Eleanor Glanville: butterfly collector
Today, insects are seen as a vital part of our ecosystem, but in the late 17th century, they were largely overlooked by science. Today’s long read, written by Patricia Fara, tells the story of a groun...
30 Okt 202313min
Dick Whittington: London’s golden boy
Over the past 200 years, Dick Whittington has become one of Britain’s best-loved pantomime heroes. Yet, as today’s long read explores, the real-life story that inspired Dick’s rags to riches tale is e...
22 Okt 202317min
Unearthing Pompeii’s streets
From cobbled alleys and snarky graffiti to bustling communal fountains and holy shrines, Pompeii was a city teeming with life. In today’s long read, written by Sophie Hay, we travel back 100 years to ...
15 Okt 202316min
Templars on trial
From 1307, members of the Knights Templar were beaten, brutalised and put to death on charges of heresy, Satanism and mass murder. But, asks today’s long read, written by historian Steve Tibble, were ...
8 Okt 202321min
8 scandals that rocked Georgian Britain
From the illicit affairs of high society to duels, crimes and even ghosts, Georgian Britain loved a scandal. Today’s long read, written by historian and author Emily Brand, charts eight of the most sh...
1 Okt 202323min
Tudor traders: keep calm and ignore the Armada
What did English merchants and mariners do when a Spanish invasion fleet menaced the South Coast in 1588? Well, as today’s long read written by Robert Blackmore reveals, they simply boarded their ship...
24 Sep 202318min
Bannockburn: Scotland’s greatest victory
The image of plucky warriors sending a cocksure English army into flight has secured Bannockburn’s status in the annals of Scottish history. Today’s long read, written by public historian Helen Carr, ...
17 Sep 202317min
Could WW1 have ended in 1916?
From as early as 1914, powerful voices called for the First World War to end in a negotiated compromise. So, why were they ignored? That’s the question at the heart of today’s long read, written by hi...
10 Sep 202319min
