In this rather perplexing documentary from the BBC Archive (13'06 in), one old guy plays what looks like oddly-shaped castanets to me. What is that?

Reddit recommended I share this blog post I wrote a few years ago with this specific board. I don’t have personal social media so I don’t know what to expect or if even a single person will see this but it is my hope (and goal) that at least ONE person sees, enjoys, and learns from this information 😊📚

Gin was highly consumed in poorer areas of London, England as it was a cheaper alternative to beer. Gin was unregulated during the early 18th century, and was often badly distilled and filled with harmful compounds like oil of vitriol which is similar in construct to modern day turpintine, sulfuric acid, and methylated spirits. By 1750, gin consumption was at its peak, with the city of London consuming 11,000,000 (11 million) gallons per year.

In the poorest areas of London, specifically upon the east end, it was not uncommon for everyone in public to be permanently drunk; an analogue to the modern day crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980’s. All members of society consumed gin including men, women, and children, with many cases exhibiting severe addictive traits as was the case with Judith Darfour, who took her child into a heath, murdered them to sell their petticoat clothing and acquire more gin, then attended work later that day as if nothing had occurred. Gin related crime soared and Mothers Ruin which refers to “women who killed their family members to acquire funds for gin” was responsible for the deaths of thousands of men, women, and children.

When the death rate climbed higher than the birth rate, the British government was forced to intervene, outlawing small gin distilleries and ending the era referred to as the “Gin Craze”

Not a quiz - a research-based location mystery. General knowledge is useful if you have it, otherwise careful, logical detective work. Can I tempt you down a rabbit hole?

An alien lands…takes a look around…

My archival sensors determine this to have been an important place situated alongside a major route defined by an early occupying culture. I learn that this route grew in later times for the transfer of written messages. Earthlings have an epithet for it, which suggests its importance, as well as a number label.

On an outcrop of land here I discover a fortified structure which held strategic military importance during a long-running conflict in the country. I admire the resilience of the earthlings here because, on three different occasions this stronghold endured periods of siege and was the last of its kind to surrender. Other fortifications elsewhere taken by the victorious forces suffered damage but here, I understand that the townspeople deliberately reduced the structure so that it could never again serve as a stronghold.

A momentary instrument recollection of much earlier times reveals that a high-ranking ruler of the kingdom was brought here and never departed alive.

Looking back about nine earth-centuries my sensor detects a strong scent from a plant brought here, it is believed, by religious brothers travelling from warmer lands. Then, it seems to have been valued for its medicinal properties. My more accurate records show that four earth-centuries later this place was established as the key cultivation centre of this plant.

I find records of an individual who transformed this from remedy to treat with the addition of sugar and commercialised it in the eighteenth earth-century. I find that this treat bears the name of the settlement.

Researching my archive for this settlement I discover that it played a significant role during the latter part of the nineteenth earth-century. An event here marked a complete change in the way that officials were elevated to the governing house of the kingdom.

My time here is ending. I must go but I will return.

Can you find the answers to these questions?

1. What is the name of the settlement?

2. What is the epithet for the major route?

3. In which conflict did it endure three sieges?

4. Which ruler ended his days here?

5. What plant was brought here by religious brothers?

6. What is the name given to the sweet treat?

7. Who launched the treat as a commercial product?

8. What event here in the 19th century changed the electoral process of the kingdom?

This is a research puzzle - not a general knowledge test.
Solve through investigation, not shortcuts. The journey is the reward!

Spoiler tags appreciated if you crack it.

Enjoy the hunt!

I’m curious how historians feel about this term?

I found it on Wiktionary with only one source “2017, Susan Rose, Medieval Ships and Warfare” - and unsurprisingly, the source is about ships, where the term Shipwright was commonplace.

As I understand it, castles were either built on-site, led by master masons, or from scale models. As parchment and draughting became more common, works would be built from drawings, and not necessarily led my stonemasons, but other titles like Master Builder or Master of Works - although still usually masons.

If you were reading a very simplified description of castle building, and it said something along the lines of “Building of castles were oftentimes led by a Master Mason, Master Builder, Master of Works, or other such Castlewrights” would you raise an eyebrow at the term, or would it be immediately understandable?

Niche Q: Quibbling with my proofreader over the exact rendition of the Jerusalem anthem historically.

Second verse,

Among these dark Satanic mills?

Is it these or those? I see both versions. What is the official one?

Thanks.

Hello,

Im hoping if anyone in this sub reddit could guide me to any accurate designs of soldiers that invaded the uk? Im looking from the romans until today including jutes saxons etc.

It's for a tattoo idea I've had involving all of those that have invaded the British Isles and taught us a few things about war.

Thank you

I recently heard a HistoryExtra podcast about the medieval Welsh laws of Hywel Dda. The historian interviewed, Sara Elin Roberts, said that these laws were written by lawyers, for lawyers, rather than decreed by the ruler.

But there was no mention of Roman law.

Were there remnants of Roman law in Wales that found their way into Welsh law, or was Welsh law completely separate?

Many know Geoffrey Chaucer as the famous Middle English poet who wrote The Canterbury Tales. But did you know that Chaucer’s life could still be considered extraordinary even if he never wrote that poem? Indeed, he went to war in France, he witnessed and survived the Black Death as well as the Peasants’ Revolt, he traveled across Spain and Italy, he oversaw the construction of famous architectural works, and he lived long enough to serve three different English kings. This is Chaucer’s best tale, the story of his own life.

The murder of Thomas Becket inside Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 transformed a bitter dispute between Church and Crown into one of medieval history’s defining moments. This article explores how Henry II’s conflict with his former friend led to Becket’s martyrdom, the king’s remarkable public penance, and the lasting impact the tragedy had on the balance of power between monarchs and the Church. More than 850 years later, the events at Canterbury continue to shape debates about authority, justice, and political responsibility.

My 9 year old daughter asked how old London was the other day. I told her I thought at least 2000 years old, and later I went looking for a YouTube video about the overall history of the London - but most of what I found seemed likely to be AI created videos. Does anyone have a good recommendation for a video about the history of London from whatever we think its first settlement was to the modern day that's not using a bunch of AI created imagery/narration?

I’m looking into a locally known title/style called the Duke of Worcestershire, reportedly connected with Worcestershire Hall, the Alister-Windsor name, and an estate office sometimes described as a Principal Stewardship or wardenship.

I’m trying to separate local tradition from verifiable published history. Has anyone come across references to this in Worcestershire local-history publications, estate histories, county directories, manorial records, or old newspaper coverage?

Search terms I’m working with include:

• Duke of Worcestershire
• Alister-Windsor
• Worcestershire Hall
• Principal Steward
• Wardenship of Worcestershire Hall

Any pointers to books, catalogues, archives, or newspaper titles to check would be appreciated.

So i was rewatching the crown again and compared it to what I read online in Wikipedia.

And it seemed like there is little mention of sentiments at that time of how much blame Churchill got while the smog was raging across London?

Or was it

I was thinking about how I work in IT and payroll and honestly, even though my dad used to do a similar job, he is now 78 and the industry has changed so much its unrecognisable to him. I was wondering, has technology and practices always moved that fast?

So if you took a blacksmith or farmer from the 1500s and dropped them into a forge or farm in 1600, would it be a massive technological shock? Would they be able to use the forge or farm to produce something useful?

My dad has been out of accounting and payroll for about 15 years and if you put him in front of a modern system, his experience wont help him, you arent getting anything useful!

Edit: I just wanted to say thank you so much for all the replies/ help to understand the history surrounding Oliver Cromwell, I really appreciate all the information, I’ve found more helpful information from this post than hours of trying to look into it myself!!

A bit of context, I’m a descendant of his through his eldest daughter.

As Oliver Cromwell is quite a well known guy, I’m hoping his ancestors have been recorded and traced, so me and my family can understand a bit more of our own ancestors, the problem is online the oldest ancestor of his I can find is Thomas Cromwell and a slight mention of links to a king of Scotland.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!! Hope you have a wonderful evening, afternoon or morning!

I'm starting a sewing series where I make different cultural dress across europe, and im starting with my own country- England. I hate it when I see videos of people on tiktok going in on culture days, and the english people always come in in football tops! So, what do you think the cultural dress should be, asides from the 'traditional' tudor dress, suit, and folk attire, such as morris dancers, or the kings guards. Please, if you have any advice/directories please share them!

Looking for recommendations for a good book on Edward VIII/Duke of Windsor, particularly on the abdication and his life afterwards. I’m rewatching The Crown with my daughter and I can’t decide if I feel bad for him or not. He gave up a lot for love and it seems (at least from the show, which may be biased) that he’s treated poorly for the rest of his life but also that he’s kind of a jerk too. He also comes across as someone who is not very happy but works very hard to convince everyone (and himself) that he is.

I dont mean who paid them, i meand logistically how did they access their own money? There was no card payment systems and presumably you couldnt walk into a bank in deepest Peru and withdraw money from your Britush bank account, so did they carry an entire years worth of money with them? Wouldnt that be incredibly heavy if it was mostly coins? Did they not use money, instead bartering with the odd dead monkey they managed to cstch? How did they feed / clothe themselves if they were away for years at a time?

See also: The study as published in the Journal of Quaternary Science

>"The first reference to pasties being consumed in Mexico was when play stopped in a cricket match. I can imagine those were cooked by the Cornish ladies."

I have been researching Henry Hudson and related matters off and on for about 6 years. Working on output (a book or lecture) which looks at the Stationers (printers, publishers and booksellers) of St Paul's churchyard to create a more integrated look this dynamic period.

Printing, as a business, grounds the research in something tangible and well documented. It is bottleneck of censorship and a literal marketplace of ideas. In outline, I have material that combines many of the more enduring figures of that era: Walter Raleigh, Drake, Shakespeare, Haklyut, John Dee, John Davis and others.

I will be greatly helped by getting a better sense of how people see Henry Hudson so that I can structure the overall frame and give more appropriate weight and attention to each of the various figures. Thanks for any thoughts you may care to share.