by Helen Kain | Jun 28, 2025 | Castles & Stately Houses, England, Themes in History
Set high on the hill beside the Cathedral, Lincoln Castle has always loomed large—both literally and symbolically. , On a recent visit with my husband, Glenn, and our youngest daughter, Lauren, as we wandered its stone walls and peered into the prison cells, I...
by Helen Kain | Jun 22, 2025 | Medieval (1066–1485), Themes in History
Henry II and Simon de Montfort Walk Into a Parliament… You know what’s tricky about history? The people who make it happen are often the very ones you wouldn’t trust with the keys to your wine cellar. Take Henry II and Simon de Montfort—two of the...
by Helen Kain | May 30, 2025 | Carousel Ideas & Systems, Georgians (1714–1837), Themes in History
It has become fashionable to speak of the Enlightenment as a failed project. Depending on the argument of the day, it is blamed for everything from inequality to environmental strain to social fragmentation. The language is often sweeping: “broken,” “exhausted,” “no...
by Helen Kain | Feb 27, 2025 | Modern Britain (1901–Present), Themes in History
The story of rescuing Britain’s country houses is a testament to the enduring importance of heritage. Four key players are at the heart of this mission: the National Trust, English Heritage, Historic Houses, and private trusts. Each contributes to preserving and...
by Helen Kain | May 18, 2023 | Abbeys, Monasteries and Churches, Cathedral Tapestry, England, Themes in History, Tudors (1485–1603)
In April of 1536, the 27th year of King Henry VIII’s 38-year reign, more than 800 monasteries, nunneries and friaries were nestled across England — communities of prayer and devotion for abbots, monks, priors and nuns who provided sanctuary, tended the sick and...
