With Christmas Day just a month away and many of us busy with our festive shopping, we’re taking a look at the long and fascinating history of gift-giving.

Why do we take part in this cherished annual tradition, and how has the custom of exchanging gifts evolved over the years?

In this article, our Properties Historian, Andrew Hann, explores the origins and transformation of one of our favourite festive traditions.

Henges are some of the earliest and most intriguing monuments you can spot in the English landscape and they’re definitely worth exploring.

In this article author and anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota tells us exactly what to expect from a henge.

England’s historic country houses are a significant part of our social history, serving as luxurious and beautiful residences for the very wealthy and places of work for thousands of servants and workers.

Yet for 70 years or more, the English country house was widely seen to be in decline: around 4,000 were demolished between 1875 and 1975. Explore their rise and fall in this article.