Queen Victoria's Beloved Kentia Palm: A Royal Botanical Obsession
The remarkable journey of the Kentia Palm from a remote Pacific island to Victorian drawing rooms. Discover the botanical history behind one of the world's most popular houseplants.
Category : Search result: botanical history
WWII Brothers Died Hours Apart in Battle of Britain
The poignant tale of two British brothers, both RAF pilots, who lost their lives within hours of each other during the Battle of Britain. Discover their heroic legacy and the memorial that now honours their ultimate sacrifice.
History Podcast Breaks Records with Epic Australia Tour
History podcast giants Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland are taking their chart-topping show, The Rest Is History, on an unprecedented live tour to Australia, selling out stadiums and redefining the power of historical storytelling.
UK's Best History Universities 2025 Revealed
The Guardian's 2025 league table unveils the best UK universities for studying History, with Cambridge retaining the top spot while London institutions dominate the upper ranks.
Top UK Universities for History of Art 2025 Revealed
The Guardian's 2025 league table unveils the best UK universities for History of Art. Discover which institutions lead in teaching quality, student satisfaction, and graduate prospects in this prestigious field.
£400m UK Therme Resort: Massive Indoor Water Park Planned
A colossal £400 million indoor water paradise, Therme Resort, is coming to the UK. Featuring wave pools, slides, botanical gardens and a sustainable design, it promises a year-round tropical getaway.
High Heels: A Queen's Vengeful Invention Against Rival
A startling new historical biography uncovers the dark and vengeful origins of the high heel, tracing it back to a plot by the 16th-century French Queen, Catherine de' Medici, driven by jealousy and a desire to humiliate her husband's mistress.
Lost 1870s blueprints reveal London's ghost Grand Central station
Exclusive: Unearthed 19th-century architectural plans by Perceval Parsons expose the colossal rail terminus that was never built, a forgotten rival to London's St Pancras.
Secret portrait suggests Shakespeare had a male lover
A newly authenticated 17th-century miniature portrait reveals compelling evidence of a close, possibly romantic relationship between William Shakespeare and his literary patron, the Earl of Southampton. Art experts and historians are re-evaluating the Bar
The Stolen Crown: The Heist That Threatened James I's Rule
Historian Tracy Borman uncovers the shocking theft of a priceless crown from James I's treasury, a brazen heist that threatened the very legitimacy of the Stuart monarchy in her new book, 'The Stolen Crown'.
The Political Ban That Stopped Joe Frazier Fighting in the UK
Exclusive look at the British Boxing Board of Control's 1960s ban on Smokin' Joe Frazier, a shocking decision rooted in politics that denied UK fans a legendary showdown.
The tragic true story behind Ferrari's famous logo
The iconic Ferrari prancing horse emblem has a poignant and heroic origin story, born from a national tragedy and a mother's enduring love. Discover the First World War tale that led to the creation of a motoring legend.
1920s newspaper article reveals shockingly modern relationship advice
A newly unearthed newspaper column from 1923 exposes remarkably progressive advice for men on marriage and relationships, proving that modern dating dilemmas are anything but new.
Lesbian pop-up defied Hurricane Katrina devastation
The remarkable story of Grrlspot, a pop-up lesbian dance party that became a beacon of hope and defiance in the immediate, chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
Unseen Photos of Black Britain's Great Depression
A powerful new photographic archive surfaces, casting light on the resilience and overlooked narratives of Black communities across the UK during the 1930s economic collapse.
Poles Forcibly Conscripted by Nazis Then Fought for Allies
New research uncovers the extraordinary story of thousands of Polish men forced into Nazi service who later defected to join Allied forces, a hidden chapter of WWII history finally coming to light.
RHS Wisley's Rare Million-Blue-Flower Spectacle
In an extraordinary horticultural event, a sea of millions of vibrant blue 'Glory of the Snow' flowers has carpeted RHS Garden Wisley, creating a breathtaking spring spectacle unseen in such scale before.
Cooks' Cottage relocation row sparks reconciliation debate
Fitzroy Gardens' iconic Cooks' Cottage faces a controversial proposal to relocate to Victoria's parliament precinct as a gesture of Aboriginal reconciliation, sparking intense debate about historical preservation versus colonial legacy.
Ancient Crosses Emerge from Goodwin Sands Revealing Lost History
A startling archaeological discovery unfolds off the Kent coast as shifting sands unveil ancient stone crosses, offering a tantalising glimpse into a medieval world lost to the sea for centuries.
Author Discovers He's Related to the Real Oliver Twist
A stunning genealogical discovery reveals a modern author's direct lineage to the impoverished boy who inspired Charles Dickens' iconic character, Oliver Twist, rewriting a chapter of literary history.
Grampians' Endemic Plants Inspire New Environmental Art Gallery
Discover how Victoria's Grampians National Park is leveraging its unique endemic flora to create a stunning new environmental art gallery, boosting sustainable tourism and celebrating biodiversity.
Trump's Smithsonian Attack: A New Front in the Culture Wars
Former President Donald Trump launches a fresh attack on the Smithsonian Institution, aiming to dismantle its Black history programming in a move critics decry as an attempt to erase uncomfortable truths from the American narrative.
London's Abandoned Tube Station: Churchill's Secret WWII Bunker
Explore the hidden history of Down Street, a ghost station on the London Underground that became a secret WWII bunker for Winston Churchill and is now a time capsule of the past.
Samuel Pepys: Diarist's dark past as sex addict and rapist revealed
Groundbreaking research reveals Samuel Pepys, Britain's celebrated diarist, as a compulsive sex addict and alleged rapist, forcing a dramatic reappraisal of the 17th-century figure.
Poland's WWII Conscription Scandal: Forced to Fight for the Enemy
A groundbreaking new exhibition in Poland reveals the harrowing stories of Polish men forcibly conscripted into the Wehrmacht, unearthing a long-suppressed national trauma and igniting fierce debate about victimhood and collaboration.
Spring-Loaded Flower Stamens Actively Target Pollinators
Groundbreaking research reveals the explosive mechanics of flower stamens, a sophisticated evolutionary adaptation that ensures plant reproduction by actively targeting pollinators.
Lost Vera Lynn WWII recordings found for release
Rare and previously lost recordings of Dame Vera Lynn, the iconic 'Forces' Sweetheart' of WWII, have been uncovered and will soon be released to the public.
Ongar's hidden history revealed
Discover Ongar's untold stories as local historians shed new light on this charming Essex market town's fascinating past.
Hope Reese's 'The Women Not Fine': A Feminist Masterpiece
Explore Hope Reese's compelling new book, 'The Women Not Fine,' which uncovers the untold stories of women who defied societal norms. A must-read for history enthusiasts.
Churchill’s bizarre wartime request: a personal platypus
Uncover the strange yet true story of Winston Churchill’s eccentric wartime demand for a platypus, revealing a lighter side of Britain’s wartime leader.
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