Essential History | The people, places and events that have shaped our history and culture
The people, places and events that have shaped our history and culture
Yesterday, the UK celebrated the 100th anniversary of the signing of the 'Representation of the People Act 1918'. This was the Act that gave many women the vote for the first time. The anniversary was reported widely in the media and to mark the occasion an exhibition of life-sized images of the central figures of [...]
Here are five must-see American historical sites that you can visit in London today. They are not in any order or category, but having said that, we should start from where the Mayflower set sail in the first place. 1 The Mayflower Pub Back in 1620, the Mayflower started its journey from here to the [...]
It may not look much on the outside, but this is authentic, world first London. The building in the photograph houses the entrance to the first tunnel known to have been constructed successfully underneath a navigable river. It connects Rotherhithe with Wapping in London, is still in use and you can visit it. Descend the [...]
This is a painting of Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington by Sir Thomas Lawrence. It is an oil on canvas painted in 1829. In this portrait, Wellington’s commanding gaze evokes his resolve in defeating his critics, of which there were many at this time. His troops called him ‘old nosey’ and he called them [...]
Mutton pies all round! At the National Portrait Gallery you can see a series of ‘Kit-cat’ portraits of 48 leading Whig politicians and men of letters – all members of the ‘Kit-cat’ Club. The Kit-cat club was a dining club for leading Whig politicians and cultured types. They were essentially pro-big business and trade and [...]