CATEGORIES
Æthelstan and the foundation of England
Danny Bird reveals everything you need to know about the Anglo-Saxon ruler regarded as the first true 'King of the English' – from his battlefield achievements to his political reforms -
SHRAPNEL, SHELL-SHOCK AND SHATTERED DEFENCES
Trench warfare forced military strategists to develop fresh tactics and terrifying new weaponry - in a bid to gain the upper hand
BATTLE FOR SICILY THE 'SOFT UNDERBELLY'
Eighty years ago, Allied forces invaded the Axis homeland for the first time in a huge, complex operation that involved airborne and amphibious landings
AUBREY COSENS
In February 1945, as the Allies began a renewed push into Nazi Germany, a Canadian sergeant single-handedly cleared three enemy-held buildings to earn the Commonwealth’s highest military honour
Dame Mary Quant
The fashion designer Dame Mary Quant has died. She was 93.
The Fall and Rise of Tony Hancock
Robert Ross examines the continuing legacy of the lad himself
Cereal Thriller
Simon Stabler joins the breakfast club
Finding His True Self
Chris Hallam pays tribute to the many different lives of comedian and broadcaster Paul O'Grady
RAIL BLAZER
Fifty years ago, British Rail’s prototype High Speed Train set a new diesel speed record. Tony Bending looks back on this achievement
CATHERINE THE GREAT
On the 25th anniversary of the bestselling author’s death, Caroline Roope turns the pages of the remarkable backstory of Dame Catherine Cookson
WHEN 'ENRY'S 'AMMER FLOORED CLAY
Colin Allan looks back 60 years to the night Henry Cooper took on Cassius Clay
THE GOLD STANDARD
Simon Stabler climbs on board the Golden Hinde, a much-travelled replica of Sir Francis Drake’s galleon
POSTCARD FROM BELFAST
Bob Barton goes in search of the Chronicles of Narnia author CS Lewis, steps back in time, learns more about the story of the Titanic and goes to the theatre
The Girl from Mars
Chris Hallam looks back to when Helen Sharman became the first Briton in space
Declaring a Display
The Declaration of Arbroath, a letter urging Pope John XXII to recognise Scotland’s independence and acknowledge Robert the Bruce as the country’s lawful king, will go on display at the National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh (0300 123 6789, nms. ac.uk/national-museum-of-scotland) from 3 June to 2 July.
Ready for Action!
Paul Carey looks at the work of special effects designer Derek Meddings, which included the Thunderbirds series and the James Bond franchise
THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF LESLIE HOWARD
John Greeves looks at the untimely death of the Gone With the Wind star amid speculation this was an attempt by the Nazis to kill Winston Churchill
THE HOUSE OF SECRETS
Picture-perfect Harvington Hall hosts many surprises. Claire Saul visits this unique Worcestershire treasure to discover some of them
TAKING THE GRAND TOUR
Professor Roey Sweet reveals why young British men journeyed to Europe as an important part of their education
THE FIRST SHOGUN
How an exile took power in an age of murderous intrigue and a teetering empire
HUNT FOR THE PHANTOM KILLER
Who was the masked man who held the region of Texarkana in a grip of fear?
LEMON JUMBLES
A SPICED AND SUGARY KNOTTED BISCUIT, ENGLAND, 1485-PRESENT
Historical Treasures - FIRST EDITION OF ROBINSON CRUSOE
Widely considered one of the first English novels, copies of this first edition are increasingly rare England, 1719
GETTING HIGH WITH THE ANCIENTS
From drinking parties to medicinal cures and religious rituals
The Life of GENTLEMAN JACK
Anne Lister was a true trailblazer, and today her story continues to inspire
The City of Peace
Perfectly situated between East and West, Baghdad became one of the Silk Road's leading centres of trade, science and cultural exchange
What If...THE CHARTISTS HAD SUCCEEDED?
Winning the vote, and a voice, for the working man would change the political and social structure of Britain forever
THE CORRUPTION OF HENRY VIII
How the Tudor king went from Renaissance prince to blood-soaked tyrant
1943-2023: DAMBUSTERS
Seventy-seven returned-only 48 lived to tell the story Official Historian, No. 617 Squadron Association, Dr Robert Owen, recounts what happened next for the men who were immortalised by their role in the epic raid
THE NORTHERN BARRAGE
Codenamed Operation SN, the Royal Navy laid a huge minefield in the North Atlantic that ultimately failed to prevent German naval activity against Allied vessels