Hello, in the past I’ve read Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the USA, and I wondered if a good equivalent exists chronicling the U.K. from a bottom-up perspective?

I’d be interested to find one such book that primarily views history from the perspective of the people, while taking into account the actions of royalty and leaders and the consequences this had on ordinary people’s lives and mindset.

It doesn’t necessarily have to document all of history going back to the year dot, I’d be also interested in books that deal with specific periods, too.

And if anyone has recommendations on powerful and accurate films and documentaries that concern this, too, would be great to add some of those to my list, too.

Thanks in advance!

As the title says, I'm looking for a good children's book about UK history. Next summer I will be traveling with my 9 year old child and wife to visit the in-laws in England. It will be my child's first time visiting England and Scotland. I'd love to get a kids book about UK history (ideally for Christmas) in order to start building the anticipation, and to help contextualize things that we might see when we are there.

Does anyone have recommendations of kids books about British history? Preferably not just an encyclopedia, but something more narrative...perhaps shorter anecdotes that could be read before bedtime, even if they are not seamlessly connected to one another.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions folks can share.

I’m researching customs/folklore in East Yorkshire and have come across a reference in churchwardens’ accounts in Hedon for 1561 that I just can’t fathom.

It’s a payment received by the church for “Merlayns at May Day — lv.s.” What on earth were Merlayns?! They cost a fair amount (55 shillings) but I can’t find any mention of them elsewhere. Hutton’s Stations of the Sun usually comes up with the goods but, even though he references the same accounts, there is nothing about merlayns.

Any ideas?

On the general election wiki page it says ‘n/a’ next to majorities in government before 1832. Why was this?

I'm trying to find out what if anything CID, or the Met in general, had in the way of an "Internal Affairs" type department in the 1920s. Was there a department for following up eg police corruption? A procedure? I'm struggling to find anything and I don't know if that's because I can't find it or it isn't there to be found, so I thought I'd ask if anyone here has any knowledge!