In the big scheme of things today’s post is a very minor ‘gripe’. It does, however, reflect on the historical accuracy of television...

History is not only the study of past events, particularly in human affairs, but it is most uniquely, also a continuous, typically...

Continuing the series 'Ludi', and following on from ancient Egypt, here are selection of games played by ancient Greeks and Romans. Pente...

The pineapple (Latin: Ananas comosus) [1] is a tropical plant with an edible fruit indigenous to South America, where it has been...

In April 2022 social media, specifically Twitter, was awash with criticism of the UK’s Conservative government’s plans to privatise...

Senet is one of the oldest games in the world and may be the ancestor of modern backgammon. The oldest known representation of Senet is a...

According to a BBC News tweet (see right), the ‘Welsh leek’ could be set for protected status [1], alongside foods including Cheddar...

Aseb is the Egyptian version of the ancient Middle Eastern game called ‘The Game of 20 Squares’. Aseb is related to the ‘Royal Game of...

February 26th, 1852: 450 perish as the troopship HMS Birkenhead is wreaked off Danger Point on the Western Cape of South Africa. HMS...

The last battle on British soil is commonly accepted as being the French invasion at Fishguard in 1797. Under the command of...

February 22nd, 1797: ‘Britain invaded’ [1]. On February 22nd, 1797 over 1,200 French troops landed near Fishguard in Pembrokeshire, South...

Mehen is an ancient Egyptian game references to which have been found already in the predynastic period before 3100 BC. The gameboard is...

February 8th, 1587: After 19 years of imprisonment, Mary Queen of Scots is beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle. Why? Fotheringhay Castle was...

February 1st, 1709: Alexander Selkirk, believed to be the inspiration for Daniel Defoe’s 1719 novel ‘Robinson Crusoe’, was rescued after...

January 29th, 1856: The Victoria Cross is introduced. In 1854, after 39 years of peace, Britain found itself fighting a major war against...

The Royal Game of Ur, also known as the ‘Game of Twenty Squares’, is a two-player strategy race board game first played in ancient...

The BBC’s series ‘Digging for Britain’ has returned to screens this month. Hosted by Prof Alice Roberts (pictured), the programme...

January 12th, 1976: Crime writer Agatha Christie dies aged 85. In her posthumously published Autobiography, she briefly details her...

January 7th, 1536: Catherine of Aragon, first of Henry VIII’s six wives, dies. It is said that Henry dressed all in yellow, with a white...

January 6th, 1066: Harold Godwinson, formerly Earl of Wessex, is crowned king of England in Westminster Abbey. Harold was born in the...