By Tim Lambert In the era after 1948 technology made great leaps forward. There were many improvements in transport after 1948. The breathalyzer was invented in 1954. A Swede named Nils Bohlin developed the three-point seat belt in 1959. The hovercraft was invented in 1955. Jet passenger aircraft were introduced in 1949. Meanwhile, medicine made… Continue reading Technology and Inventions Since 1948
Category: Articles
Middle Class Life in the Late 19th Century
By Tim Lambert In the late 19th century about 80% of the population of the population was working class. To be considered middle class, you had to have at least one servant. Most servants were female. (Male servants were much more expensive because men were paid much higher wages). Throughout the century ‘service’ was a… Continue reading Middle Class Life in the Late 19th Century
Famous People From Southwest England
By Tim Lambert ALLER, SOMERSET Ralph Cudworth 1617-1688 Philosopher AXMINSTER William Buckland 1784-1856 Geologist BAMPTON, DEVON Eliza Gould 1770-1810 Founder of Sunday Schools BARNSTAPLE Francis Chichester 1901-1972 Yachtsman John Gay 1685-1732 Poet and playwright Harry Welchman 1886-1966 Singer/actor BATH Ann Barry 1734-1801 Actress Bill Bailey 1964- Comedian Thomas Bowdler 1754-1825 who wrote a new version of Shakespeare… Continue reading Famous People From Southwest England
Britain Since 1948
By Tim Lambert Britain has changed greatly since 1948. Today people are much richer. They live in far more comfortable homes and ordinary people can afford things that were luxuries in 1948 (like foreign holidays). People are also healthier and they live longer. They also have things like the internet that were not even dreamed… Continue reading Britain Since 1948
A Biography of Pierre Curie
By Tim Lambert Pierre Curie was a great scientist of the late 19th century. He was born on 15 May 1859. His father was a doctor. As a child, Pierre was home-schooled. He then attended the Faculty of Sciences at the Sorbonne and he gained a degree in physics in 1878. Pierre became a laboratory… Continue reading A Biography of Pierre Curie
Poor Tudors
By Tim Lambert In the 16th century, about half the population lived at subsistence (bare survival) level. Life for them was hard and rough. During the 16th century, there was inflation, especially in the mid-century, and prices rose steeply. Wages rose too but less than prices so real earnings fell. They reached their lowest point in 1597.… Continue reading Poor Tudors
Life for Anglo-Saxon Women
By Tim Lambert In Anglo-Saxon England, women had considerable rights and freedom (unless they were slaves! Both men and women were slaves). Married women could own and inherit property. Some women were landowners. If a man married a woman he had to give her either money or land. After they married it was her property… Continue reading Life for Anglo-Saxon Women
Famous People Born in Eastern England
By Tim Lambert ALDEBURGH Dame Millicent Fawcett 1847-1929 Suffragist ASWARBY George Bass 1771-1803 Explorer BLACK NOTLEY John Ray 1627-1705 Naturalist BOSTON John Foxe 1517-1587 Author of Book of Martyrs Jean Ingelow 1820-1897 Poet John Tavener 1490-1545 Composer BOURNE Sir William Cecil 1520-1598 Treasurer to Elizabeth I BRINKLEY Christopher Anstey 1724-1805 Writer BURNHAM DEEPDALE Rupert Everett 1959- Actor BURNHAM THORPE,… Continue reading Famous People Born in Eastern England
A History of Italy
By Tim Lambert The Etruscans The first civilization in Italy was the Etruscan, which arose about 800 BC in central Italy. The Etruscans built cities on a grid pattern. Some of these cities still exist (including Arezzo, Chiusi, Cortona, Perugia, and Cerveteri). The Etruscans were also engineers who drained marshes and built roads. They were… Continue reading A History of Italy
Famous People from the Midlands and South Midlands
By Tim Lambert ALDWINCKLE, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE John Dryden 1631-1700 ARBURY, WARKS George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) 1819-1880 ARNOLD Richard Bonington 1801-1828 Artist BELPER, DERBYSHIRE Tracy Shaw 1973- Actor BIRMINGHAM Walter Allen 1911-1995 Writer Michael Balcon 1896-1977 Film Producer David Bomberg 1890-1957 Artist Gerald Brockhurst 1891-1979 Artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones 1833-98 Artist Jasper Carrott 1945- Comedian Barbara Cartland 1901-1999 Writer Neville… Continue reading Famous People from the Midlands and South Midlands