Social history

Many brides wear a lucky garter under their wedding gowns. In ancient times, bridal garments were considered blessed, and the bride would have all her clothes ripped from her by the guests on the wedding night as everyone tried to snatch a piece. (Photo by Tatiana1987/Dreamstime.com)

10 historical superstitions we carry on today

Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth II in Netflix drama ‘The Crown’. (© Netflix)

The real history behind ‘The Crown’ with Robert Lacey

A 15th-century map of the world illustrating a Latin edition of Ptolemy's the 'Geography'. (Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

General prehistory

12 giant leaps for mankind – from carnivorism to Magna Carta

Viking sailors make the long voyage across the Atlantic between Europe and America, in order to bring back timber, circa 1350. The Vikings are thought to have discovered America in around 1000 AD, but never attempted full colonization of the new land, due to the hostile natives. Painting by NC Wyeth. (Image by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

8 Viking myths busted

Biddenden Maids Cake. (Public Domain)

Sisters of mercy: the Biddenden Maids

c1916: British soldiers sitting around a lamp in their trench. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

First World War

10 First World War slang words we still use today

A depiction of the interior of parliament

9 things you didn’t know about the history of parliament

Coca cola bottles from the 1990s

From Velcro to Viagra: 10 products that were invented by accident

Robert Scott Kellner podcast

Second World War

Opposing the Nazis

c1930: a man wrestles his tamed bear. (Photo by Imagno/Getty Images)

Bizarre England: 11 of the strangest attractions and traditions in history

Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Brunel: a hard taskmaster

Rosa Parks rides an integrated bus

From Rosa Parks to Martin Luther King: the boycott that inspired the dream

A compilation of compass drawn circles, and variants found in many of the churches

Medieval graffiti: the lost voices of England’s churches in the Middle Ages

The postwar world podcast

Second World War

The postwar world