17th Century Archives - Lovely Old Tree

A history of pickling

And now to turn to something I love and explore the wonderful history of pickling. Pickled onions, pickled cucumbers, pickled eggs – you name it, I love it. And like many British favourites, it derives from the need to preserve…

Why do we raise our glasses for a toast?

Posted by Katherine on September 24, 2014October 5, 2014 in 17th Century, 18th Century

It’s become ubiquitous to propose a toast during meals, at big events or at any time when there’s a drink in your hand. It’s considered an almost entirely international cultural act that feels so automatic that you don’t really think…

The neo-gothic redesign of the Palace of Westminster

Posted by Katherine on April 25, 2014May 30, 2014 in 16th Century, 17th Century, 18th Century, 19th Century, Local, Medieval

The complex of buildings found at Westminster is a little architecturally confusing. We have Westminster Abbey, clearly old from what you see inside it, Westminster Hall and the Palace of Westminster, which look similar, and Big Ben, which screams Victoriana. These buildings can easily blend together if you don’t look carefully and that blending was indeed the intention of the designers.

V&A The Museum of Childhood

Posted by Katherine on January 26, 2014September 26, 2014 in 17th Century, 18th Century, 19th Century, 20th Century, Exhibitions

I went to the V&A’s Museum of Childhood for the first time on Friday. I had always thought it would be interesting to see all the childhood-related objects collected by the Victoria and Albert Museum in one place, but I…

The Inns of Court: Lincoln’s Inn

Posted by Katherine on January 19, 2014 in 16th Century, 17th Century, 19th Century, Exhibitions, Local, Medieval

I have often walked past Lincoln’s Inn on my way to Chancery Lane and the Maughan Library. Lincoln’s Inn Fields is a beautiful little park to stroll through to avoid the busy roads and it’s amazing how quiet it is…

Winchester Cathedral and Christmas Market

Posted by Katherine on December 2, 2013 in 16th Century, 17th Century, Exhibitions, Medieval

I visited Winchester again last weekend for the first time for many years and its still as good as ever. On my trip I managed to fit in the Cathedral, the Great Hall and castle museum, Winchester College, the City…

Too easily overlooked – The Banqueting House, Whitehall

Posted by Katherine on November 1, 2013 in 17th Century, Exhibitions

I must have walked down Whitehall a hundred times, past one stone façade after another, and not realised that such an important building lay just beside me. I knew about the old Palace of Whitehall, which was a key royal…

Archaeology: A Secret History

Posted by Katherine on May 17, 2013 in 16th Century, 17th Century, 18th Century, 19th Century, 20th Century, Medieval, Television

There have been some great documentaries on TV recently, including the wonderful Archaeology: A Secret History, which at first sight I thought might be more along the lines of Time Team, but turned out to be really innovative and fascinating….

Category: 17th Century