The name of Khutulun might not mean much to people today in the Western world but in an age when there is still much debate about the equality of sexes, gender roles and stereotypes, we really all should be a little bit more aware of. Living between around 1260AD – 1306AD and niece of the… Continue reading Khutulun – The Mongolian Wrestling Princess
Category: Culture
Sights of Old Spitalfield Market
Last weekend I visited one of my favourite London markets, Spitalfields. There has been a market at Spitalfields since 1638 when King Charles I granted a licence for root vegetables to be sold there and over the centuries it grew bigger and expanded. However as the 20th century progresses, it began to fall into disrepair… Continue reading Sights of Old Spitalfield Market
Whitechapel Street Art
I’ve written before about my Jack The Ripper Tours in Whitechapel, London and even posted a few photos too. Today I arrived there with an hour to spare so decided to have a little look around as I often do in this area. Whitechapel is of course famous for its poverty and crime problems. In… Continue reading Whitechapel Street Art
National Anthems & Should We Pick A New One?
One of the few things that every country shares is that they all have a National Anthem. A National Anthem generally evokes and memorialises the struggles and achievements of the people in the land or at least of the land itself. I don’t know about you but I have my favourite national anthems and my… Continue reading National Anthems & Should We Pick A New One?
The Epic of Beowulf
Last week saw the premiere of a new ITV show in the vein of Game of Thrones, The Vikings and The Last Kingdom, Beowulf. Whilst less intense and made to appeal to a wider audience than the other shows, many may be unaware that Beowulf isn’t just based on a classic work of literature but… Continue reading The Epic of Beowulf
The Turner Prize Vs The Turnip Prize or Is Modern Art Pants?
This week sees one of the most eagerly awaited annual awards for contemporary art and what’s even better The Turner Prize too. The Turner Prize of course is one of the worlds most vaunted awards for contemporary art. The Turner prize has been running since 1984 and shockingly is named in honour of perhaps the… Continue reading The Turner Prize Vs The Turnip Prize or Is Modern Art Pants?
The Battle of Agincourt & Why It Still Matters Today!
Today marks the 600th anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, one of countless historical battles one has to remember if you are interested in English or British history. This one though has gained something of a mythical status. In its own way the Battle of Agincourt made England; as surely as Magna Carta, the Book… Continue reading The Battle of Agincourt & Why It Still Matters Today!
Britain and America – Two countries separated by a common language
In the last day or two, Scott Waters from Florida has hit the headlines after his recent stay in the U.K. with his list of generally complimentary things he has to say about our country. I must say he makes us and Britain sound like a nice place. Feeling in a sarcastic mood and with… Continue reading Britain and America – Two countries separated by a common language
Knebworth House – It was a dark and stormy night…
One of the houses that I enjoy visiting but don’t actually get to very often is Knebworth House. It is an extremely distinctive looking country house in northern Hertfordshire just above London. The house has been in the hands of the Lytton family since 1490 and over the centuries the house has evolved from a… Continue reading Knebworth House – It was a dark and stormy night…
The Queen – Her powers, perks and privileges.
It seems likely that September 9th will see Queen Elizabeth II surpass the achievement of her Great Grandmother, Queen Victoria, and become the longest ever serving monarch in British history. Whilst the role of the monarch has long since been transformed from the potentially tyrannical approach taken by some of her forebears, it is… Continue reading The Queen – Her powers, perks and privileges.
Stephen Liddell 