Pictures Dated 24th April 2007

Coughton Court, Warwickshire, late 19th century. Artist: Unknown

Coughton Court, Warwickshire, late 19th century. Coughton Court is one of England's finest Tudor country houses. It holds a place in English history for its role in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The Throckmorton family were heavily involved in the plot and some of the conspirators rode directly back there after it failed.

© The Print Collector / Heritage-Images

'Departure of the Pilgrim Fathers from Delft Haven, July 1620', (19th century).Artist: T Bauer

'Departure of the Pilgrim Fathers from Delft Haven, July 1620', (19th century). The Pilgrim Fathers, members of the English Separatist Church sect of Puritans fled religious persecution in 1609, becoming exiles in the Netherlands. They decided to seek a new life in the New World, and sailed from Delft in a small ship, the 'Speedwell', to rendezvous with another vessel, the 'Mayflower'. It transpired that only the Mayflower would be able to withstand the rigours of the trnsatlantic voyage, and all the Pilgrims set sail aboard her from Plymouth. They landed in New England 102 days later.

© The Print Collector / Heritage-Images

Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of Henry II of England. Artist: Unknown

Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of Henry II of England. Eleanor (1122-1204) was one of the most powerful figures in 12th century Europe. She married Louis VII of France and accompanied him on the Second Crusade. After Louis became jealous of her and had the marriage annulled, Eleanor married the future Henry II of England in 1152. She bore Henry five sons, two of whom, Richard I and King John, went on to rule England. Henry believed Eleanor to have been involved in her sons' rebellion against him in 1173 and had her confined until his death in 1189. She was actively involved in governing the kingdom in Richard I's absence in the Holy Land on the Third Crusade and secured his release from Austria by ransom. She remained politically active during John's reign before retiring to end her days at Fontevrault Abbey.

© The Print Collector / Heritage-Images