April 17th in History
April 17th
1397Geoffrey Chaucer told the Canterbury Tales for the first time at the court of Richard II. The tales (mostly written in verse although some are in prose) were told as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travelled together on a journey from Southwark to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral.
Sir Ralph Grey, a Royalist commander, was executed on April 17, 1650, during the English Civil War. Grey had initially fought for Parliament but later switched sides to support King Charles I. He commanded Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland, which was one of the last Royalist strongholds in England. However, after a siege led by Parliamentary forces, Grey was captured. He was sentenced to death for treason. His execution symbolized the continuing efforts of Parliament to eliminate Royalist resistance. The fall of Bamburgh Castle marked a turning point in securing Parliament’s control over England.
On April 17, 1937, the BBC made history by broadcasting its first televised version of Hamlet. This was a significant moment in the history of British television. Shakespeare’s plays had long been a central part of British culture, but this was one of the earliest attempts to bring them to a wider audience using television. The production starred famous British actors of the time and was well received.
1956Premium Bonds were introduced into Britain by the Conservative Chancellor, Harold Macmillan. They were described as a ‘squalid
raffle’ and as a ‘cold, inhuman activity’. 750,000 Methodists were urged by their church leaders to boycott the scheme.
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park was established on this day in 1957.
The National Park encompasses 519 square miles and covers four main regions,The Black Mountain, Fforest Fawr,The Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains. Its highest peak is Pen y Fan at 2907 feet.
April 17 1971
All four former Beatles have solo singles on the UK chart: Paul McCartney: "Another Day", Ringo Starr: "It Don't Come Easy", John Lennon: "Power To The People" and George Harrison: "My Sweet Lord".
1397Geoffrey Chaucer told the Canterbury Tales for the first time at the court of Richard II. The tales (mostly written in verse although some are in prose) were told as part of a story-telling contest by a group of pilgrims as they travelled together on a journey from Southwark to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral.
Sir Ralph Grey, a Royalist commander, was executed on April 17, 1650, during the English Civil War. Grey had initially fought for Parliament but later switched sides to support King Charles I. He commanded Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland, which was one of the last Royalist strongholds in England. However, after a siege led by Parliamentary forces, Grey was captured. He was sentenced to death for treason. His execution symbolized the continuing efforts of Parliament to eliminate Royalist resistance. The fall of Bamburgh Castle marked a turning point in securing Parliament’s control over England.
On April 17, 1937, the BBC made history by broadcasting its first televised version of Hamlet. This was a significant moment in the history of British television. Shakespeare’s plays had long been a central part of British culture, but this was one of the earliest attempts to bring them to a wider audience using television. The production starred famous British actors of the time and was well received.
1956Premium Bonds were introduced into Britain by the Conservative Chancellor, Harold Macmillan. They were described as a ‘squalid
raffle’ and as a ‘cold, inhuman activity’. 750,000 Methodists were urged by their church leaders to boycott the scheme.
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park was established on this day in 1957.
The National Park encompasses 519 square miles and covers four main regions,The Black Mountain, Fforest Fawr,The Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains. Its highest peak is Pen y Fan at 2907 feet.
April 17 1971
All four former Beatles have solo singles on the UK chart: Paul McCartney: "Another Day", Ringo Starr: "It Don't Come Easy", John Lennon: "Power To The People" and George Harrison: "My Sweet Lord".
61-69, M
