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Dolly Parton, Beatmagazine.co.uk I can’t start the newsletter without a shout out to our lost Goddess…. Happy new month all. Blimey, that was quite the summer wasn’t it? Amidst heatwave and climate chaos, not only do we lose powerhouse Bonnie Tyler, we then lose Queen of Kindness and Country Music - Dolly Parton. A tough time for everyone, as Dolly was universally loved for not just her talent but her philanthropy, too. She was a true feminist icon - unapologetically herself,

HERSTORY OF THE MONTH: Sarah ‘Crazy Sally’ Mapp The Bone-setter Sally Mapp caricature - George Cruikshank 1819 (after Hogarth) I love to see women succeed in male dominated fields…especially in history, when everything is pitted against them. Thats why this month’s herstory is a bit of an eccentric one, and I couldn’t resist it. This is the story of Sarah ‘Crazy Sally’ Mapp, one of the 18th Century’s ONLY female bone-setters. “…Mrs. Sarah Mapp, a female of masculine habits…”

Discounted tours for August, and what's on later in the year... Herstories around the campfire (of the world) How’s your summer so far? I’m not going to lie, it’s been hard. I don’t have to tell anyone how hot it’s been. It’s affecting everyone and every business I know, not least my tours. The fires are raging, yes, it’s all a bit scary, yes. AI is encroaching upon us insidiously making it all the worse, yes. But it makes me think; if everything burned down - if we had no mo

Edith Lanchester (Wikipedia) Edith Lanchester, the mother of Bride of Frankenstein actress Elsa, would probably forever remain in her daughter’s famous shadow had it not been for the events that unfolded in October 1895. For Edith was abducted and incarcerated in a lunatic asylum by her own family, simply for being ‘too educated’. But although this incident is what found Edith lasting fame and notoriety, she had always been a trailblazing rebel. I'm going to dedicate this mon

Shop mannequins melt in a heatwave in London in 1929. Many of us can relate. In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past few weeks (and if you have - that’s probably been the coolest place you could possibly be…) ITS SUMMER EVERYONE!!!! and don’t we know it! with record-breaking June heat causing everyone to melt and combust across Blighty. We doughy Brits are ill-suited to heat, we were all forged in drizzle and disappointment (to paraphrase a recent funny meme I sa

Self-portrait, 1821. On her sleeve can be seen her paintbrush, sewn in. I came across Sarah Biffin’s extroadinary story a few years back and then was reminded of it at a recent exhibition of rare Elizabethan portraits at the Philip Mould Gallery in London. Philip Mould has written a book on Biffin called ‘Without Hands’ and held the first exhibition of her work in 2022 in 100 years!!! Its certainly about time this incredible woman got some attention. So here she is - this mo

Here comes June - officially summer isn’t it? Well it’s the month of the solstice, so in my book, summer is ‘ere, and that’s that! What’s on this month? Well firstly, excitingly, I’m getting a shout out in the Londonist tomorrow. If you don’t already subscribe or follow them, do so - not just to see me (!) (good enough reason though to be fair) but because they will keep you updated on all the latest fun things to do in London. What’s ON in June Last month… It was a bit of a

Pope Joan - Bibliotheque nationale de france 1560 illustrated manuscript "Duos habet et bene pendentes" Translation (for those of us not fluent in Latin): "He has two and they dangle nicely” This was allegedly declared by cardinals in the Vatican following the ‘sexing test’ upon the investiture of a new pope. Said pope was sat on a papal throne with a hole underneath. A lucky cardinal would reach up to ‘check’ he had the correct unmentionables for a male, by copping a good f

April record breaking and May events... (Photo: Lizzy Jas Smith) Me as The Summer Goddess at the Chelsea Physic Garden May Public Tours - book now ! 16 May - Hex and the City 22 May - Southwark Hysteries 24 May - Votes for Women! (+ entry to the Bow Street Museum) 27 May - Influencer Tour (TBC) (Please see more info below) 30 May- Harlots and Strumpets and Tarts, Oh My! (+ entry to the Foundling Museum) Welcome to May, hope you all had a nice bank holiday, if celebrating. Lo

When you think you cant possibly hear a more disturbing and crazy story about women’s history, life throws one like THIS at you….and it covers all bases: Sexual violence? Check. Childbirth and still birth? Check, Criminal injustice? Check. Physical violence? Check.. Behold, ladies and gentlemen, the horrendous and baffling case of Anne Greene, the subject of this month’s herstory. (Spoiler, in case you’re thinking - no I don't want to be depressed further - it ends well for

You can definitely put all your Easter eggs in our baskets! (Melissa and Emily, two of my Harlots, circa 2022 courtesy of Peter Hogan Media) Happy April! (No fools here!) The clocks have gone forward, everyone’s thinking about chocolate ( maybe that’s just me) there’s a bank holiday, it can only be…. April! The month where the weather is more unpredictable than Trump’s political decisions… But never fear, what is constant and sure are the Herstorical vibes..! March Re-Cap Did

Elizabeth Bathory. Source: wikicommons With the horrors of the scale and depravity of the Epstein trafficking ring finally being exposed involving so many high profile male and female figures, it will come as no surprise that privileged men and women have committing atrocities (and getting away with it lightly) for centuries. A very famous example is Elizabeth Bathory. Accused of heinous crimes, this Hungarian noblewoman’s legacy is very very dark. But is it even true? Lets d

Matthew Hopkins (Witchfinder General) by Ratfingerz Hands up who identifies as a DORTY WITCH??? March is here, and that means Spring is a-coming-in, but more importantly, it's WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH PEOPLE!!!!! and International Women's Day of course, on the 8th. That's something ol' Matty H (WitchFinder General- wonderfully rendered in my recently acquired artwork above) would NOT like very much at all, would he?! There's, predictably, quite a bit going on this month chez H

A portrait believed to be of Delarivier Manley or Aphra Behn. Artist unknown, Bing images. I had never heard of Delarivier “Delia” Manley. But she was a 17th/18th century controversial author, playwright and political pamphleteer that was named one of “The fair triumvirate of wit” - the three most influential female writers of the period, alongside Aphra Behn and Eliza Haywood. She was one of the first women to make a living from writing, and one of the reasons for her incr

Happy new month lovely subscribers! Welcome to all the newbies - thank you for signing up! And for those who have been around for ages- thank you for your continued support 🥰 We've survived January- a reason to celebrate in itself! 2026 properly starts here in my opinion, as it is also the month of the start of the Fire Horse in the Chinese calendar, which is all about GO GO GO, And after the shenanigans of last month, I'll be happy to ! In case you're new and haven't he

Jessica as a young woman, William Acton, Wikimedia You’ve probably heard lots about the famed Mitford sisters. The exploits and legacies of this aristocratic family of controversial debutantes are a favourite subject for writers, film, TV and theatre makers. Lots of attention has been given to Unity and Diana, (the Nazi and Fascist respectively) and Nancy the successful novelist. But Jessica’s story I think is one of the most interesting - if not for its many twists and turns

Here it is! 2026! I hope you had a glorious Christmas and New Year and are now just about recovering and ready to start afresh? 2026 is going to be the big one, I can feel it! More details below of what’s coming up… 2025 Recap! But first….a recap! Because as I often say on my tours, we can’t move forward if we don’t learn the lessons of history and herstory ! 2025 was the fourth official year of Herstorical Tours’ existence and it was definitely the best one yet. My regular t

Caricature of Sarah, 1811. (Wikipedia) I remember reading about Sarah Baartman ‘the Hottentot Venus’ some years ago, and being appalled at this very stark example of colonial racist and sexist exploitation. In an increasingly fascist, racist climate, her story is more relevant than ever. So here she is - my last herstory of the year and hopefully, some food for thought. Stolen from Africa…. Sarah Baartman was born around 1789 in the Dutch Cape Colony of what is now South Afri

‘Tis the season to be merry, they say! And why not celebrate December and the festive season with a bit of Herstorical love?? This month we’ve got our crowd pleasing stocking fillers Harlots and Strumpets and Tarts Oh My! (Festive Special) on 19th December and on the 21st it would be rude not to mark the Winter Solstice with Hex and the City , right? Harlots is a raucous romp through Covent Garden’s sordid sex (and crime) 18th Century history, led by the Baroness Stocking-F

Adelina Patti in her prime! (Wikipedia, likely 1860's) Born this way... I was introduced to the delightful Adelina Patti on a tour of the Royal Opera House recently, and her wonderful, larger than life story is certainly worth a Herstory blog. So here she is! The original ‘diva’. Adelina was born to two Sicilian opera singers so she was blessed with the genes and a background to stand her in good stead to become a singer. She was actually born in Spain, in 1843 and her two si