Category Archives: British history

Pre-Elizabethan Drama: The Interlude

Posted on January 24, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

 Pre-Elizabethan drama moved from miracle plays to morality plays to folk plays to interludes. Interludes were the last to develop. Initially, “interludes” were closed identified with morality plays, especially in subject matter.  Precursors to Elizabethan Drama summarizes the development from … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Chaucer, drama, Elizabethan drama, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

John Spilsbury and the First Jigsaw Puzzle

Posted on January 17, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

 Okay, over Christmas I gave and received several jigsaw puzzles. I do puzzles on my Kindle Fire every evening. The presents I gave were those personalized puzzles where a person receives a puzzle of his or her hometown or community … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, British history, family, Great Britain, toys and games, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Ever Been on a “Cook’s Tour”?

Posted on January 12, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

Most of you are likely to think a “cook’s tour” has something to do with a chef’s culinary excellence, but the phrase actually has its roots in the world’s oldest and largest travel organization.   Thomas Cook was a 32-year old … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, commerce, Great Britain, Industrial Revolution, Living in the UK, real life tales, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, a Disappointment to Queen Victoria

Posted on January 11, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

Given Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s physical infatuation with each other, their first child, Princess Victoria, called Vicky, was born nine months after their wedding. The queen was busy with her duties as monarch and could spare little time for … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Church of England, family, Great Britain, marriage, royalty, Victorian era | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Court of Star Chamber During Henry VII’s Reign

Posted on January 10, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

Court of Star Chamber is, in English law, the court made up of judges and privy councillors that grew from the medieval king’s council as a supplement to the regular justice of the common-law courts. The room was so named for stars were … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, British history, Church of England, history, kings and queens, religion, royalty, Tudor | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Reginald Christie, 10 Rilling Place Serial Killer

Posted on January 9, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

 John Reginald Halliday Christie, known to his family and friends as Reg Christie, was an English serial killer active during the 1940s and early 1950s and is the subject a new film based upon his life of crime. Personally, the … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, film, Great Britain, history | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Pre-Elizabethan Drama: Folk Plays

Posted on January 6, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

Folk drama is a remote form of oral literature. The early forms included dancers wearing masks portraying animal and human characters. Eventually, speeches and songs were added. The action and the dramatic imitation became the prominent part of these early … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, drama, Great Britain, medieval, religion, theatre | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at, Yorkshire Unofficial Anthem

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

The traditional English folk song, ‘On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at,’comes from the County of Yorkshire, and it is written in Yorkshire dialect. In The Yorkshire Dictionary (Arnold Kellett, 2002) says the dialect used in the song is representative of the area … Continue reading →

Posted in ballads, British history, customs and tradiitons, Great Britain, history, legends, music | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

Do You Know These Words and Phrases?

Posted on January 3, 2017 by Regina Jeffers

 Do you know “bromide”? A bromide is a phrase or platitude or cliché whose excessive use suggests insincerity or a lack of originality in the speaker. The term “bromide” derives from the antiquated use of bromide salts in medicine as mild tranquilizers and … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, British history, history | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

The Statute of Anne, the First Copyright Law

Posted on December 28, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

Current copyright law in the United States says, “Copyright in a work created on or after January 1, 1978, subsists from its creation and endures for a term consisting of the life of the author and 70 years after the … Continue reading →

Posted in Act of Parliament, books, British history, customs and tradiitons | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The Statute of Anne, the First Copyright Law