Recently in history Category

He's been dubbed "Britain's most unlikely millionaire" - but farmer Fred Johnson is waiting with bated breath to hear the outcome of a campaign which could determine the fate of the Staffordshire Hoard.

This was the biggest-ever find of Anglo-Saxon gold - and it was discovered on his land near Brownhills, Walsall, last year.

This new public appeal has been launched in a bid to raise the £3m-plus needed to buy the artefacts and keep them in the Midlands, rather than see them split up and sold on the open market.

The hoard, which comprises 1800 items and has been buried for 1300 years, was valued at £3.3m last November - money is set to be shared by Fred and the metal detectorist who made the discovery.

Historian David Starkey described it as "entirely male gangland bling", adding: "This is the Rolex watch and gold chains of a gang leader."

Here are some pictures which appeared on Field Day last year shortly after the hoard's discovery.

And there is an interesting piece in The Times about Fred's first visit to see the items unearthed on his farm.

The Ceremony of Christmas Cheeses at the Royal Hospital Chelsea saw Chelsea Pensioners standing shoulder-to-shoulder with troops bound for Afghanistan.

Among the Pensioners welcoming TA soldiers Lance Corporal George Anderson and Private Ben Gorringe to the hospital was 94-year-old World War II veteran Bill Moylon, who helped build the Bridge on the River Kwai while held a prisoner of war.

Every year British cheesemakers donate cheese to pensioners, a tradition that began in 1692 when the hospital asked a local cheesemonger to provide them with some as a Christmas treat.

This year, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Dairy Council supporting the ceremony, cheesemakers decided to pay tribute to the bravery of young men and women who continue to serve.

George Anderson, a 31-year-old estate agent said: "It makes you feel very proud to be doing your bit for your country when standing alongside brave and dignified Chelsea Pensioners, especially when you consider the conditions that they suffered and the length of their campaigns. We are on tour for six months whilst they were away and uncontactable for years."

Never chuck your old wellies away - you never know what they'll be worth one day.

This pair of boots, thought to have belonged to Oliver Cromwell, went under the hammer yesterday for £3800.

The 60cm high "leather postillion's boots" smashed the estimate of £300-£500 when they were sold by auctioneers Dreweatts at Donnington Priory.

They had been displayed in the hall at Wormsley Park and formed part of a collection of items described as forming "a quintessentially English country house sale".

Never chuck away your old wellies. They could be worth a few quid one day. £500, in fact, if this pair are anything to go by.

After the archive photo of the New Forest family, I thought you might like this one as well.

It dates back to the Second World War and shows a gas mask and rug on a horse at the Royal Veterinary College in London.

I love this photo. I came across it when I was looking at some old pictures from the Museum of English Rural Life's wonderful archive collection. It was taken in 1942 and shows 80-year-old New Forest smallholder Ian Drodge with his wife and granddaughter. It's one of a whole host of shots from the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s which we'll be publishing in Farmers Weekly's 75th anniversary issue on October 30.

A major exhibition focusing on the vital contribution of the Women's Land Army opens in Sussex this autumn. 

It's St George's Day tomorrow so, if you like to mark the occasion (and I do), then have a good one.

Here are St George's Day recipe ideas on the BBC Good Food site.

One of the Farmers Weekly forums regulars, Kansas Farmer, is trying to find some more out about this photo.

It features his great great grandfather, who went to the USA in 1873. 

The photo was taken in Lincoln in about 1870 - and Kansas farmer is wondering if it is a military uniform (he thinks he was in an army band - one that could have been referred to as 'the Lifeguards').

Can anyone throw any light on the matter?

After the long-running 'Why is this sheep being thrown off a bridge?' debate, I've been shown another lovely old picture of a sheep experiencing a similar fate.

Land Girls are obviously a bit like buses. I hadn't mentioned them for months and then two stories about them come at once.

First it was the government's new plan to recognise their efforts - then it's that a tv production company wants to hear from them. So, if you were one (or know someone who was) you might want to get in touch with the company...

The Government plans to formally recognise the efforts of the WWII Land Girls.

DEFRA Minister Hilary Benn has announced the government will acknowledge the efforts of the Women's Land Army by presenting surviving members with a special badge commemorating their service and acknowledging the debt that the country owes to them.