Friday, 30 July 2021

Emily Bronte

 Emily Bronte was born on 30 July 1818. She is famous for her book Wuthering Heights. https://localhistories.org/a-brief-biography-of-emily-bronte/

Thursday, 29 July 2021

The Black Dahlia

 Elizabeth Short, known as the Black Dahlia was born on 29 July 1924. She was the victim of an unsolved murder in Los Angeles in 1947.

Wednesday, 28 July 2021

Milk Chocolate

 28 July is National Milk Chocolate Day. Let's hear it for a Swiss gentleman named Daniel Peter who invented milk chocolate in 1875. I hate dark chocolate. https://localhistories.org/a-history-of-chocolate/

Henry VIII marries (again)

 On 28 July 1540 Henry VIII married Catherine Howard (poor old Catherine!).  


Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Ancient Myths

 This is my latest video - Myths about the Ancient World

Life in Rome

 In Ancient Rome women could not vote or hold public office. However, women were allowed to own and inherit property and some ran businesses. (In the Bible there is a woman named Lydia who sold purple cloth). In certain trades, some women helped their husbands, especially in silver working and perfumery. Furthermore, some women were priestesses or worked as midwives or hairdressers. Some women were gladiators. 

Monday, 26 July 2021

Stevenage

 Stevenage began as a Saxon village in 7th Century Hertfordshire. It was called Stith ac, which means strong oak. In those days trees were used as meeting places and perhaps one large oak used in that way gave Stevenage its name. At any rate by the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 Stevenage was a little village. To us, it would seem tiny but settlements were very small in those days. At the time of the Domesday Book Stevenage belonged to the Abbey of Westminster. https://localhistories.org/a-brief-history-of-stevenage/