Lego Roundheads and Boye the Dog

Thanks to everyone for their help during Stuart Week. We've had historians and costumes, a debate a film and a battle! Tying up a few loose ends, Boye the dog wasn't really given the attention he deserved this afternoon. This giant hunting poodle was Prince Rupert's loyal accomplice across several battles, and people thought he had magical powers because of his ability to survive the fighting - he was even promoted to Sergeant-Major General! Sadly Boye's luck ran out during Marston Moor. He was tied up a safe distance from the battle but managed to escape and went looking for his master, but was killed whilst doing so, as depicted in the picture below. Prince Rupert's career after the battle is equally fascinating, and deserves its own blog post at a later date.


Meanwhile, some of you may have seen this picture of Thomas Fairfax depicted in Lego. To see further creations, including Charlemagne, Abraham Lincoln and Gandhi - click here (but sadly this doesn't work at school)

Hand washing advice

Here is some useful hygiene advice for you all. Have a safe and healthy weekend!

CIA Challenge

If you like code-breaking you might enjoy this site from the CIA. There are chances to look at and solve various famous codes from history. You never know - if you crack them quickly enough you might be offered a job!

The main site is full of interesting information and primary sources, especially documents on the cold war, including recently declassified Soviet material. Please let us know if you find anything interesting!

Michelle Obama on Sesame Street

There has been more than one significant anniversary this week. Here to mark 40 years of Sesame Street is Michelle Obama, who gives some handy vegetable growing tips.

Terrible Tudors

Have a happy half term!

Horrible Histories: The Four Georges

Plenty of material from the Horrible Histories BBC programme has made its way to YouTube. This sketch for example imagines what Georges I II III and IV would be like if they auditioned for the X-Factor... There also plenty of links to other sketches - please recommend the best ones so we can put them on the blog.

PS: Here is an interview with Terry Deary, creator of the Horrible Histories books. He does not consider himself to be a historian, and thinks schools are a waste of time!

Odd Box 17 July

Here is the BBC's Odd Box, a helpful collection of the odder events in the week's news that you may have missed. It includes Barack Obama having to cope with a teleprompter smashing to the ground in front of him.

50 Political Myths

Here, courtesy of Total Politics Magazine, are 50 political issues or cliches that are regularly referred to in the media but are in fact completely untrue. E.g. The EU have never banned bendy bananas and David Cameron never said "Hug a hoodie".

Historical Tweets

This site is quite amusing - what would historical figures have written if they had access to Twitter?

Here's one from Johannes Gutenberg

and here's Abraham Lincoln asking for speech-writing advice

Breaking News

Anne Boleyn at Hogwarts?

This post comes from the Anne Boleyn Society's webpage. Apparently the portrait on the right is of Miss B. The society puts itself about as the guardian of her reputation and is not impressed by any suggestions of witchcraft. There are some other interesting things to find here, including a Musical Section. Have a good weekend!