The Story of Snow White
We all know the fairy tale Snow White, one that has been made into a pantomime. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is one of the most famous fairy tales in the world As with all pantomimes, it is a story of good triumphing over evil. It has it all: Our sister site […]
The real Gunpowder Plot was simple, but it went wrong!
The real Gunpowder Plot was simple, but it went wrong! Basically, it was a very simple plan, however, if it had succeeded its effect would have been anything but. It came about as a result of religious passion, frustration, and desperation, by a group of English Catholics who wanted to change the course of history […]
Krakatoa explodes
“On the afternoon of the 26th there were violent explosions at Krakatoa, which were heard as far as Batavia. High waves first retreated, and then rolled upon both sides of the strait.During a night of pitchy darkness these horrors continued with increasing violence,augmented at midnight by electrical phenomena on a terrifying scale.” By E. W. […]
A Plinian Volcano!
Most of all we all know about Volcanos they shoot lava high into the air but did you know what a Plinian volcano is? The point is that volcanos are not all the same. Surprise, surprise, yes they are the eruption of gases and lava from the centre of the earth, but …….. They have […]
Did the people of Pompeii know they lived by a live volcano?
Pliny the Younger who watched from the other side of the bay told us “There had been tremors for many days previously,a common occurrence in Campagnia and no cause for panic.” Yes, they did! The Pompeiians knew that to Volcanoes provided fertile land, ideal soil along with a climate for growing grapes and olives. That […]
The Titanic – before the Ice Berg
The Titanic was at the forefront of maritime technology, it really was the “Ship of Dreams”. She was: This huge ship was luxurious: Then on April 10th, 1912, as it set out for New York, there were problems. Was the journey doomed? Well, after that everything appeared to be going well. She made two […]
What happened to the White Star Line, owners of the RMS Titanic?
It was a clear, sunny day at 12.13pm on May 31st 1911, when amid much celebration, the RMS Titanic was launched at the Harland and Wolff ship yard in Belfast. It took a further year for her superstructure to be completed and the ship’s sea trials finally began on April 2nd, 1912. Once completed, she […]
Henley’s annual regatta changed the world of Amateurism
In 1839 first Henley Regatta was held for a single day. In March that year Captain Edmund Gardiner proposed Henley’s annual regatta, to be managed under judicious and respectable management. That year the first Henley Regatta was held over a single day, its success meant that next year it ran for two, it kept extending […]
Where did the Circus Come From?
Where Did Circus Come From? The history of the circus is an interesting story that spans many thousands of years, mixing entertainment, skill, and daring performances. We all associate the circus with colourful tents, thrilling acrobatics, and dazzling feats, however, its origins are essentially ancient and complex. There has been some dispute about where “circus” […]
“Unsinkable Sam” a special cat!
Sam was a black and white patched cat, supposedly owned by an unknown crewman of the German battleship Bismarck. The Bismark, which with her sister ship Tirpitz was the largest battleship ever built by Germany for the second World War. In fact, it only ever took part in one action before when in 1941 it […]