The History of Father Christmas - English Heritage
The jolly old man who sneaks into our houses every 24 December is beloved across the world and known by many names. But should you call him Father Christmas, St Nicholas or Santa Claus? What's the difference? Where did he come from? Is he a …
Victorian Christmas Traditions - English Heritage
Decorating Christmas Trees. Decorating trees at Christmas was a festive activity popularised by Prince Albert. Inspired by his heritage, trees in the royal household were adorned with lit candles and trinkets and the interiors filled with evergreen decorations.. But Victoria and Albert weren't the first royals to put up what we know today as a Christmas tree.
A timeline of Stonehenge - English Heritage
3500 BC First Monuments. Early farming communities arrive from Europe around 6,000 years ago. In the landscape north of Stonehenge they build a number of monuments for ritual and gathering: a causewayed enclosure (a large earthwork with concentric banks and ditches) at Robin Hood’s Ball; two cursus monuments (huge rectangular earthworks); and long barrows (communal burial places).
History of Stonehenge - English Heritage
The Earliest Monument. It is possible that features such as the Heel Stone and the low mound known as the North Barrow were early components of Stonehenge, but the earliest known major event was the construction of a circular ditch with an inner and outer bank, built about 3000 BC. This enclosed an area about 100 metres in diameter, and had two entrances.
What Happened at the Battle of Hastings | English Heritage
How Do We Know? There are an unusually large number of near-contemporary sources giving us detailed information about the battle. But all accounts of it rely on two main sources: the Bayeux Tapestry and the chronicler William of Poitiers.
What happened when the Vikings came to England? - English …
When did the raids start? The first big Viking attack on what is now England was the raid on Lindisfarne Priory in Northumbria in 793. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a record of history written by the Anglo-Saxons, tells the story in lots of dramatic detail.
Solstice at Stonehenge - English Heritage
Solstice. Stonehenge was built to align with the sun on the solstices. On the summer solstice, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone in the north-east part of the horizon and its first rays shine into the heart of Stonehenge.
Places to Visit in England - English Heritage
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History and Stories: Stonehenge | English Heritage
Read a full history of one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments, from its origins about 5,000 years ago to the 21st century. Timeline of Stonehenge Use this timeline to see the key stages in Stonehenge’s history at a glance, from the …
5 things you might not know: The Real Story of Bonfire Night
While Guy Fawkes is the name synonymous with the 1605 Gunpowder Plot, the charismatic mastermind behind it all was Robert Catesby. Catesby was a devout Catholic, invested in converting England from Protestant to Catholicism. He was also a participant in the failed 1601 Essex rebellion and shared Guy ...