
Histories, Biographies and Non-Fiction

A Short History of Marcasite Jewellery
Marcasite is an instantly recognisable stone, creating unique and intricate designs. It has been used for millennia and is now often sought after ...
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The Origins Of Boxing Day
Robert Seymour, Boxing Day (1836) There are several different theories around the etymology of Boxing Day, although it is most generally accepted ...
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A Short History of Ice Skating
For those of you who are eagle-eyed, you may have noticed Netflix recently added Little Women to its selection of period dramas. The film is based...
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The History Behind Gift Wrapping
Today, we instinctively reach for some sort of wrapping paper when preparing gifts for our loved ones, whether it be purpose bought and printed wit...
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Acrostic Poetry And Georgian Jewellery
Writing an acrostic poem is no doubt something many of us did in school, made to think outside the box by our teachers and reflect on the creative...
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The History Behind Black Friday
Although the popularisation of Black Friday in the UK has only really taken place within the last decade, the commercial shopping event actually ha...
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The History Of Christmas Cards In Britain
It is thought the very first card celebrating Christmas was sent in 1611 by a gentleman named Michael Maier, to the then king of England, Ireland a...
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Card Games In Georgian Britain
Cards are mentioned on several occasions in Jane Austen's novels, and in a whole variety of different ways. This got us thinking about the differen...
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A Short History Of Embroidery
When we think about embroidery and wonder where it started, it is quite impossible to know when the first bit of fabric was adorned with coloured t...
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Pens and Provenance: what would Mr Darcy’s handwriting look like?
Image courtesy of Clark Young on Unsplash Here is an activity for you: grab a piece of paper and write down your name, the date, and where you are...
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Live Next Door To Pemberley for £3m
Live Next Door To Pemberley for £3m Lymewater Hall: a six-bedroom detached home in Stockport, Greater Manchester. It's a six-bedroom detached home...
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Rachel Dodge on Writing "Praying with Jane"
Author Rachel Dodge details the inspirations and process behind her new book Praying With Jane *** “Prayers Composed by my ever dear Sister Jane”...
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