Social history

The White Tower, one of the oldest parts of the Tower of London complex, was built by William the Conqueror. (Getty Images)

Castles of the Conqueror

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A Victorian drawing room with pictures in heavy frames and ornately covered furniture, c1860. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Where history happened: Victorian collectors . This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Sebastian Coe, a track and field athlete, winning the 1,500 metres gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. (Bettmann via Getty Images)

Moscow 1980: going to the games

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The Vicar of Bray

Scenes of frivolity in the 16th century. (Culture Club/Getty Images)

Bad sports? Puritan attempts to ban games in 17th-century England

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The vulgar tower

Guinness o’clock

An illustration depicting medieval pilgrims. (Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images)

The Library Medieval tourism: pilgrimages and tourist destinations

Industrial might: Blenheim bombers in production in England, late 1939. The Allies’ combined industrial strength proved too much for the Axis. (Getty Images)

Second World War

The Library The world in flames

William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne and British prime minister from 1782–83, was instrumental in the Genevan exiles’ move to southern Ireland. (Getty Images)

The watchmakers of Waterford

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Trabi jokes

Second World War

German bomber insurance

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A Rough Justice

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Q&A: How did the Romans write fractions?

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Rabbit holiday