localhistories.org

Timelines of Daily Life

2012-02-29T11:11:00.000Z

I wrote some timelines of everyday life www.localhistories.org/clothestime www.localhistories.org/foodtime www.localhistories.org/toiletstime www.localhistories.org/sweetstime www.localhistories.org/pantiestime www.localhistories.org/surgerytime and more at www.localhistories.org/everydaytimelines

Boston US

2012-02-28T08:37:00.002Z

Boston was founded in 1630 by English Puritans fleeing religious persecution. On 29 March 1630 a fleet of 11 ships carrying 700 people sailed from England to Massachusetts. They were led by John Winthrop (1588-1649).

At first the people settled at Charlestown, which had been founded the year before. However fresh water was short so most of the new settlers moved across the river to a peninsula called Trimountaine. In 1630 the new settlement was named Boston after Boston in England from which many of the settlers came. www.localhistories.org/bostonus

Potatoes and pumpkins

2012-02-25T09:21:00.002Z

Potatoes

Potatoes are native to South America and they were grown by the native people for thousands of years before Europeans discovered them. The Spaniards took potatoes to Europe in the 16th century and they were first introduced to England in 1586. However at first potatoes were regarded as a strange vegetable and they were not commonly grown in Europe until the 18th century. In the 1840s potatoes in Ireland were afflicted by potato blight and the result was a terrible famine as the people had come to rely on potatoes for their staple food.

Pumpkin
Pumpkins are native to central America. The Native Americans used them as a staple food. Pumpkins were adopted as a food by European colonists. Meanwhile Christopher Columbus brought pumpkin seeds to Europe. In Tudor England pumpkins were called pompions. www.localhistories.org/vegetables

Bodmin

2012-02-23T09:26:00.000Z

In the 6th century St Petroc, the patron saint of Cornwall, established a monastery at Padstow. In the 10th century it moved to Bodmin. In the 12th century it was changed to an Augustinian priory. The name of the town 'Bodmin' may mean 'house of monks'. Certainly, for centuries the priory dominated the town. Henry VIII closed the priory in 1538 but the monk's fishpond survives as Priory Pond.

However at the time of the Domesday Book (1086) Bodmin was the only market town in Cornwall. During the Middle Ages Bodmin was an important market for wool and tin. www.localhistories.org/bodmin

King John and Richard II

2012-02-21T10:01:00.001Z

Most people know that King John (1199-1216) agreed to the Magna Carta but he was also the first English king to wear a dressing gown. Richard II (1377-1399) was the first English king to use a handkerchief.

Shrove Tuesday

2012-02-20T20:34:00.000Z

Shrove Tuesday come from the old word shrive, to confess because people confessed their sins before Lent. You were not supposed to eat eggs during Lent so people used them up by making pancakes. Its also why we say 'gave him short shrift'. A shrift was a confession to a priest. You gave a criminal a short time to say a shrift before you hanged him.

Hanging, drawing and quartering

2012-02-20T11:34:00.000Z

This was the punishment in England for treason. The person was drawn on a hurdle pulled by a horse to the place of execution. They were hanged (strangled by being suspended by a rope) but when they were still alive and sometimes conscious they were cut down. The executioner cut open their stomach and 'drew out' their entrails. Finally the person was beheaded and his body was cut into quarters.

After 1814 the full sentence was no longer carried out. Instead the person was hanged until they were dead and then beheaded. They were not disembowelled. The last case was in 1820. However hanging, drawing and quartering was not formally abolished until 1870. www.localhistories.org/pun

Vegetables

2012-02-18T20:54:00.002Z

Runner beans

Runner beans are native to central America and were grown there long before they were discovered by Europeans in the 16th century. Runner beans were first grown in England in the 17th century.
Spinach
Spinach is native to Asia. However it was unknown to the Greeks and Romans. It was first grown in Persia. Later it was grown by both the Arabs and the Chinese. The Arabs introduced spinach to southern Europe and by the 14th century it was eaten in England.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are native to South America. The Spaniards came across them in the 16th century. However tomatoes were unknown in England until the end of the 16th century. www.localhistories.org/vegetables

Greece

2012-02-18T14:57:00.001Z

I wrote a brief history of Greece. Its a fascinating country. www.localhistories.org/greecehist

Sydney

2012-02-17T09:41:00.002Z

Sydney was founded in 1788 when the first fleet arrived in Australia from England. On 13 May 1787 a fleet of 11 ships set sail from Portsmouth, England. On board were 759 convicts, most of them men with sailors and marines to guard the prisoners. With them they took seeds, farm implements, livestock such as cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, horses and chickens and 2 years supply of food. The first colonists came ashore at Port Jackson on 26 January 1788. They were commanded by Captain Arthur Philip (1738-1814).

Sydney was named after Thomas Townshend - Lord Sydney (1733-1800). He became British Secretary of State in 1783 and recommended the British establish a colony in Australia. www.localhistories.org/sydney

Great Website

2012-02-15T22:20:00.000Z

I would like to recommend this very good website that I found http://www.fortified-places.com/

Life in Britain in 1912

2012-02-15T15:37:00.000Z

I wrote a brief article about life in England in 1912 at www.localhistories.org/life1912

Shepton Mallet

2012-02-15T14:10:00.001Z

Shepton Mallet lies just west of a main Roman road, Fosse Way and the Romans settled in the area. However the modern village of Shepton Mallet was founded by the Saxons. They conquered eastern Somerset in the 7th century and founded many villages. Shepton Mallet was once called sceapton malet. Sceap means sheep and tun meant farm, estate of settlement. Obviously it was a place known for sheep. In the 12th century the Malet family were the lords of the manor. In time it became Shepton Mallet.

At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 Shepton Mallet was only a small village with a population of only about 100. Later in the Middle Ages it grew larger but in the 14th century it probably still had only 400 or 500 inhabitants. However in 1318 Shepton Mallet was granted the right to hold weekly markets so it must have a been a busy little place. In The Square are the remains of the Shambles where butchers sold meat. www.localhistories.org/shepton

Typewriter

2012-02-14T08:37:00.000Z

Christopher Scholes who invented the first practical typewriter was born on this day in 1819. Today he is forgotten by most people, which is a pity as we still use his qwerty lay out on our keyboards.

Women in British Government

2012-02-12T19:59:00.001Z

In 1918 in Britain women over 30 were allowed to vote. In 1928 they were allowed to vote at the age of 21 (the same as men). In 1919 Nancy Astor became the first female MP and in 1929 Margaret Bondfield became the first female cabinet minister. In 1979 Margaret Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister. www.localhistories.org/govt

Ancient Musical Instruments

2012-02-10T09:59:00.000Z

The Ancient Egyptians played many instruments. They played castanets, drums and bells. They also played stringed instruments like the harp, the lyre (a kind of vertical harp) and the lute. They also played wind instruments like flutes and trumpets. The Egyptians also played a rattle called a sistrum.

The Greeks played stringed instruments like the harp and the lyre. They also played a large lyre called a Kithara. Its strings were plucked with a plectrum. The Greeks also played wind instruments like the syrinx or panpipes, which was made of reeds of different lengths. They also played cymbals.

The Romans had similar musical instruments, the lyre and harp, the trumpet and flutes. The Romans also played the bagpipes and they made organs. www.localhistories.org/music

Edinburgh

2012-02-09T22:27:00.001Z

Edinburgh started as a fort. Castle Rock is an easily defended position so from earliest times it was the site of a fort. In the 7th century the English captured this part of Scotland and they called this place Eiden's burgh (burgh is an old word for fort). In the 10th century the Scots re-captured the area. Late in the 11th century Malcolm III built a castle on Castle Rock and a small town grew up nearby. By the early 12th century Edinburgh was a flourishing community. www.localhistories.org/edinburgh

William Blake

2012-02-08T09:08:00.002Z

I wrote a little history of the painter, engraver and poet William Blake www.localhistories.org/blake

Charles Dickens

2012-02-07T09:00:00.001Z

On 7 February 1812 Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth www.localhistories.org/dickens

Boiling

2012-02-06T22:19:00.001Z

In England a law of 1531 allowed poisoners to be boiled alive. In 1532 a cook called Richard Roose was boiled alive and in 1542 a woman called Margaret Davy was boiled alive. However the law was repealed in 1547.

What the Russians did for us

2012-02-04T11:53:00.001Z

What did the Russians do for us? They gave us the great writers Tolstoy, Chekov and Dovstoyevsky and the composers Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakov and Rachmaninov. Dmitri Mendeleev created the periodic table of elements. Yuri Gagarin was the first man in space and Valentina Tereshkova was the first woman. Most importantly millions of Russians died fighting the Germans during the Second World War.

English Place Names

2012-02-03T14:51:00.002Z

BURY, BOROUGH

Is usually a corruption of burh, which meant a fort of fortified place. Aylesbury was Aegel's burh or burgh. Boarhunt was burh funta the spring by the fort. Narborough in Leicestershire was nor (north) burh.

Was the Danish word for village. Derby was Deor By the deer village. Enderby in Leicestershire was Eindrithi's by.

CASTER, CESTER AND CHESTER

Are derived from the Saxon word ceaster, which meant a Roman fort or town. Lancaster was Lune ceaster. Chichester was Cissa's ceaster.

What the Swedes did for us

2012-02-01T16:43:00.000Z

What did the Swedes do for us? They gave us the great botanist Carl Linnaeus, the astronomer Anders Celcius who invented centigrade temperature measurements and Anders Angstrom a great physicist. (The Angstom unit used to measure microscopic distances is named after him). A Swede named Alfred Nobel invented dynamite.

Let the cat out of the bag

2012-02-01T11:58:00.001Z

It’s also a myth that the phrase 'let the cat out of the bag' comes because a cat o' nine tails was kept in a bag. The cat o' nine tails was not used in England till the mid-17th century but the phrase is much older. It probably comes because people at market used to sell pigs in bags but sometimes by sleight of hand they would give the customer a bag with a cat in it instead. If you let the cat out of the bag you exposed the deception.

The Upper Crust

2012-02-01T10:26:00.000Z

It’s a myth that we call the rich the 'upper crust' because in Tudor times they cut the top off a loaf and gave it to the rich. They may have done that sometimes but the phrase was never recorded in the 16th, 17th, 18th or 19th century in England. It was first recorded in the USA in the 19th century. It wasn't used in England till the 20th century. I am afraid that many charming stories about old sayings are myths.

Greenland

2012-02-01T09:57:00.001Z

I wrote a little history of Greenland. It only has a small population but its a fascinating country. www.localhistories.org/greenland

Ancient Surgery

2012-01-30T12:11:00.000Z

The Egyptians did have some knowledge of anatomy from making mummies. To embalm a dead body they first removed the principal organs, which would otherwise rot.

However Egyptian surgery was limited to such things as treating wounds and broken bones and dealing with boils and abscesses. The Egyptians used clamps, sutures and cauterisation. They had surgical instruments like probes, saws, forceps, scalpels and scissors.

They also knew that honey helped to prevent wounds becoming infected. (It is a natural antiseptic). They also dressed wounds with willow bark, which has the same effect.

The Ancient Greeks bathed wounds with wine. (The alcohol helped to prevent infection).

In the Roman Empire techniques of surgery were dominated by the ideas of Galen. He was interested in anatomy. Unfortunately by his time dissecting human bodies was forbidden. So Galen had to dissect animal bodies including apes. However animal bodies are not the same as human bodies and so some of Galen's ideas were quite wrong. Unfortunately Galen was a very influential writer. For centuries his writings dominated medicine.

Vacuum cleaners

2012-01-28T09:22:00.001Z

The vacuum cleaner was invented by Hubert Booth in 1901. His earliest model was petrol driven and was so big it had to be pulled through the streets by a horse. It was parked outside your house and hoses were fed through the windows. The first portable electric vacuum cleaner was invented in 1908. Gradually during the 20th century vacuum cleaners became cheaper and more common. By 1959 about two thirds of British homes had a vacuum cleaner. Then in 1979 James Dyson patented the bagless cyclonic vacuum cleaner. It went on sale in 1993. www.localhistories.org/housework

What the Norwegians did for us

2012-01-26T13:28:00.000Z

What did the Norwegians do for us? They gave us the artist Edvard Munch and the composer Edvard Greig and the explorer Roald Amundsen was the first person to reach the South Pole. Also a Norwegian called Johan Vaaler invented the paper clip. www.localhistories.org/norway

What the Hungarians and Czechs did for us

2012-01-26T11:32:00.002Z

What did the Hungarians and Czechs do for us? A Hungarian named Biro invented the biro (I used to hate fountain pens at school). A Czech invented the modern contact lens. A Czech playwright invented the word robot. The great writer Franz Kafka was a Czech. Many Czech pilots fought in the Battle of Britain.

Australia

2012-01-26T10:54:00.002Z

On 26 January 1788 the first fleet reached Australia. It was the start of a great nation. www.localhistories.org/australia

What the Poles did for us

2012-01-25T22:35:00.002Z

What did the Poles do for us? 10% of the pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain were Polish and the Polish resistance gathered vital info about the German V1 flying bomb. Polish soldiers fought the Nazis in North Africa, Italy and France. The composers Chopin and Paderewski were Poles. So were the great astronomer Copernicus and the scientist Marie Curie.

What the Romanians and Bulgarians did for us

2012-01-25T19:54:00.001Z

What did the Romanians and Bulgarians do for us? A Romanian called Nicolae Paulescu discovered insulin. A Romanian engineer called Henri Coanda played a key role in developing the jet engine. A Bulgarian engineer called Assen Jordanoff played a big part in developing modern aircraft. A Bulgarian scientist called John Atanasoff played a large role in the invention of computers.

Chinese inventions

2012-01-25T16:10:00.001Z

What did the Chinese do for us? Most people know they invented gunpowder and fireworks. They also invented tea and ice cream. The Chinese also invented silk, porcelain and wallpaper. They also invented the toothbrush and they invented playing cards.

The Romans introduced new foods into Britain

2012-01-25T11:30:00.003Z

What did the Romans do for us? They introduced celery, cabbages, radishes, carrots, cucumber, broad beans, peas, turnips, lettuce and walnuts into Britain. (Food must have been boring before then!)

Bible History

2012-01-25T10:54:00.005Z

I wrote a brief article about the events in the Bible and how they relate to events in other parts of the world at the same time in history www.localhistories.org/oltestback

6th Century Plague

2012-01-24T23:11:00.001Z

In the 6th century AD bubonic plague struck and killed millions. It 543 AD it struck the Byzantine Empire and it soon spread to other parts of Europe. The 6th century plague may have killed 25% of the population. It certainly claimed the lives of millions. www.localhistories.org/plague

Medieval Towns

2012-01-22T21:14:00.002Z

In the Middle Ages most people lived in the countryside and made a living from farming. However at the time of the Domesday Book (1086) about 10% of the population of England lived in towns. Moreover trade boomed in the following two centuries and many new towns were founded.

The first thing that would surprise us about those towns would be their small size. At the time of the Domesday Book in 1086 London had a population of about 18,000. By the 14th century it rose to about 45,000. Other towns were much smaller. York may have had a population of about 13,000 by 1400 but it then fell to about 10,000 by 1500. Most towns had between 2,000 and 5,000 inhabitants.

Rotherham

2012-01-19T22:23:00.001Z

I wrote a history of Rotherham in Yorkshire, one of Britain's great steel towns and a major manufacturing centre at www.localhistories.org/rotherham

British Television

2012-01-18T10:06:00.002Z

Television began in Britain in 1936 when the BBC began broadcasting. TV was suspended during World War II but it began again in 1946. TV first became common in the 1950s. A lot of people bought a TV set to watch the coronation of Elizabeth II and a survey at the end of the that year showed that about one quarter of households had one. By 1959 about two thirds of homes had a TV. By 1964 the figure had reached 90% and TV had become the main form of entertainment - at the expense of cinema, which declined in popularity.

At first there was only one TV channel but between 1955 and 1957 the ITV companies began broadcasting. BBC2 began in 1964 and Channel 4 began in 1982.

In Britain BBC 2 began broadcasting in colour in 1967, BBC 1 followed in 1969.

Gladiators

2012-01-16T21:07:00.002Z

A gladiator training school was called a ludus. At its head was the owner and trainer of gladiators, called a lanista. Among types of gladiator were the Thracian, who carried a small round shield called a parma and a retiarius who carried a fishnet and a trident. A murmillo carried a sword and shield similar to those used by Roman soldiers. Other types of gladiator were equites who fought on horseback with lances. British gladiators fought from chariots. They were called essedarii. Gladiators called andabatae fought wearing helmets with no eye holes. As they were blind they had to listen for their opponent!

Gladiators also fought animals such as lions and tigers. Furthermore fights sometimes took place on artifical lakes. Small ships were launched on an artificial lake and sea battles called naumachiae were held on them. www.localhistories.org/gladiators

16th century drinks

2012-01-14T09:10:00.000Z

In the 16th century it was not safe to drink water so for ordinary people drinking ale or beer was essential. Young children drank milk but usually only the poorest people drank water.

In the 16th century housewives were expected to brew their own beer although it was also sold commercially. In the 16th century beer was not just a drink it was also a food. It contained valuable nutrients.

In Tudor Times cider and perry were common drinks in certain parts of England.

Wine was the drink of the wealthy as it had to be imported. Wine was imported from France and Germany but an increasing amount was imported from Spain and Portugal. Sweet wine was still imported from the Eastern Mediterranean. In the 16th century wine was often flavoured with spices.

Other drinks in 16th century England included sherry, which was known as sack and brandy. The origins of brandy are obscure but it was a popular drink by the 16th century.

The origins of whiskey are lost in history too but by the 16th century it was being distilled in Scotland and was a popular drink. People thought whiskey was medicinal.

Eastbourne

2012-01-13T17:41:00.002Z

For centuries Eastbourne was a large village. The people lived by farming or sometimes by fishing. However in 1232 Eastbourne was granted the right to hold markets and fairs. (In the Middle Ages fairs were like markets but they were held only once a year and they attracted buyers and sellers from far and wide).

At the end of the 16th century Eastbourne was called a market town but it was really a large village. To us it would seem tiny. It probably had a population of less than 1,000.

Little changed in Eastbourne until the late 18th century. At that time people believed that bathing in seawater was good for your health and could cure disease. It became fashionable to stay at the seaside. In 1780 George III's children stayed at Eastbourne. However afterwards Eastbourne only grew slowly. Even in 1851 it had a population of less than 3,500. www.localhistories.org/eastbourne

Colin Pitchfork

2012-01-12T10:40:00.003Z

Colin Pitchfork is a child killer from Leicestershire in the Midlands of England. He is sometimes known as the Black Pad killer. Pitchfork raped and strangled two 15-year old schoolgirls, Lynda Mann from Narborough and Dawn Ashworth from Enderby. Colin Pitchfork was the first murderer to be caught by DNA fingerprinting. Before his appeal in 2009 the mother of one of his victims wrote a letter to the judge. It was printed in a newspaper

www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/03/31/dna-nailed-the-beast-who-killed-my-girl-never-let-him-go-free-115875-21242120/

20th century newspapers

2012-01-11T09:14:00.002Z

In the 20th century newspapers became still more common. The Daily Mail was first published in 1896, The Daily Express was first published in 1900 and the Daily Mirror began publication in 1903.

In 1964 The Daily Herald became The Sun and The Daily Star was founded in 1978. Meanwhile The Sunday Telegraph was founded in 1961 and in 1962 The Sunday Times became the first newspaper to publish a Sunday colour supplement. The Mail on Sunday began in 1982. The Independent was first published in 1986. Also in 1986 Today became the first colour newspaper in Britain. www.localhistories.org/media

Furniture

2012-01-09T08:46:00.001Z

Medieval furniture was very basic. Even in a rich household chairs were rare. Often only the lord sat on one so he was the 'chairman'. Most people sat on stools or benches. Rich people also had tables and large chests, which doubled up as beds. In Old English a chest was called an ark and a man who made chests was an arkwright, which is where the surname comes from. www.localhistories.org/furniture

Durham

2012-01-07T11:45:00.002Z

Durham was founded by a group of monks. A man named St Cuthbert was Bishop of Lindisfarne. St Cuthbert died in 687 and soon people began to claim that miracles happened near his grave (in those days people believed that dead bodies could work miracles). In 698 his body was exhumed and it was found that it had not decayed. As a result a cult began around the body of St Cuthbert and many people came to visit it.

In the 10th century the Vikings raided the coast of England. In 985 the monks who looked after Cuthbert's body decided to move from Lindisfarne to somewhere safer. For 10 years they wandered from place to place until eventually they settled at Durham.

The name Durham means hill on an island. It comes from the old English words dun meaning hill and holmr meaning island. A church was built for the monks. The body of Cuthbert continued to act as a magnet for visitors. Soon a town grew up on the site. It was an ideal site for a town as it was easy to defend and it had a major 'tourist attraction'. www.localhistories.org/durham

Apricots

2012-01-06T22:01:00.001Z

Apricots originally came from China. In ancient times they spread across Persia to the Mediterranean region and the Romans knew them. Later the Arabs grew apricots. Apricots were grown in England from the 16th century. www.localhistories.org/fruits

Crewkerne

2012-01-05T10:07:00.000Z

The name Crewkerne is believed to be derived from words meaning house by a hill. The house may have been an important building. At any rate a settlement grew up around it. Crewkerne was first mentioned in history in the late 9th century. By the 11th century Crewkerne was an important place. By then Crewkerne had a mint. It also had weekly markets. (In the Middle Ages there were few shops so if you wished to buy or sell anything you had to go to a market).

In the Middle Ages Crewkerne also had a fair (fairs were like markets but they were held only once a year and they attracted buyers and sellers from a wide area).

During the Middle Ages and the succeeding centuries Crewkerne was mainly an agricultural town. Farmers sold their produce there and purchased goods made by craftsmen. However there was a wool making industry in Crewkerne.

Crewkerne also prospered because it was on the main road from Exeter to London. Moreover a grammar school was founded in Crewkerne in 1499. www.localhistories.org/crewkerne

Ancient Greek Education

2012-01-04T09:22:00.002Z

In ancient Greece girls learned skills like weaving from their mothers. Only boys went to school. They started at the age of seven. Boys from a rich family were escorted to school by a slave.

The boys learned reading, writing and arithmetic as well as poetry and music. The Greeks also believed that physical education was very important so boys did dancing and athletics.

Discipline was severe in Ancient Greek schools and children were often beaten.
In Sparta children were treated very harshly. At the age of 7 boys were removed from their families and sent to live in barracks. They were treated severely to turn them into brave soldiers. They were deliberately kept short of food so they would have to steal - teaching them stealth and cunning. They were whipped for any offence.

Spartan girls learned athletics and dancing - so they would become fit and healthy mothers of more soldiers. www.localhistories.org/education

Chicago

2012-01-03T13:02:00.002Z

The history of Chicago begins in the year 1673. In that year two Frenchmen, Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet arrived in the area. (The name Chicago is derived from a Native American word of uncertain meaning, checaugou). However the French did not settle the area. The first non-indigenous person to make his home in the area was an African American from the Caribbean called Jean Baptiste Point du Sable who built a house there in 1779. Then in 1803 the American government built a fort called Fort Dearborn. The fort was destroyed during the war of 1812 but it was rebuilt in 1816. www.localhistories.org/chicago

1612

2012-01-01T18:34:00.001Z

In 1612 they began growing tobacco in Virginia. The trial of the Pendle Witches in Lancashire took place. Christianity was banned in Japan. On the other hand the first Baptist Church met in England. Meanwhile English sailors reached Thailand.

1712

2012-01-01T18:32:00.001Z

In 1712 Newcomen began making steam engines to pump water out of coal mines (they weren't used in factories till much later). The German composer Handel moved to London. Sir Hans Sloane, doctor to King George II bought land at Chelsea. Sloane Square is named after him. In France the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born.

1812

2012-01-01T13:20:00.000Z

In 1812 Napoleon invaded Russia but later retreated from Moscow. The USA went to war with Britain. Meanwhile Lousiana became the 18th US state. British prime minister Spencer Perceval was shot (so far he is the only prime minister to be assassinated). Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth.

1912

2012-01-01T10:27:00.000Z

In 1912 the Titanic sank, Roald Amdunsen reached the South Pole, the first practical electric fire was made, vitamins were discovered, the first Board of Film Censors was appointed in Britain, Blackpool illuminations were first switched on, In Cornwall Penzance gained electric street lights and its first cinema, in Britain by law shop workers were allowed half a day off (as well as Sunday).

Basingstoke

2011-12-31T09:15:00.003Z

Basingstoke began as a Saxon village. By the time of the Domesday Book (1086) it had a population of about 200. By the standards of the time it was quite a large village. In Basingstoke there were 3 watermills, which ground grain to flour. Basingstoke also had a weekly market.

In the Middle Ages Basingstoke grew into a town, though a small one. In the 13th century Basingstoke probably had a population of around 600 or 700 people. There were really only 4 streets. In the middle was the Market Square. On the west was Church Road that led to St Michael of the Mount church. On the east side was Mote Street. The Mote Hall was a hall by the market place where the townsmen met together. (Mote is the old English word for meeting).

In the north was the main Winchester to London road. In the south was a lane. It was called Frog Lane or Lower Brook Lane. www.localhistories.org/basingstoke

In 1257 Basingstoke was given a charter (a document granting the townspeople certain rights).

Jordan

2011-12-29T12:07:00.001Z

I wrote a little history of Jordan at www.localhistories.org/jordan

New Year

2011-12-28T09:08:00.001Z

You can read all about the history of New Year at www.localhistories.org/newyear

Drowning as exectution

2011-12-27T12:19:00.002Z

Although drowning is an obvious method of killing people it was seldom used as a method of execution. The Roman writer Tacitus said that the Germanic peoples drowned cowards in fens under piles of sticks. The Anglo-Saxons also sometimes used drowning as a punishment. In the Middle Ages drowning was sometimes used to punish murder. In England in the 13th century it was enacted that anybody who committed murder on the king's ships would be tied to their victims body and thrown into the sea to drown.

In Portsmouth at that time male murderers were burned but female murderers were tied to a post in the harbour and left to drown when the tide came in.

Drowning was occasionally used in Europe through the following centuries. It was revived in the French Revolution in Nantes by a man named Jean Baptiste Carrier as a convenient way of killing large numbers of people. They were loaded into vessels with trapdoors, which were then sunk. www.localhistories.org/pun

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T15:56:00.002Z

A Merry Christmas to all our readers

Cooking

2011-12-23T18:48:00.001Z

Gas cookers first became common in the 1890s and the first electric oven went on sale in the USA in 1891. They went on sale in Britain in 1893. By 1939 there were about 1 1/2 million electric ovens in Britain and about 9 million gas ones.

Cooking was also made much easier by the development of convenience foods. The first convenience food in tins and jars went on sale in the late 19th century. Although the principle of canning was invented at the end of the 18th century tinned food first became widely available in the 1880s. The can opener was invented in 1855 and the rotary can opener followed in 1870.

Portsmouth

2011-12-22T21:28:00.002Z

The city of Portsmouth started about 1180 when a merchant called Jean De Gisors founded a little town in South-West corner of Portsea Island. Jean De Gisors was a merchant who owned a fleet of ships. He was also a landowner who owned land on Portsea Island. In the Southwest of the island was a small inlet from the sea called the Camber. It was a sheltered place for ships to land and De Gisors decided it was an ideal place to start a town.

De Gisors divided up the land into plots for building houses and he started a market. Craftsmen and merchants came to live in the new settlement. In 1185 a parish church was built (later it became Portsmouth Cathedral).
In 1194 the king gave Portsmouth a charter. (A document granting the townspeople certain rights).

By the early 13th century Portsmouth was described as 'one of our most important ports'.

Yeovil, Somerset

2011-12-21T09:13:00.002Z

Yeovil was founded in the 8th century after the Saxons conquered this part of Somerset. What does the name Yeovil Mean? It is believed to be a corruption of the Celtic word Gifl, meaning forked river.

In time the village of Yeovil grew into a little town. By the time of the Domesday Book (1086) it was a flourishing community though it would seem tiny to us with a population of not more than 1,000. Yeovil or Givle, as it was then known, had a weekly market. www.localhistories.org/yeovil

Shoes

2011-12-20T10:40:00.003Z

Saxon and Vikings wore simple leather boots and shoes but in the 12th century rich people began to wear shoes with long pointed toes. (However only the upper class wore them. Ordinary people had shoes with round toes). However at the end of the 15th century long toes went out of fashion and the wealthy began to wear shoes with square or round toes.

In the Middle Ages peasants wore wooden clogs for working in muddy conditions. In the towns people wore wooden platforms called pattens under their shoes. (They had straps to hold them on). Some pattens were several inches thick.

In the Middle Ages shoe makers were called cordwainers. The word is derived from cordovan the name for leather from Cordova in Spain. www.localhistories.org/shoes

Bridgwater

2011-12-18T22:35:00.002Z

Bridgwater began as a Saxon village in Somerset. At the time of the Domesday Book (1086) Bridgwater probably had a population of about 160, which made it a fairly large village. At that time Bridgwater had a watermill where grain was ground to flour to make bread for the villagers.

William the Conqueror gave the village and the nearby bridge to one of his followers, Walter of Douai. It became known as the Bridge of Walter and in time Bridgewater. So the bridge gave the town its name.

In 1200 King John granted Bridgwater a charter. (A document giving the inhabitants certain rights including the right to hold a market). Once the market was up and running craftsmen and merchants came to live In Bridgwater and it grew into a town. www.localhistories.org/bridgwater

Robert Boyle

2011-12-15T23:01:00.001Z

I wrote a little biography of the 17th century chemist Robert Boyle at www.localhistories.org/boyle

History of Christmas

2011-12-15T14:57:00.000Z

You can read all about the history of Christmas at www.localhistories.org/christmas Most of our modern Christmas customs such as Christmas cards and Christmas crackers are Victorian.

Taunton in Somerset

2011-12-14T08:50:00.003Z

Taunton began as a Saxon village in Somerset. It was called Tone Tun. The Saxon word tun means farm or estate. The word Tone is Celtic and may mean roaring river. By the 10th century Taunton had grown from a village into a small town (although it would seem very small to us with a population of only a few hundred). Taunton was given a charter in 904. (A charter was a document granting the townspeople certain rights).

Taunton was also a fortified settlement called a burgh. In the late 9th century Alfred the Great created a network of fortified towns across his kingdom. They were called burghs (from which our word borough is derived). The burgh of Taunton would have been surrounded by a ditch and rampart with a wooden palisade on top. By the 10th century Taunton had a mint. It also had a market, which was held on The Parade. www.localhistories.org/taunton

Saxon Society

2011-12-13T08:57:00.000Z

Kinship (family ties) were very important in Saxon society. If you were killed your relatives would avenge you. If one of your relatives was killed you were expected to avenge them. However the law did provide an alternative. If you killed or injured somebody you could pay them or their family compensation. The money paid was called wergild and it varied according to a persons rank. The wergild for killing a thane was much more than that for killing a churl. Thralls or slaves had no wergild. If the wergild was not paid the relatives were entitled to seek revenge.

At first Saxon society was relatively free. There were some slaves but the basis of society was the free peasant. However in time Saxon churls began to lose their freedom. They became increasingly dependent on their Lords and under their control. www.localhistories.org/society

My Website's Birthday

2011-12-11T08:16:00.000Z

Today my website www.localhistories.org is 10 years old. It was switched on 11 December 2001. It started as a free website with about half a dozen articles. It now has nearly 1,000. When it started I was pleased when it got more than 1,000 hits in a month. Last month, November 2011 it got 463,000 hits. I am quite proud of it. Special thanks to Mr Peter Monger, Mrs Wendy Pyatt and Mrs Vanessa Wood and all others who helped make it possible.

Windows

2011-12-10T10:48:00.001Z

The Romans made panes of glass. Yet for hundreds of years after they left Britain (in the 5th century AD) people did not have glass windows. They did not have them again in England until about 1180. They were a luxury in the Middle Ages and only well off people could afford them. Glass windows became more common in the 16th century but they were not universal until the late 17th century. www.localhistories.org/houses

Ancient Washing

2011-12-09T09:25:00.002Z

The Egyptians are known for their cleanliness (they bathed frequently) and they used many cosmetics. Meanwhile in Babylon before 2,000 BC a form of soap was made. The Greeks knew that diet and exercise and keeping clean were important for health. The Greeks even invented a form of shower, which sprayed bathers with water.

Most Greeks washed in a bowl on a pedestal called a louterion though the rich sometimes had bathrooms. People rubbed themselves with olive oil then rubbed it off with a tool called a strigil.

The Romans also knew that dirt encourages disease and they appreciated the importance of cleanliness. They built aqueducts to bring clean water into towns. In Roman towns an important building was the public baths. In Roman times people went to the baths not just to get clean but also to socialise. Roman Baths consisted of a frigidarium or cold room, a Tepidarium or warm room and a caldarium or hot room. You usually finished with a dip in a cold pool. To clean themselves Romans rubbed their skin with oil and scraped it off with a tool called a strigil. (The Romans also made soap).

Roman women also used razors, pumice stone, tweezers and depilatory creams to remove unwanted body hair. www.localhistories.org/washing

Congleton

2011-12-08T08:59:00.001Z

I wrote a brief history of the town of Congleton in Cheshire. Its sometimes called Bear Town. www.localhistories.org/congleton

Glasgow

2011-12-07T13:00:00.002Z

Glasgow was probably founded in the 6th century when St Mungo built a church at place called Glas Gu. (It means green place). A fishing settlement at the green place eventually grew into a small town. Glasgow was given a bishop in 1115, indicating it was a fairly important settlement by that time.

The church in Glasgow was replaced by a cathedral in 1136. The cathedral burned in 1172 but it was rebuilt. Then in the years 1175-78 (the exact date is not known) the king gave Glasgow a charter. (A charter was a document granting the townspeople certain rights).

In the Middle Ages Glasgow had a weekly market. From 1190 it also had a fair, which was held each July. In the Middle Ages a fair was like a market but it was held only once a year and people would come from a wide area to buy and sell at one. In Glasgow there were many craftsmen. There were butchers and bakers.

There were also skinners, tanners and glovers (leather glove makers) in Glasgow as well as fullers (men who cleaned and thickened wool by pounding it in a mixture of water and clay) and dyers. There were also many fishermen in Glasgow.

Medieval Glasgow probably had a population of about 1,500. That seems very small to us but in the Middle Ages towns were much smaller than they are today. Even so in the Middle Ages Glasgow was not one of Scotland's larger or more important towns. www.localhistories.org/glasgow

Desserts History

2011-12-04T08:29:00.000Z

In the Middle Ages rich people ate desserts like preserved fruits, jelly and wafers made from batter. Furthermore the Italians have been eating panettone since at least the 15th century but its origins are lost in legend.

The Romans knew that eggs could be used for binding. However custard, as we know it was invented in the Middle Ages.

However in the Middle Ages most puddings were meat based. Rice pudding was known but until the 19th century it was regarded as a medicine. It was supposed to be good for digestive ailments.

The Tudors were also fond of desserts (if they could afford them). The rich ate preserved fruit, gingerbread, sugared almonds and jelly. However in the 16th century sugar was very expensive so most people used honey to sweeten their food.

Marzipan was popular in England from the 15th century. Marzipan is a paste made of almonds and sugar. The Tudors used marzipan to make edible sculptures of animals, castles, trees and people called subtleties. www.localhistories.org/desserts

Perth Australia

2011-12-03T10:17:00.003Z

Perth was founded in 1829 largely because the British feared the French would establish a colony in Western Australia.

In 1827 Captain James Stirling (1791-1865) sailed to the Swan River in his ship HMS Success. Stirling believed the area would be ideal for a settlement. He persuaded the British government to found a colony there, independent of the colony in New South Wales.

Perth was named after the birthplace of Sir George Murray who was British Secretary of State for the Colonies when the city was founded in 1829. (However Murray was not actually born in the town of Perth. He was born in Perthshire).

However this colony was not to be manned by convicts. Instead the government would sell land cheaply to private citizens. (Ignoring the Indigenous Australians who lived there). www.localhistories.org/perthaustralia

Tudor Christmas

2011-12-01T08:46:00.003Z

The earliest recorded collection of Christmas carols dates from 1521 published by Wynken de Worde and includes The Boars Head Carol. Carol means a dance with a song and carols flourished throughout Tudor times as a way to celebrate and to spread the message of the nativity.

Other Christmas carols the Tudors would have been familiar with include The Coventry Carol, While Shepherds Watched, The First Nowell, Angels from the Realms of Glory, Ding Dong Merrily on High ( French in origin), In Dulci Jubilo, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Wassail carols, of which there are many, were also popular and most areas of the country have there own version. www.localhistories.org/tudorxmas

Christmas was the greatest festival celebrated by the Tudors. Advent was a time of fasting; Christmas Eve was particularly strictly kept with no meat, cheese or eggs. Celebrations began on Christmas Day when 3 masses were said and the genealogy of Christ was sung while everyone held lighted tapers.

The whole 12 days of Christmas was celebrated, (25th December - 6th January) but not every day was celebrated equally. All work stopped except looking after animals, spinning was even banned as this was the most common occupation for women and flowers were placed around the spinning wheels. People would visit friends and it was seen as very much a community celebration. Work re-started on Plough Monday the first Monday after 12th night.

Worthing

2011-11-29T10:36:00.002Z

Worthing began as a Saxon village. It may have been called Worth or Wurtha ingas which means the settlement (belonging to) the people of Worth or Wurtha. Whatever the origin of its name for centuries Worthing was just an agricultural hamlet. However in the 18th century its fortunes changed.

In the 18th century people believed that bathing in sea water could heal you from many diseases. In the late 18th century visiting the seaside became fashionable among the rich. Many new seaside resorts grew up such as Brighton and Bognor Regis.

Worthing began to develop after 1798 when Princess Amelia came. Where members of the royal family went other wealthy people were bound to follow. www.localhistories.org/worthing

Kingston Upon Hull

2011-11-28T09:13:00.000Z

The town of Hull was founded late in the 12th century. The monks of Meaux Abbey needed a port where the wool from their estates could be exported. They chose a place at the junction of the rivers Hull and Humber to build a quay. The exact year Hull was founded is not known but it was first mentioned in 1193. It was called Wyke on Hull.

In 1293 the King acquired Hull. It was renamed Kingston (kings town) on Hull. The king wanted a port in Northeast England through which he could supply his army when fighting the Scots. The king set about enlarging Hull. He gave Hull the right to hold 2 weekly markets and an annual fair lasting for 30 days. The king also established a mint in Hull about 1300. The same year he built an exchange where merchants could buy and sell goods. www.localhistories.org/hull

19th Century Public Health

2011-11-26T10:17:00.002Z

In the 19th century public parks were laid out in many towns. Before the industrial revolution parks were not necessary as towns were very small and anybody could easily walk out into the countryside. As towns and cities grew much larger they provided a very useful place for fresh air and exercise. Local councils also began to take responsibility for collecting refuse. Manchester council took that responsibility as early as 1845. Also in the 19th century hospitals were founded in towns and cities across Britain.

Another source of ill health in the early 19th century was overcrowding. At that time houses for poor people were often built back-to-back. They were literally joined one to another with the back of one house joining the back of another. Fortunately in the 1840s town councils banned the building of new back-to-backs. In the late 19th century living standards rose steadily and ordinary people began to live in houses with more rooms. Less overcrowding was an important factor in making people healthier. www.localhistories.org/publichealth

Exeter

2011-11-24T13:20:00.002Z

Exeter was the centre of a rebellion in Southwest England in 1068. The Normans lay siege to Exeter for 18 days but they were unable to capture it. Eventually the people of Exeter agreed to submit to William the Conqueror. In return he swore an oath that he would not harm the town. However he built a castle to make sure the townspeople behaved themselves in future. Exeter castle was built on a hill known as red hill (rouge mont in Norman French) because of its red rock. The castle became known as Rougemont castle. www.localhistories.org/exeter

The beginning of the Welfare State in Britain

2011-11-23T10:56:00.002Z

Life was hard for the working class at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1900 surveys showed that between 15% and 20% of the population were living at subsistence (bare survival) level. Worse between 8% and 10% of the population were living below subsistence level.

In 1906 a Liberal government was elected and they introduced a number of reforms. From 1906 local councils were allowed to provide free school meals. In 1907 school medical inspections began.

In 1908 an act limited miners to working an 8 hour day.

In 1909 the Trade Boards Act set up trade boards who fixed minimum wages in certain very low paid trades. Also in 1909 an Act set up labour exchanges to help the unemployed find work.

In 1908 an Old Age Pensions Act gave small pensions to people over 70. The pensions were hardly generous but they were a start. From 1925 pensions were paid to men over 65 and women over 60. Widows were also given pensions.

Melbourne

2011-11-22T09:43:00.000Z

The city of Melbourne in Australia was founded in 1835. In that year a group of Tasmanian businessmen formed the Port Phillip Association to found a settlement on Port Phillip Bay. Acting on their behalf John Batman (1801-1839) bought land from the local Indigenous Australians, the Dutigalla clan. However the indigenous people had no concept to owning or selling land and did not really understand the deal.

Nevertheless Batman and others then settled on the north bank of the Yarra River. A man named John Pascoe Fawkner AKA Little Johnny Fawkner (1792-1869) led another group, which settled on the south bank shortly afterwards.

At first the settlement was named Bearbass. However it was renamed after British prime minister William Lamb, Lord Melbourne (1779-1848). www.localhistories.org/melbourne

Father Christmas

2011-11-21T08:48:00.000Z

Father Christmas and Santa Claus were originally two different figures. In England Father Christmas was a man dressed in green (representing the return of Spring) who was supposed is supposed to visit families and feast with them at Christmas. (He did not bring gifts).

However in the 19th century in England Father Christmas merged with the Dutch Santa Claus. He is supposed to be based on St Nicholas a Christian bishop who lived in Turkey in the 4th century AD. According to tradition St Nicholas gave generous gifts to the poor. St Nicholas had a feast day on 6 December. On that day it was traditional to give gifts or to give to charity to remember the saint's generosity.

Coventry

2011-11-19T20:21:00.002Z

Coventry began as a Saxon village. It was called Coffantree, which means the tree belonging to Coffa. Trees were often used as meeting places. In this case a settlement grew up around the tree and it eventually became called Coventry.

Lady Godiva certainly existed (she is mentioned in documents of the time) but whether her famous naked ride through Coventry took place it is impossible to say. According to the story her husband Leofric was taxing the people of Coventry heavily and Godiva begged him to remove the tax. He jokingly said he would lift the tax if she rode through the town naked. Godiva did so! The story was first written down by Roger of Wendover (died 1236) and it may be true. However Peeping Tom is a much later addition to the story of Lady Godiva. He was not mentioned until the 17th century.

Olympic Games

2011-11-17T15:39:00.002Z

In Ancient Greece athletic competitions were held during religious festivals in every Greek city. However the Olympic Games began in Olympia in 776 BC in honour of Zeus, the chief god and people came from all over Greece and the Greek colonies to take part in them. Wars stopped to allow everyone to take part.

Athletes competed in boxing, wrestling, running, horseracing, chariot racing and the pentathlon (five athletic events). Winners were not given medals. Instead they were given a crown of leaves.

Women were not allowed to take part in the games. They were not even allowed to watch. (If they were caught watching they were executed by being thrown off a cliff). www.localhistories.org/sport

Famous Sydneysiders

2011-11-15T10:04:00.001Z

I wrote a list of famous people from Sydney. Its remarkable how many of them there are. www.localhistories.org/sydneyfam

Manchester

2011-11-14T12:23:00.003Z

Manchester began when a wooden fort was built by the Roman army on a plateau about 1 mile south of the present cathedral about 80 AD. The Romans called it Mamuciam (breast shaped hill) probably because the plateau resembled a breast. The fort was rebuilt in stone about 200 AD. Soon a civilian settlement grew up around the fort.

However in 407 AD the Roman army left Britain and the civilian settlement disappeared. The stone fort at Manchester fell into ruins. www.localhistories.org/manchester

In 7th century the Saxons created a new village at Manchester but it was tiny. The Saxons called any Roman town or fort a ceaster. They called the old fort at Manchester Mamm ceaster. The village nearby took its name from the fort.

History of Christmas

2011-11-13T21:57:00.000Z

You can read all about the history of Christmas on my website www.localhistories.org/christmas Most of our 'traditonal' Christmas is Victorian (They invented Christmas cards and Christmas crackers). Our image of Santa Claus also comes from the 19th century. But of course Christmas has been a celebration for much longer.

Bananas

2011-11-13T08:30:00.005Z

Bananas are native to Southeast Asia. However by 500 BC they were being grown in India. Alexander the Great ate them and his men took them back to the Western World. By 200 AD bananas were grown in China. Bananas were probably taken to Madagascar by the Arabs and spread from there to mainland Africa. In the 16th century the Portuguese took bananas to the New World. The first recorded sale of bananas in England was in 1633 however they were expensive until the end of the 19th century. www.localhistories.org/fruits

Child labour in the 19th century

2011-11-12T10:12:00.003Z

The industrial revolution created a huge demand for female and child labour. Children had always done some work but at least before the 19th century they worked in their own homes with their parents or on land nearby. Children's work was largely seasonal so they did have some time to play. When children worked in textile factories they often worked for more than 12 hours a day.

In the early 19th century parliament passed laws to curtail child labour. However they all proved to be unenforceable. The first effective law was passed in 1833. It was effective because for the first time factory inspectors were appointed to make sure the law was being obeyed. The new law banned children under 9 from working in textile factories. It said that children aged 9 to 13 must not work for more than 12 hours a day or 48 hours a week. Children aged 13 to 18 must not work for more than 69 hours a week. Furthermore nobody under 18 was allowed to work at night (from 8.30 pm to 5.30 am). Children aged 9 to 13 were to be given 2 hours education a day. www.localhistories.org/work

Middlesbrough

2011-11-10T22:43:00.003Z

I wrote a short history of Middlesbrough. It is a great British success story. In 1829 it was a little hamlet but a new town began and it grew at breakneck speed. Middlesbrough became a centre of the iron and steel industry. www.localhistories.org/middlesbrough

Unemployment in Britain

2011-11-09T21:41:00.005Z

In Britain during the 20th century as in other Industrial countries unemployment varied. In the years 1900-1914 the economy was stable and unemployment was quite low. However during the 1920s there was mass unemployment. For most of the decade it hovered between 10% and 12%.

Then, in the early 1930s, the economy was struck by depression. In the 1920s traditional British industries like coal mining were already declining because of foreign competition. The economic downturn, of course made things far worse. By the start of 1933 unemployment among insured workers was 22.8%.

However unemployment fell substantially in 1933, 1934 and 1935. By January 1936 it stood at 13.9%. Unemployment continued to fall and by 1938 it was around 10%. www.localhistories.org/unemployment

Homes in the Middle Ages

2011-11-07T21:18:00.004Z

Peasants homes were simple wooden huts. They had wooden frames filled in with wattle and daub (strips of wood woven together and covered in a 'plaster' of animal hair and clay). However in some parts of the country huts were made of stone. Peasants huts were either whitewashed or painted in bright colours.

The poorest people lived in one-room huts. Slightly better off peasants lived in huts with one or two rooms. There were no panes of glass in the windows only wooden shutters, which were closed at night. The floors were of hard earth sometimes covered in straw for warmth. www.localhistories.org/homes

In the middle of a peasant's hut was a fire used for cooking and heating. There was no chimney. Any furniture was very basic. Chairs were very expensive and no peasant could afford one. Instead they sat on benches or stools. They would have a simple wooden table and chests for storing clothes and other valuables. Tools and pottery vessels were hung on hooks. The peasants slept on straw and they did not have pillows. Instead they rested their heads on wooden logs.

Clapham

2011-11-06T17:16:00.002Z

Clapham began as a Saxon village called Clopp ham. It became a fashionable village for the rich to live in during the late 17th century. During the late 18th century and early 19th century it was home to many members of an Evangelical group called The Clapham Sect. Clapham became part of London in the 19th century. www.localhistoires.org/clapham

The first newspapers

2011-11-05T09:15:00.005Z

Newspapers began circulating in the 17th century. The first newspaper in England was printed in 1641. (However the word newspaper was not recorded until 1670). The first successful daily newspaper in Britain was printed in 1702. Then in 1730 a newspaper called The Daily Advertiser began publishing stock exchange quotations.

The first American newspaper was printed in 1690. It was called Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick. The first newspaper in Canada was the Halifax Gazette in 1752. The first daily American newspaper was published in 1783. www.localhistories.org/media

Population of England

2011-11-03T12:11:00.004Z

At the time of the Domesday Book (1086) England probably had a population of about 2 million. (Much less than in Roman times). However the population grew rapidly. It may have reached about 5 or 6 million by the end of the 13th century.

At the time of the Domesday Book (1086) about 10% of the population of England lived in towns. Moreover trade boomed in the following two centuries and many new towns were founded.

Henry Cavendish

2011-11-01T11:54:00.001Z

I wrote a brief history of Henry Cavendish. He was one of the greatest scientists of the 18th century. Although brilliant he was a very introverted man and had little contact with other people. He was also very rich. In his late 60s Cavendish measured the density of the Earth. It shows that you can still achieve great things when you are old. www.localhistories.org/cavendish

electric ovens

2011-11-01T07:35:00.001Z

The first electric oven went on sale in the USA in 1891. They went on sale in Britain in 1893. By 1939 there were about 1 1/2 million electric ovens in Britain and about 9 million gas ones. www.localhistories.org/electric

Littlehampton

2011-10-31T06:39:00.003Z

I wrote a little history of Littlehampton in Sussex. Like most seaside resorts it only really grew in the 19th century once it became fashionable for the well off to spend time at the seaside. I do remember going there as a child and it is still flourishing. www.localhistories.org/littlehampton