The sinking of the Princess Alice in 1878
In 1873, the SS Princess Alice, a pleasure steamer, collided with another vessel and sank in the Thames. It was the greatest loss of life of any British inland waterway shipping accident.
Six Things on
St Ninian's Isle - Shetland's enchanting beach
Far north in Scotland, an enchanting beach links St Ninian's Isle to the mainland, the largest island in the Shetlands. A peaceful place with a forgotten but ancient history, and buried treasure to boot!
The humble dandelion - curse it and love it
Gardeners may get annoyed with the humble and prolific dandelion, to be found growing rampantly all over Britain, but we would surely be sorry to lose this cheery wild flower, and they are vital to the survival of pollinating insects. And for amusing children!
The Scout Movement - British creation by Robert Baden-Powell
The Scouts youth movement is a British invention, created in August 1907 by Robert Baden-Powell, a decorated soldier, talented artist and actor, who wanted to bring youngsters from different backgrounds together, with the opportunity to test their abilities and learn new skills.
Jasper Maskelyne - war wizard
Jasper Maskelyne (1902–1973) was a larger than life character who practised conjuring on a grand scale for military purposes. From a famous family of English stage magicians, he offered his services as a wartime illusionist and escapologist during the Second World War.
Hack Green bunker - a Cold War secret, now revealed
For over 50 years, a number of vast underground complexes around Britain remained secret. They were nuclear protection bunkers, designed to accommodate government officials in the event of an atomic war. Several are now visitor attractions, including one that was hidden on the outskirts of a sleepy Cheshire town.
Six things to delight and entertain you every day.