Feature

1771: The Year Britain Lost America?

Having achieved success in the Seven Years War, the following decade would be a chastening experience for Britain, culminating in the loss of its American colonies. 

The Venner Rebellion

An armed uprising by a handful of religious extremists in Restoration London led to serious consequences for British and, ultimately, world history. 

Litigious Lives

The resort to law was an integral and regular part of everyday life in medieval Britain – and not just for men. Town court records offer glimpses into the lives of hundreds of ordinary women, through the lawsuits they were involved in. 

The Battle of St Louis

Saint or sinner? Recent demonstrations in the American city of St. Louis are just the latest battle for the legacy of a medieval French king. 

A World Without Touch

The fear that advances in technology and comfort bring isolation and complacency is never far away. 

The Crowd-Funded War

In the wake of the failure of the Spanish Armada, England sought retaliation by launching an invasion of its own. But how to finance such a venture?

In the Shadow of Angkor

The ruined temples of Cambodia’s medieval empire became symbols of a people who had forgotten their history. In reality, they demonstrate an inherent continuity. 

To Frame a Painter

A society portraitist who emigrated to Britain from Hungary found himself embroiled in a drama of divided loyalties during the First World War.