Culture UK

The Father of the English Palladian style, Inigo Jones was a legendary architect, bringing a taste of the Italian Renaissance to some of the most notable buildings in England.

Coronation Year 1953 – how we lived in the early 1950s… There was virtually no vandalism, swearing in public places was an offence, and gentlemen still gave up their seats to ladies in buses and trams.

It may not be immediately obvious what a caterpillar, a goldfish, a guinea pig and a boot with wings all have in common. However, these are all names of air clubs that were formed before or during World War Two…

The ‘Late Arrivals Club’ or Winged Boot Club was born during the Western Desert Campaign in 1941. During this conflict many airmen were shot down, bailed out of aircraft, or crash landed deep in the desert. They then had to make their way back to safety, often from behind enemy lines…

The main aim of the unique Goldfish Club is ‘to keep alive the spirit of comradeship arising from the mutual experience of members surviving, “coming down in the drink”…

Established in 1941, The Guinea Pig Club was a social and support club for airmen who had sustained catastrophic burn injuries during World War Two and so called in honour of the experimental treatments of pioneering plastic surgeon, Sir Archibald McIndoe…

“Life depends on a silken thread”. Formed in 1922 by Lieutenant Harold R. Harris, The Caterpillar Club was for fliers all over the world whose lives had been saved by parachutes…

Ursula Southeil, known as Mother Shipton, is famous for her prophesies. Within her lifetime she had several premonitions about some of the largest historical events to take place in England, such as the Great Fire of London and the Spanish Armada.