History

Protection for Richmond Park’s ancient burial mounds

How many people in Richmond Park looking at that famous protected view of St Paul’s Cathedral realise they are standing on an ancient burial mound?

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Royal Iris – the Mersey ferry rusting away on the Thames

The ferry that once took people across the Mersey has ended up with a very sad retirement, rusting away on the banks of the Thames.

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The anniversary of the last public execution in the UK

Today marks the anniversary of the last public execution in the UK, of Michael Barrett who was found – dubiously – guilty of the Clerkenwell bombing.

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Crystal Palace dinosaur damaged by vandals

The face of one of Crystal Palace’s famous concrete dinosaurs has been smashed by vandals.

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When Londoners would rent pineapples instead of eating them

There was a time when people didn’t eat pineapples, but would rent them for display only and send them back the next day.

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The unsolved murder of the Dulwich Hermit

Just over 200 years ago, gentle Dulwich was horrified by the murder of a much loved local eccentric – Samuel Matthews, better known as the Dulwich Hermit.

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Restoring Abbey Mills pumping station’s Victorian splendor

A few years ago, the grand Victorian interior of Abbey Mills Pumping Station was restored, and there’s an online talk about how it was done.

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Photos of London’s docks during WW2

On the eve of the 75th anniversary of VE Day, the Museum of London Docklands has released some photos from its archive that show the devastating impact of WW2 on the area.

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Public asked to help record a week in lockdown

Historic England is calling on people across the country to share images that document their experience over the next seven days of life in “Lockdown”.

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British Museum makes 1.9 million images available for free

The British Museum has revamped its online collections database, making over 1.9 million photos of its collection available for free online under a Creative Commons license.

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The Woolwich WW2 pillbox

If you walk along the riverside near Woolwich, you might spy a concrete box covered in graffiti — it’s a relic from WW2.

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Collecting Coronavirus – the Museum of London wants your memories

The Museum of London is seeking to collect both objects and first-hand experiences to reflect Londoners’ lives during these dark days, in order to keep a record and to ensure future generations

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Spend 20 minutes in the 1960s with the Barbican

A short film about the changing London landscape is a delightful 20 minutes slipping back in time to when men wore top hats and builders didn’t wear hard hats.

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National Archives makes its entire digital archive available for free

The National Archives, a repository of millions of government and official documents has decided to make its entire digitised archive available for free.

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The decade a volcano erupted in South London

It’s 1837, and a volcano has erupted in South London, near the Oval cricket ground.

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The old lion of Oxford Street

Opposite Bond Street tube station can be found a small brick building, with a lion on top.

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The origins of graves and burials being six feet under

It’s the Year of our Lord 1665, plague is rampaging though London, and the Lord Mayor issues an order that all burials are to be six feet deep.

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300th anniversary of Covent Garden’s notorious brothel coffee house

Around three hundred years ago, give or take, a coffee house was rented in Covent Garden that was to become one of the most famous brothel houses in England.

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