Christmas Carols – The Oldest ones are the best – Some Origins
Christmas carols are mostly a Victorian tradition along with trees, crackers and cards. In this article we look at why the popularity of Silent Night has never faded, why there’s always a place for Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, and why the British fondness of Good King Wenceslas has yet to subside.
English Literary Giant – Charles Dickens – ‘the cheerfullest man of his age’
On Friday the 7th of February 1812, in Portsmouth the greatest – or at least the most prolific – of the great 19th-century novelists, Charles Dickens was born. Lionised when alive, still venerated almost two centuries later, he penned a whole pantheon of unique works.
How To … Make a Christmas Pudding
The Christmas Pudding, that most lovely, in my opinion, of all the scrummy Yuletide fayre. In this article we look at that one of the most famous exponents of this dish, the Victorian cook Mr’s Beeton. Christmas Pud Origins Christmas pudding, or plum pudding or figgy pudding, is believed to originate from the medieval period (early 15th centuary probably) when plum pottage was served during festivities. Plum pottage was a meat...
Going Underground – The Story of the London Tube
The London Underground, or Tube as it is known in Britain, was the first of its’ kind in the world. Thanks to this seminal invention modern cities can sustain and transport millions of people everyday far and beyond what their ‘natural’ capacity would ever have been with out it.
The S.S. Stella
The Steam Ship “Stella” has entered local history as a byword for tragedy when she was sadly wrecked in 1899 off of Alderney.
Origin of Some British Christmas Traditions
We have a lot of traditions surrounding a good British Christmas which enjoy but never really question. But where did some of them originate from ?
Kings & Queens of England
From the 10th century Athelston to our very own Elizabeth II, the history of the British monarchy is one of religious conflict, political intrigue, invasion, love, murder, gluttony and colourful connections. Here’s a time line of them all.
