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  1. Blackleaf

    18th Century Asian sword found in River Towy

    Mystery surrounds the discovery of an 18th Century sword found on a riverbed in Carmarthenshire. It was dredged up by coracleman Andrew Davies while casting his nets on the River Towy in Carmarthen. These types of swords are strongly associated with Indonesia, but can also be found in...
  2. Blackleaf

    Royals attend Pippa Middleton's wedding

    Guests including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have attended the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews. Miss Middleton, 33, who is the younger sister of the duchess, married 41-year-old Mr Matthews at St Mark's Church in Englefield, Berkshire. The bride was accompanied by her...
  3. Blackleaf

    'Lost ' medieval gold brooch was 'gift from beheaded baron'

    A medieval gold brooch believed to have been lost by a baroness more than 500 years ago has been found near the moat of a Leicestershire castle. The 15th Century heart-shaped brooch probably belonged to Baroness Hastings, who lived in Kirby Muxloe Castle. 'Lost ' medieval gold brooch was...
  4. Blackleaf

    A Bronze Age 'beaker culture' invaded Britain 4,000 years ago

    One of the biggest ever studies of ancient genomes has found that a Bronze Age 'beaker culture' invaded Britain around 4,000 years ago. The immigrant group, named after the famous bell-shaped pots they carried, likely forced out native Neolithic farmers. These ancient British farmers were...
  5. Blackleaf

    UK ambassador's 'bruising' encounter with Austrian boar

    Diplomats are used to finding themselves in tricky situations. However, those tricky situations are usually confined to the treacherous waters of foreign relations, and tend not to involve an aggrieved wild boar. Which is possibly why when Leigh Turner, UK ambassador to Austria, heard...
  6. Blackleaf

    4,000 year old church is found in Shropshire

    An archaeological dig has uncovered the UK's oldest sacred site which is still in use dating back more than 4,000 years. Carbon dating carried out on a wooden post excavated from the Shropshire site has revealed that it was nailed into the ground in 2033 BC. The site was unearthed in...
  7. Blackleaf

    The Queen is pictured at London's Ivy restaurant on rare public night out

    It is a celebrity haunt known for its A-list guests, but The Ivy welcomed the ultimate VIP diner last night - when the Queen paid a visit. Her Majesty was on a rare public night out as she celebrated a friend's birthday at the famous West End restaurant... The ultimate VIP diner: Queen...
  8. Blackleaf

    Virtual reality mask brings Viking camp to life in Yorkshire Museum exhibition

    The sights and sounds of a Viking army camp have been brought to life through state-of-the-art virtual reality. Visitors to the Yorkshire Museum in York will be able to see what life was like in a Viking camp in Torksey, Lincolnshire, in AD872-873, as the Vikings waited out the winter...
  9. Blackleaf

    The hilarious moment a Queen's Guardsman berates a tourist

    This is the dramatic moment a Queen's Guardsman shouts at an over-eager tourist who gets a little too close while moving in for a photo outside Windsor Castle. As the oblivious visitor goes to pose for a picture, the guardsman booms: 'Stay Away!' Stunned onlookers mutter as the startled man...
  10. Blackleaf

    Farmer accidentally creates the world's hottest chilli pepper

    A Welsh fruit grower trying to come up with a novel entry for next week’s Chelsea Flower Show has accidentally created the hottest chilli ever recorded. Mike Smith, from Denbighshire, declared himself “chuffed” if a little “surprised” after scientists indicated that his Devil’s Breath...
  11. Blackleaf

    Britain has no need to fear Fortress Europe

    If the EU is determined to turn in on itself, that could work to the advantage of Britain. If overseas businesses are to be deterred from investing in the EU, they are likely to be attracted to Britain instead — so long, that is, as they are made to feel welcome here. Britain can become...
  12. Blackleaf

    Theresa's Brexit army

    A multi-millionaire Leave donor is promising to fund a new campaign to oust almost 140 pro-Remain MPs and deliver Theresa May a “Brexit army”. Jeremy Hosking is offering up to £5,000 to each Conservative candidate to ensure there is “no backsliding” on the EU referendum... THERESA’S ‘BREXIT...
  13. Blackleaf

    Medieval mothers had to marry and murder to get their way

    In the rough-and-tumble setting of medieval England, royal mothers were expected to do far more than just ensure their children, the future monarchs, were healthy and well-educated. She had to wield all her influence and patronage to keep her son in power—and keep her husband from killing him...
  14. Blackleaf

    Stunning vintage postcards reveal Wales' magnificent castles

    The spectacular castles of Wales have been revealed in a series of intricate colour postcards from the 1890s, with turrets, arrow slits and tumbled down brickwork rife. The rugged country is often called the 'land of castles' with more than 600 ancient forts scattered across the...
  15. Blackleaf

    Royals throw huge tea party for bereaved military children

    In the words of Prince Harry, Buckingham Palace had not seen that much fun, ever. He should know - and with water balloons, facepaints, cupcakes and the RAF Falcons parachuting onto the palace lawns, who would argue? The gardens of Buckingham Palace were transformed into every child’s...
  16. Blackleaf

    Portugal wins the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time

    Portugal has won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time in the competition's history. Salvador Sobral, 27, won with his love ballad Amar Pelos Dois, which was written by his sister. He said on receiving the trophy: "We live in a world of fast food music. This is a victory for music...
  17. Blackleaf

    `Special´ medieval text printed by William Caxton found buried in box

    A unique example of medieval printed text by pioneer William Caxton, which had once been used to reinforce the spine of a book, has been hailed as a “thrilling” find. The two pages from a priest handbook dating back to late 1476 or early 1477 was found buried in a box at Reading...
  18. Blackleaf

    Margaret Thatcher statue will take up her plinth in Parliament Square

    She was the Iron Lady, but Margaret Thatcher has been immortalised in bronze in a new statue – and she won’t be carrying her handbag. Instead, she will wear her Order of the Garter regalia, a first glimpse of the statue reveals. Last year it was reported that Baroness Thatcher’s daughter...
  19. Blackleaf

    Europe gears up for the Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev

    It has been a long 20 years since Katrina and the Waves secured Britain’s last victory at the Eurovision Song Contest. And anyone hoping for a return to glory tonight may be disappointed, judging by the hostility from music fans across the Continent. Despite claims by UK hopeful Lucie Jones...
  20. Blackleaf

    France elects Macron as president

    Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron has decisively won the French presidential election, projected results say. Mr Macron defeated far-right candidate Marine Le Pen by about 65.5% to 34.5% to become, at 39, the country's youngest president, the results show. Mr Macron will also become the first...