Robert Tombs - The English and Their History

. Opening of Book I of Bedes Ecclesiastical History of the English Church and People, first half of ninth century. The British Library, London (Cotton Tiberius C. II, f.5v). Photo: British Library Board. All Rights Reserved / Bridgeman Images.

. The Alfred Jewel, ninth century. Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford. Photo: Bridgeman Images.

. Noah and his family leaving the Ark, from the Aelfric Pentateuch, 102550. British Library, London (Cott Claud B IV f.15v). Photo: British Library Board. All Rights Reserved / Bridgeman Images.

. Dover Castle. Photo: Alamy.

. Durham Cathedral. Photo: Alamy.

. Detail from a twelfth-century psalter showing a harvesting scene. Reproduced by permission of the Master and Fellows of St. Johns College, Cambridge (MS K.30, f.4v).

. Ridge and furrow patterns in a field in Gloucestershire. Photo: Alamy.

. The barley barn at Cressing Temple, Essex, twelfth century. Photo: Alamy.

. Detail of an initial C depicting Edward III with religious and laymen from Nova Statuta, 148889. Photo: The British Library Board (Hargrave 274, f.50).

. Illustration of Henry II and Thomas Becket, from Peter de Langtoft, The Chronicle of England, c.130727. British Library, London (Royal 20 A.II, f.7v). Photo: British Library Board. All Rights Reserved / Bridgeman Images.

. The Execution of Hugh Despenser, from Froissarts Chronicle, French School, late fifteenth century. Bibliothque Nationale, Paris (Ms Fr 2643 fol.11). Photo: Bridgeman Images.

William Walworth. The Fishmongers Hall, London. Photo: Bridgeman Images.

. Skull known as Towton 25. Photo: BARC, Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford.

. Chaucer reading to Richard II, detail from an illustrated folio of Geoffrey Chaucer, Troilus and Criseyde, c.1415. Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (MS 61, fol 1v). Reproduced by permission of the Master and Fellows of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.

. The siege of Castillion sur Dordogne, from Froissarts Chronicle, French School, late fifteenth century. British Library, London (Royal 20 C. IX, f.263). Photo: British Library Board. All Rights Reserved / Bridgeman Images.

Chapel, Cambridge. Photo: Alamy.

. Title page to the Hagiographia of the Great Bible, 1539. St. Johns College, Cambridge (Bb.8.30). Reproduced by permission of the Master and Fellows of St. Johns College, Cambridge.

. Defaced panel depicting the Virgin and Child, from Great Snoring church, Norfolk. Photo: Alamy.

. The burning of Thomas Cranmer, illustration from John Foxes Book of Martyrs, 1563.

. George Gower (attr.), the Armada portrait of Elizabeth I, c.1588. Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire. Photo: Bridgeman Images.

. Hardwick Hall. Photo: Alamy.

. Langley Chapel, Shropshire. Photo: English Heritage Photo Library / Bridgeman Images.

. Peterhouse Chapel, Cambridge. Photo: Jean-Luc Benazet.

. Frontispiece from Eikon Basilike: The pourtraicture of His Sacred Majestie in his solitudes and sufferings, by King Charles I of England, 1648. Photo: Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Yale University.

. John Rogers Herbert, The Assertion of Liberty of Conscience by the Independents of the Westminster Assembly of Divines, 1644. Photo: Palace of Westminster Collection.

. Isaac Fuller, The Restoration of Charles II at Whitehall, c.1660. Private collection. Photo: Bridgeman Images.

. Claude de Jongh, The Thames at Westminster Stairs, 1631 or 1637. Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection, New Haven. Photo: Bridgeman Images.

. Canaletto, The River Thames with St. Pauls Cathedral on Lord Mayors Day, c.1746. The Lobkowicz Collections, Prague Castle. Photo: akg-images.

. Sir Godfrey Kneller, portrait of William III, c.1700. Private collection. Photo: Christies Images / Bridgeman Images.

. Studio of Jean-Baptiste van Loo, portrait of Robert Walpole, c.1740. Photo: UK Government Art Collection.

. Karl Anton Hickel, William Pitt addressing the House of Commons, 179395. National Portrait Gallery, London. Photo: Bridgeman Images.

. Johann Zoffany, John Cuff and his Assistant, c.1772. Royal Collection Trust Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2014. Photo: Bridgeman Images.

. John Harrisons marine timekeeper H1, 173035. Photo: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Ministry of Defence Art Collection.

. English School, View of Bristol Docks and Quay, c.1760. Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. Photo: Bridgeman Images.

. James Sharples, The Forge, 1847. Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery, Lancashire. Photo: Bridgeman Images.

. Thomas Malton, Halls Library at Margate, 1789. Private collection. Photo: Bridgeman Images.

. William Bigg, Poor Old Womans Comfort