The Industrial Revolution began in Britain in the 18th century. It was the greatest period of change in history, transforming the handicraft and agricultural economy into the modern era of machine manufacturing and industry. It occurred during the period 1760 to 1840, when the rapid changes affected not only manufacturing and technology, but also society…
The penny farthing was invented in the 19th century. It received its odd name as a result of the different sizes of its wheels – the front wheel was large and related to the penny, while the back wheel, the “farthing”, was significantly smaller, giving the bicycle its odd front-heavy appearance. The concept was that…
Art Deco was one of the most popular design styles of the early 20th century. Although its dominance was short-lived, it has gone on to enjoy enduring appeal over the decades. © Mihalis A. / Adobe Stock Origins The Art Deco style is said to have originated in Paris, where it took its name from…
Think of a classic British sitcom from the 1970s and Fawlty Towers is likely the first name to come to mind. With its hilariously witty scripts, iconic characters and memorable scenes, it’s no wonder that Fawlty Towers has been rated as the top British Television Programme by the British Film Institute. Overview Surprisingly, Fawlty…
The humble bench has played a vital role in many of the most famous movies in history… and it sure has seen plenty of action! Forrest Gump Perhaps the most iconic bench scene in the history of films takes place in Forrest Gump, the 1994 epic that won six Oscars, including best picture and best…
Britain boasts a number of luxurious hotels, where guests can enjoy being pampered and waited on by staff whose sole purpose is to make them happy. While satisfying customers’ needs is a priority for every hotelier, if the guests are paying £20,000 per night for their accommodation, they expect only the best! © Demphoto /…
Pipes of Peace was the first solo number one recorded by the former Beatles’ member, Paul McCartney. Released in 1983, the lyrics describe the Christmas Day truce that occurred between Allied and German soldiers on the front line in France during World War I in 1914. Between 1960 and 1970, McCartney had enjoyed worldwide success…
Metal silhouettes of soldiers have been erected at iconic locations across the UK to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. Featuring 6ft tall outlines of the British “Tommy”, the moving tribute is part of the There But Not There campaign. Appearing at many locations across the country, including the sentry…
Released in 1972, British comedy film, Carry On Matron, was the 23rd in the franchise and the fourth medical comedy. It featured the largest number of the regular Carry On team to date – but for some fans, it was also the lewdest and a step too far for those who preferred the traditional saucy…
English inventor and metallurgist, Sidney Gilchrist Thomas, discovered a method of eliminating phosphorus (an impurity in some iron ores) in the Bessemer converter – the industrial process used for mass producing steel from molten pig iron. In his honour, the method became known as the Thomas-Gilchrist process, the basic process, or the Thomas process, as…