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British History

The Liberty Tree in colonial-era Boston

The Story Behind a Forgotten Symbol of the American Revolution: The Liberty Tree

While Boston landmarks like the Old North Church still stand, the Liberty Tree, gone for nearly 250 years, has been lost to history

A sketch by Bert Brocklesby of his fiancée, Annie Wainwright. Annie's brother was killed at the front and Bert traveled to Vienna to do aid work after the war. Annie objected, and broke off their engagement

Cool Finds

Curators Are Preserving Graffiti Scrawled By WWI Conscientious Objectors

The cell walls at Richmond Castle are still covered in drawings and notes

A lamprey in a tank at the Aquarium Restaurant Atalaya in Spain.

Cool Finds

It’s Lamprey Breeding Time in Britain

The bloodsucking fish are returning rivers that were once too polluted for them to live in

Trending Today

British Barber Proposes Beard Tax

Inspired by historical examples, Antony Kent wants men to pay a 100-pound fee to rock a bushy beard

Darjeeling white tea brews with a delicate aroma and a pale golden color.

Cool Finds

For the First Time in 150 Years, Anyone Can Buy One of the World’s Rarest Teas

Go straight to the source

The Royal Oak in Witney, England

Cool Finds

Why “The Royal Oak” Is a Popular Pub Name in the U.K.

The story goes back to the English Civil Wars and a prince on the run

Cool Finds

Help London’s Science Museum Bring Britain’s First Robot Back to Life

Eric impressed crowds in the 1920’s by standing up, bowing, and shooting sparks from his teeth

A statue of Julian of Norwich at Norwich Cathedra. She is one of the first-known women writers in the English language.

Cool Finds

For the First Time, See Two Early Medieval Books Written By Women On Display Together

The manuscripts detail the authors’ experiences

King Lear was deemed too dark for its 17th century audiences.

Is There Such a Thing as a “Bad” Shakespeare Play?

More than four hundred years after the Bard’s death, the quality of his works is still a fluid scale

Illustration from Merchant of Venice

Four Hundred Years Later, Scholars Still Debate Whether Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice” Is Anti-Semitic

Deconstructing what makes the Bard’s play so problematic

What the villa discovered in Wiltshire, England, would have looked like 1800 years ago

Cool Finds

Massive Roman Villa Found in British Backyard

One of the largest and best-preserved Roman homes ever found in Britain was discovered after a family decided they wanted to play ping-pong in their barn

The three volumes of the newly-discovered copy of Shakespeare's First Folio.

Cool Finds

A New Copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio Was Found in a Scottish Library

Only a few hundred copies still survive

Cool Finds

Bullet Helps Revive Lawrence of Arabia’s Reputation

A bullet from a Colt pistol found at the site of one of T.E. Lawrence’s most famous battles helps verify the authenticity of his stories

Epitaph on William Shakespeare's grave

Trending Today

Did Shakespeare Lose His Head?

Scans of the Bard’s grave reveal that robbers may have stolen his skull two centuries ago

A self-portrait made by Johnny Rotten on the walls of the studio where the Sex Pistols recorded their first demos.

Cool Finds

Johnny Rotten’s Graffiti Made These Buildings Historic Landmarks

The Sex Pistols’ home and recording studio are now protected as a cultural heritage sites

"The Last Communion of Joan of Arc" by Charles Henri Michel

Trending Today

French Theme Park “Battles” British Government to Keep Joan of Arc’s Ring

After buying a ring purportedly owned by Joan of Arc, a French history park owner defies UK demands

Jeremy Scott (United States, born 1975) for Adidas, Boots, Spring/Summer 2013.

Take A Trip Through 300 Years of Men’s Fashion

At the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, a new exhibition highlights 200 styles, from military uniforms to punk jackets

Cool Finds

Visit Richard III’s Gravesite With This Bone Chilling 3D Model

The ruler’s final resting spot is now publicly available for exploration online

Some of the items found in the Watlington hoard including coins depicting Alfred the Great and Ceolwulf II together

Cool Finds

Blokes with Metal Detectors Uncover Pieces of British History

Finds by amateur history sleuths shed light on the time when Anglo-Saxons clashed with Vikings

Wacky Victorian women play behind a clothing screen, ca. 1900.

Cool Finds

Researchers Seek Silly Sherlocks to Dig up Victorian-Era Jokes

Joke detectives are using the British Library to uncover what made Victorians chuckle

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