Museums Worcestershire has acquired a pair of Bronze Age weapons for the county’s collection. The spearhead and knife were discovered by a metal detectorist in June of 2021 and reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme. They were later declared legal treasure under the Treasure Act, which gave the museum the opportunity to acquire the objects…
A Bronze Age barrow containing the cinerary remains of at least eight people buried in a single event between 1439-1287 B.C. was found in southwest Scotland. Five urns were buried packed tightly inside a pit, indicating it was a single mass burial, perhaps of a family group. The barrow was discovered in an archaeological investigation…
Historically, Romani Gypsies lived nomadic lifestyles, moving from place to place for cultural and economic reasons. As such, it can be challenging to spot physical remnants of Romani Gypsy heritage. However, the influence of Romani Gypsy presence can be seen all around England. There are street names like ‘Gypsy/Gipsy Lane’, revealing where Romani Gypsies would…
Rose Sidgwick may have died of Spanish Influenza at just 41 years old, but she made pioneering contributions to the fields of history and international feminism. Here, we unpick her legacy. Nestled in a picturesque garden behind the University of Birmingham Business School, there’s an ornate birdbath carved from stone. Look closely, and you’ll find…
Gwenda’s Garage was founded in 1985 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, by 3 women mechanics: Ros Wollen (aka Roz), Annette Williams, and Ros Wall. Faced with difficulty finding employment in a male-dominated field, they established their own repair workshop. Women mechanics in 1980s Sheffield In the mid-1980s, unemployment in England was high, and government training schemes…
Many monarchs have been crowned King or Queen of England over the centuries. But who is regarded as the very first King of England? King Athelstan (reigned AD 924 to 939) Athelstan (or Æthelstan) is considered by many as the first king to rule over the whole of England. Born around AD 895, he was…
England has a long and complex military history, from Roman battles and the English Civil War to threats of invasion during the Napoleonic and First and Second World Wars. A new book, ‘England’s Military Heritage from the Air‘, tells the story of England’s rich heritage from thousands of years of conflict using 150 photographs from…
The Mermaid was a large, dilapidated pub in Sparkhill, a working-class neighbourhood 3 miles south of Birmingham city centre. A microcosm of Birmingham, Sparkhill has been shaped by Irish and South Asian immigration and was where pub landlords welcomed teenagers to play weirdo music in the upstairs room. Sparkhill’s a very working-class area. It seemed…
Queen Elizabeth I was an unlikely queen. Although she was the daughter of Henry VIII and born a Tudor princess, she was declared illegitimate at just 2 years old following the execution of her mother, Anne Boleyn. Following the birth of Henry’s son, the future Edward VI, in 1537, Henry now had the male heir…
Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806 to 1859) was one of the giants of the Industrial Revolution. Engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel stood in front of the enormous launching chains of the SS Great Eastern in 1857. Source: Public Domain. His originality of thought, extraordinary vision, and risk-taking ushered out the old world of sailing ships and horse-drawn…