The discovery of Richard III’s remains in Leicester marks a significant moment for both Historians and Archaeologists in this country. The fact that the remains of the king were situated in Leicester is not what is significant, although the ignominy of an English King being buried ungraciously under a car park does make for an Continue Reading
Winstanley Hall, built in the 1560s, is one of only three Tudor buildings in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan. It was originally built for the Winstanley family, who had been the Lords of the Manor since c.1252; however, only three decades later in 1596, the estate was sold in its entirety to James Bankes, a Continue Reading
Historically the participation of women in warfare as direct combatants has been very rare. Until recently, women have been prohibited from enlisting in the army, and most nations continue to prohibit women from serving as front-line troops. The presence of women on the battlefield has traditionally been consigned to medical and support roles. From the Continue Reading
The entertaining juxtaposition of a King and a car park certainly makes for an eye-catching headline, but the discovery of Richard III’s body does not actually provide much, if any, useful information about his personality or his reign. In spite of our better judgement we still fall into the trap of over-valuing primary sources and Continue Reading
We look at Chetham’s library — the historian’s aphrodisiac.
