Queen Victoria was born on 24 May 1819 and to celebrate the bicentenary of her birth we’re looking at some of the historic places named after her; from pubs to parks, streets to statues and even a phantom city.  The Victorian age Perceptions of Queen Victoria’s legacy change with each generation and historians are frequently busting cliché’s about her. Whatever your views on Victoria and her era, particularly in the latter part of her reign, she was held in great affectionRead more

Over the centuries soldiers and Prisoners of War (POWs), have left personal expressive art on the places where they lived or served. These murals, cartoons and graffiti were often subversive, humorous, risque, nostalgic or decorative. Some were tolerated by military authorities in the interests of morale, and others were officially sanctioned.Read more

The trailblazing Aerofilms Ltd, founded on 9 May 1919, combined new technology of powered flight with aerial cinematography and photography.Read more

There are around 5,000 high streets in the United Kingdom, and almost every city, town and village has one. Traditionally the epicentre of community life, their role has dramatically changed in the last few decades, and as our work, shopping and leisure habits transform, we’re at a vital crossroads to decide on the future of the high street. Here are five of the most distinctive styles of British high street. 1. Medieval The Shambles in York is mentioned in theRead more

Hidden beneath the city streets lie 2,000 kilometres of brick tunnels that take raw sewage direct from our homes, along with 130 kilometres of interconnecting main sewers the size of railway tunnels.Read more