Pictures of Winchester

 I created a new article, pictures of Winchester

Lady Jane Grey

 I wrote a biography of Lady Jane Grey, who was queen of England for 9 days in 1553 

More myths about history

 One year ago I made this video about more myths about history 

Myths about the Guillotine

 I made a video about a myth about the guillotine 

History of St Valentine's Day

 I made a video about the history of St Valentine's Day Happy St Valentine's Day.

White Wedding Dresses

 I made a video about white wedding dresses. They are not worn to show virginity.

Rule of Thumb

 I heard this myth again the other day. This myth refuses to die. In the past, a man had a right to beat his wife provided he did not use a stick thicker than his thumb.

There has never been a rule or a law in England that a man is entitled to beat his wife provided he uses a stick no thicker than his thumb. William Blackstone (1723-80) wrote Commentaries on the Laws of England (1765-1769). He made no mention of a supposed rule that a stick could be used to hit your wife if it was not thicker than a thumb. So it was never a part of English common law.

We are not certain how the phrase ‘rule of thumb’ arose but it probably came from craftsmen using their thumbs to measure.