#OTD 26 Feb 1564 Christopher 'Kit' Marlowe mysterious & fascinating #poet #playwright was baptised at St George’s Canterbury Son of shoemaker John & Katherine Marlowe born within months of #WilliamShakespeare His life was cut short in 1593 when he was stabbed! @hollowcrownfans.bsky.social

With the first part of Bridgerton Series 4 released recently, you may recognise the Double Cube Room at Wilton House as Queen Charlotte's throne room in. What makes it such a unique room? Find out in this post from the #voyagerofhistory archives. #historyblog #bridgerton wp.me/pagtWm-ij

Dick, Kerr Ladies were a ladies football teams set up in the First World War, who worked for Dick Kerr in Preston. One of their best players was Lily Parr. She was once challenged by a male goalkeeper, who believed she couldn’t be as good when faced with a man. She kicked the ball and broke his arm.

Our #LocalStudies book 'Heraldry for the Local Historian & Genealogist' is a favourite read of our Archives Assistant Amanda. A guide to the mysteries of heraldry’s language, interpreting heraldry on buildings, street furniture, household items, beautifully illustrated. #NationalYearOfReading

This letter was written by James Leslie Riley of South Darley, to his daughter, Jeanne, whilst he was serving during #WorldWarTwo, sending her birthday wishes and kisses. James tragically died as a prisoner of war during a mining accident whilst forcibly working in a Polish coal mine. #WW2

Remembering Mary (née Standeven), wife of Joshua Burns, who died on this day in 1909 at the age of 91. Joshua, a tailor and Mary, a bonnet maker married in October 1839. Joshua predeceased Mary, 1st January 1881, aged 65.

Just finished reading this lovely book. Ok definitely some aspects are improbable, but a whole lot of cute smush and getaway from life reading. A story of new love after heartbreak, which is something very really connect with, and unexpected espionage thrown in too! Thoroughly enjoyed this.

In this latest #voyagerofhistory post, I review a new book on Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black pilots in the U.S. Air Force by Cheryl W. Thompson. I would recommend this to anyone interested in aviation, Black, or American history. Learn more in this latest #historyblog post. wp.me/pagtWm-10b

A big thank you to everyone who came to attend my talk on the early mill workers of the Derwent Valley at Chesterfield library this morning. I wasn't quite expecting the amount of people there and it's always nice to share my various aspects of my work together.

Lew Wallace led a varied life. He was a politician, lawyer and writer. He was known for were his connections to Billy the Kid and his novel, Ben-Hur. Find out more about the fascinating man in this post from the #voyagerofhistory archives. #historyblog #nineteenthcentury #BenHur wp.me/pagtWm-gr

Meet Dido Elizabeth Belle, born in 1766. Her parents were Naval Officer Sir John Lindsay and Maria Belle, an African woman. She was brought into the Mansfield house as a companion for their daughter Elizabeth. Dido may have influenced Lord Mansfield’s anti-slavery decisions.

A little update on the Georgian Derby and Belper tours has gone live over on the newsletter today. Tours will be starting again in April. Booking is open for private tours though if anyone would like a private one. #derbyshire #tours #guidedtours #derby #belper open.substack.com/pub/voyagero...

A Valentine's poem for you, written by Valentine Thomas in April 1598 with coal on the walls of his Marshalsea prison cell, and noted down in his treason record (TNA KB 8/54), about trying (and failing) to assassinate Elizabeth I [poem in next post]

Happy 2nd anniversary to my biography of Anthony Woodville. I still can’t quite believe I did it after so many years of dreaming of writing and publishing this. It means so much to me to get to share the story of the man who’s been a part of my life for so long. ❤️❤️

A modest little font and cover they are not! #FontsOnFriday at the Church of the Holy Innocents, Highnam. The lavish decoration of all available surfaces speaks for itself! Octagonal stone pulpit on open arcading, leaf carving to sides.

In this latest #voyagerofhistory post, I review Power Couples of the Tudor Era by Jo Romero at Love British History. I would totally recommend and what a perfect way to spend a Valentine’s Day! #bookreview #historyblog #historybooks #Tudor wp.me/pagtWm-10a

Book Cover of the Day:

Bath Abby in Bath, Great Britain #WindowsOnWednesday #Photography #Monochrome #B&W #Architecture #Interiors 📷

The Beggar’s Opera, a play about highwayman, Macheath, was very popular in its day. It also claimed that Prime Minister, Robert Walpole had the same morals as a highwayman. Find out more in this post from the #voyagerofhistory archives. #historyblog #georgian #highwaymen wp.me/pagtWm-G

I have made a decision that the Georgian Derby and Belper tours will restart in April. I will be releasing public tour dates soon though. In the meantime, if you are part of a group, or you know enough friends and family to make a party of 4 or more people, my bookings for private tours are open.

I’ll be at Chesterfield library next Thursday talking about my work researching the mills of the Derwent Valley. FREE talk!

Spent a lovely morning and lunchtime with the Buxton & District Ladies Probus talking all about Margaret Cavendish, one of my favourite historical women. Always a pleasure to share about her!

I don't want to sound like a crybaby but if I had become an archaeologists, I'd be doing a lot of crying. www.bbc.com/news/article...

This is an image of Sainte Chapelle - Chateau de Vincennes, located just east of Paris. #Photography #Architecture #Interior #France #StainedGlass 📷

A rather splendid ornate (flowery) screen across the tower and porch of St Mary, Bruton, Somerset. Dated 1620 and possibly given by John Sampson, churchwarden. Pevsner wonders if the screen was originally made for installation elsewhere.

Life drawing for Holbein's portrait of Thomas More, pricked for transfer. You didn't think More sat there for as long as it took to paint a portrait, did you? In the painting, More looks both sadder and more resolute.

The Tudor era seems to be filled with strong people. In this latest #voyagerofhistory guest post, I welcome Jo Romero at Love British History, to share about the marriage of Katherine Willoubghby and her husband, Richard Bertie. #historyblog #tudors #sixteenthcentury wp.me/pagtWm-10g

#OTD In 1812, Charles Dickens, one of my favourite authors, was born in Portsmouth. He went on to write some of the most recognisable characters in literature. I have been privileged to share a talk on Dickens and the Victorian poor over the last few years, sharing more about his life and work.

During the Second World War, Louvre staff worked incredibly hard to save collections during German occupation. Want to know more? Take a look at this review of Gerri Chanel's fascinating book about their efforts in this post from the #voyagerofhistory archives. #historyblog wp.me/pagtWm-da

During the night of 12 April 1812, hundreds of Luddites marched silently to William Cartwright’s mill at Rawfolds, beside the River Spen (a mile from me), determined to destroy newly installed cropping machines. Croppers were skilled cloth-dressers who finished woollen cloth by hand using 1/3

Looking up at the nave roof and don't cover within Southwold, St Edmund, Suffolk #southwold #churches #heritage #suffolk #history #medieval #architecture

Built in 1788 by actor manager Samuel Butler the Georgian Theatre Royal In Richmond Yorkshire closed in 1848. Some 115 years later it was restored and reopened 1963 before being extended in 2003. It is the most complete Georgian theatre in the country.

#OTD 4th February 1495 Anne of York, daughter of King Edward IV and Queen Elizabeth Woodville, married Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey (later 3rd Duke of Norfolk) at Westminster Abbey. www.instagram.com/p/DUUgu3FlSu... #AnneofYork #ThomasHoward #Plantagenet #Tudors #History

As I start writing one of my new talks on Colonel Thomas Blood, a reminder that his family can trace themselves back to Edmund Blood, a Tudor cavalry captain from Makeney, between Milford and Duffield in Derbyshire. Edmund followed Elizabeth I's army to Ireland.

Come listen to me talk about my research into the Georgian era mills of Derbyshire's Derwent Valley! I'll be talking at Chesterfield Library on Thursday 19th February at 10 am. The talk is free and no booking is required, just turn up!

A 14th-century manuscript of the Romance of Alexander (the Great) that I saw in the Treasured exhibition at the Weston Library. [Shelfmark: Bodleian Library MS. Bodl. 264; fols. 43v-44r].

This is an entry for licences for premises with explosive material, covering the Alfreton & District area between 1893 and 1897. An unusual entry features a hairdresser on Alfreton High Street. Not sure what they were using and why, but thank goodness it's not used now. At least we hope it isn't!

2 Feb 1626: Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of #Pembroke, literary patron, carries the king's spurs at Charles I's coronation in #Westminster Abbey #otd (NPG)

It's National Golden Retriever Day and that's all the excuse we need. 🥰🥰

#OTD 3 Feb 1587 Elizabeth I's Privy Council met in William Cecil’s chambers at Greenwich & agreed to send Mary Queen of Scots signed death warrant to Fotheringhay allegedly without Elizabeth's knowing Signing it 2 days earlier she'd instruct her secretary not to issue it! But did she? #History

It’s February and that means the latest newsletter is available! Want to see what I’ve been up to and have to look forward to in terms of all things history? You can find it here. open.substack.com/pub/voyagero...

Book of Flower Studies, Master of Claude de France, c.1510–1515.

Little remains of the deserted medieval village of Cowlam but a few scattered farms and houses. Its medieval church, restored in the 19th century is though the home of a superb Norman tub font dating to c.1135. The richly carved font features unusually varied

Peacock, 1653 - 1695 By Melchior d'Hondecoeter, b. 1636, d. 3 Apr 1695. (British Museum)

Jack Sheppard became one of the best loved criminals in England for his escapes from Newgate Prison. Jonathan Wild, who was involved in his demise, became the most hated. Find out about their story in this post from the #voyagerofhistory archives. wp.me/pagtWm-1x

The first machine for rolling ice cream cones was patented #OnThisDay in 1924. Sweets made of ice or snow have been with us for millennia, evolving slowly into the modern ice cream. 🔓 This archive article is free for 7 days www.historytoday.com/archive/hist...

Clara Grant was pioneering in terms of the style of education as a teacher, but in terms of her charity work in London’s East End. Find out more her, and her work, in this latest #voyagerofhistory post. #historyblog #poverty #londonhistory wp.me/pagtWm-Y0

Yesterday, nearing the end of a magical library fellowship, I called up The Rules of Civility, a conduct book written originally in French but very popular in Restoration England. Curiously someone has written “A Tanner” in the right-hand margin…

Beyond the old Norman entrance of Skipton Castle is the gem that is Conduit Court. This paved and cobbled courtyard, surrounded by a range of domestic Tudor buildings, contains the famous yew tree reputedly planted by Lady Anne Clifford. The courtyard takes its