Latest news with #ElizabethI
New Statesman
2 days ago
- General
- New Statesman
We should be eating oily fish – but what's the catch?
The government has, for some time, been trying to get a reluctant population to eat fish – preferably oily fish such as mackerel, herring or salmon – at least twice a week. It began campaigning around 1563, urging people to add Wednesday as a 'fissh daye' to Friday, still observed as a fast day even in newly Protestant England. It was for the national health: not the well-being of individuals, but the country's economic and military might. Elizabeth I's government, flinching at the threat from Spain, aimed to boost 'the nursery of the navy', the fishing fleet. Fish would eke out the nation's limited beef supplies, in demand from a growing and increasingly wealthy population. But neither fasting nor fish were popular and the policy was dropped. In the 18th century there was another attempt. Humiliated by defeat in the American War of Independence, parliament looked instead to develop north and west coastal Scotland, which had no large-scale fishing industry. Inconveniently located Highlanders were cleared from their villages in favour of sheep and packed off to the maritime margins to become crofters and fishing folk. The expanding herring industry attracted the attention of Adam Smith. To relieve poverty, he argued, subsidise the small and local. Bounties (subsidies) on huge fishing vessels simply ended up in the pockets of wealthy Londoners. Those small boats hardly made a dent in Scotland's vast shoals. Daniel Defoe described the Pentland Firth as 'one-third water and two-thirds fish' in the 1720s. Donald Murray's Herring Tales (2022) describes how young Highlanders and Islanders followed the 'numberless armies' throughout the season from Orkney to Lowestoft. For much of the 19th century, netting, gutting, barrelling, curing and selling fish provided jobs (demanding, cold and smelly, as they were) and food through small, usually family-owned boats. The breakfast kipper became part of the much-admired Scottish breakfast (particularly plump, rubicund fish became known as 'Glasgow Magistrates'). Smoked fish gave factory workers something 'tasty' for their tea, and extra-salted fish were given to enslaved workers in the Caribbean. Today, we take a 'healthy diet' to be a personal matter. But the old sense of the health of the economy is indissoluble from bodily health, thanks to the cost of the NHS. Oily fish – salmon, herrings, sardines, sprats, mackerel – have found themselves recommended anew by government for cardiovascular health, thanks to their micronutrients and Omega-3 – essential fatty acids that our bodies cannot make themselves. Critics and conservationists say that humans should simply eat the source of Omega-3 directly, by eating as far up the food chain as possible. Ditch lice-infested fish-farm salmon; instead eat the tiny silver anchovies, sardines, herring – the small fry that are turned into fishmeal. This is cheap, healthy fast food (though, admittedly, they can be whiffy in the kitchen). Traditional recipes tend to be quick and uncomplicated: a flash under the grill, some bread, butter and something sharp like lemon, dill pickle, capers, gooseberries or rhubarb. Potatoes often feature. Smoked mackerel flaked into mashed potato make quick fishcakes, without the smell lingering. Both herring and mackerel take kindly to a devil of mustard and cayenne. The Sicilian pasta con le sarde, an ancient, pre-tomato pasta sauce of sardines, fennel, pine nuts and raisins, takes as long to make as pasta takes to boil. A few anchovies, cooked with onions, give an umami boost to a tomato-based sauce. If there is a lesson in these contrasting stories – the Elizabethan proclamation vs the Adam Smith subsidies – it is that if the legislature wants to change the way the population eats, it must put some money into it; proclamations or their modern equivalent, 'guidelines', don't work by themselves. So much for our economic and personal health – what about the oceans? Smith was right for a reason he couldn't have foreseen: small boats don't wreck the marine ecosystem as huge trawlers do. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe If there are to be plenty more fish in the sea – enough for us to eat our two portions a week – small might be the way to go in the kitchen, as it is in water. [See also: 150 years of the bizarre Hans Christian Andersen] Related
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
World Lipstick Day 2025: History, hottest shades, and textures making lips pop today
Celebrate World Lipstick Day in colour with our guide to lipstick's fascinating past and the top trending hues ruling makeup bags now. World Lipstick Day 2025, celebrated on 29 July, celebrates one of beauty's most powerful and iconic products—its history, hottest shades, and textures that make lips pop. From Cleopatra's crimson lips to glossy TikTok trends, lipstick has remained a timeless tool of confidence and style. Whether you're swiping on red or glossing up with nude, here's everything you need to know about its World Lipstick Day. A kiss of history: How lipstick began World Lipstick Day. Picture: iStock Lipstick has been colouring lips for more than 5 000 years. Ancient Sumerians and Egyptians were among the first to use crushed gemstones, beetles, and plant pigments to add colour to their mouths. Cleopatra famously favoured deep reds made with carmine beetles, symbolising power and beauty. In Europe, lipstick saw fluctuations in popularity. It was banned in the Middle Ages for being 'deceitful', but returned with a vengeance during Queen Elizabeth I's reign, who favoured stark white skin and bold red lips. Lipstick took off globally in the 20th century, with the invention of the first twist-up tube in 1923. By the 1950s, red lipstick became a symbol of Hollywood glamour, with icons like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor defining eras with their signature shades. Trending Textures in 2025 World Lipstick Day. Picture: iStock Lipstick today is more versatile than ever, offering a range of finishes for every mood and look: Matte : Long-wearing with rich pigment. Perfect for statement lips with minimal touch-up. : Long-wearing with rich pigment. Perfect for statement lips with minimal touch-up. Glossy : Reflective and juicy, gloss is having a big moment thanks to Gen Z and Y2K nostalgia. : Reflective and juicy, gloss is having a big moment thanks to Gen Z and Y2K nostalgia. Satin : A smooth, slightly shiny finish that's both elegant and comfortable. : A smooth, slightly shiny finish that's both elegant and comfortable. Lip oils and balms: Hydrating and sheer, ideal for low-maintenance, dewy looks. Most popular lip colours right now World Lipstick Day. Picture: iStock According to beauty insiders and online sales, these are the top lipstick colours trending today during World Lipstick Day 2025: history, hottest shades, and textures making lips pop today: Power Red: A classic symbol of strength and style. Mocha Brown: Earthy, bold, and perfect for all skin tones. Peachy Coral: A playful pop for warm weather. Soft Rosy Nude: Natural, flattering, and perfect for everyday wear. Deep Berry: Chic, moody, and trending on winter runways. Whether you love a bold matte or a sheer gloss, today is the perfect excuse to pucker up and paint your lips with pride to celebrate World Lipstick Day 2025: history, hottest shades, and textures making lips pop today.
Daily Mirror
20-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Beautiful UK town looks exactly like the Cotswolds but is 99-miles away
A tiny but stunning UK town surrounded by lush countryside and dripping in history is just like the Cotswolds - just without the coach-loads of selfie-stick-waving tourists A quaint town touted as one of the UK's 'best-kept secrets' makes for the perfect alternative to the tourist-riddled hotspots. Enveloped in rolling Lincolnshire countryside and conveniently located just off the A1 lies the quintessential parish of Stamford. Here, you can expect the same standard of natural beauty, cobbled alleys and ubiquitous history as you'll find in the Cotswolds - which have garnered swathes of criticism for becoming insufferably busy and overcrowded. In the words of Sir Walter Scott, Stamford is 'the finest sight on the road between Edinburgh and London'. And if you're still not convinced, the town was also crowned 'Britain's top place to live' back in 2021. Despite its long list of accolades, the market town has managed to avoid the blinding tourist limelight - perfectly preserving its Georgian architecture, limestone buildings, and peaceful atmosphere. But historically, Stamford has always been quick to recognise its unique past and appearance - and became England's first-ever conservation area back in 1967. "There are over 600 listed buildings in and around the town: largely 17th and 18th century mellow limestone buildings with some older timber framed buildings," explains Visit Lincolnshire. "Stamford has the finest collection of medieval churches – five in all – of any small town in England. The area is also known for its stone and slate quarries and the Collyweston stone slate is found on the roofs of many Stamford buildings." With a bustling high street filled with independent cafes and shops, Stamford has also embraced the modern. Head over to The Drawing Room for a caffeine pick-me-up and delicious slice of cake, or check out The Slanted Door for an evening of fine dining and cocktails - and don't forget to call in at St Martins Antiques Centre for a truly unique souvenir. Of course, no trip to Stamford is complete without visiting Burghley House - a gorgeous Elizabethan mansion built by the First Minister of Elizabeth I. Built between 1555 and 1587 Burghley has its original Tudor kitchen, 18 magnificent State Rooms and priceless works of art - as well as perfectly manicured gardens you can roam around. Last year, the stately home was temporarily closed for the filming of a Netflix adaptation of Mary Shelley's 1818 novel Frankenstein. The film is set to be released this year, which means you still have time to visit the grand building before it gets overwhelmingly popular. How to get to Stamford Located just over 90 miles from central London, it takes around two hours and seven minutes to drive up to Stamford - if you're lucky enough to avoid any traffic. Indirect trains, which usually include a stop at Peterborough, can however slash the journey time down to just over one hour. If you're flexible with dates, you can grab single adult fares for as little as £21.20. If you have a rail card - this can bring the price down to £17.15. Unlike the Cotswolds, staying in Stamford doesn't have to break the bank. Despite its small size, there is still a range of accommodation types to suit varying budgets - from no-frills hotels to luxury suites. For example, a weekend's stay (Friday, August 15 -17) at the stunning and centrally-located Crown Hotel will set you back £404. This is based on two adults sharing a Double Room, and includes breakfast. If you're not wanting to splurge out, check out this cosy one-bedroom apartment that costs just £217 on the exact same nights. It has an equally good location, and comes with a fully-equipped kitchen which can help you avoid costs by cooking at home.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hawk tag discovery linked to Elizabeth I's cousin
The discovery of a silver hawk tag has uncovered the story of one of Elizabeth I's cousins, who also had family links to two of her favourites. The identity tag, known as a vervel, was found by a metal detectorist near Thetford, Norfolk, in early 2024, and has been declared treasure by a coroner. It belonged to the well-connected landowner and MP Sir Robert Knollys, a grandson of the queen's aunt Mary Boleyn. Parliamentary records revealed Sir Robert was very interested in hunting and hawking, said Norfolk's finds liaison officer Helen Geake. "He sat on numerous parliamentary committees to do with hawking and hunting and what's more unusual is he was also appointed to a committee on hunting with guns, which was a very new thing then." Hunting with hawks was a hugely popular sport for the wealthy, from the Middle Ages until the mid-17th Century. Vervels were used to identify ownership of the birds if they were found dead or had flown off. The 6.1mm diameter (0.36in) silver find was engraved SR. ROBERT. KNOWLES. 'Regular updates' Dr Geake's research revealed it belonged to Robert Knollys, who was born in about 1547 in Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire, and died in 1618. Sir Robert had a Norfolk connection through marrying one of his daughters to the politician Framlingham Gaudy, from West Harling, a few miles from Thetford. "We know he kept hawks on his son-in-law's estate and received regular updates about them from his servants," said Dr Geake, from Norfolk County Council's Environment Service. Sir Robert's father was the long-serving treasurer of Elizabeth I's household and his sister Lettice secretly married Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester in 1578. The earl had long been the queen's favourite, and even hoped to marry her at one point, but his marriage resulted in Lettice's banishment from court until Elizabeth died in 1603. Sir Robert's nephew Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, became another of the queen's favourites until an attempted uprising in 1601 resulted in his execution. The massive increase in firearms during the English Civil Wars (1642 to 1651) helped bring about the end of hawking, because it was much easier to shoot game for the kitchen than train a hawk for the purpose. A coroner at a treasure inquest typically decides whether the discovery is treasure, and therefore whether a museum should have first refusal over it. Norwich Castle Museum hopes to acquire it. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. More on this story Story of sign-language educated pair 'remarkable' Centuries-old ring found 'gleaming in the sunshine' Museum hopes to acquire 'rackety' baronet's ring Hawking rings etched with landowner's name found Related internet links Norfolk County Council Portable Antiquities Scheme
BBC News
19-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Thetford hawk tag discovery linked to Elizabeth I's cousin
The discovery of a silver hawk tag has uncovered the story of one of Elizabeth I's cousins, who also had family links to two of her favourites. The identity tag, known as a vervel, was found by a metal detectorist near Thetford, Norfolk, in early 2024, and has been declared treasure by a coroner. It belonged to the well-connected landowner and MP Sir Robert Knollys, a grandson of the queen's aunt Mary records revealed Sir Robert was very interested in hunting and hawking, said Norfolk's finds liaison officer Helen Geake. "He sat on numerous parliamentary committees to do with hawking and hunting and what's more unusual is he was also appointed to a committee on hunting with guns, which was a very new thing then." Hunting with hawks was a hugely popular sport for the wealthy, from the Middle Ages until the mid-17th were used to identify ownership of the birds if they were found dead or had flown 6.1mm diameter (0.36in) silver find was engraved SR. ROBERT. KNOWLES. 'Regular updates' Dr Geake's research revealed it belonged to Robert Knollys, who was born in about 1547 in Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire, and died in Robert had a Norfolk connection through marrying one of his daughters to the politician Framlingham Gaudy, from West Harling, a few miles from Thetford. "We know he kept hawks on his son-in-law's estate and received regular updates about them from his servants," said Dr Geake, from Norfolk County Council's Environment Robert's father was the long-serving treasurer of Elizabeth I's household and his sister Lettice secretly married Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester in earl had long been the queen's favourite, and even hoped to marry her at one point, but his marriage resulted in Lettice's banishment from court until Elizabeth died in Robert's nephew Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, became another of the queen's favourites until an attempted uprising in 1601 resulted in his massive increase in firearms during the English Civil Wars (1642 to 1651) helped bring about the end of hawking, because it was much easier to shoot game for the kitchen than train a hawk for the purpose.A coroner at a treasure inquest typically decides whether the discovery is treasure, and therefore whether a museum should have first refusal over Castle Museum hopes to acquire it. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
