Helen Johnson, Yorkshire Writer

Helen Johnson Freelance Writer

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Category Archives: History

History is what we know, believe, or can reasonably surmise, about the past.

The Harrying of the North and the Danes

Posted on June 29, 2020 by Helen Johnson

Who were the Danes? When the Danish fleet arrived in the River Humber in September 1069, they were greeted with rejoicing.  English resistance fighters flocked to them.  The combined armies Continue Reading →

Posted in History, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, history, Yorkshire

The Harrying – Unimaginable

Posted on April 30, 2020 by Helen Johnson
Richmond Castle, founded shortly after the Harrying of the North, to control northern England.

Helen Johnson considers the unimaginable horror of the Harrying of the North – then writes a historical novel about it. Continue Reading →

Posted in Fiction, Heritage and Culture, History, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, historical fiction, history, Yorkshire

The Unravelling of William the Conqueror’s Good Intentions

Posted on March 3, 2020 by Helen Johnson

In my last blog post, I wrote about William the Conqueror’s Good Intentions. He wished to rule as a just, legal, God-appointed King. So, what went wrong? William the Conqueror Continue Reading →

Posted in History | Tagged history

William the Conqueror’s Good Intentions

Posted on February 3, 2020 by Helen Johnson
William the Conqueror

The trauma of William the Conqueror’s invasion of England resonated for centuries.  But England had seen other invading kings – not least Cnut, only fifty years before.  What was different Continue Reading →

Posted in Fiction, History, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, historical fiction, history

Northern Power and the Danelaw

Posted on December 28, 2019 by Helen Johnson
Viking raiders terrorised England for nearly three centuries

In an earlier post, the Northern Powerhouse of 1065, I wrote about a northern revolt in 1065.  It was, however, only one of a long chain of north/south power struggles.  Continue Reading →

Posted in History, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, history, Yorkshire

How trick or treat crossed the Atlantic – twice

Posted on October 21, 2019 by Helen Johnson

Half-term is coming, and the shops are full of gear for kids to go Trick or Treating on Halloween. Dressing up in fancy-dress and begging treats at Halloween became popular Continue Reading →

Posted in Heritage and Culture, History | Tagged heritage, history, traditions and culture

Northallerton’s prison walls are gone

Posted on September 24, 2019 by Helen Johnson
Northallerton's towering prison walls have been reduced to rubble

For over two centuries, the towering brick walls of a prison dominated the centre of Northallerton. But now, they have been torn down and reduced to rubble. While developers wait Continue Reading →

Posted in Features, History, Yorkshire | Tagged Dalesman Magazine, history, Yorkshire

Fulford, 1066

Posted on August 9, 2019 by Helen Johnson
The Battle of Fulford, 1066

The Battle of Fulford, 1066, was long and bloody.
Continue Reading →

Posted in History, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, history, people, war, Yorkshire

1066: The return of Earl Tostig

Posted on July 2, 2019 by Helen Johnson
11th century soldiers on the march

In my previous post about 11th century Yorkshire, Northern Powerhouse of 1065, I wrote about how northeners, fed up with mis-governenance under Earl Tostig, made a stand. Tostig was exiled, Continue Reading →

Posted in History, Yorkshire | Tagged 11th century, history, war, Yorkshire

Richmond’s Georgian Diary

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Helen Johnson

Jane Hatcher and Bob Woodings have published a diary written in Georgian Richmond, Yorks, with extensive commentary about life in the town at the time. Continue Reading →

Posted in Features, History, People | Tagged Dalesman Magazine, history, people, Yorkshire

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