16th Century 1500-1599
Tennis, the Sport of Clergy, Kings and Commoners
The origins of tennis go back a thousand years, a sport loved by the nobility of France and England was also enjoyed by the common man.
Read MoreEdward VI and Vagrancy Act 1547 Poor Laws
The Vagrancy Act 1547 was an uncaring response to a complicated social and economic situation after the death of King Henry VIII. The poor were penalized for a series of poor decisions by the Privy Council.
Read MorePunishment of Vagabonds and Beggars 1536 Henry VIII
1536 Anne Boelyn executed. Dissolution of the Monasteries commences following Henry VIII’s declaration of Supremacy over the Church… Doesn’t bode well for the poor and idle if that is how you treat the people you love…Trace what happens next in the plight of the poor and the evolution of the wlefare state. It all goes back a lot further than you might think….
Read MoreStatute Punishment of Beggars and Vagabonds 1531
Was Henry VIII and his rule kind to Beggars? How does this act reflect the longer timeline of legislative events that lead to our current day Welfare State and how far back do the roots go, a snippet in a series of linked posts, designed to piece together the evidence that led to the British Welfare State. With great relevance and resonance with our current and hard pressed economic climate…
Read MoreOld Poor Law
The Old Poor Law was the codified series of statutes that predated the draconian Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, the timeline of this law casts some light on the origins of welfare and the plight of the poor in England for many years. If you have any reason to want to better understand the basis of society during the 19th century then some reference to these legal orgins will be helpful.
Read MoreVoyages of Discovery,Tentative Reaches into an Unknown World
The early days of exploration, those voyages of discovery. Did Magellan or one of his ships become the first to reach the Falkland Islands? We will probably never know but he certainly forged the way to the Pacific and beyond
Read MoreLeadenhall Market an historic marketplace dating back to the 1st century
Leadenhall a place of gathering and social connection since the first century…still going today with the distinctive wrought ironwork and glass building designed by Sir Horace Jones…
Read MoreThe Golden Hind
The Golden Hind will be part of Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee flotilla down the Thames, what impact did Drakes voyage have on the nation just over 430 years ago?
Read MoreJohn Speed Maps Online
The fascinating maps of John Speed have been beautifully digitized by Occidental College Library Los Angeles. Now having looked at the maps of Ralph Agas, we ask was there a connection between the two?
Read MoreArtillery Passage London & the Honourable Artillery Company
London street names can reveal so many interesting stories and intriguing connections, in this case, Artillery Passage in Spitalfields and the Honourable Artillery Company
Read More