History - Archive Articles

A lump of old stone in a 1980s office block

A bland and unremarkable office block in Southwark has under a pile of grime a rather odd memorial.

Visit St Bride Church’s ancient crypt and museum

The famous journalist's church on Fleet Street also contains a museum of over 2,000 years of London history in its crypt.

Demolished mansion house’s cellars in Cranford Park to open to the public

A series of huge vaulted cellars under a demolished mansion house just to the north of Heathrow Airport are to be opened up to the public as part of plans to improve the parklands around them.

Sponsor the Skynet satellite, or the Red Arrows

There's an opportunity to have your name on a Spitfire plane, or the Skynet satellite, or a jar of sand.

Find Augustus Pugin’s home in central London

Just down the road from the British Museum can be found the former home of Augustus Charles Pugin and his architect son Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin - best known for decorating the Houses of Parliament.

Queen Victoria’s private railway station at Nine Elms

In 1854, a new railway station opened in London, but only the Royal Family was allowed to use it -- this was Queen Victoria's private railway station.

A grand Coat of Arms on a car park

Down a side street in the corner of a shabby entrance to a car park can be found a grand coat of arms. What's that doing here?

Pox populi: Georgian London as a haven for sexual diseases

The diaries of Georgian Londoners have long suggested the city was a hotbed of vice and sex, but its becoming clearer just how widespread sexual diseases had become.

The myth that Hitler wanted Senate House as a Nazi headquarters

One of the more curious stories that regularly crops up about the University of London's Senate House is that it was saved from being bombed by Hitler who wanted to use it as a new headquarters for his Nazi government in the UK.

Charlton’s coronation drinking fountain

In the heart of Charlton village is a drinking fountain that arrived a year after the event it commemorates.

Rotherhithe’s Brunel Museum has expansion plans

The Brunel Museum, situated above Brunel's famous under-river tunnel has announced plans for a major expansion and revamp of the buildings.

An A-Z of London’s fashion alphabet

The Museum of London has created a new page on their website, bringing together 26 short videos all about London fashion.

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?

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.

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.

Crystal Palace dinosaur damaged by vandals

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

Plumstead’s mysterious ice-age Slade Ravine

Plumstead Common is open land high up the hills overlooking the Thames, and has a very odd and very deep valley running through one side of it. How has a short, deep, valley ended up here on top of a hill?

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.

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.

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.

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”.

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.

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.

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