By Tim Lambert In the 16th century, prison was seldom used as a punishment. Instead, people were held in prison until trial then some physical punishment was meted out. In the 16th century, minor crimes were often punished by the pillory or the stocks. The pillory was a wooden frame on a pole with holes… Continue reading Punishments in the 16th Century
A Tudor Christmas
By Wendy Pyatt Tudor Christmas Carols The earliest recorded collection of Christmas carols dates from 1521 published by Wynken de Worde and includes The Boars Head Carol. Carol means to dance with a song and carols flourished throughout Tudor times as a way to celebrate and to spread the message of the nativity. Other Christmas… Continue reading A Tudor Christmas
Famous People from Belfast
By Tim Lambert Thomas Andrews 1813-1885 Chemist Jocelyn Bell 1943- Astronomer Derek Bell 1935-2002 Harpist John Stuart Bell 1928-1990 Physicist George Best 1946-2005 Footballer Kenneth Branagh 1960- Actor Ciaran Carson 1948- Poet Anne Devlin 1951- Writer James Galway 1939- Musician St John Ervine 1883-1971 Writer Paul Henry 1876-1958 Artist Paddy Higson 1941- Film Producer Ciaran… Continue reading Famous People from Belfast
Famous Gardeners
In the early 18th century many people rebelled against the formal gardens of the Renaissance and preferred a more ‘natural’ style. Two of the most famous gardeners of that time were William Kent (1685-1748) and Charles Bridgeman (1690-1738). In 1731 William Kent was employed to redesign a garden at Chiswick. He also created a garden… Continue reading Famous Gardeners
Famous Ancient Women
By Tim Lambert Famous Women in Sumer and Egypt KUBABA Kubaba is the first recorded female ruler in history. She was the queen of Sumer, in what is now Iraq about 2,400 BC. ENHEDUANNA Enheduanna lived from 2285 to 2250 BC in what is now Iraq. She was a priestess and writer. SOBEKNEFERU Sobekneferu was… Continue reading Famous Ancient Women
A History of St Valentine’s Day
By Tim Lambert The Origins of St Valentine’s Day The Romans held a fertility festival called Lupercalia in mid-February. However, it’s not clear if there is any link between the Ancient festival and modern St Valentine’s Day. 14 February was not associated with romantic love until the late Middle Ages. In the 14th century, people… Continue reading A History of St Valentine’s Day
A History of Sweets
By Tim Lambert Early Sweets People have always liked eating sweet food. The earliest sweet was, of course, honey, which people have eaten since prehistoric times. In the Middle Ages, rich people ate desserts like preserved fruits, jelly and dried fruit, and wafers made from batter. The Tudors were also fond of sweet foods (if… Continue reading A History of Sweets
The Gunpowder Plot 1605
By Tim Lambert The Background to the Plot The Gunpowder Plot was an attempt to kill King James I and the members of parliament. The plot was foiled and its failure is celebrated every year in England on 5 November when bonfires and fireworks are lit. In the late 16th century most people in England… Continue reading The Gunpowder Plot 1605
A Brief History of The Inquisition
By Tim Lambert The Medieval Inquisition The Inquisition began in the 13th century as a way of dealing with heresy. The Cathars were a religious sect that flourished in Southern France and Northern Italy in the 12th and 13th centuries. In France, they were called Albigensians after the town of Albi. In 1184 Pope Lucius… Continue reading A Brief History of The Inquisition
The Katyn Massacre
By Tim Lambert In 1939 Stalin made a treaty with Hitler and they agreed to split Poland between them. Germany invaded Poland from the west on 1 September 1939. The Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east on 17 September. All Polish resistance ceased on 5 October 1939. Afterward, Germany occupied about 2/3 of Poland… Continue reading The Katyn Massacre