Instruction and information for historians. Into your inbox monthly.
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Turnpike Roads
Pam Smith Turnpike roads were a system of road management used in England. They were first established in the seventeenth century but not used extensively until the eighteenth. The first turnpike was for a stretch of the Great North Road in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire which was in particular need of repair, but this innovation was…
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Events and Tours
Dear All, We are pleased to announce that How-to History is now running events and tours. The first lot of guided tours takes place in Spring/Summer, and all information and bookings are available through our website. The subjects include Historic London Pubs, The Great Fire of London, London’s Lost Execution Sites, London’s Food History: From…
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Church Court Jurisdictions
Joe Saunders In medieval and early modern England the Church, initially the Catholic Church and then Church of England, operated a system of ecclesiastical courts. Such courts, famously called the Bawdy Courts, covered a wide range of matters including not just Church affairs but wider social and moral supervision, in line with the powers of…
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Game of Goose
Anna Cusack All sorts of games have appeared and disappeared throughout history. Each deserves attention as they often reflect the culture of the past. Not only do they illuminate what people did for fun and what was fashionable, but changing concepts of leisure time, innovative ideas, and even technological advancements can be made visible. One…
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Suburbs
Joe Saunders In medieval Britain’s towns and cities buildings were largely confined within their walls, a pattern which continued well into the 1500s.[1] Early urban maps, such as those by John Speed, show little building beyond the walls, or ‘extramural’ developments. A key exception in the early development of suburbs was London which expanded beyond…
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Antiquarianism
Joe Saunders Antiquarianism is the investigation of the past through its material remains. Antiquarians have served an important part in the study of history over the last few hundred years, and their work has helped the development of the modern historical sciences, including history, history of art, and archaeology. However, the term has additional connotations…
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Friendly Societies
Joe Saunders Prior to the development of government and employer health insurance and financial services, friendly or ‘benevolent’ societies were an important part of many people’s lives. These societies ‘were originally set up to assist those who had worked in a certain industry or profession who had fallen on hard times and needed support for…
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Did Oliver Cromwell Really Ban Christmas?
Anna Cusack Oliver Cromwell cancelled Christmas – so goes the word on the street. Many people have heard this, friends, family, and strangers often tout it. ‘The Puritans were so strict even Christmas was banned’. But is this really the case, was Christmas cancelled under Cromwell’s rule? Why does it persist as a rumour if…
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Title Deeds
Joe Saunders Deeds are legal documents concerning the ownership or possession of property, usually regarding the transfer of land or a house from one person to another. They have been in use since the medieval period right up to the present day (many homeowners will hold the deeds to their property) and by this virtue…
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Pre-Modern Chess
The World The eight of us go forth, not back, to protect our king from an attack. What are we? The answer, of course, is pawns on a chessboard. Chess is an old game, a very old game, and as such its origins are much debated and complex. Some theories propose Pythagoras as the father…