Timeline of the British Empire - Historic UK
WEBFeb 8, 2019 — 1664 – The English gained control of the Dutch colony of New Netherland, renaming the settlement New York. 1666 – The Bahamas were successfully colonised. 1668 – English East India Company takes over Bombay. 1690 – Job Charnock formally founded Calcutta on behalf of the East India Company.
The Kelpie, Mythical Scottish Water Horse - Historic UK
WEBThe kelpie is a shape-changing aquatic spirit of Scottish legend. But beware – these are malevolent spirits, hoping to lure…. Falkirk in Scotland is home to The Kelpies, the largest equine sculpture in the world. Unveiled in April 2014, these 30-metre high horse-head sculptures are situated in Helix Park near the M9 Motorway and are a ...
Robin Hood - Fact or Fiction? - Historic UK
WEBBoth men were skilled at archery and from the roof of the Monastery they both shot an arrow. The arrows fell at Whitby Lathes, more than a mile away. Afterwards the fields where the arrows landed were known as Robin Hood’s Close and Little John’s Close. Robin became a popular folk hero because of his generosity to the poor and down-trodden ...
The Abolition of Slavery In Britain - Historic UK
WEB13 min read. On 28th August 1833 a very important act received its Royal Assent. The Slavery Abolition Law would finally be enacted, after years of campaigning, suffering and injustice. This act was a crucial step in a much wider and ongoing process designed to bring an end to the slave trade. Only a few decades previously, in 1807 another act ...
The Origins of Fairies - Historic UK
WEBMay 20, 2015 — Most of the nature fairies are perhaps descendents of pre-Christian gods and goddesses or are the spirits of trees and streams. Black Annis, a blue-faced hag, haunts the Dane Hills in Leicestershire and Gentle Annie who governs storms in the Scottish lowlands, are perhaps descended from the Celtic goddess Danu, mother of …
Who was King Arthur and where was Camelot? - Historic UK
WEBCaerleon, South Wales. Both Geoffrey of Monmouth and Chrétien de Troyes place Camelot, Arthur’s chief court and fortress, in Caerleon, South Wales, one of three Roman legionary forts in Britain. Although the name ‘Caerleon’ sounds typically Celtic, it is actually a corruption of the Latin words castrum (fortress) and legio (legion).
The history of witches in Britain
WEBEllen Castelow. 5 min read. Witchcraft was not made a capital offence in Britain until 1563 although it was deemed heresy and was denounced as such by Pope Innocent VIII in 1484. From 1484 until around 1750 some 200,000 witches were tortured, burnt or hanged in Western Europe. Most supposed witches were usually old women, and invariably poor.
Kings and Queens of Wessex | Timeline of Wessex - Historic UK
WEBWessex, also known as the Kingdom of the West Saxons, was a large and influential Anglo-Saxon kingdom from 519 to 927AD. From its humble beginnings through to the most powerful kingdom in the land, we trace its history from Cerdic, the founder of Wessex, through to his distant descendants Alfred the Great and Æthelstan who were …
Timeline of the Romans in Britain - Historic UK
WEBAD 43 – The Roman Emperor Claudius orders four legions to conquer Britain. AD 43 (August) – The Romans capture the capital of the Catuvellauni tribe, Colchester, Essex. AD 44 (June) – The Romans capture the hills forts of Dorset, including Maiden Castle. AD 48 – The Romans have now conquered all territory between the Humber Estuary and ...
The 1920s, the Roaring Twenties, in Britain - Historic UK
WEBThe 1920s, also known as the ‘Roaring Twenties’, was a decade of contrasts. The First World War had ended in victory, peace had returned and with it, prosperity. For some the war had proved to be very profitable. Manufacturers and suppliers of goods needed for the war effort had prospered throughout the war years and become very rich.
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