About Me

My name is Helen and I have been a lover of history ever since my year 4 class started learning about Ancient Egypt and the Tudors way back when I was only 8 years old.
I have been studying history ever since, with a keen interest in medieval history.
It did not take me long to realise that women were often side-lined in historical records and so I decided to start my Instagram account, and subsequently this site, in order to share the stories of the many remarkable women in history who are mostly left out of the records.
As you may have guessed, I am a very passionate historian.
You don't need a degree in history to be considered a historian; merely a passion to study and learn history, as I have done now for over 15 years.
I do, however, have several diplomas in various eras of history and am always working on the next one.

My Interests

Aside from my interest in history, I am a graduate in psychology and I love to sew my own clothes.
I am a trained performer and have been on TV and in the West End. I love to sing (as long as it's not in front of other people!) and acting was always a passion of mine when I was younger.
I play the piano (albeit not very well!) and I love to read and write. I am an avid reader of both fiction (all genres) and non-fiction (mainly history & science) and though I write non-fiction here, my books are all fiction, mostly historical-based.
I am also a lover of film & TV and will regularly binge-watch my favourite shows.

Quick Guide to Me

Favourite Topic: History

Favourite Period of History: Medieval

Favourite Historian: Alison Weir

Favourite Singer: Taylor Swift

Favourite Disney Princesses: Belle & Eilonwy

Favourite Period Dramas: The Paradise, The Musketeers, Our Flag Means Death & Peaky Blinders

Favourite Non-Period Drama TV Shows: F.R.I.E.N.D.S, Community & Brooklyn 99

Favourite Superhero: Scarlet Witch

Favourite Supervillain: Reverse Flash

Absolute Idol: Audrey Hepburn

My Achievements

BSc(Hons) Degree in Psychology

Diploma in Tudor History

Diploma in The Wives of Henry VIII

Diploma in The Elizabethan Era

Diploma in The History of the British Monarchy

Diploma in The Iron Age

Diploma in The Medieval Period

Diploma in The Renaissance

Diploma in The Victorian Age

Currently working on: Diploma in Heraldry

I have a full-time career, so I will only be adding new posts as and when I can, but there should be at least one new post a month. If you want to get notifications when I post, please follow my Instagram account @swordsandsceptres and turn on notifications.