Not far from Solihull town centre, there is a small group of trees that most people tend to ignore. Its name is Cut Throat Coppice. The trees are mostly oak, interspersed with silver birch, and ...

In the crime-ridden underworld of Victorian London, dominated by violent men, a group of women were able to carve out a space for themselves; specialising in shoplifting, they soon became so prolific ...

Today’s modern world is powered by the magic that is electricity. It is the power that keeps the lights on, cooks our food, warms our homes or cools them, depending where in the world you live, and ...

In the turmoil of the Second World War, Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat, stood out as a remarkable figure. Described by Hitler as a “dangerous terrorist,” he was perceived as a feared threat. Winston ...

After the outbreak of civil war in August 1642, soldiers’ uniforms on the battlefield became windows into their hearts; in this divisive era, even hairstyles provoked fierce arguments. As a result, an ...

Mary Tudor, favourite sister of King Henry VIII, was feted around Europe for her pale skin and good looks. Henry arranged for Mary’s marriage to the aging and gouty King Louis XII as part of a peace ...

George Villiers, the 1st Duke of Buckingham, was a powerful and divisive figure, who won the heart of King James I but in doing so alienated those fellow ambitious courtiers surrounding him. His ...

Mystery, legend and myth surround the Knights Templar, a religious military order of knighthood formed at the time of the Crusades and sworn to defend Christian holy sites in the Holy Land. One of ...

Cider is an alcoholic drink made by fermenting apple juice and has been produced traditionally in the UK for centuries. Historically, agricultural labourers were given a daily allowance of cider – ...

2021 marked the 180th anniversary of Thomas Cook’s first step towards building the package holiday phenomenon. But ironically, wealth and social standing was the last thing on Thomas’ mind throughout ...

Richard III is perhaps most well-known now due to the discovery of his remains in a car park in Leicester. He was however an important figure in England’s medieval monarchy: brother to Edward IV, he ...

What do Margaret Thatcher, Harold Wilson, Edward Heath and Teresa May have in common? They were all educated at state grammar schools. When you look at the list of Prime Ministers, you will find that ...