Patriotic Archive

A channel dedicated to archiving British historical music


Patriotic Archive

Are there any songs you'd like to see on the channel in the new year?

3 days ago | [YT] | 131

Patriotic Archive

Rule, Britannia!

5 days ago | [YT] | 896

Patriotic Archive

An Australian soldier carrying a wounded comrade on his shoulders down to a medical aid post, Gallipoli, 1915.

1 week ago | [YT] | 689

Patriotic Archive

General Sir David Baird Discovering the Body of Sultan Tipu Sahib after having Captured Seringapatam by Sir David Wilkie.

The painting was commissioned after Sir David Baird’s death by his wife, Lady Baird, as a private memorial. It took four years to complete, and for Baird’s posthumous likeness, Wilkie turned to a sculpture by the Scottish artist, Laurence Macdonald.

Baird had been in India with the British Army in 1779, when he was taken prisoner by Haidar 'Ali, the ruler of the Mysore Kingdom. Imprisoned for four years, Baird was only released after the signing of the treaty of Mangalore. He remained in the army, engaging Haidar 'Ali’s son, Tipu Sultan, during the Third and Fourth Anglo-Mysore Wars. The latter conflict ceased in 1799 when Tipu was killed as his stronghold of Seringapatam was stormed after a month-long siege. Wilkie portrays Baird at the decisive moment Tipu’s body was discovered.

1 week ago | [YT] | 421

Patriotic Archive

Best wishes for the new year!

The photo is a depiction of "Old Father Time."

In English tradition, "Old Father Time" is a mythical figure that represents the passing of time and the dying year. Often depicted as an elderly, bearded man with a robe, scythe, and hourglass.

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 580

Patriotic Archive

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas!

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 749

Patriotic Archive

22k subs! Thank you all so much for this timely gift!

4 weeks ago | [YT] | 662

Patriotic Archive

The Legend of the Mistletoe Bough is a horror tale which has been associated with many mansions and stately homes in England.

A new bride, playing a game of hide-and-seek or trying to get away from the crowd during her wedding breakfast, hides in a chest in an attic and is unable to escape. She is not discovered by her family and friends, and suffocates or dies of thirst. The body is found many years later in the locked chest as a skeleton in a wedding dress.

Notable claimants for the story's location, some still displaying the chest, include Bramshill House and Marwell Hall in Hampshire, Castle Horneck in Cornwall, Basildon Grotto in Berkshire, Minster Lovell Hall in Oxfordshire, Exton Hall in Rutland, Brockdish Hall in Norfolk and Bawdrip Rectory in Somerset.

The tale first appeared in print in the form of a poem by Samuel Rogers entitled "Ginevra", in his book Italy published in 1822. In notes on this work, Rogers states ‘The story is, I believe, founded on fact; though the time and the place are uncertain. Many old houses lay claim to it.’

The popularity of the tale was greatly increased when it appeared as a song in the 1830s entitled 'The Mistletoe Bough' written by T. H. Bayly and Sir Henry Bishop. The song proved very popular. In 1859, its 'solemn chanting' was referred to as a 'national occurrence at Christmas' in English households, and by 1862 the song was referred to as 'one of the most popular songs ever written', 'which must be known by heart by many readers'.

The painting is 'The Mistletoe Bough' by William Mouat Loudan.

1 month ago | [YT] | 265

Patriotic Archive

Father Christmas - 'Up-to-Date' by John Tenniel, 1896.

1 month ago | [YT] | 628

Patriotic Archive

Two policemen admire London's 64ft Christmas tree (a gift from Norway) in Trafalgar Square, December 1948.

1 month ago | [YT] | 888