroker that you keep in your nightstand wasn’t always so perfect. It took a lot of…
Ancient Languages: The “bad words”
When learning a new language, it is inevitable that you want to find out the “bad words.” It is no different when learning ancient…
The Cat that conquered Ancient Egypt
Throughout ancient history there have been many weapons that have changed forever the world in which the people of the time lived. So, which…
WEIRD HISTORY: Two scorelines achieved on the same day were world record holders for 120 years
On the 12th September 1885 a new football record was set. Dundee Harps beat Aberdeen Rovers 35 – 0 in the newly formed Scottish…
Heritage Insiders
Inspired by Georgian London
Debra Daley is a longtime 18th-century obsessionalist. She talks about how she brought Georgian London to life in her new novel Turning the Stones. If…
9 top tips to getting the Heritage job of your dreams
“Getting the job of your dreams in a museum is really easy” said nobody ever. To work for some of the world’s most iconic and…
Meet Clare Sexton: Assistant Archivist at Valence House Museum
We are always proud to showcase industry insights and engage our readers with the range of jobs available within the heritage sector. Luckily for…
Empty Rooms: My Intern Experience at HRP
As I wander through the empty King’s State Apartments in Hampton Court Palace, my eyes glaze over. I am no longer myself – perhaps…
Things To Do
The historical theme park of your dreams you have never heard of but will definitely want to visit after reading this
Picture the scene, you are inside the Colosseum. The crowd’s going crazy for a gang of Christians who have just been sentenced to death…
Sleeping over in one of England’s most magnificent castles
When someone asks if you want to sleepover in one of England’s largest, and possibly most haunted, castle your immediate reaction should always be…
Women In History
The Beautiful and Intelligent Božena Němcová: one of the great Czech writers of the nineteenth century
There was once a young girl who lived with her mother, a Viennese maid, and her father, a coachman, in a servants’ cottage of…
10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About America’s First FEMALE Presidential Candidate
Victoria C. Woodhull ran for President 48 years before women were granted the right to vote, yet most Americans aren’t aware she existed. Here…
Vowess: The Medieval Vocation You’ve Probably Never Heard of
When you think of women in the Middle Ages/early Renaissance, you probably imagine fair maidens, wives, mothers, nuns and possibly widows. Some people know…
Washing with mercury and urine: How to be a Georgian Court beauty
We all like to make ourselves look good and the Georgians were no exceptions. During the reign of the George’s, hair got bigger, dresses…
Females in the Third Reich
During the Second World War the German government used propaganda to control the ‘vision of women’. With that said, what exactly was the role…
Breach of Promise to Marry: A Dististurbing Case
The majority of breach of promise claims involved women who had suffered financially through a man’s thoughtless or selfish behaviour. They often sought to…
The Pendle Witches: A Local Phenomena and A Symbol of Injustice
As a child growing up in Lancashire, I vividly recall being enthralled while my dad told me of the local legend of the Lancashire…
The Women Who Ruled Ancient Egypt (Pt 2)
In Part 1 of Female Pharaohs: Women Who Ruled Over Egypt, we took a look at the Pharaohs Sobekneferu and Hatshepsut, two women seized power…
Books Reviews
The real story of the Victorian Prostitute
I had the smashing idea of writing a spy caper set in Victorian era London, with the owner of a brothel as my heroine….
Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn By Robin Maxwell
A young woman with red hair rides full tilt on a horse in the blazing sunshine. Where she is found, another is sure to…
#SECRETBOOKCLUB
The Kings Spy By Andrew Swanston
When this book first appeared on my door step I was excited. Historically it ventures in to a time period that I find fascinating,…
Lady of the Butterflies by Fiona Mountain
Many times I start a book and cannot wait to read the entire thing in one setting; engulfing myself into a new (or old)…