Culture UK
Who are the British? Do they really drink tea, eat roast beef and Yorkshire pudding and never leave home without an umbrella? Find out more about true Brits; past and present, myth and legend, fact and fiction.
King Pine, The Pineapple
Hard to believe now, but in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries pineapples were such a status symbol for the very rich that they were quite often rented for special occasions…
Beatrix Potter
One of Britain’s best loved children’s authors, Beatrix Potter is famous for her animal tales such as ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit’ and ‘The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin’…
Edward Jenner
Edward Jenner was an English physician who would go on to be become one of the most influential scientists of all time. A pioneer of the smallpox vaccine, his work would go on to save countless lives; it is not hard to see why he is often referred to as “the father of immunology”…
Aristotle, Witchcraft and Witch Hunts
Aristotle is not a name you would expect to hear when discussing the witch hunts in Europe between 1450 and 1750. However one of his followers, Thomas Aquinas (1225-1275) had a profound impact upon the Church’s view of witchcraft…
Childhood in the 1920s and 1930s
Childhood was not all fun and games. In the 1920s and 1930s children had to contend with not only all the usual childhood diseases such as mumps and whooping cough, but also…
The Legend of Drake’s Drum
According to legend, if England is ever in peril and Drake’s Drum is sounded, Sir Francis Drake will arise to save his country. Two British army officers claimed they heard the drum beating during the Battle of Britain…
Leap Year Superstitions
The right of every women to propose on 29th February each leap year goes back hundreds of years when the leap year day had no recognition in English law (the day was ‘leapt over’ and ignored, hence the term ‘leap year’).
The Great British Music Hall
The Great British Music Hall was a cultural phenomenon that thrived in the early Victorian era. As the alcohol flowed, the lower classes were able to kick back and relax as they enjoyed the music and acts that were on offer…
