ENGLAND in My Roots: Ancestral Heritage Mug
My ancestors came from England. That explains a lot about my love for cricket, afternoon tea, and the royal family!
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History of England
Journey back in time to England
Also known as(United Kingdom)
Explore the history, people, photographs, newspapers, postcards, and genealogy connected to England.
ABOUT THE PLACE
About England
In 1591, Sir John Harington of England invented the flush toilet.
In 1666, Isaac Newton of England, discovers gravity.
In 1698, Thomas Savery, of England, invents the steam engine.
In 1870, The British House of Lords officially decided that a man cannot marry his widow's sister.
In England, Santa Claus is known as Father Christmas. Children set their Christmas wish lists on fire instead of putting them in the mail. Gifts are not placed under the Christmas tree, they are placed at the foot of the bed inside a big stocking.
Crimbo is an English slang word for Christmas.
Instead of leaving cookies and milk for Santa, children in England leave brandy, cookies and mince pie for Father Christmas.
The pulling of Christmas crackers often accompanies food on Christmas Day. Invented by a London baker in 1846, a cracker is a brightly colored paper tube, twisted at both ends, which contains a party hat, riddle and toy or other trinket. When it is pulled by two people it gives out a crack as its contents are dispersed. worldholidaytraditions.com
The day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day. It is a day for servants to receive a Christmas box.
In 1666, Isaac Newton of England, discovers gravity.
In 1698, Thomas Savery, of England, invents the steam engine.
In 1870, The British House of Lords officially decided that a man cannot marry his widow's sister.
In England, Santa Claus is known as Father Christmas. Children set their Christmas wish lists on fire instead of putting them in the mail. Gifts are not placed under the Christmas tree, they are placed at the foot of the bed inside a big stocking.
Crimbo is an English slang word for Christmas.
Instead of leaving cookies and milk for Santa, children in England leave brandy, cookies and mince pie for Father Christmas.
The pulling of Christmas crackers often accompanies food on Christmas Day. Invented by a London baker in 1846, a cracker is a brightly colored paper tube, twisted at both ends, which contains a party hat, riddle and toy or other trinket. When it is pulled by two people it gives out a crack as its contents are dispersed. worldholidaytraditions.com
The day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day. It is a day for servants to receive a Christmas box.
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South West Front, St Albans Abbey
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LOCAL HISTORY
Discover England : History, News, Travel, and Stories
Explore the events, newspaper stories, people, and moments that shaped England through the years.
The Stone of Destiny was stolen from Scotland by King Edward I of England in 1296 and placed under the throne at Westminster Abbey in London.
1430 - Capture, trial, and execution of Joan of Arc
1455 - The Wars of the Roses begin in England
1509 - King Henry VIII marries his first wife, Katherine of Aragon
1533 - Henry VIII married Anne Boleyn
1534 - Henry VIII broke with the Church in Rome with the Act of Supremacy, which made the king head of the Church of England
1536 - Anne Boleyn tried for treason, adultery and incest and executed on Tower Hill on May 19th
1547 - King Henry VIII died; Edward VI (age nine) became King
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1549 - Book of common prayer introduced; First Act of Uniformity passed, banning Roman Catholic mass
1553 - King Edward VI died; Lady Jane Grey declared Queen of England for nine days; Mary I crowned Queen
1558 - French retook Calais; Queen Mary I died; Elizabeth I crowned Queen
1559 - Mary, Queen of Scots, claimed her royal right to the English throne
1567 - Mary, Queen of Scots, abdicated, son James declared King
1587 - Queen Elizabeth ordered execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, for treason
1591 - The flush toilet is invented (Sir John Harington, England)
Harington devised England's first flushing toilet - called the Ajax. It was installed at his manor in Kelston...
In 1591, Sir John Harington, an English courtier and godson of Queen Elizabeth I, invented the flush toilet. Harington’s design featured a bowl with a water-tight seal, a seat, and a cistern-operated flushing mechanism that released water to carry waste away through pipes to a cesspool. While innovative, it didn’t gain widespread use due to its cost and the lack of a proper sewage system. Harington’s invention laid the foundation for modern plumbing, and the flush toilet became common in the 19th century after further improvements by inventors like Thomas Crapper.
In 1591, Sir John Harington, an English courtier and godson of Queen Elizabeth I, invented the flush toilet. Harington’s design featured a bowl with a water-tight seal, a seat, and a cistern-operated flushing mechanism that released water to carry waste away through pipes to a cesspool. While innovative, it didn’t gain widespread use due to its cost and the lack of a proper sewage system. Harington’s invention laid the foundation for modern plumbing, and the flush toilet became common in the 19th century after further improvements by inventors like Thomas Crapper.
Read more about John HARINGTON
1601 - Queen Elizabeth I died; James VI of Scotland became James I of England, first Stuart king
1621 - Thirty Years War began (Protestants against Catholics)
1625 - King James I died; son Charles I crowned
1642-1645 - 1641 - English Civil War began; 1645 - Civil War ended, Charles I defeated
1649 - King Charles I tried for levying war; found guilty and was executed; son Charles II declared himself King
(1653 - 1658) Lord Cromwell ruled England as Lord Protector
1654 - England declared war on Spain
1660 - Monarchy restored with King Charles II
1665 - Great Plague struck London; over 75,000 died
1666 - Isaac Newton discovers gravity
"...According to the well-known story, it was on seeing an apple fall in his orchard at some time during 1665 or 1666 that Newton conceived that the same force governed the motion of the Moon and the apple. He calculated the force needed to hold the Moon in its orbit, as compared with the force pulling an object to the ground. He also calculated the centripetal force needed to hold a stone in a sling, and the relation between the length of a pendulum and the time of its swing..."
Read more about Isaac NEWTON
1685 - King Charles II died; brother James, Duke of York, crowned King James II
(1688 - 1689) Glorious Revolution took place, King James II deposed by Parliament
1689 - William & Mary assume English throne. Peter the Great assumes Russian throne.
1694 - Queen Mary II died; Bank of England established
1698 - The steam engine is invented (Thomas Savery, England)
"Thomas Savery was an English inventor credited with making important advancements and discoveries in the development of the steam engine. He was born in 1650 at Shilston and belonged to a well known family of Devonshire. He received a thorough education and was fond of mathematics, mechanics and philosophy. He spent a great deal of time performing experiments and engineering new types of equipment for use in his experiments. Savery chose the profession of military engineering and achieved considerable success, rising to the rank of captain...
...England was facing a severe shortage of timber. Most of the timber from forestry was being used for shipbuilding and firewood. Therefore, coal was replaced with firewood as often as possible. However, this meant digging deeper into coal mines which led to the possibility of water seeping into the mines. In 1698, Savery patented a steam engine known as the “Miner’s friend” after presenting the same to the “Royal Society of London”. This...
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...England was facing a severe shortage of timber. Most of the timber from forestry was being used for shipbuilding and firewood. Therefore, coal was replaced with firewood as often as possible. However, this meant digging deeper into coal mines which led to the possibility of water seeping into the mines. In 1698, Savery patented a steam engine known as the “Miner’s friend” after presenting the same to the “Royal Society of London”. This...
Read more about Thomas SAVERY
1702 - King William III died; Anne, daughter of James II, crowned Queen
1702 - March 11 - 1st English daily newspaper "Daily Courant" publishes
1702 - May 14 - England & Netherlands declare war on France & Spain
1707 - Act of Union passed - united England and Scotland as Great Britain
1709 - February 2 - British sailor Alexander Selkirk is rescued after being marooned on a desert island for 5 years, his story inspires "Robinson Crusoe"
1712 - July 20 - The Riot Act takes effect in Great Britain.
1714 - January 7 - Typewriter patented by Englishman Henry Mill (built years later)
1717 - March 2 - The Loves of Mars and Venus becomes the first ballet performed in England
1720 - June 10 - Mrs Clements of England markets first paste-style mustard
"In 1720 Mrs Clements, in Durham, England, developed a process to remove the husks from ground mustard and make smooth mustard. This was the first recorded smooth mustard made in England. Mrs Clements understood the value of her innovation well and kept the process secret for as long as possible, even supplying the smooth mustard to King George 1st."
1733 - May 17 - Great Britain passes Molasses Act, putting high tariffs on rum & molasses imported to the colonies from a country other than British possessions
1735 - September 22 - Robert Walpole becomes the first British "Prime Minister" (actually First Lord of the Treasury) to live at 10 Downing Street
1750s - The game of cricket became popular in England
1754 - Beginning of the French and Indian War between Great Britain and France for control of the North American colonies. It is part of the Seven Years War.
December 1780 - Britain declared war on Dutch Republic (Fourth Anglo-Dutch War)
Treaty of Paris signed by King George III April 9, 1784
British gave United States all land between Atlantic Ocean and Mississippi River from Canada to Florida. Spain received Florida.
1800 - Population of the Kingdom of Great Britain - 10,481,401
1801 - Act of Union between Great Britain and Ireland creates the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
1824 - Portland cement is invented (Joseph Aspdin, England)
One of the greatest commodities in the United States today is a greyish powder commonly sold in 50-pound bags for about 10 cents a pound.
Modern Portland cement has a rather short but fabulous history. Back in 1824 an English mason named Joseph Aspdin mixed a compound composed of lime, silica, alumina and iron oxide. The result was a grayish substance which reminded him of the stone quarried from the isle of Portland off the British coast.
Joseph Aspdin's Portland cement proved to be the best answer to an age-old problem. Down through the centuries men had attempted to bind stone into a solid mass.
Some of their efforts were remarkably successful. The Assyrians and Babylonians achieved some good restults with clay. The Egyptians built the Pyramids by using lime and gypsum mortar as a binding agent.
The Russians, who mixed slaked lime with a volcanic as from Mount Vesuvius, produced a cement capable of hardening under water. As proof of the quality of their cement, many...
Read more
Modern Portland cement has a rather short but fabulous history. Back in 1824 an English mason named Joseph Aspdin mixed a compound composed of lime, silica, alumina and iron oxide. The result was a grayish substance which reminded him of the stone quarried from the isle of Portland off the British coast.
Joseph Aspdin's Portland cement proved to be the best answer to an age-old problem. Down through the centuries men had attempted to bind stone into a solid mass.
Some of their efforts were remarkably successful. The Assyrians and Babylonians achieved some good restults with clay. The Egyptians built the Pyramids by using lime and gypsum mortar as a binding agent.
The Russians, who mixed slaked lime with a volcanic as from Mount Vesuvius, produced a cement capable of hardening under water. As proof of the quality of their cement, many...
Read more about Joseph ASPDIN
1825 - The locomotive is invented (George Stephenson, England)
"... in 1811 George Stephenson made an engine. 'At last something practical has been designed,' thought many. George improved his design, and by 1825 his locomotion was on the rails. This was the first engine for the first important railway in the world. It went from Stockto to Darlington, England, for the first time on 27th September 1825. This great old parent engine is preserved in the South Kensington Museum..."
Read more about George STEPHENSON
1826 - The gas stove is invented (James Sharp, England)
...John Baptist von Helmont, born at Brussels in 1677, while engaged in chemical research, discovered gas and named it. An English rector, Rev. Dr. John Clayton, discovered coal gas in 1792, thereby causing great consternation in his village in Wales. It was nearly 40 years later that the practicability of gas for cooking was demonstrated by James Sharp, of Northampton, England...
The Winnipeg Tribune, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, February 2, 1931
..."Mr. James Sharp, for many years Engineer to the Southampton Gas works. In a pamphlet which was published by him in 1851, he stated that it was then upwards of 24 years since he first introduced the application of gas to cooking, and referred to a lecture given by him in June, 1837, at the the Mechanics' Institution at Southampton, on which occasion he cooked a substantial supper which was partaken by a large number of the company. He further mentions, as one of the obstacles which had to be contended with in introducing this system of ...
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The Winnipeg Tribune, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, February 2, 1931
..."Mr. James Sharp, for many years Engineer to the Southampton Gas works. In a pamphlet which was published by him in 1851, he stated that it was then upwards of 24 years since he first introduced the application of gas to cooking, and referred to a lecture given by him in June, 1837, at the the Mechanics' Institution at Southampton, on which occasion he cooked a substantial supper which was partaken by a large number of the company. He further mentions, as one of the obstacles which had to be contended with in introducing this system of ...
Read more about James SHARP
1827 - Matches are invented (John Walker, England)
In 1827 the first friction match was invented in England by John Walker. Walker's matches were sticks tipped with a mixture of chemicals that burst into flame when scratched against a rough surface.
Walker found that when the mixture dried, he could ignite the stick by drawing the head through a piece of sandpaper. Other people began making such matches, but they presented many problems. They were hard to ignite, they didn't always light properly, and the heads often came off.
In 1830 the walker matches were improved by substituting white phosphorus for one of the ingredients. This type of match was first made in the United States in 1836.
Sulfur was used to help the match-head flame light the wooden splint. The sulfur was later replaced with paraffin, and fire retardants were added to the wooden match splint to make it burn more slowly.
In 1911 an American match company perfected a formula that used a nonpoisonous compound of phosphorus and sulfur, and thus eliminated...
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Walker found that when the mixture dried, he could ignite the stick by drawing the head through a piece of sandpaper. Other people began making such matches, but they presented many problems. They were hard to ignite, they didn't always light properly, and the heads often came off.
In 1830 the walker matches were improved by substituting white phosphorus for one of the ingredients. This type of match was first made in the United States in 1836.
Sulfur was used to help the match-head flame light the wooden splint. The sulfur was later replaced with paraffin, and fire retardants were added to the wooden match splint to make it burn more slowly.
In 1911 an American match company perfected a formula that used a nonpoisonous compound of phosphorus and sulfur, and thus eliminated...
Read more about John WALKER
1839 - February 26 - The Grand National horse race was first run
The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, England.
1839 - April 9 – The world's first commercial electric telegraph line comes into operation alongside the Great Western Railway line in England, from London Paddington station to West Drayton.
1843 - The Christmas card is invented (Sir Henry Cole and John Callcott Horsley, England)
"The custom of sending Christmas cards was started in the UK in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole. He was a civil servant (Government worker) who had helped set-up the new 'Public Record Office' (now called the Post Office), where he was an Assistant Keeper, and wondered how it could be used more by ordinary people.
Sir Henry had the idea of Christmas Cards with his friend John Horsley, who was an artist. They designed the first card and sold them for 1 shilling each... The card had three panels. The outer two panels showed people caring for the poor and in the centre panel was a family having a large Christmas dinner! Some people didn't like the card because it showed a child being given a glass of wine! About 1000... were printed and sold."
Sir Henry had the idea of Christmas Cards with his friend John Horsley, who was an artist. They designed the first card and sold them for 1 shilling each... The card had three panels. The outer two panels showed people caring for the poor and in the centre panel was a family having a large Christmas dinner! Some people didn't like the card because it showed a child being given a glass of wine! About 1000... were printed and sold."
1851 - August 22 - The first America's Cup yacht race was held, with the US schooner America beating the British yacht Aurora.
The course was called "The Queen's Course". The course was near Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight, where the Royal Yacht Squadron headquarters are located.
1863 - December 19 - The first ever soccer match was played, between Barnes Football Club and Richmond Football Club. The final score: 0-0.
1870 - A sexton in Middlesex, England, while digging a grave, found twenty-five silver coins, dating back to the Stuart period.
1870 - The British House of Lords has officially decided that a man cannot marry his widow's sister.
1895 - England
England, ing'gland (L. An'glia; Fr. Angleterre, 6N' l'tain'; It. Inghilterra, £, Sp. and Port. Ingla terra, ing-glà-tèR'Rā; Ger. England, &ng’lānt; Dutch, En eland, éng'He-lânt'), the southern and larger section of the island of Great Britain, and the most important of the three kingdoms constituting the British empire, between lat. 49° 57' 42" and 55° 46' N. and lon. 1° 40' E. and 5° 42' W. The northern boundary, between it and Scotland, is constituted by the Solway Firth and the river Sark on the west, then by a line to the point where the Liddell falls into the Esk, thence by the Liddell eastward and upwards till it is struck by the Cheviots, then by the watershed of that range till they sink into the valley of the Tweed, and finally by the Tweed till it falls into the sea. On all other sides Eng land is washed by the sea, (See GREAT BRITAIN.) Its coast-line is irregular, being much indented by a continuous series of bays, estuaries, and headlands, so that although measured from...
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1900 - Population of United Kingdom (including Ireland) - 39,875,900
1901 - January 22 - Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom dies at age 81, after more than 63 years on the throne, and her son the Prince of Wales formally succeeds her as King Edward VII.
1902 - August 9 – Edward VII is crowned King of the United Kingdom.
1940 - May 10 - Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister of Great Britain
In the early hours of Christmas Day 1950 three Glasgow (Scotland) students broke into Westminster Abbey (England) and stole the Stone of Destiny from beneath the throne at Westminster Abbey in London.
1979 - May 4 - Margaret Thatcher becomes the first female prime minister of Great Britain
1982 - Women are allowed to spend their money in English pubs without being refused service.
1985 - May 16 - Hole in Ozone layer is discovered by British scientists
The discovery of the annual depletion of ozone above the Antarctic was first announced in a paper by Joe Farman, Brian Gardiner and Jonathan Shanklin which appeared in Nature (magazine) on May 16th 1985.
On St Andrews Day 1996 the Stone of Destiny completed a 400 mile, police escorted journey from Westminster Abbey to Edinburgh Castle.
Here's a list of places to go and things to do in England:
London:
The British Museum: Explore a vast collection of world art and artifacts.
Tower of London: Discover the rich history and royal jewels.
Buckingham Palace: Witness the Changing of the Guard and stroll through St. James's Park.
Westminster Abbey: Immerse yourself in the stunning architecture and history.
The Shard: Enjoy panoramic views of London from the tallest building in the city.
Camden Market: Experience eclectic shops, street food, and live music.
Tate Modern: Marvel at contemporary and modern art on the banks of the Thames.
Oxford and Cambridge:
Oxford University: Take a stroll around the historic colleges and visit the Bodleian Library.
Punting in Cambridge: Relax on the River Cam while punting through the beautiful city.
Countryside and Nature:
Lake District: Hike and explore the picturesque landscapes.
Jurassic Coast: Walk along the stunning cliffs and fossil-rich beaches.
Cotswolds: Experience charming villages with thatched cottages.
Peak...
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The British Museum: Explore a vast collection of world art and artifacts.
Tower of London: Discover the rich history and royal jewels.
Buckingham Palace: Witness the Changing of the Guard and stroll through St. James's Park.
Westminster Abbey: Immerse yourself in the stunning architecture and history.
The Shard: Enjoy panoramic views of London from the tallest building in the city.
Camden Market: Experience eclectic shops, street food, and live music.
Tate Modern: Marvel at contemporary and modern art on the banks of the Thames.
Oxford and Cambridge:
Oxford University: Take a stroll around the historic colleges and visit the Bodleian Library.
Punting in Cambridge: Relax on the River Cam while punting through the beautiful city.
Countryside and Nature:
Lake District: Hike and explore the picturesque landscapes.
Jurassic Coast: Walk along the stunning cliffs and fossil-rich beaches.
Cotswolds: Experience charming villages with thatched cottages.
Peak...
GENEALOGY IN ENGLAND
Discover YOUR Roots: England Ancestry
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Ancestors Connected to England
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Updated: 5/17/2024 6:24:11 PM
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