by Helen Kain | Jun 29, 2025 | Carousel, Fascinating People, Stuarts (1603–1714)
Let’s start with the backdrop: the English Civil War (1642–1651), a brutal and bewildering conflict that split families and the kingdom alike. On one side were the Royalists, or Cavaliers — the aristocratic, flamboyant defenders of King Charles I. Think of them as...
by Helen Kain | Jun 22, 2025 | Carousel, Fascinating People, Medieval (1066–1485)
To challenge a king, he needed a vision. To rule like one, he needed ambition. Let’s talk about Simon de Montfort—because he’s one of those historical characters who refuses to fit neatly into the box marked “hero” or “villain.” He was a French noble who married into...
by Helen Kain | Jun 22, 2025 | Carousel, Fascinating People, Medieval (1066–1485)
He built a kingdom on law and loyalty—then watched both fail him. If you’re looking for a medieval king with flair, look elsewhere. Henry II wasn’t flamboyant, he wasn’t pious, and he certainly wasn’t warm. What he was? Smart. Restless. Ruthlessly capable. The kind of...
by Helen Kain | Jun 22, 2025 | Carousel, Fascinating People
He wore the mitre like a crown—and took his martyrdom like a coronation. Let’s talk about Thomas à Becket, one of medieval England’s most controversial saints—and arguably one of its least humble. On paper, he’s a martyr: murdered in a cathedral for standing up to a...
by Helen Kain | Mar 2, 2025 | Carousel, Fascinating People, Georgians (1714–1837), Stuarts (1603–1714)
James Gibbs was one of the most influential architects of 18th-century Britain, known for his ability to blend Baroque grandeur with Palladian elegance. His work ranged from grand public buildings to refined country houses, and his architectural treatise, A Book of...
by Helen Kain | Feb 28, 2025 | Carousel, Fascinating People, Georgians (1714–1837), Great Gardens of England
Lancelot “Capability” Brown is one of the most influential landscape designers in British history, often called “England’s greatest gardener.” His work transformed the estates of the British aristocracy, replacing formal, geometric...
