By Tim Lambert Where does the name Barnstaple come from? The ‘staple’ is derived from the Old English stapol word meaning post. The first part of its name probably comes from the word bearde, meaning battle axe. It’s possible the post was used as a meeting place for people in North Devon. It’s often claimed… Continue reading A History of Barnstaple
Author: Tim Lambert
The Mathematical Curiosity That Turned Into Roulette
Blaise Pascal never intended to design a centerpiece for modern entertainment. The 17th-century French mathematician was consumed by the laws of physics and the impossible dream of perpetual motion. His experiments involved a frictionless wheel meant to spin indefinitely without external energy. While the physics failed, the mechanism remained. This failed scientific apparatus evolved into… Continue reading The Mathematical Curiosity That Turned Into Roulette
A History of Telephones
By Tim Lambert Alexander Graham Bell experimented with ways of using electricity to transmit sound, helped by his assistant Thomas Watson and in 1876, he patented the telephone. Over the following decades, telephones had a huge impact on daily life. In 1878, Queen Victoria was given a demonstration of the telephone. She was very impressed… Continue reading A History of Telephones
A History of Blaby
By Tim Lambert Early Blaby Like many settlements in Leicestershire, Blaby has a Danish name, as the Danes settled the area in the 9th century. It was once Blar by, which means Blar’s village. At the time of the Domesday Book, in 1086, Blaby was a typical village with a population of less than 150.… Continue reading A History of Blaby
History of Casino de Monte Carlo
Nestled within the glamorous landscape of Monte Carlo, the Casino de Monte Carlo is more than just a gaming venue. It has become a symbol of luxury, elegance, and rich history. The roots of this magnificent casino trace back to the mid-19th century. In 1856, Prince Florestan I of Monaco recognised the potential of gambling… Continue reading History of Casino de Monte Carlo
Famous Women Astronomers
By Tim Lambert Aglaonike was an Ancient Greek astronomer. She lived about 150 BC. Little is known about her, but she was highly regarded in her day. Hypatia was an astronomer and mathematician in Alexandria, Egypt. She died in 415 AD. Sophia Brahe was born in 1559. She was an astronomer and a horticulturist. She… Continue reading Famous Women Astronomers
A Brief History of Mali
By Tim Lambert Early Mali In the 13th century, a powerful empire arose in West Africa, called the Mali Empire. It was founded by the legendary king Sundiata Keita. Mali was rich in gold fields. It also prospered because of trade in slaves across the Sahara. (Slaves from sub-Saharan Africa were exported to the Arab… Continue reading A Brief History of Mali
Scarborough Preserves the Grandeur of Britain’s Oldest Seaside Resort and Seeks New Recognition on the Shores of the North Sea
England’s oldest seaside resort continues to impress with a combination of enduring Victorian architecture and the stark beauty of its coastline. Scarborough, spread along the waves of the North Sea, attracts not only tourists but also the attention of researchers, architects, and heritage enthusiasts. How did it come about that this particular town became a… Continue reading Scarborough Preserves the Grandeur of Britain’s Oldest Seaside Resort and Seeks New Recognition on the Shores of the North Sea
A Brief History of Gabon
By Tim Lambert Early Gabon The earliest inhabitants of what is now Gabon were hunter-gatherers. They still live in parts of Gabon, but in the 14th and 15th centuries, Bantu-speaking people migrated to the region. They lived by farming and fishing along the coast and along the banks of rivers. In 1472, the Portuguese reached… Continue reading A Brief History of Gabon
A History of Cartoons
By Tim Lambert The word cartoon comes from the Italian word cartone, meaning the heavy paper on which preliminary drawings for art were made. From the late 17th century to the mid-19th century, the word “cartoon” in English referred to a type of paper. However, around 1843, it was first used to mean drawings in… Continue reading A History of Cartoons