England is famously a part of the United Kingdom and also the most populous constituent country. The area now known as England was first inhabited by people during the Late Paleolithic period, but it got its name from the Angles – one of the Germanic tribes that settled the area during the 4th and 5th centuries. England became a unified state in 927 and has since the Age of Exploration, which began in the 15th century, had a significant cultural and legal impact on the world. But you’ve probably read about this in school, so let’s jump into some more fun facts and curiosities about the country in question!
The World’s Largest Diamond Sent by Regular Mail to England…
When the world’s largest diamond was transported from Africa to England, an elaborate and secure sea voyage plan was published. However, the publication was deliberately done as a maneuver. The actual diamond was simply sent by mail and safely arrived in the island nation. [source]
Mac’n’cheese Doesn’t Originate from the USA…
The popular dish mac’n’cheese, often associated with the USA, actually doesn’t originate from the country in question at all. The earliest known recipe for macaroni and cheese dates back to 14th century England. [source]
Edward I Wasn’t in a Hurry to Become King…
When Edward I of England returned from the Ninth Crusade in 1272, he learned that his father had died and that he had become the King of England. Instead of returning home for his coronation, Edward embarked on a leisurely journey in Italy and France for almost two years and only returned in 1274. [source]
Food Rationing Led to Positive Effects…
The intense rationing during December 1939 in the country during World War II actually reduced infant mortality by guaranteeing nutrition for all. [source]
Pineapples Were a Costly Status Symbol…
Pineapples were such a status symbol in the 18th century in the country that you could even rent one for the evening to bring to a party, just to show off your wealth. The price for an evening’s rental was around £8,000 in today’s money. [source]
Scottish Plans to Invade England Led to Terrible Consequences…
The Scottish army tried to take advantage of the Black Plague in England through an invasion but ended up getting infected themselves and carried it back to Scotland, where about half of the country’s population perished. [source]
Lincoln Cathedral Was Once the World’s Tallest Building…
The Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest human-made structure on Earth for 3,871 years until Lincoln Cathedral was completed in 1311. [source]
The Annual Lying Competition…
There is an annual lying competition in England, and participants from around the world have five minutes to tell the biggest and most convincing lie they can. Politicians and lawyers are banned from the competition because they are considered too good at lying. [source]
Remains of King Richard III Found under a Parking Lot…
The remains of King Richard III were lost for over 500 years before being found under a parking lot in 2012. The identification of the body as King Richard III was confirmed through a DNA test. [source]
Constructed a Whole Fake and Empty Town for Police Training…
In Gravesend, there is an entire fake town used by the police to simulate dangerous situations. Fake streets, houses, parks, nightclubs, estates, airplanes, trains, and subway stations are used to stage riots, robberies, hostage situations, and terrorist attacks. [source]
