https://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/british-history/RSS feed for British HistoryenWed, 22 Jul 2026 20:10:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/kids-can-try-out-the-oliver-twist-lifestyle-at-this-english-museum-revealing-conditions-for-poor-people-in-a-victorian-workhouse-180989175/After a restoration, the Ripon Workhouse Museum reopened to the public, showcasing the sights, sounds and rules of England’s 19th-century “solution to poverty”Wed, 22 Jul 2026 20:10:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/kids-can-try-out-the-oliver-twist-lifestyle-at-this-english-museum-revealing-conditions-for-poor-people-in-a-victorian-workhouse-180989175/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/this-indian-maharaja-saved-hundreds-of-polish-orphans-during-world-war-ii-offering-them-refuge-when-no-one-else-would-180989150/Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja, ruler of the princely state of Nawanagar, opened his realm to young Poles who had been detained in Soviet labor camps as the children of the intelligentsiaWed, 22 Jul 2026 11:45:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/this-indian-maharaja-saved-hundreds-of-polish-orphans-during-world-war-ii-offering-them-refuge-when-no-one-else-would-180989150/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/british-intelligence-turned-this-mansion-into-a-bugged-spy-trap-for-nazi-prisoners-of-war-during-world-war-ii-180989166/Visitors can now tour the house, where German generals relaxed and gabbed upstairs while Jewish refugees working as spies and translators for the British government listened in from the basementWed, 22 Jul 2026 00:59:49 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/british-intelligence-turned-this-mansion-into-a-bugged-spy-trap-for-nazi-prisoners-of-war-during-world-war-ii-180989166/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-volunteer-stumbled-upon-a-strange-document-in-the-uk-national-archives-it-turned-out-to-be-a-rare-copy-of-the-declaration-of-independence-printed-in-july-1776-180989169/Michael Scurr, a retired insurance broker, found the text while cataloging boxes of 18th-century correspondence housed at the London archives. It's the only known copy of its kind outside the United StatesTue, 21 Jul 2026 19:23:31 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-volunteer-stumbled-upon-a-strange-document-in-the-uk-national-archives-it-turned-out-to-be-a-rare-copy-of-the-declaration-of-independence-printed-in-july-1776-180989169/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-tower-of-london-plans-to-turn-its-moat-into-a-green-classroom-and-show-off-its-architecture-archive-in-a-major-renovation-180989161/The landmark, nearly a millennium old, has housed kings, hosted royal executions and safeguarded Britain's crown jewels. New education centers aim to invite more people to learn about that historyMon, 20 Jul 2026 21:36:53 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/the-tower-of-london-plans-to-turn-its-moat-into-a-green-classroom-and-show-off-its-architecture-archive-in-a-major-renovation-180989161/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/railway-construction-reveals-coin-minted-by-roman-officer-who-proclaimed-himself-emperor-of-the-north-in-britain-1700-years-ago-180989160/Archaeologists in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire unearthed a silver denarius bearing the name of Carausius, who ruled the breakaway state of Britannia between 286 and 293Mon, 20 Jul 2026 18:49:14 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/railway-construction-reveals-coin-minted-by-roman-officer-who-proclaimed-himself-emperor-of-the-north-in-britain-1700-years-ago-180989160/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/for-the-first-time-in-27-years-a-man-set-a-new-world-record-for-fastest-mile-people-have-chased-the-goal-for-centuries-180989154/British runners in particular have long tried to cross the finish line in less than 4 minutes, records show, sometimes running in the nude or trying to win a betMon, 20 Jul 2026 18:04:14 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/for-the-first-time-in-27-years-a-man-set-a-new-world-record-for-fastest-mile-people-have-chased-the-goal-for-centuries-180989154/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/thousands-of-kidnapped-africans-died-on-an-island-in-the-atlantic-after-being-rescued-from-slave-ships-evidence-in-their-teeth-traces-their-journeys-180989145/Remains in the graves of St. Helena, where the British military housed "liberated" enslaved Africans, contain isotopes from inland Angola and ZimbabweMon, 20 Jul 2026 16:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/thousands-of-kidnapped-africans-died-on-an-island-in-the-atlantic-after-being-rescued-from-slave-ships-evidence-in-their-teeth-traces-their-journeys-180989145/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/once-the-worlds-biggest-passenger-ship-this-metal-marvel-the-ss-great-britain-that-crossed-the-atlantic-and-took-immigrants-to-australia-has-a-new-museum-home-180989130/A new museum dedicated to stories surrounding the S.S. "Great Britain" is about to open in Bristol, where the ship is permanently dry-dockedWed, 15 Jul 2026 20:34:22 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/once-the-worlds-biggest-passenger-ship-this-metal-marvel-the-ss-great-britain-that-crossed-the-atlantic-and-took-immigrants-to-australia-has-a-new-museum-home-180989130/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-english-kings-bones-were-moved-over-centuries-and-eventually-lost-one-researcher-claims-he-discovered-their-location-under-a-parking-lot-180989121/Alfred the Great defended Wessex from the Vikings. Researchers have been searching for his remains for years after their resting place in an abbey was disturbedTue, 14 Jul 2026 20:37:52 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-english-kings-bones-were-moved-over-centuries-and-eventually-lost-one-researcher-claims-he-discovered-their-location-under-a-parking-lot-180989121/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-700-year-old-english-church-nearly-closed-but-then-the-vicar-discovered-a-stash-of-gold-coins-under-the-altar-180989120/Just before Easter, a box of gold bullion minted in the 1990s changed the outlook for a tiny congregation struggling to cover costly repairsTue, 14 Jul 2026 18:26:38 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-700-year-old-english-church-nearly-closed-but-then-the-vicar-discovered-a-stash-of-gold-coins-under-the-altar-180989120/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/romans-put-their-faith-in-guardian-spirits-archaeologists-just-found-a-rare-1600-year-old-carving-of-one-in-northern-england-180989118/Known as a “genius,” the protective spirit or deity was believed to bring good fortune and prosperity to a particular person, household or place. Archaeologists haven't found many depictions of them across Roman BritainTue, 14 Jul 2026 11:45:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/romans-put-their-faith-in-guardian-spirits-archaeologists-just-found-a-rare-1600-year-old-carving-of-one-in-northern-england-180989118/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/smallpox-scabs-that-british-doctors-used-to-inoculate-patients-may-have-introduced-the-deadly-disease-to-australia-new-research-suggests-180989093/Two new studies find that British colonists arriving via ship in the late 18th century likely introduced smallpox, which devastated Aboriginal communities far more than previously knownThu, 09 Jul 2026 14:14:36 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/smallpox-scabs-that-british-doctors-used-to-inoculate-patients-may-have-introduced-the-deadly-disease-to-australia-new-research-suggests-180989093/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-archival-discovery-became-a-treasure-map-leading-a-diver-to-a-17th-century-shipwreck-carrying-coins-and-gold-jewelry-180989063/See artifacts recovered thanks to a clue about the last resting place of a lost captain from an East India Company ship that went down near the Isles of ScillyThu, 02 Jul 2026 17:45:59 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/an-archival-discovery-became-a-treasure-map-leading-a-diver-to-a-17th-century-shipwreck-carrying-coins-and-gold-jewelry-180989063/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-tens-of-thousands-of-irish-immigrants-led-the-patriots-to-victory-during-the-american-revolution-180989052/Soldiers of Irish heritage accounted for up to 50 percent of the Continental Army's ranks. Driven from their homeland by British oppression, Irish-born rebels also served as spies, politicians and moreWed, 01 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-tens-of-thousands-of-irish-immigrants-led-the-patriots-to-victory-during-the-american-revolution-180989052/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sold-for-just-5588-this-amber-pendant-turned-out-to-be-a-rare-tudor-era-portrait-of-elizabeth-i-now-its-going-on-auction-for-100000-180989048/A master craftsman carved the likeness around 1600, possibly as a commission from the English monarch herself. A parrot on the back of the heart-shaped object symbolizes Elizabeth's status as a "virgin queen"Tue, 30 Jun 2026 17:19:18 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sold-for-just-5588-this-amber-pendant-turned-out-to-be-a-rare-tudor-era-portrait-of-elizabeth-i-now-its-going-on-auction-for-100000-180989048/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-evidence-a-wooden-prototype-for-stonehenge-may-have-aligned-with-the-solstice-500-years-before-the-stone-circle-180988988/The remains of a wooden monument in southern England, three miles away from Stonehenge, may demonstrate Neolithic people's interest in the heavensFri, 19 Jun 2026 16:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/archaeologists-discover-evidence-a-wooden-prototype-for-stonehenge-may-have-aligned-with-the-solstice-500-years-before-the-stone-circle-180988988/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/major-oak-the-1200-year-old-tree-with-ties-to-the-robin-hood-legend-is-presumed-dead-after-failing-to-produce-leaves-180988986/The legendary bandit who stole from the rich and gave to the poor is said to have used the massive tree as a hideout while running from the sheriff of NottinghamThu, 18 Jun 2026 20:43:43 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/major-oak-the-1200-year-old-tree-with-ties-to-the-robin-hood-legend-is-presumed-dead-after-failing-to-produce-leaves-180988986/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hidden-tunnels-dating-back-to-henry-viiis-reign-were-discovered-at-english-boarding-school-New-Hall-School-where-the-king-once-lived-180988965/Bones, bottles and pottery were found at the New Hall School, which was once Henry VIII's Palace of Beaulieu. Before that, Anne Boleyn's father owned the estateWed, 17 Jun 2026 20:56:56 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/hidden-tunnels-dating-back-to-henry-viiis-reign-were-discovered-at-english-boarding-school-New-Hall-School-where-the-king-once-lived-180988965/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/who-were-the-couples-that-posed-for-david-hockneys-famed-double-portraits-180988970/One of his subjects was a cousin I never knew. I wanted to learn more about the large-scale portraits that helped define the English artist's legacyWed, 17 Jun 2026 18:51:33 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/who-were-the-couples-that-posed-for-david-hockneys-famed-double-portraits-180988970/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-womans-brains-were-scooped-out-and-her-bones-were-broken-and-whittled-in-scotland-2000-years-ago-180988935/Researchers say the modifications may represent a previously unknown funerary ritual in Iron Age BritainWed, 10 Jun 2026 21:23:55 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-womans-brains-were-scooped-out-and-her-bones-were-broken-and-whittled-in-scotland-2000-years-ago-180988935/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-rare-intricate-brooch-represents-the-roman-empires-long-disjointed-attempt-to-conquer-scotland-180988923/The "miniature masterpiece" will go on display during an upcoming exhibition focused on the legacy Rome left in the highlands the empire dubbed CaledoniaTue, 09 Jun 2026 19:55:13 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/this-rare-intricate-brooch-represents-the-roman-empires-long-disjointed-attempt-to-conquer-scotland-180988923/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-did-stonehenge-get-its-altar-stone-new-research-reveals-evidence-adding-to-the-debate-between-human-effort-and-glacier-transport-180988918/Ice flow modeling and geological analyses suggest it's possible that glaciers carried the stone part of the way during the last Ice Age. However, scientists say that scenario is unlikelyMon, 08 Jun 2026 22:33:27 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/how-did-stonehenge-get-its-altar-stone-new-research-reveals-evidence-adding-to-the-debate-between-human-effort-and-glacier-transport-180988918/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rediscovered-drawings-john-lennon-helped-create-for-the-beatles-became-one-of-rock-n-rolls-first-music-videos-180988915/An English collector who acquired ten of the drawings at an auction loaned them to the Liverpool Beatles Museum for a temporary exhibitionMon, 08 Jun 2026 19:33:14 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/rediscovered-drawings-john-lennon-helped-create-for-the-beatles-became-one-of-rock-n-rolls-first-music-videos-180988915/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/which-memes-deserve-digital-preservation-see-the-online-videos-the-british-film-institute-selected-for-a-new-archive-180988912/Viral videos, tutorials, vlogs and livestream snippets produced across decades offer insight into modern culture and communication, archivists say. This material could be lost without efforts to save itMon, 08 Jun 2026 18:04:03 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/which-memes-deserve-digital-preservation-see-the-online-videos-the-british-film-institute-selected-for-a-new-archive-180988912/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/catch-a-surprising-glimpse-at-wwii-leader-winston-churchills-pastime-painting-at-the-first-major-british-retrospective-since-his-death-180988905/More than 50 canvases on view in London detail the prime minister’s quieter moments away from wars, speeches and politicsFri, 05 Jun 2026 17:49:49 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/catch-a-surprising-glimpse-at-wwii-leader-winston-churchills-pastime-painting-at-the-first-major-british-retrospective-since-his-death-180988905/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-spectacular-gold-and-gemstone-ring-a-roman-likely-buried-for-safekeeping-1700-years-ago-180988891/The ring, discovered in an English field and deemed a "treasure," has ties to a power grab that a military leader made in Roman BritainThu, 04 Jun 2026 15:03:30 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-spectacular-gold-and-gemstone-ring-a-roman-likely-buried-for-safekeeping-1700-years-ago-180988891/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/can-a-hedgehog-replace-winston-churchill-see-which-animals-may-soon-swap-in-for-historical-figures-on-british-pounds-180988890/Butterflies, dolphins and puffins are among the options the public will vote on to grace new bank notesWed, 03 Jun 2026 20:37:28 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/can-a-hedgehog-replace-winston-churchill-see-which-animals-may-soon-swap-in-for-historical-figures-on-british-pounds-180988890/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-century-after-causing-controversy-red-cave-markings-in-wales-are-classified-again-as-britains-oldest-rock-art-180988879/The team of scientists used modern dating methods to confirm an old hypothesis by the rock art’s initial discoverersTue, 02 Jun 2026 20:59:14 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/a-century-after-causing-controversy-red-cave-markings-in-wales-are-classified-again-as-britains-oldest-rock-art-180988879/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/englands-most-famous-naked-giant-will-glow-white-again-thanks-to-help-from-hundreds-of-people-performing-a-ritual-of-restoration-180988848/The Cerne Abbas Giant, a 180-foot-tall geoglyph in southern England, is getting a new layer of chalkThu, 28 May 2026 18:09:21 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/englands-most-famous-naked-giant-will-glow-white-again-thanks-to-help-from-hundreds-of-people-performing-a-ritual-of-restoration-180988848/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/one-weather-forecast-changed-the-course-of-wwii-heres-the-real-story-behind-pressure-a-drama-about-the-meteorologist-who-convinced-the-allies-to-delay-d-day-180988829/A new movie starring Andrew Scott and Brendan Fraser dramatizes the tense 72 hours before the Allied invasion of Normandy, revealing how meteorology helped determine Operation Overlord's successThu, 28 May 2026 12:17:53 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/one-weather-forecast-changed-the-course-of-wwii-heres-the-real-story-behind-pressure-a-drama-about-the-meteorologist-who-convinced-the-allies-to-delay-d-day-180988829/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-medieval-manuscript-telling-tales-of-king-arthur-in-ink-and-polished-gold-thats-headed-to-auction-180988835/The manuscript was made by a skilled, anonymous artist between 1290 and 1310. It's the oldest of only three privately owned Vulgate Cycle manuscriptsWed, 27 May 2026 19:29:28 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-the-medieval-manuscript-telling-tales-of-king-arthur-in-ink-and-polished-gold-thats-headed-to-auction-180988835/