HMS Warrior

 HMS Warrior, Britain's first iron warship was launched on 29 December 1860

Useless History Information

 I wrote another article for my website. It's a list of bits of information about history, all of them totally useless! https://localhistories.org/useless-history-information/

Merry Christmas

 A Merry Christmas to all my readers 😀🎅 

Hard Candy

 19 December is National Hard Candy Day 

Website Birthday

 My website's birthday is 11 December. It was switched on 11 December 2001. At first, it had only a handful of articles, but now it has over 1,000. 

The Vagina Museum

 The Vagina Museum is a museum in London dedicated to female anatomy

Boiled alive

 Henry VIII had a poisoner boiled to death 

History of Swimming

 I wrote a history of swimming 

Washing in the Middle Ages

 Once again I came across the myth that people in the Middle Ages did not wash. They did. This interesting article explains how they washed.

National Cake Day

 26 November is National Cake Day. This is my history of cakes and biscuits. 

The Little Ice Age

 On 24 November 1434, the River Thames in London froze. It was the first recorded instance of the river freezing. In the early 14th century, the Earth cooled down. It went through a 'cool' period called the Little Ice Age. Winters in England became much colder. Between the 17th and 19th centuries, the ice on the River Thames was so thick people sometimes erected tents on it and held fairs there. They were called Frost Fairs. Fortunately, in the mid-19th century, the Earth began to warm again.

World Children's Day

 20 November is World Children's Day. This is my history of children.

Moroccan Independence Day

 18 November is Moroccan Independence Day 

Unemployed Demonstration 1887

 On 13 November 1887, a mass demonstration was held in Trafalgar Square in London. That year the unemployed held a number of demonstrations there. Eventually, the police banned demonstrations in the square. A demonstration was planned for Trafalgar Square on 13 November.

(The demonstration was first called to demand the release of an Irish MP who had been jailed for supporting a rent strike. But many people went to defend the right to demonstrate). Police and troops were sent in to clear the square and in the ensuing violence, two men died. The event became known as Bloody Sunday.

Breakfast

In the Middle Ages the Church disapproved of eating breakfast. It was seen as gluttony. In the 13th century, the theologian Thomas Aquinas said it was sinful. Working people often had a snack of bread and cheese during the morning after a couple of hours of work. The old and infirm were also allowed some food in the morning. But having a meal when you woke up was sinful. Attitudes began to change in the 15th century. In the 16th century eating breakfast became common.

The word bra

 The word bra is derived from an old French word braciere, meaning a piece of armour that protects your arm. It came to mean a breastplate and later a woman's corset. The word also changed to brassiere. The modern bra was invented by Mary Phelps Jacob. She used two handkerchiefs joined by ribbon. In the 1930s the name shortened to bra.

Suleiman the Magnificent

 The great ruler of the Turkish Empire, Suleiman the Magnificent was born on 6 November 1494. He reigned from 1520 to 1566 and he was one of the most powerful men in the world. His empire included Southeastern Europe.

Chelmsford

 I wrote the history of Chelmsford. It was originally a Roman town. 

Fireworks

Fireworks were first recorded in England in 1486 at the marriage of King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York.

Less well-known Inventors

 I made a Youtube video about less well-known inventors 

Public Executions

 Public executions continued in Britain until 1868. They were a popular form of entertainment and were free. Some people sold food and drink to the crowds. Some lucky people had houses overlooking the gallows. They charged people to stand in a bedroom for a better view. Charles Dickens witnessed a public execution in 1849 and was appalled by the effect it had on the crowd. He campaigned for them to be abolished.

Corporal Punishment in Ireland

An article about corporal punishment in Irish schools by the Irish Times 

Catherine Wilson

 I wrote about Catherine Wilson, the last woman to be hanged in public in London 

The origin of old sayings

 Good news! My video about the origin of old sayings has passed 100,000 views. It's my first video to reach 100,000.

National Mary Rose Day

 11 October is National Mary Rose Day. On that day in 1982 Henry VIII's warship was raised from the seabed. Happy Mary Rose Day! 

Pankhurst and the Suffragettes

 On 10 October 1903, Emmeline Pankhurst founded the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in Britain. The members were called Suffragettes. They agitated for women's right to vote by carrying out acts of arson and vandalism and by planting bombs. 💣

Spartacus

 The film Spartacus was released on 6 October 1960. Of course, it was mostly fiction. The film is famous for a rousing scene in which everyone says 'I'm Spartacus'. In fact, Spartacus was killed in battle.

Thomas Crapper

I made a YouTube video about myths about Thomas Crapper and flushing toilets 

Jaguarina

 Ella Hattan, known as Jaguarina was a famous swordswoman of the 19th century

The use of 'holds' in schools

 I found an article about the use of 'holds' in schools 

Kitchen Inventions

 This is my latest video. It's about inventions made for the kitchen in the 19th century.

Incorruptible Bodies

 I found an interesting video about incorruptible bodies 

Salisbury Cathedral

 Happy birthday Salisbury Cathedral, consecrated 20 September 1258. It is well worth a visit.

Godalming Museum

 The museum in Godalming is really good. I recommend a visit. It's free!

Did very few people learn to swim?

 In this video I debunk the myth that very few people learned to swim in Tudor England 

The Origin of Old Sayings

 10 years ago I made a YouTube video about the origin of old sayings. In the last few days, it has gotten many more views. In the last 48 hours, it has had over 3,000.

A History of Shaving

 Here is a history of shaving https://localhistories.org/gillette-the-history-of-the-first-shaving-machines/

The man who invented windshield wipers

 The first windshield wipers were invented by a man in 1896 https://www.6thgearautomotive.com/2022/03/29/history-of-the-windshield-wiper-the-early-inventors/ 

Corporal Punishment Reforming the Law

 This is an interesting article by Raymond Arthur: Corporal Punishment Reforming the Law in Britain and Ireland 

Origin of the word wake

 A myth about the origin of the word wake 

Ancient Egyptian Influence in Roman Britain

 An article about Ancient Egyptian religion in Roman Britain 

Fanny Adams

 I wrote about the tragic murder of a girl named Fanny Adams in Alton, Hampshire in 1867 

Old Sayings Video

 My Youtube video about the origin of old sayings has reached 20,000 views

John Logie Baird

 A look at John Logie Baird 

The Epsom Derby

This is a history of the Epsom Derby 

Halloween Facts

 As autumn approaches I posted a list of Halloween facts https://localhistories.org/halloween-facts/ 

Ukraine Independent

 On 24 August 1991, Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union. Well done Ukraine.

Black Ribbon Day

 23 August is European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism AKA Black Ribbon Day. (23 August was chosen because on that day in 1939 Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed a non-aggression pact).

Pictures of Farnham

 I took some pictures of Farnham in Surrey 

Latvia 1991

 On 21 August 1991, Latvia declared its independence from the Soviet Union. Congratulations Latvia.

The Salem Witches

 On 19 August 1692 four men and one woman were hanged during the Salem witch trials 😢

The Pendle Witches

 On 17 August 1612, the Pendle Witch Trials began. (Pendle is a place in Lancashire, England). On 20 August 9 people (7 women and 2 men) were hanged. (In England witches were hanged not burned). 😢

Myths about the Suffragettes

 This article debunks some myths about the suffragettes 

Mexico

 This is my history of Mexico 

The End of Corporal Punishment

On 15 August 1987, corporal punishment became illegal in British state schools. (It was legal in private schools until 1999). Hey teacher leave them kids alone!

A History of Russia

 This is my brief history of Russia 

Anne Frank

 On 4 August 1944 Anne Frank and the others hiding with her were arrested by the Nazis. This is a famous quote from her: 

'In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart'

Lipstick

 29 July is National Lipstick Day. The idea of reddening your lips is very old but a man named Maurice Levy invented lipstick push-up sticks in tubes in 1915. This is my history of make up.

The Whitechapel Murders

 A random thought: I watched an interview of the son of one of Peter Sutcliffe’s victims. It was very moving. He objects to the title ‘Yorkshire Ripper’ because it glamourises the murderer. I decided to stop using the name ‘Jack the Ripper’. It was probably invented by a journalist who wrote an anonymous letter pretending to be the murderer. I feel it glamourises the murderer so in future I am going to call him the Whitechapel murderer.

Sutcliffe was a nobody who only achieved fame or notoriety by killing innocent people. The Whitechapel murderer was almost certainly the same. If people passed him in the street they probably wouldn’t have given him a second glance. The banality of evil. We need to stop glamourising assholes. That is my two cents.

Did 9 out ot f 10 people really die before they were 40?

A look at the absurd claim that in the past 9 out of 10 people died before the age of 40  

The French landed on the Isle of Wight in 1545

 A blog post about the French landing on the Isle of Wight in 1545 https://maryrose.org/blog/historical-stories/the-tudor-militia/ 

Dead Ringer

 I look at myths about the phrases dead ringer and saved by the bell. Neither has anything to do with premature burial. 

A myth about spices

 A myth about spices in the Middle Ages

Were people in the past really dirty?

 I made a video to debunk the myth that people in the past were dirty and seldom washed 

Nunavut Day

 9 July is Nunavut Day (Nunavut is a territory of Canada created in 1999). Facts about Nunavut.

Midsummers Day

 A look at the folklore of Midsummer's Day 

A video of Portchester

 10 years ago I made this video about the history of Portchester 

What's on at Farnham Museum

There is a lot going on at Farnham Museum:

Our 'what's on' page: https://farnhammaltings.com/museum/whats-on Festival of Archaeology event: https://farnhammaltings.com/events/festival-of-archaeology Building Tours: https://farnhammaltings.com/events/willmer-house-building-tours Postcard exhibition: https://farnhammaltings.com/events/postcards-through-time Dye craft exhibition: https://farnhammaltings.com/events/roots-of-colour Hops Heritage Open Day event: https://farnhammaltings.com/events/farnham-hops

Television

 I wrote a brief history of television

Portsmouth Charter

2024 is the 830th anniversary of Portsmouth being given its charter, by King Richard I (the Lionheart) in 1194 

A Myth About Posh

 A look at a myth about the word posh 

International Pineapple Day

 27 June is International Pineapple Day. This is my history of fruits. 

A myth about the word tip

 I made a Youtube video about a myth about the word tip 

Suffragettes burned a church

On 6 May 1913 Suffragettes burned down St Catherine's Church in Hatcham, London

Historical Gay Nuns

 I found this interesting video about historical gay nuns 

Chastity Belts are a myth

 It's a myth that in the Middle Ages women were made to wear chastity belts as this article explains

Keep it under your hat

 In this video I look at a myth about the origin of the phrase 'keep it under your hat'  

Iceland National Day

 17 June is Iceland National Day 

The White Feather Campaign

 The White Feather Movement was a movement to shame men during the First World War

Pictures of Bruges

 I added some pictures of Bruges to my website

Pictures of a Cruise to Norway

 I posted some pictures of a cruise to Norway  on my website 

International Sex Workers Day

 2 June 2024 Is International Sex Workers Day  It began with a demonstration in France on 2 June 1975 and has been held ever since.

Beheading

 I wrote a brief history of beheading in England. For centuries it was the usual method of executing the upper class. 

Chien-Shiung Wu

 I had not heard of the woman physicist Chien-Shiung Wu till today. It's a pity because she was a prominent scientist. She deserves to be remembered more. 

Katherine Fenkyll

 I found an interesting video about Katherine Fenkyll, a successful Tudor businesswoman. It gives an interesting insight into the lives of Tudor women.

Hanging

 I wrote a brief history of hanging 

End of the Middle Ages Day

 29 May is End of the Middle Ages Day. On 29 May 1453, the Turks captured Constantinople, ending the Eastern Roman Empire. (They renamed it Istanbul). It's often regarded as the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance. When I was a boy 1485 was seen as the end of the Middle Ages because England got a new king, the first of the Tudor dynasty. But that was Anglo-centric. A change of dynasty in England made little or no difference to the rest of Europe.

A History of the Guillotine

 I wrote a brief article about the guillotine 

History of Photography

 I wrote a brief history of photography 

History of Trousers

 I wrote a brief history of trousers 

Lambert Simnel

 On 24 May 1487, a boy named Lambert Simnel was crowned king of England in Dublin. (King Henry VII was not impressed!). Simnel claimed to be Edward Plantagenet. Edward disappeared a few years before and he was almost certainly murdered. But he had a claim to the throne.

Simnel's forces invaded England but were easily defeated by the army of King Henry VII. Simnel was captured but he was lucky. King Henry spared his life, making him a royal kitchen servant. Simnel died about 1535.

The history of the slave trade

 I found this interesting video about the history of the slave trade

Lesbian Marriages

 I found an interesting video Lesbian Marriage is Older Than You Think 

Women with short hair

It's a myth that women with short hair are a modern thing. This video shows that at times in the 19th century, it was common for women to have short hair. 

A History of Transport

 I wrote a brief history of transport from Ancient Times to the 21st Century

Norway National Day

 17 May is National Day in Norway

International Boys Day

 16 May is International Boys Day. Happy Boys Day! 💪

National Archery Day

 11 May 2024 is National Archery Day. Here is a little history I wrote of the longbow https://localhistories.org/a-history-of-the-longbow/

History of Hereford

 I wrote a brief history of the English Cathedral City of Hereford 

Piss Poor

 It's a myth that the phrase piss poor came from the days when people used to sell their urine for use in tanning. If you had to sell your urine you were piss-poor. It's true that urine was once sold but that is not where the phrase came from. It was first recorded in the 1940s long after they stopped using urine for tanning. The word 'piss' was added to words to strengthen or emphasise them e.g. people might say piss weak. The phrase piss poor has nothing to do with selling urine.

Bra Advert

 In the USA on 4 May 1987, for the first time, an advert for bras on TV showed a live woman wearing a bra instead of a mannequin wearing one. At one time it was unacceptable for ads to show women wearing bras.

Harrogate

 I wrote a history of the English spa town of Harrogate 

A Myth about hangover

 This is my latest YouTube video, a myth about hangover 

York

 I wrote a history of York. They say the history of York is the history of England.

International Day to End Corporal Punishment

 30 April is International Day to End Corporal Punishment. Here is my history of corporal punishment.

Penzance

 I wrote a history of the Cornish town of Penzance  

Mary Timney

On 29 April 1862, Mary Timney became the last woman to be hanged in public in Scotland. She was hanged in Dumfries.

Last woman to be guillotined

 Today’s useless info: In 1949 Germaine Leloy-Godefroy became the last French woman to be guillotined. (She was having an affair and she killed her husband with an axe while he was asleep).

No Makeup Day

26 April is National No Makeup Day. This is my history of makeup. 

Happy St George's Day

 Happy St George's Day everyone!

John Paul Jones

 On 22 April 1778 during the American War of Independence, a US ship captained by John Paul Jones attacked the port of Whitehaven in northwest England.

Sunderland

 I wrote a history of the city of Sunderland 

Stockton on Tees

 I wrote a history of the city of Stockton on Tees in Northeast England 

The Lisbon Massacre

 On 19 April 1506, the Lisbon Massacre began. Dominican friars incited churchgoers to massacre Jews. It's not known how many were killed but probably between 2,000 and 4,000 people died. 

Darlington

 I wrote a history of Darlington, a town in Northeast England 

History of corporal punishment of Scottish children

 Paisley Museum posted about the shocking history of corporal punishment in Scotland 

Beverley

 I wrote a brief history of the historic town of Beverley in Yorkshire 

Nuns in the Middle Ages

 I found this very good video about nuns in the Middle Ages and how they were often powerful women. It was made in Switzerland so it has subtitles but in my opinion it its well worth a watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS-LY6p3NWM

Wincanton

 I wrote a history of the small town of Wincanton in Somerset 

Mary Rose Timeline

 A timeline of events at the time of the Mary Rose 

April 9 Tragedy

 On 9 April 1991 Soviet troops crushed an independence demonstration in Georgia killing 21 people and injuring hundreds. It's known as the April 9 Tragedy.  

Great Yarmouth

 I wrote a history of the seaside town of Great Yarmouth in Norfolk 

Tamar the Great

 Tamar the Great was ruler of Georgia from 1184 to 1213. She was a powerful ruler and during her reign, the kingdom flourished. 

Museum of Women in the Arts

On 7 April 1987, the National Museum of Women in the Arts opened in Washington DC, USA.

Life on the Moon

 In 1835 a newspaper called the New York Sun claimed that, using a new powerful telescope people could see plants and animals on the Moon. They could also see 'people' who were half man and half bat. I always think it's a pity it was a hoax. It would be nice if there was life on the Moon.

Bermondsey

I wrote a history of Bermondsey. For centuries it was a village before it became a district of London. 

Warnford

 I wrote a history of the tiny village of Warnford in Hampshire 

The last woman to be sentenced to death in Britain

 Most people know that the last woman to be hanged in Britain was Ruth Ellis in 1955. However, the last woman to be sentenced to death in Britain was Mary Wilson in 1958. 

Wilson was convicted of poisoning two of her husbands with phosphorous. She was sentenced to death but the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. The remains of two other husbands were exhumed and found to contain poison but it was felt there was no point in having another trial. Wilson died in prison in 1963.

Did Brides Carry Bouquets to Hide Their BO?

 You sometimes read that people got married in May because they only had a bath once a year - in May. The bridge carried bouquets to hide her BO. This is complete nonsense. People sometimes got married in May because they believed it was good luck to get married in that month. Brides did not carry bouquets to hide their smell. Flowers were once fertility symbols or charms. They were carried to ensure the fertility of the bride. Bouquets also often included certain herbs that people believed would drive away evil spirits or bad luck, in the way that garlic was supposed to repel vampires. 

In the 1800s it became the custom for the bride to throw her bouquet into the air. Whoever caught it would have good luck. That soon changed into the idea that whoever caught it would be the next to get married. Today it’s a bit of fun but once people took these superstitions seriously.

Middlesbrough

 I wrote a history of Middlesbrough, a town in Northeast England 

Emmeline Pankhurst

 On 3 April 1913 suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst was sentenced to 3 years in prison for 'inciting to malicious damage to property' ( she incited others to plant a bomb in the home of David Lloyd George the Chancellor of the Exchequer).

Portchester

 Here are some pictures of Portchester I took. It's a very picturesque place.

Human cannonball

 On 2 April 1877 14-year-old Rossa Matilda Richter known as Zazel became the first human cannonball when she was fired from a cannon.

Physical Punishment in Australia

 A YouTube video about physical punishment in Australia 

April

 Welcome to April. They think its name comes from the Latin word aperire meaning to open because buds open at this time. ⚘

Manatees

 31 March is Manatee Appreciation Day. In 1493 Christopher Columbus reported seeing three mermaids. He complained they were 'not half as beautiful as they are painted'. It's thought he actually saw manatees.

Seward's Icebox

 On 30 March 1867, US Secretary of State William Henry Seward signed a treaty to buy Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million - less than 2 cents an acre. However, it took 6 months to persuade Congress to ratify the treaty. Some people called it Seward's Icebox.

Easter 2024

  Happy Easter to all my readers!  😊 

Scarborough

I wrote a history of the Yorkshire town of Scarborough 

Alaska Earthquake

 On 27 March 1964 (local time) Alaska was struck by an earthquake It measured 9.2 on the Richter Scale and killed 131 people. Earthquake Damage Pics from Earthquakes.usgs.gov

Whitby

 My friend wrote a history of Whitby 

The Slave Trade Ends

On 25 March 1807 Britain abolished the slave trade. (The first country to abolish it was Denmark in 1792).

Hungover

You sometimes read that we say 'hungover' because drunk people slept hung over ropes. It's not true. That is not the origin of the term hungover. 

Tea Bag

 According to legend Thomas Sullivan invented the tea bag in 1908. But it seems that tea bags gradually developed and it's difficult to say who first invented them.

Women's Olympiad

 The Women's Olympiad began on 24 March 1921. It was the first international women's sports event.

Cathcold Tower, Southampton

 During World War II an anti-aircraft gun was placed on Catchcold Tower in Southampton. It was the last time the Medieval walls played a part in the defence of the city.

Spring

 It's Spring again. People once called it Lenten, which means lengthen because the days are growing longer. But in the 14th century, people called it springing time because the leaves on trees are springing out. By the 16th century, it was just called Spring. It's so nice to see nature coming back to life. 😎

Tolpuddle Martyrs

 On 19 March 1834, the Tolpuddle Martyrs were sentenced to 7 years transportation. They were convicted of making an illegal oath. They tried to form a trade union and they swore an oath of secrecy, which was then illegal and gave the authorities an excuse to arrest them.

Pictures of Frome

 I took some pictures of Frome in Somerset 

Red Letter Days

Why do we say red-letter days? In the Middle Ages, saint's days were marked in red in calendars. People did not work on some saint's days, which were also called holy days. Our word holiday is derived from a holy day.

Diving Suit

 I found an interesting video about the world's oldest diving suit  

Uranus

On 13 March 1781, the famous astronomer William Herschel discovered the planet Uranus. The outer planets fascinated me when I was a boy because so little was known about them. Today we know far more about them but we have now discovered many mysterious heavenly bodies even further away.

Let The Cat Out of The Bag

 Why do we say let the cat out of the bag? This old saying is probably derived from the days when people who sold piglets in bags sometimes put a cat in the bag instead. If you let the cat out of the bag you exposed the trick. I have heard it said, on certain historical ships I could mention that it comes because a cat o'nine tails was kept in a bag. But the cat o'nine tails was not used by the English navy till the mid-17th century and the saying is certainly older than that.

Myths about witchcraft

 This is an interesting article about myths about witchcraft 

Blossom Alley, Portsmouth 1923

An unsolved murder happened in Portsea, Portsmouth in 1923. The victim was Mary Frances Pelham, aged 37. According to newspaper reports she was born in 'the north of England'. During the First World War, she moved to Brighton and later to Portsmouth. She was separated from her husband. Mary was a kind woman, especially to local children. She sold herself although she also sold flowers. She was known as Brighton Mary.

On 27 January 1923, a neighbour found her dead in bed in her hovel. The unfortunate woman had been strangled with a scarf or handkerchief. She was also stabbed or slashed with a broken bottle. A neighbour had seen Mary with a sailor the previous night. The navy held an identity parade and a woman picked out one sailor but he had an alibi and was never arrested. The killer was never found.

The public was shocked, not just by the murder but by her living conditions. She lived in Blossom Alley, an alley 300 yards long and only 4 feet wide. Her home was a 'one-up-one down'. Built in the 18th century it was one room over another joined by a ladder. The floors were sagging so the ceiling of the bottom room was 6 feet high at one end and 10 feet high at the other. Five houses shared three outside toilets and one water tap. Following the horrific murder, a great deal of slum clearance took place in Portsea.

Gladys Moss

 Gladys Moss was the first female police officer in Sussex, in 1919

The End of Corporal Punishment

 On 25 February 1982, in a case brought by two Scottish mothers, Grace Campbell and Jane Cosans Grace Campbell the European Court of Human Rights ruled that corporal punishment in schools if it was against the parent's wishes was a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.

It was then an untenable situation that teachers could hit certain children but not others so in 1986 the British parliament voted to end corporal punishment in state schools. It became illegal in 1987. Well done ladies.

Arangela Tarbotti

 Arangela Tarbotti was born on 24 February 1604. She was a famous writer who vigorously attacked the condition of women in the 17th century. We don't often hear about her today but in her own time she was highly respected and she corresponded with famous scholars in Europe.

Warrington

 I wrote a brief history of the town of Warrington in Cheshire 

Wrexham

 I wrote a history of the Welsh town of Wrexham 

The Well of Loneliness

 Lesbianism has never been illegal in England. In 1921 an act to make it illegal was introduced into parliament but it was rejected by the House of Lords. But in 1928 a lesbian novel called The Well of Loneliness was banned in Britain on the grounds it was obscene. It was banned in Britain until 1959. In the USA in 1929 the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice tried to have the book banned but they lost the court case.

Quacksalver

 Why do we call doctors quacks? A quacksalver was a man who sold potions or salves that he claimed could heal diseases. He 'quacked' or made a loud noise about his salves and potions.

Stafford

 I wrote a history of the old English town of Stafford 

Killed by a Tiger

 In 1703 Hannah Twynnoy became the first known person in Britain to be killed by a tiger. It was with a travelling fair and it was chained to a staple in the ground. Twynnoy kept annoying the tiger and eventually, it pulled up the staple and mauled her to death.

Chester

 I wrote about the town of Chester 

Wigan

 I wrote a history of Wigan 

Wedding Flower Bouquet

At a wedding, a bride throws a bouquet into the air and according to tradition the woman who catches it will be the next to get married. It was once thought that touching the bride would bring good luck. People also tried to rip off pieces of her dress to bring them luck.

Throwing the bouquet into the air began as a way of distracting the crowd. People thought if you caught the bouquet she carried it would pass on her luck to you. In time, that meant that you would be the next to get married. 

Petersfield Museum

 I went to Petersfield Museum. It's very good. Petersfield was once St Peters Feld an area of open land by St Peters Church. They built a church because there were several villages all too small for their own church so they built one they could share. A market began in the shadow of the church and a town grew up.

The Museum of Farnham

I visited the Museum of Farnham. It's very good. I recommend it to everyone. 

Charles Dickens

 Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth on 7 February 1812

Women Outlaws

Some of the most notorious outlaws of the Wild West were women 

Dirt poor

 I made a video about a myth about the phrase dirt poor 

Tamworth

 I wrote about the English town of Tamworth 

Lichfield

 I wrote about the cathedral city of Lichfield 

Escape from the Tower of London

 For centuries the Tower of London was used to hold important prisoners. The first was Ranulf Flambard the Bishop of Durham. When King William Rufus was killed in 1100 his brother became Henry I. The new king promptly arrested the bishop for simony (selling positions in the church for money).

However, the bishop escaped. He was allowed certain privileges such as being able to buy his own food and wine. On 2 February 1101, the bishop generously invited his guards to a feast. When the guards became drunk he managed to squeeze through a window and climb down a rope. However, the rope was not long enough and he had to drop the final distance. The bishop was met by friends who rowed him across the river and he then rode a horse to the coast where he escaped on a ship.

Wolverhampton

 I wrote a brief history of Wolverhampton in the Midlands

Sit-in

 On 1 February 1960 four African American men staged a sit-in at a segregated lunch counter in Woolworths in Greensboro, North Carolina after they were refused service. They stayed till the store closed and then returned the next day. More people joined the sit-in the next day. Woolworths was eventually forced to give in, at the end of July. Meanwhile, the sit-in movement spread across the USA.

Walsall

 I wrote a history of the city of Walsall in the Midlands 

Mozambique

 I wrote a brief history of Mozambique 

Bishop's Stortford

 I wrote a brief history of the English town of Bishop's Stortford 

Teacher killed a student

 In 1860 a teacher named Thomas Hopley beat a boy to death. The boy was 14-year-old Reginald Chancellor and he had a learning disability. Among other things, the teacher hit him with a candlestick because he could not repeat the multiplication table.

The teacher was charged with manslaughter, not murder because the intent to kill could not be proved. He was sentenced to 4 years in prison. Discipline in the 19th century was brutal but even by their standards beating a child to death was going a bit too far.

Stamford

 I wrote a history of the old English town of Stamford 

Mongolia

 I wrote a history of Mongolia 

Spain

 I wrote a brief history of Spain  

Derek Bentley

 Derek Bentley was hanged on 28 January 1953. His conviction was quashed in 1998. This is my history of capital punishment. 

The 19th Amendment

 This is an interesting article. Myths about the 19th Amendment. 

Pomegranates

 Some useless fruit related information: Pomegranates were native to Iran and they have been grown for thousands of years. They were eaten by the Egyptians, the Chinese, the Greeks and the Romans. Pomegranates were eaten in Europe in the Middle Ages and they were mentioned by Shakespeare. Pomegranates were introduced into the New World in the 16th century.

Pomegranate is believed to be a corruption of the old French words pome garnete, which meant seed apple.

St Albans

 I wrote a history of the old English town of St Albans 

Thailand

 I wrote a brief history of Thailand. It is a fascinating country. 

Hoddesdon

 I wrote a history of the town of Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire 

Louth

 I wrote a history of the town of Louth in Lincolnshire 

Wisbech

 I wrote a history of the town of Wisbech in Cambridgeshire 

The two finger gesture

 I made a video about a common myth about the origin of a famous gesture 

Chulmleigh

I wrote a history of the village of Chulmleigh in Devon

Elizabeth Blackwell

 On 23 January 1849, Elizabeth Blackwell became the first woman to qualify as a doctor in the USA. This is my history of women doctors.

St Austell

 I wrote about the Cornish town of St Austell 

Crewkerne

 I wrote a brief history of the village of Crewkerne in Somerset 

Pictures of Clapham

 I uploaded some pictures I took of Clapham 

Clapham

 I wrote a history of Clapham. In the 18th century, it was a fashionable place to live. Many distinguished men lived there including the scientists Henry Cavendish and Benjamin Franklin. 

Redruth

 I wrote a history of the Cornish town of Redruth 

The Masque of the Red Death

 This is an excellent animation of my favourite short story The Masque of the Red Death https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKPlapqoRwk 

Catherine Hayes

 I wrote about Catherine Hayes. She was executed for the murder of her husband in 1727. 

Liberia

 I wrote a brief history of Liberia 

Newton Abbot

 I wrote a history of the town of Newton Abbot in Devon 

Roget's Thesaurus

 Peter Mark Roget was born on 18 January 1779. He is famous for Roget's Thesaurus. Happy, cheerful, contented, joyful, joyous jubilant, blessed, merry, blissful, birthday, natal day, date-of-birth, name-day Mr. Roget.

Truro

 I wrote a history of the Cornish town of Truro 

Birmingham

 I wrote a history of the great British city of Birmingham 

Bodmin

 I wrote a brief history of the Cornish town of Bodmin 

Ivan the Terrible

 Ivan the Terrible was crowned Tsar on 16 January 1547. He was the first ruler of Russia to have the title of Tsar.

Liskeard

 I wrote about the Cornish town of Liskeard 

Hat Day

 15 January is National Hat Day  

Queen Elizabeth I

 Queen Elizabeth I, was crowned Queen of England on 15 January 1559 

Doncaster

 I wrote a brief history of the town of Doncaster in Yorkshire 

Sun Tans

 For centuries it was fashionable for women to have pale skin. If you had a tan it meant you had to work outdoors. Having pale skin was a status symbol because it meant you could stay indoors. But from the 1920s tans became popular. A man named Eugene Schueller invented sunscreen in 1936.