Oct 6, 2026 | in-depth essay
Prepared by AMSR using the Archive Or, how Margaret Thatcher used her authority to force through a policy that neither the public nor many Cabinet members supported. Margaret Thatcher entered Downing Street in May 1979 determined not to manage the postwar economic...
Sep 22, 2026 | Advertising and media, Stories
Over the course of the 20th century newspapers grew to be a vital medium for news, information and entertainment. They also became a key tool for advertisers to reach large and specifically targeted audiences. In the 21st century competition has forced newspaper...
Aug 30, 2026 | Advertising and media, Politics and government policy, Stories
“The first thing, perhaps, is that appointing a Drought Minister is crucial…” The 1976 drought was one of the most severe Britain had ever faced. Reservoirs collapsed, rivers shrank, and by late August the National Water Council judged the situation so serious that it...
Aug 14, 2026 | in-depth essay
Amelia McEvoy Amelia recently completed her history degree at Queen Mary University, London. For her dissertation she focused on the developing impact of British beauty culture on women in the post-war years 1950-80. Here she describes the process of shaping her...
Aug 11, 2026 | Social history, Stories
How Britain coped with the 1976 potato shortage In the summer of 1976, Britain discovered the limits of its national stoicism. The drought scorched fields, potato yields collapsed, and chip shops quietly began to reduce portions or close early. It wasn’t official...
