by Helen Carr (Oneworld £20, 304 pp)
During the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381, a mob attacked a palace in London which was where the Savoy Hotel now stands. The attackers burned much of what they found. Delighted by the wine cellars, many of them proceeded to get outrageously drunk.
At one point, two boxes of what were thought to be further spoils were thrown on to the flames. They actually contained gunpowder and the ensuing explosion blew the Savoy Palace to bits, burying many of the drunken rioters.
Luckily for him, the palace’s owner was away. His name was John of Gaunt and he was one of the most important figures in medieval Europe.