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