The people, places and events that have shaped our history and culture
Ham House was built on land owned by King James I in 1610. The lease of the house transferred between several royal courtiers until it was granted to William Murray in 1626 - during the reign of King Charles I. Murray was granted the freehold ten years later. Murray, a Scotsman, was a close friend [...]
Beatrix Potter was born on the 28th July 1866 in South Kensington, London. She died, 77 years, later in the village of Sawrey in the Lake District, Cumbria. At the time of her death, she had made a fortune writing books for children. She left fourteen farms and 4000 acres of land to the National [...]
Continuing the naval theme of the previous post on the Mary Rose, here is something far more recent. A time capsule from World War II and a reminder of the debt we owe to servicemen - as well as a great adventure for kids. Being in central London and with elevated views over the City [...]
King Henry VIII’s warship, the Mary Rose, sank in the Solent on the south coast of England during an engagement with the French Fleet in July 1545. The disaster was witnessed by many, including the King. It was 450 years before she was seen again - after the world’s largest underwater archaeological excavation brought her [...]
William Morris was an influential designer and one of the leaders of the Arts and Crafts movement - that started in Britain before becoming a world-wide phenomenon. This is the house where the movement started. 'Arts and Crafts' rejected plain mass produced household furniture and fittings in favour of ambitious, creative and bespoke designs for [...]