@HistoryExtra

Posts from HistoryExtra, Britain’s bestselling history magazine and award-winning podcast.

 Bristol, UK
historyextra.com
Joined March 2009
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  • Followers333K
15.7KMedia
On the podcast | Sean Cunningham reassesses Henry VII's reputation, revealing how his efforts to balance trust with treason shaped both his reign and his enduring legacy 🎧 Listen now on the HistoryExtra app, or wherever you get your podcasts
A close-up of a historical bust with a neutral facial expression, set against a dark background. The logo of History Extra Podcast is visible in the top right corner.

ALT A close-up of a historical bust with a neutral facial expression, set against a dark background. The logo of History Extra Podcast is visible in the top right corner.

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#OnThisDay in 1975, an armed robbery took place at the Spaghetti House restaurant in London. As staff were counting up the week’s takings, three armed men burst into the restaurant. The staff were kept in a tiny storeroom for the next five days as hostages. 📸 Getty
A black-and-white photo of a street scene during a procession. Police officers line the sidewalk and direct vehicles. A crowd watches from behind barriers. Cars, including some vintage models, are seen on the street. Shops like Bradley’s are visible in the background.

ALT A black-and-white photo of a street scene during a procession. Police officers line the sidewalk and direct vehicles. A crowd watches from behind barriers. Cars, including some vintage models, are seen on the street. Shops like Bradley’s are visible in the background.

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#OnThisDay in 1672, the Company of Royal Adventurers of England Trading with Africa was reconstituted by a new charter as the Royal African Company of England. The company was predominantly concerned with trading gold and enslaved people. 📸 Getty
A historical document titled "Answers to the Objections Against the Proposals of the Royal African Company" discussing trade to Africa. It includes a letter addressed to a Member of Parliament, with objections and answers about trade practices. The text is formal and styled in old-fashioned typography.

ALT A historical document titled "Answers to the Objections Against the Proposals of the Royal African Company" discussing trade to Africa. It includes a letter addressed to a Member of Parliament, with objections and answers about trade practices. The text is formal and styled in old-fashioned typography.

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#OnThisDay in 1969, the Beatles released their last recorded album, 'Abbey Road'. Launching on both sides of the Atlantic, the album went straight to number one in the charts. 📸 Getty
Four members of The Beatles are in a room surrounded by large balloons with a globe design. The setting appears festive, and they are all looking in various directions, seemingly engaged with something above them.

ALT Four members of The Beatles are in a room surrounded by large balloons with a globe design. The setting appears festive, and they are all looking in various directions, seemingly engaged with something above them.

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HistoryExtra retweeted
DJ Musgrove@DJMusgrove
Sep 24
Would anyone like to have an argument with me on social media? I'm only willing to do it in the spirit of a medieval Irish monk though, as per my recent 'Life Lessons from History' podcast with the brilliant Elizabeth Boyle.
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On the podcast | Ben Macintyre tells the jaw-dropping story of a Soviet spy with a sexual secret – one that may have averted nuclear war 🎧 Listen now on the HistoryExtra app, or wherever you get your podcasts
A document labeled "Classified" and "Top Secret" is stamped with a red seal. The left side features the HistoryExtra podcast logo. The background shows blurred, stacked papers.

ALT A document labeled "Classified" and "Top Secret" is stamped with a red seal. The left side features the HistoryExtra podcast logo. The background shows blurred, stacked papers.

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#OnThisDay in 1963, Lord Denning’s report on the Profumo scandal – the alleged affair between Tory minister Jack Profumo and the young Christine Keeler – hit Britain’s shelves. In the first day alone, over 100,000 copies were sold. 📸 Getty
Black and white photo of Christine Keeler, who was involved in the so-called 'Profumo scandal'.

ALT Black and white photo of Christine Keeler, who was involved in the so-called 'Profumo scandal'.

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#OnThisDay in 1332, Edward Balliol was crowned king of Scotland following his victory over the Earl of Mar. With the help of the English, Balliol had defeated the Earl’s forces at the Battle of Dupplin Moor in August. 📸 Getty
A historical illustration depicting the signing of the Magna Carta. Several figures in medieval attire gather in a large room with stone walls. A central figure sits at an ornate table, signing a document. Others stand around observing, with some seated on adorned chairs. Heraldic banners and a stained-glass window adorn the background.

ALT A historical illustration depicting the signing of the Magna Carta. Several figures in medieval attire gather in a large room with stone walls. A central figure sits at an ornate table, signing a document. Others stand around observing, with some seated on adorned chairs. Heraldic banners and a stained-glass window adorn the background.

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On the podcast | Siddharth Kara reveals the horrifying story of the Zorg – a slave ship long misnamed the Zong – and the brutal economics behind its infamous 1781 Atlantic crossing 🎧 Listen now on the HistoryExtra app, or wherever you get your podcasts
An illustrated scene depicts three individuals on a sailing ship, with two of them helping a third overboard. The image has a vintage style and includes the "HistoryExtra podcast" logo.

ALT An illustrated scene depicts three individuals on a sailing ship, with two of them helping a third overboard. The image has a vintage style and includes the "HistoryExtra podcast" logo.

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#OnThisDay in 1909, a French newspaper carried the first instalment of a new story by Gaston Leroux, set in the sumptuous, haunted world of the Palais Garnier opera house. The paper – called ‘Le Gaulois’ – had printed the first installment of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’. 📸 Getty
An individual is dramatically sprawled across an organ bench, with a music stand and violin visible in the background. The setting suggests a theatrical or cinematic scene.

ALT An individual is dramatically sprawled across an organ bench, with a music stand and violin visible in the background. The setting suggests a theatrical or cinematic scene.

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On the podcast | Ian Mortimer offers a fresh perspective on the English history as he looks at the last 1500 years through the windows of his own medieval home in Devon 🎧 Listen now on the HistoryExtra app, or wherever you get your podcasts
Medieval illustration showing people in a room. Two individuals are sitting at a table with food and drinks. One is standing, and another appears to be drinking. The table has various dishes and a jug. The image includes the logo for "HistoryExtra" podcast.

ALT Medieval illustration showing people in a room. Two individuals are sitting at a table with food and drinks. One is standing, and another appears to be drinking. The table has various dishes and a jug. The image includes the logo for "HistoryExtra" podcast.

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#OnThisDay in 1955, ITV – Britain’s first commercial television station – began broadcasting in London. One of its first programmes was the gameshow ‘Take Your Pick’. 📸 Getty
A bustling television studio scene with numerous individuals around a large camera setup. One person sits on a chair, while others stand nearby. There are spotlights, cables, and equipment overhead. The atmosphere is focused and professional, with people engaged in production activities.

ALT A bustling television studio scene with numerous individuals around a large camera setup. One person sits on a chair, while others stand nearby. There are spotlights, cables, and equipment overhead. The atmosphere is focused and professional, with people engaged in production activities.

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On the podcast | Simon Sebag Montefiore reveals the story of how the modern Middle East was made – from the creation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to the origins of today's Israel-Palestine conflict 🎧 Listen now on the HistoryExtra app, or wherever you get your podcasts
The image features a person with a bald head, looking directly at the camera with a thoughtful expression, resting their hand on their cheek. They are seated in a setting with shelves filled with books in the background. The logo "EH" is displayed in the top left corner.

ALT The image features a person with a bald head, looking directly at the camera with a thoughtful expression, resting their hand on their cheek. They are seated in a setting with shelves filled with books in the background. The logo "EH" is displayed in the top left corner.

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#OnThisDay in 1840, William Henry Fox Talbot developed the ‘calotype’ process. Using silver iodide, gallic acid and silver nitrate, the process allowed Talbot to make positive prints from calotype negatives. It would become very popular amongst British photographers. 📸 Getty
A black and white photograph of a window with delicate, patterned curtains slightly parted. The view outside is blurred, creating a soft, atmospheric effect. The bottom left has text reading "16 May 1843, Rouen."

ALT A black and white photograph of a window with delicate, patterned curtains slightly parted. The view outside is blurred, creating a soft, atmospheric effect. The bottom left has text reading "16 May 1843, Rouen."

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#OnThisDay in 1973, Billie Jean King won the 'Battle of the Sexes', defeating Bobby Riggs. Though merely an exhibition, it was the most watched tennis match of all time. Riggs had claimed that women were no good at tennis. In response, King hammered Riggs 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. 📸 Getty
Tennis star Billie Jean King sits on top of a feathered chair, being carried by two people dressed in Egyptian costume, as she heads into the 'Battle of the Sexes' tennis match.

ALT Tennis star Billie Jean King sits on top of a feathered chair, being carried by two people dressed in Egyptian costume, as she heads into the 'Battle of the Sexes' tennis match.

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#OnThisDay in 1970, the first Glastonbury festival was held in Somerset. The event was organised by a farmer named Michael Eavis and headlined by Tyrannosaurus Rex. Tickets cost £1 and included free milk from the farm. 📸 Getty
A grassy field with scattered litter and small groups of people sitting on blankets, suggesting a recently concluded outdoor event. A temporary stage structure is visible in the background, along with parked vehicles and trees. The area appears calm and slightly foggy.

ALT A grassy field with scattered litter and small groups of people sitting on blankets, suggesting a recently concluded outdoor event. A temporary stage structure is visible in the background, along with parked vehicles and trees. The area appears calm and slightly foggy.

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#OnThisDay in 1714, the 54-year-old elector of Hanover landed in Great Britain. Following the death of his second cousin Queen Anne, he had arrived for his coronation as George I. 📸 Getty
A regal portrait depicts a person in opulent robes, holding a scepter and orb. They stand beside a table draped in red cloth, with the British Crown placed upon it. The detailed outfit features rich embroidery and a fur-lined cape. The background includes a dark curtain and a glimpse of a distant cityscape.

ALT A regal portrait depicts a person in opulent robes, holding a scepter and orb. They stand beside a table draped in red cloth, with the British Crown placed upon it. The detailed outfit features rich embroidery and a fur-lined cape. The background includes a dark curtain and a glimpse of a distant cityscape.

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#OnThisDay in 1787, the US Constitution was signed. Delegates representing 12 states gathered in the Assembly Room of the Independence Hall and listened to a patriotic address by 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin, before signing the Constitution. 📸 Getty
Image of the United States Constitution. The document is aged and features the preamble beginning with "We the People." It contains articles and signatures of the Founding Fathers.

ALT Image of the United States Constitution. The document is aged and features the preamble beginning with "We the People." It contains articles and signatures of the Founding Fathers.

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On the podcast | Professor William A Pettigrew reveals how 13,000 investors in the transatlantic slave trade helped shape the development of modern Britain 🎧 Listen now on the HistoryExtra app, or wherever you get your podcasts
This is an illustration of enslaved people being forced onto a slave trading ship. In the top right corner is a HistoryExtra podcast logo.

ALT This is an illustration of enslaved people being forced onto a slave trading ship. In the top right corner is a HistoryExtra podcast logo.

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#OnThisDay in 1620, the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for America. By August, the Puritan community had decided to build a new world in North America and had leased two ships. When the first boat sprung a leak, over 100 settlers crammed onto the Mayflower and set off. 📸 Getty
A historical illustration depicts a group of European settlers arriving on the shores of America. They are dressed in clothing typical of the 17th century. The background includes a ship anchored near the shore and distant hills under a cloudy sky.

ALT A historical illustration depicts a group of European settlers arriving on the shores of America. They are dressed in clothing typical of the 17th century. The background includes a ship anchored near the shore and distant hills under a cloudy sky.

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