John Ball was one of the most striking and controversial figures associated with the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, remembered less as a military leader than as a powerful voice of radical social and religious protest. A priest by training, Ball became famous for sermons...

On the 14th of July, 1596, Cádiz was captured by English and Dutch troops under the command of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and an English and Dutch fleet under the command of Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham. My ancestor, Sir Anthony Standen, accompanied...

I have written about my fascination with flight, so today’s choice is fairly easy. On the 13th of July, 1919, the airship R34 landed in Norfolk having completed the first return flight across the Atlantic in 182 hours of flight. The British rigid airships R33 airship...

Josiah Wedgwood (1730–1795) was one of the most influential figures of the Industrial Revolution in Britain, a master potter whose innovations transformed ceramics from a craft into a sophisticated industry. His life combined artistic vision, scientific curiosity, and...

The Battle of Northampton was fought on the 10th of July 1460, during the Wars of the Roses. Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, defeated the king’s Lancastrian army and took King Henry VI prisoner. My wife Claire was born in Northampton, so we visit quite often....

On the 9th of July, 1763, the Mozart family began their grand tour of Europe which greatly enhanced son Wolfgang Amadeus’s profile. I have written about Beethoven, and if I’m honest, I can’t think of a piece that would make it to my desert island discs, yet Mozart’s...

Artemisia Gentileschi was born on the 8th of July 1593. She is a minor character in Called to Account, the fourth book in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures, partly because the timing of her rapist’s trial fitted into the book’s timeline, and because misogyny was the...

John Ball was one of the most striking and controversial figures associated with the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381, remembered less as a military leader than as a powerful voice of radical social and religious protest. A priest by training, Ball became famous for sermons...

On the 14th of July, 1596, Cádiz was captured by English and Dutch troops under the command of Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, and an English and Dutch fleet under the command of Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham. My ancestor, Sir Anthony Standen, accompanied...

I have written about my fascination with flight, so today’s choice is fairly easy. On the 13th of July, 1919, the airship R34 landed in Norfolk having completed the first return flight across the Atlantic in 182 hours of flight. The British rigid airships R33 airship...

Josiah Wedgwood (1730–1795) was one of the most influential figures of the Industrial Revolution in Britain, a master potter whose innovations transformed ceramics from a craft into a sophisticated industry. His life combined artistic vision, scientific curiosity, and...

The Battle of Northampton was fought on the 10th of July 1460, during the Wars of the Roses. Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick, defeated the king’s Lancastrian army and took King Henry VI prisoner. My wife Claire was born in Northampton, so we visit quite often....

On the 9th of July, 1763, the Mozart family began their grand tour of Europe which greatly enhanced son Wolfgang Amadeus’s profile. I have written about Beethoven, and if I’m honest, I can’t think of a piece that would make it to my desert island discs, yet Mozart’s...

Artemisia Gentileschi was born on the 8th of July 1593. She is a minor character in Called to Account, the fourth book in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures, partly because the timing of her rapist’s trial fitted into the book’s timeline, and because misogyny was the...