Toby's experience comes from website design as well as experience running large forums and communities. After he married Debbie he developed a keen interest in history and found himself discussing history quite a lot!
Fact of the Day
In 1576, the Bishop of London threatened to deal with puritans by sending them to 'Lancashire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, and such like barbarous places'.
Quote of the Day
"Water knee deep and up to the waist in places. Rumours of being relieved by the Grand Fleet.
"
~ British First World War soldier writing about the trenches in his diary
On This Day
217Caracalla, the emperor responsible for opening Roman citizenship to all free men living under Roman rule, was assassinated whilst relieving himself on the road to Carrhae.
1093The new, Norman, Winchester Cathedral was consecrated. At the time, it was the biggest cathedral in northern Europe.
1886William Gladstone introduced the first Irish Home Rule Bill into parliament. A majority of thirty voted against it two months later, perhaps partly because Gladstone had been so secretive in drafting it (largely by himself).
1904Britain and France signed the Entente Cordiale, marking the end of almost 1,000 years of intermittent hostilities.
1945German pilot, anti-Hitler plotter, and sister-in-law to some of the leaders of the 20 July Bomb Plot, Melitta von Stauffenberg was shot down by Allied aircraft. Despite making a perfect emergency landing, she died from her injuries.
1992After over 150 years of publishing, the satirical weekly magazine Punch printed its final issue (later in the decade there were attempts to revive it, but they ultimately failed).
2013Margaret Thatcher, the UK's divisive first female prime minister, died aged eighty-seven.
