Many of us are familiar with the phrase “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel”, a quote that remains as true today as it was when it was first coined and is still evident by many politicians in particular around the world. Not so many people though are familiar with the equally if not… Continue reading Edith Cavell – Patriotism Is Not Enough
Category: history
Day 5 of my holiday – Killhope Lead Mine
As I mentioned in previous holiday posts, the entire area of NorthEast England is rich in heavy industry and particularly mining history. Despite there being centuries more material underground, most mines are now closed as it is somehow supposedly more economical to get raw materials from China or Australia. Just a 3 or 4 miles… Continue reading Day 5 of my holiday – Killhope Lead Mine
Holiday day 3… The Beamish Open Air museum
It’s often said that one never visits the touristic places near to where one lives. I never went on the London Eye until a family from Chicago paid me too. The Beamish Open Air Museum is a likely unique museum dedicated to preserving and informing future generations about the special industrial heritage of working class… Continue reading Holiday day 3… The Beamish Open Air museum
Alston Holiday -Day 2 Hexham and Hadrians Wall
For day two of our holiday we visited the lively little market town of Hexham, notable for amongst other things its magnificent Abbey Cathedral. People have worshipped on this site for nearly 1400 years. On top of the moors and in my “home” county. Whitfield Church in an area known as Little Switerzland Hexham Abbey … Continue reading Alston Holiday -Day 2 Hexham and Hadrians Wall
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 Greatest Emergency Landings In History
This week many of us have been amazed and horrified in equal measure by the sight of a British Airways Boeing 777 which made an aborted take-off following a catasphrophic engine failure. Thanks to the incredible reactions of the flight crew and most especially Captain Chris Henkey who after 42 years of piloting was performing… Continue reading The Greatest Emergency Landings In History
Longest reign over us – Queen Elizabeth II becomes our longest serving monarch in history
Today is one of those typically historic but low-level sort of days when The Queen becomes the longest serving British monarch in history, surpassing the magnificent reign of Queen Victoria who reigned for 63 years and 216 days and died in January 1901. The precise moment that The Queen will break the record is believed… Continue reading Longest reign over us – Queen Elizabeth II becomes our longest serving monarch in history
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.
Doggerland – Britain’s Atlantis
Being an island nation, our long history and pre-history has been shaped by the sea possibly more than anywhere else on earth. Whilst some areas of our land were under sea just a millennia or so a go, since the last ice-age our coastline has gradually been pushed back by the ever rising oceans.… Continue reading Doggerland – Britain’s Atlantis
Nazi Gold Train Found In Poland After 70 Years?
As has happened a few times in the history of this blog, an event which I wrote about from a historical standpoint is now unravelling as a live event. A few months ago I wrote on the treasures of the missing treasures of bad King John and several other missing treasures including Nazi gold and this week… Continue reading Nazi Gold Train Found In Poland After 70 Years?
Stephen Liddell 