Emmeline Pankhurst’s Birthday – 15th July

Early years Emmeline Pankhurst was born Emmeline Goulden in Moss Side, Manchester on July 15th, 1858. She attended the École Normale Supérieure finishing school in Paris in 1873. Returning to England, she married Dr Richard Pankhurst in 1879. She was 20, he was 44. Dr Pankhurst was a socialist and a supporter of radical causes, including… More Emmeline Pankhurst’s Birthday – 15th July

UNESCO World Heritage Site for British Politics

The heart of contemporary British Politics is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The area around Westminster Abbey, the Palace of Westminster (more commonly known as the Houses of Parliament), and Parliament Square was designated as  Conservation Area in 1987. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of the outstanding universal architectural, historic and symbolic significance of this… More UNESCO World Heritage Site for British Politics

Statues in Parliament Square Gardens – Part 2

International Political figures     A recent addition to the Statues in Parliament Square Gardens is that of Mahatma Gandhi. It was unveiled on 14 March 2015 to mark the 100th anniversary of his return to India to start the struggle for independence from British rule. The statue is based on a photograph of Gandhi standing outside the… More Statues in Parliament Square Gardens – Part 2

Statues in Parliament Square Gardens – Part 1

National Political figures Parliament Square is home to statues of British, Commonwealth, and foreign statesmen. British statesmen Sir Winston Churchill Churchill indicated where he wanted a statue of himself to be placed in Parliament Square. He now stands with a commanding view overlooking the Houses of Parliament. The bronze statue by Ivor Roberts-Jones, is 12 feet (3.7 m) high and stands… More Statues in Parliament Square Gardens – Part 1

St George’s Day

April 23   The patron saint of England is Saint George. Saint George’s Day is celebrated on April 23, the anniversary of his death. It is not a public holiday in England, although there are groups that feel it ought to be.  Taken from St Georges Day.com website “The History of St George’s Day In 1222 the… More St George’s Day

Hunting for Artists, Artisans and Sheep at Easter.

a Spring Themed Treasure Hunt at Trafalgar Square.   A cultural public space The Trafalgar Square area used to be used for stables for Whitehall Palace. It was redeveloped by John Nash in 1812 to be a cultural public space.  The square itself was designed by Sir Charles Barry and was completed in 1845. It was originally to… More Hunting for Artists, Artisans and Sheep at Easter.

Fabergé Easter Eggs

  The House of Fabergé was founded in 1842 in St Petersburg, Russia, by Gustav Faberge. His son, Peter Carl Faberge, became jeweller and goldsmith to the great Russian Imperial Court. Peter Carl Faberge created exquisite jewels and objects, including the famous jewel-encrusted Faberge Eggs between 1885 and 1917. After the revolution, the Fabergé family fled Russia… More Fabergé Easter Eggs

Charlotte Bronte – 21/4/1816 to 31/3/1855

Charlotte Brontë was  born on 21st April 1816 in Thornton, West Yorkshire. She was the eldest of the three Brontë sisters whose novels have become classics of English literature. Charlotte Bronte used the pen name Currer Bell to publish her work, her most famous novel being Jane Eyre published in 1847.  Her later works include Villette and Shirley. Charlotte… More Charlotte Bronte – 21/4/1816 to 31/3/1855