In the News: Diana, Princess of Wales’ Wedding Dress to be Exhibited
Royal fans are in for a treat this summer when Historic Royal Palaces can open their doors to the visiting public. On 3 June 2021 until 2 January 2022 visitors will be able to explore the world of royal couturiers in the new exhibition Royal Style in the Making. An exciting exhibit will be the full size working pattern (toile) of the 1937 coronation gown … Continue reading In the News: Diana, Princess of Wales’ Wedding Dress to be Exhibited
26 April 1923: The Marriage of the Duke of York and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
The future King George VI and his Queen consort, Elizabeth, were married at Westminster Abbey, London, on 26 April 1923. The second son of King George V and Queen Mary was born Prince Albert Frederick Arthur George, on 14 December 1895. He was created Duke of York in 1920. He proposed to Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, daughter of the 14th Earl of Strathmore, three times before she … Continue reading 26 April 1923: The Marriage of the Duke of York and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Presidents of the United States of America
The United States of America has chosen its next President, as I write Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. has been declared the victor and will be sworn in as the forty-sixth President in January, but for now, I’m taking a look at some of America’s past Presidents. George Washington (President 1789 – 1797) George Washington (b. 22 February 1732 d. 14 December 1799) His … Continue reading Presidents of the United States of America
How the Emergence of Capitalism in the Early Modern Period Fuelled the African Slave Trade as Britain Became an Industrial Nation
This paper was written at the end of my first semester at university in 2010. The study of history through an economic lens was new to me. It sparked an interest in US history and I picked up a second module covering Slavery and Race in the USA for my second year. I was awarded a hugely encouraging A* grade. I felt very passionate about … Continue reading How the Emergence of Capitalism in the Early Modern Period Fuelled the African Slave Trade as Britain Became an Industrial Nation
Statuary: Heritage or Modern Horror?
The dumping of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston into the harbour at Bristol has brought into question the veritable army of statues that Britain displays in towns and cities. Many of us walk by without giving them a second glance. Many of them are relics of Britain’s defunct Empire and proudly display men of power and money that were often ill-gained in modern … Continue reading Statuary: Heritage or Modern Horror?
#BlackLivesMatter
Cities in America have seen protests and riots after the death last month of George Floyd in Minneapolis after a police officer continued to kneel on his neck for over eight minutes. George Floyd’s arrest was witnessed and filmed, with bystanders and George himself begging the officer to release his hold to allow him to breathe. The situation has brought into focus systemic police brutality, … Continue reading #BlackLivesMatter
Gray Family History: a Brief Overview of the Gray/Hand Branch
I’ve been meaning to delve a little more into my Gray family history for quite a while now. My mother’s father, William Gray, died when she was nine years old and having missed out on a lifetime of stories she could only repeat what her older siblings told her. That said, it was also noted that although a jolly Irishman, he wasn’t given to telling … Continue reading Gray Family History: a Brief Overview of the Gray/Hand Branch
The Windsors: in Crisis Once Again
Who would have guessed at the end of last year when The Queen spoke about 2019 being a bit ‘bumpy’ that 2020 would prove to be just as turbulent before the third week in January? Just as his uncle Andrew has had to withdraw from public life due to the fall-out from that spectacular car-crash interview with the BBC, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, … Continue reading The Windsors: in Crisis Once Again
Period Dramas: do you Watch Them?
The Crown is now into its third series; as is Victoria, and both are hugely popular period dramas based around the British royal family. Period dramas give the audience a chance to be transported to another era – in recent years the viewing public have enjoyed Poldark, set in the eighteenth century, The Tudors, set in the sixteenth century and Gentleman Jack, set in the … Continue reading Period Dramas: do you Watch Them?
The British Royal Family: Princesses of Wales
Camilla Parker-Bowles (neé Shand) married His Royal Highness Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, Earl of Chester, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, Prince and Great Steward of Scotland. HRH Duchess of Cornwall, [yes, I know this is contentious to some]. The highest-ranking title that Prince Charles has beneath Prince of Wales is Duke … Continue reading The British Royal Family: Princesses of Wales
Blitzed: and HistorianRuby in the Museum of Liverpool
Earlier this month I published this post, about the excellent exhibition at the Museum of Liverpool, Blitzed: Liverpool lives. It shares photographs taken by Liverpool City Police during the Blitz when Liverpool was bombarded day and night by enemy aeroplanes. One was taken after the bombing of a residential street on the very day that my fourteen-year-old uncle was machine-gunned by low-flying planes aiming for … Continue reading Blitzed: and HistorianRuby in the Museum of Liverpool
My Latest History Audiobooks
I love my audiobooks! I have a one book a month Audible account and have recently signed up to Kobo, where as a member of Good Housekeeping Book Room (a Facebook page), I get a FREE Kobo audiobook each month. The title is pre-determined for me but as I drive a lot, I need an audiobook on the go in the car – so a … Continue reading My Latest History Audiobooks
Museum of Liverpool: Blitzed Liverpool Lives
Blitzed: Liverpool Lives is an exhibition that has been on display since June this year and will continue until 2021. It’s a careful curation of black and white photographs taken by the city’s police between 1940 and 1941. They demonstrate clearly the destruction the city faced during the onslaught of The Blitz during World War II. More than 4,000 people were killed in Merseyside during … Continue reading Museum of Liverpool: Blitzed Liverpool Lives
Hampton Court Palace: the Lost Dress of Queen Elizabeth I
On display at Hampton Court Palace since 12 October is the Bacton Altar Cloth, kept for centuries in the small village church, St Faith’s, Bacton, Herefordshire, England. Bacton was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth I’s favourite gentlewoman and life-long confidente, Blanche Parry. There is a memorial to Blanche in the church, but she is actually buried at St Margaret’s Church, Westminster. This is a … Continue reading Hampton Court Palace: the Lost Dress of Queen Elizabeth I
Blue Plaques: a Present from London
Today, I needed to reach a conference centre in London. Nice and easy you’d think, I use the rail network to get into a mainline station and then the Tube to get closer to my destination. I still needed to walk, but Google Maps was not working . . . phone gremlins or ‘the powers that be’ trying to halt the Extinction Rebellion protests that … Continue reading Blue Plaques: a Present from London
HistorianRuby: An Historian's Miscellany 