The Old English Sheepdog is a a symbol of Britishness (and a very well known brand of paint!) Once called a Shepherd’s Dog, these beautiful dogs are now more likely to be seen showing off their glorious coats in competitions than herding sheep!
Image credit: Daisyree Bakker
On this day in 1847, Smith, Elder and Co, published Charlotte Brontë’s gothic horror Jane Eyre. A multifaceted tale of morality, duplicity and personal growth, the triple decker first appeared under the pseudonym Currer Bell, due in part to women’s place in society at the time.
Jane Eyre was Brontë’s ’s first novel to be published and was quickly followed by Shirley and Vilette. Following Brontë’s untimely death, The Professor and her unfinished tale Emma were also published.
Charlotte the third of six children to be born to Maria and Patrick Brontë in Thornton, Yorkshire. The work of Charlotte and her siblings Branwell, Anne and Emily was an iconic literary force to be reckoned with in the Victorian period and is known to this day as standard of English literature.
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The red telephone boxes that can be found on every street corner are rarely used for their intended purpose, I mean it is 2012 and 99.99% of people own mobile phones. They are now more popularly used as advertising devices and canvases for graffiti artists.
However, they still remain a fond British symbol, with the red paint making them stand out even on the dreariest of British days.
The first phone box was built in 1920 and was made of concrete! Few of these remain to this day, however there is a impressive example in Kingston-Upon-Hull which is still used to this day!
Although the numbers of telephones boxes are dropping year by year, they are still a popular sight on the roads of Britain and they may still be for many years to come.
Image credit: malias
“Deeds not words” – Emmeline Pankhurst
Emmeline was a strong leader of the British suffragette movement, they fought for women and to give them the right to vote in our country. In 1999 she was named as one of the top 100 most important people in the 20th century. She has influenced and shaped our country to what it is today, fighting all the way – hence the quote deeds not words.
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When you think of a controversial, straight talking, honest and feisty British family, who do you immediately think of? The Osbournes of course!
Known and loved for their rock ‘n’ roll attitude and ‘don’t care’ behaviour, the Osbournes became a household name through their TV programme ‘The Osbournes’. The family were followed by cameras for three years and not surprisingly, it became the most-viewed series ever on MTV! Everyone was gripped by their exciting lives, and obsession with dogs (like everyone British person)!
With their foul language, raw antics and erratic behaviour, it is no surprise we love the Osbournes so much. They live the rock and roll life that most of us just dream of, and for that we salute them.
Image credit: Patricia Oliveira
On this day in 1965, the Post Office Tower was officially opened. The tower was used to carry telecommunications traffic however because much of this information was sensitive, it was kept a secret, despite being the tallest building in Britain at the time and built in Central London! The tower didn’t appear on any maps until the 1990s!
Image credit: R/DV/RS