Latest articles by Chris Carter
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16 February 1659: Britain’s first cheque is issued
Features Merchant Nicholas Vanacker made out the first British cheque payable to Mr Delboe for the grand sum of £400, dated 16 February 1659.
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Gold coins lose none of their shine as “Brasher” doubloon sells for a record price
News The New York-style Brasher gold coin just set a new record auction sale price of $9.4. Chris Carter reports
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Should you head abroad or stay in the UK for your summer holiday?
Reviews If you go abroad there will be trouble, says Chris Carter. But you should be safer with a holiday nearer home.
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12 February 1994: Edvard Munch’s The Scream is stolen
Features One of the world's most famous paintings, The Scream by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch, was stolen from the National Art Museum in Oslo on this day in 1994.
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10 February 1355: The St Scholastica’s Day riots
Features On this day in 1355, the “town versus gown” rivalry in Oxford boiled over into three days of fighting, dubbed the St Scholastica’s Day riots.
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10 February 1906: HMS Dreadnought is launched
Features Britain upped the stakes in naval warfare when it launched the era-defining HMS Dreadnought on this day in 1906 – by far the most powerful ship of its day.
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4 February 1194: Richard the Lionheart is ransomed
Features Having fallen into the hands of the Duke of Austria and the Holy Roman Emperor, King Richard I of England was freed from captivity on this day in 1194.
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4 February 1818: Sir Walter Scott finds the Honours of Scotland
Features Romantic poet and novelist Sir Walter Scott discovered the Honours of Scotland – Scotland's crown jewels – on this day in 1818, after they had been missing for over a century.
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2 February 1709: Alexander Selkirk is rescued
Features After four years and four months marooned on a desert island, Alexander Selkirk – the inspiration for Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe – was rescued on this day in 1709.
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2 February 1901: Queen Victoria’s funeral procession
Features Britain mourned the death of Queen Victoria by holding a grand state funeral for Britain's then longest-reigning monarch, on this day in 1901.
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Brexit sparks an exodus of artworks form the UK
News The last days of Britain's membership of the EU saw a rush to get artworks out of the country before the introduction of new export rules.
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Whisk yourself away to better times with transport memorabilia
Reviews Nostalgia is driving a boom in transport memorabilia, including tube train luggage racks and illuminated garage signs. Chris Carter reports.
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Three of the best motorbikes to get you out on the highway
Reviews Prepare for a summer of motoring freedom and fun with a new motorbike. Chris Carter reports.
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28 January 1958: the Lego brick is patented
Features Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, the son of the Danish founder of Lego, patents the famous eight-stud Lego brick, on this day in 1958.
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Five stylish new hotels opening this year
Reviews From hip new digs in Sydney to luxurious OTT rooms at Versailles. Chris Carter reports.
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22 January 1979: Public sector strike cripples Britain
Features On this day in 1979, thousands of public sector workers downed tools over the Labour government's unpopular policy to tackle inflation.
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20 January 1841: Britain takes possession of Hong Kong
Features On this day in 1841, Hong Kong island was ceded to Britain following the Chuenpi Convention, along with a resumption of the opium trade.
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A way round Covid-19 travel restrictions
Reviews Assuming travel to your intended destination is allowed at all, why not just rent the whole hotel? Chris Carter reports.
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14 January 2002: Britain’s foot-and-mouth disease epidemic ends
Features The government finally declared Britain’s foot-and-mouth disease crisis over on this day in 2002, almost a year after the first case had been identified.
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13 January 1908: Henri Farman wins the Deutsch-Archdeacon Prize
Features On this day in 1908, Anglo-French flyer Henri Farman scooped the 50,000 franc Deutsch-Archdeacon Prize after the Wright Brothers refused to compete.
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9 January 1799: income tax introduced to Britain
Features In the 1790s, with Britain at war with Napoleon, the country urgently needed cash. And so on this day in 1799, a 10% levy was raised on all income over £60.
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Collectors mean a new lease of life for classic motorbikes
Reviews Spanner twirlers in need of a project could do worse than buy a classic motorbike, says Chris Carter
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Five stylish English spa hotels
Reviews Chris Carter reports on five of the best English spa hotels for you to revitalise your body, mind and soul when the lockdowns end.
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6 January 1873: Crédit Mobilier of America scandal investigated
Features On this day in 1873, the US House of Representatives launched an investigation into the scandal surrounding the building of the Union Pacific Railroad.
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