As a child growing up in Lancashire, I vividly recall being enthralled while my dad told me of the local legend of the Lancashire witches (or Pendle witches as they are more locally known). At the time, it seemed to be unreal, a story made up to make sure kids like myself would behave and…
Author: HistoricalHoney
Castell Coch: A ‘Wendy House’ Of Epic Proportion!
Our ‘Castle Of The Week’ feature has been so popular amongst our Twitter and Facebook followers we decided it was high time to commit a full-length article to the subject. And boy what a castle we have chosen! Our Operations Bee, Jenna, explains more… Castell Coch. Simply stunning… Source: www.tripadvisor.co.uk This, my dear readers, is Castell Coch (or, the…
Become A Stone Age Expert in 5 Minutes
Fancy Becoming An Expert in Stone Age Archaeology in 5 Minutes? Yes? Then read on… First things first, because our Stone Age ancestors didn’t actually write anything down, the whole period is conjecture. Finding some flint axes in a cave could mean anything; the cave could have been a religious site or a home, or…
Why You Should Visit Chatsworth
If you haven’t visited Chatsworth House before, you are missing out. Set against a backdrop of stunning countryside in idyllic Derbyshire, Chatsworth is a beacon of decadence, a symbol of wealth and fashion. And it truly is one of the most beautiful stately homes in the country. The stunning Chatsworth House. Source: www.visitengland.com Who Has Lived…
Curious Cures…
From lobotomies to leeching, there have been a multitude of curious medicinal cures throughout history! I’ve listed a few here, but don’t worry, no Paracetamol is required! Got a headache? Why not bind a dead mole to your head! I appreciate it isn’t often you stumble upon a dead mole; as an alternative, place a…
George Cruikshank: The Man Who Drew The Artful Dodger
When the first instalment of Oliver Twist was published in February 1837, Charles Dickens was still only 25; but had already been celebrated for his hugely popular first novel, The Pickwick Papers. And yet for all the buzz that would have surrounded a new story by this rising literary star, it was not just his name alone which would have…
The Caravaggio Conspiracy by Alex Connor
When a young man from Palermo announces on the internet that he is a descendent of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio and that he knows the whereabouts of two missing masterpieces, the art world is whipped into a frenzy. However, it’s not until two art dealer brothers are brutally tortured and murdered in their gallery in…
THE GRANDDAUGHTER QUEEN VICTORIA COULDN’T TAME
It’s difficult, looking at this photograph of Princess Ducky, to believe it was taken when she was a teenager. But of course teenagers hadn’t been invented in the 1890s and the prescribed destiny of a granddaughter of Queen Victoria was enough to make anyone look glum. They were expected to marry, preferably a suitable cousin…
All Is True: Fire At The Globe Theatre
400 years ago, the first Globe Theatre was destroyed by fire. But was it an accident? The afternoon of Tuesday 29 June 1613 was warm and sunny. Crowds crossed the Thames to see William Shakespeare’s latest play, All Is True. It was a lavish production: with expensive costumes and real cannons. These cannons were discharged…
Who was the worst President?
Having read an article by the BBC a few weeks back, I have been compelled to set a few records straight. The article basically said that James Buchanan was the worst President the United States has ever had. And well, I beg to differ! There are plenty of candidates for that title. The BBC also…