The English Heritage Podcast

Caring for country houses is a delicate task, involving protecting them from fire risk, weather, pests, and much more. Some things have remained the same over the years: fire has long been a looming threat for the residents of country houses. This time on the English Heritage Podcast, Amy Matthews chats with Andrew Hann, Peter Moore and Richard Luscombe about the dramatic events, near misses and brilliant innovations that have helped staff and residents of country houses tackle the ever-present risk of fire. We’ll discuss the evolution of firefighting equipment, brilliantly organised operations, candles on Christmas trees and why Prince Albert put seashells in the floor of Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Podcast listeners can get 20% off the first year of an annual membership. Use code POD20 at checkout. * Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. *Offer is available through the use of this code and valid for new memberships by annual Direct Debit only. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, on life memberships or renewals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2021, a Yorkshire metal detectorist unearthed one of the UK’s largest and most important Iron Age finds. Now the Melsonby Hoard is reshaping our understanding of life in Britain 2000 years ago. In this episode, we delve into the trove to discuss how values, wealth, power, culture and even transport in Britain were evolving against the backdrop of growing Roman influence. Amy Matthews is joined by English Heritage’s Dr Jen Wexler and Dr Sophia Adams of the British Museum to unpick the stories from this incredible collection of objects. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Work on the excavation and restoration of the hoard was carried out by Durham University with financial support provided by Historic England. You can find out more about this partnership and the Yorkshire Museum below: https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/archaeology/melsonby-hoard/ https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/news/iron-age-discovery-melsonby-hoard/ https://www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk/news-media/latest-news/melsonby-hoard-saved-for-the-uk-thanks-to-national-heritage-memorial-fund-and-public-support/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did a 13th century knight become one of the greatest national heroes of his time? In this episode of the English Heritage podcast, Amy Matthews and her guests discover a true knight’s tale. William, a low-level aristocrat, narrowly avoided a violent end as a child and rose to greatness through violent tournaments, warfare and royal service. But who was the real William Marshal, and can we trust the reverential account of his life that was written after his death? Medieval historian Lindy Grant and English Heritage’s Jeremy Ashbee help Amy sort the man from the myth and discuss the medieval concept of knighthood and chivalry. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People love to fill their homes with beautiful plants, but this is not a new phenomenon. The trade in wild plants and seeds has a complex history that stretches back into the past and across the world. Ahead of the Gardeners’ World Autumn Plant Fair at Audley End, Amy Matthews is joined by English Heritage’s Emily Parker and Joe Bagley, The Houseplant Doctor, to explore how our obsession with houseplants developed from competitive Victorian collectors to 21st century plantaholics. Plus, Joe has some expert tips on how to keep your horticultural housemates happy and enjoy them sustainably and ethically. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the English Heritage podcast, we’ll discover the remarkable women who have helped to shape some of our most beautiful gardens. From Georgian garden retreats that provided refuge from the royal court and the backdrop for a literary coterie to the ‘weeding women’ who kept gardens looking their best, we explore their significant yet often overlooked contributions. We'll also shine a light on the independent female garden designers of the 20th century who transformed landscapes and paved the way for future generations. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the late 19th and early 20th century, glamorous, exciting and often very wealthy American women mingled with the British aristocracy and set the gossip pages alight with rumours of engagements. But alongside this fascination, anti-American sentiment and xenophobia saw them dismissed them as mere ‘dollar princesses’ trading cash for coronets. This label endured long beyond its time, until historians began to explore the incredible legacies of these women. This summer, a new exhibition at Kenwood in London has brought together Sargent’s paintings of these women and highlighted their power, influence and achievements. In this episode, Amy Matthews heads to Kenwood meet Dr Wendy Monkhouse and Ella Letort, for a very special tour of Sargent’s magnificent heiresses. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This summer, we’ve partnered with TV’s Taskmaster to set you silly challenges as you explore 17 of our sites. So, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to discuss some of the more unusual games and entertainments enjoyed in the past. In this episode, Amy Matthews is joined by Taskmaster creator Alex Horne and English Heritage curator Peter Moore for some gaming nostalgia, stories of weird and wonderful games from our sites and a selection of Lady Braybrooke’s after-dinner riddles to solve. Our time starts now! Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Taskmaster at English Heritage: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/taskmaster/ Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the first black students at the Royal College of Music in 1890, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor would go on to compose some of the most-loved music of his time and ‘break’ America. Despite this global success, Coleridge-Taylor made his home in Croydon, where a blue plaque now marks his former home at Dagnall Park, Selhurst. But who was this musical genius? English Heritage’s Howard Spencer, broadcaster Petroc Trelawney and equity and musicology scholar Joquan Johnson join Amy to share his story. They reveal political, patriotic and powerful themes in Coleridge-Taylor’s music, from collaborations with civil rights campaigners to innovative uses of heritage melodies and rhythms, and how his work is finding new audiences and meanings today. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the summer of 1575, Robert Dudley hosted 19 spectacular days of entertainment for Elizabeth I, including lavish new apartments for the queen, a beautifully manicured private garden, plays, hunting and pageantry. It was all in an ostentatious bid to win Elizabeth’s hand in marriage, but as she rode off at the end of her visit, Dudley was left empty-handed. In this episode, Amy Matthews chats with Head Curator of Properties Jeremy Ashbee and Dr Elizabeth Goldring about this royal ‘will-they, won’t they’ and the complex reasons that meant Elizabeth I never chose to share her power with a husband. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We begin this episode with a fabulous and weighty pair of brooches. But which 1930s millionaire was sporting these tutti-frutti Cartier gems? And where might you have seen those designs before? Steven and Virginia Courtauld were a well-balanced couple: one eccentric and daring, the other bookish and reserved. They used their millions to travel the world and host lavish parties, but their art-deco home at Eltham Palace was one of their most glorious achievements. No expense was spared but architects Seely and Paget still divided some opinions in their time. Today on the English Heritage podcast Amy Matthews chats with curator Sabrina Villani and Andrew Hann to discover the story of these brooches and how the Courtaulds blended the latest living and cutting-edge design with a treasured historic building. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. More about the Eltham Palace Cartier Brooches: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/eltham-cartier-brooches Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes, historical research can offer unexpected questions and avenues of exploration. That’s what happened when English Heritage’s Will Wyeth was digging through a medieval manuscript. References to a medieval woman spy dressed in men’s clothing were too tantalising to ignore, so he and Michael James got together to ask questions about the mysterious Margoth. They join Amy Matthews on the English Heritage Podcast this week to reveal not only how Margoth’s espionage changed the course of a war, but also how references to cross-dressing can help us ask questions about identity in the past. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the summer solstice approaches, thousands flock to monuments like Stonehenge seeking spiritual connection and a spectacular sunset and sunrise. But why are people still drawn to stone circles after thousands of years? This time on the English Heritage Podcast, Amy Matthews is joined by English Heritage’s Dr Jennifer Wexler to explore how these monuments were built and why people have continued to visit them. Artist Sally Barton shares how communities continue to interact with these spaces and make them relevant today. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

J M W Turner is considered one of England’s great artists, but why? This time on the English Heritage podcast, we dive into some of the 35 paintings Turner made of English Heritage sites to explore how he responded to a period of enormous emotional and political upheaval. Working against a backdrop of war, industrial expansion, tourism, abolition, patriotism and shifting national identity, Turner’s varied and innovative styles helped shape contemporary reactions to architecture, landscapes and ruins. The Museum of London’s Thomas Ardill and English Heritage’s Jeremy Ashbee join writer and comedian Amy Matthews to discuss the man and his works and ask what the concept of ‘heritage’ means today. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Churches and buildings around England are home to beautiful stained glass enjoyed by communities and visitors every day. But less well known are the fascinating stories and histories behind these national treasures. This week on the English Heritage Podcast, Amy Matthews is joined by Michael Carter and Susan Harrison to piece together what collections both in situ and in store can tell us about Christianity, the dissolution of monasteries, and the journey of stained glass into churches and buildings that stand today. Glass held both symbolic and intrinsic value to many people, from skilled glaziers to parish priests and opportunistic individuals. After monasteries were dissolved, their glazing lived some surprising second lives. Plus, Susan explains how we are painstakingly piecing together the fragments of glass that were overlooked by our ancestors. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The summer of 1381 saw one of the biggest popular uprisings in Medieval Europe. Now, an innovative online resource is revealing how the Peasants’ Revolt impacted the lives of women, children and whole communities. This week, Amy Matthews is joined by English Heritage’s Dr Will Wyeth to unlock the complex social and political issues of the revolt and how we feel these forces today. The University of Glasgow’s Dr Andrew Prescott and The University of Reading’s Dr Helen Killick share snapshots of lives from the People of 1381 database and explore how stories are pieced together from documents and records of this period to add depth to popular chronicles. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ People of 1381 database: https://www.1381.online/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the English Heritage podcast, Amy Matthews dips into the rivers of Northern England for an insight into Roman beliefs and the celebrity culture of gladiators. English Heritage’s Dr Frances Mcintosh and Dr Philippa Walton from the University of Leicester discuss gladiator memorabilia and the celebrity status of these icons in Roman Britain, with the aid of some amazing objects. The offerings made by Romans to the rivers at Piercebridge Roman Bridge and Corbridge Roman Town give us a snapshot into everyday lives, diverse beliefs and rituals. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we head to Brodsworth Hall and Gardens in Yorkshire and step back in time to discover a love story from the early 20th century. And it all starts with a camera. Join Amy to unravel the story of two country house servants who met and fell in love against the background of the First World War in a Downton Abbey-worthy tale. English Heritage curator Eleanor Matthews explains how a very special bequest of items revealed valuable insights into Brodsworth Hall and its past residents – including the lives of Alf and Caroline Palmer. Their grandson Gordon also joins us to share their story, their memories of life in service at a country house, and a surprising inheritance. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join English Heritage: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The shadow of the Cold War loomed over the 20th Century. But how did this affect day-to-day life for ordinary people and how was anxiety about the possibility of conflict normalised? Starting with an innovative piece of technology from York's Cold War Bunker, Amy and her guests discuss civilian volunteers, the protest movement and the ever-present threat of war, using living memory and oral history to connect the past to our present. Megan Thomas, a PhD student at the University of Liverpool, tells us about her research into imagined futures in our culture. Kevin Booth, Head Collections Curator at English Heritage, shares stories from Noreen, a Royal Observer Corps volunteer who spent 30 years serving in York’s bunker as part of the British nuclear deterrent. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does the view from London’s tallest building have in common with your kitchen tea towels and your favourite summer holiday outfit? This week on the English Heritage Podcast, Amy Matthews and her guests dive into the history of Shrewsbury Flax Mill and the industrial revolution. Find out how a humble bobbin can unravel a story about the linen and textile industries; how technical innovation changed the lives of working people and how it offered us the architecture that makes modern day skyscrapers possible. English Heritage’s Dr Steven Brindle and Barrie Trinder, a historian with a passion for industrial Shropshire explore the minds and the hands behind the mill, all the way through to its present-day impact. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Wrest Park’s Jemima, Marchioness Grey, was widowed, she unleashed her purse strings to install lavish Chinese art across the Bedfordshire estate: perfect for taking tea with friends. You can get lost in the intricate birds, plants and people featured in Wrest Park’s Chinese wallpapers, but how was this part of a wider fashion in textiles, design and landscaping? Dr Andrew Hann and volunteer Richard Luscombe join writer and comedian Amy Matthews to find out how trade between Europe and China started a centuries long love affair with Chinese design and textiles, and how consumer demand and exotic ideals were used by skilled manufacturers to develop the Chinoiserie style we still enjoy in our clothes, homewares and furnishings today. You can plan your visit to see Wrest Park and its Chinese wallpapers at https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/wrest/ Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does a fish connect us to a story of working women’s rights? Join comedian, writer and history fangirl Amy Matthews and her guests find out about tough and resilient seasonal workers in the Great Yarmouth fishing industry. From frozen fingers to salty cuts and a work hard play hard attitude (not to mention the stench of fish at the end of the day), working women travelled the coastlines on the trail of herring shoals, bolstering local fishing industries with seasonal work and bringing a whole new vibe to the towns they landed in. English Heritage’s Dr Megan Leyland and researcher Dr Jill de Fresnes explore the lives of working people in Great Yarmouth’s Row Houses during the peak of the fishing industry, and the essential role of women in the supporting textile industry in the early 20th Century. You can find out more about Great Yarmouth Row Houses at https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/greatyarmouthrowhouses Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re still busy behind the scenes, so in the meantime we wanted to share a special series with you called Speaking with Shadows. Framlingham Castle was home to the fiercely powerful Dukes of Norfolk for 400 years – so how did it end up as a workhouse in the 17th century? Join Josie Long as she delves into the castle’s second life and English society’s changing attitudes towards poverty over the centuries. Hear about people who lived and worked in the workhouse, and why life wasn’t always like a scene from Oliver Twist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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We’re still busy behind the scenes, so in the meantime we wanted to share a special series with you called Speaking with Shadows. It sees Josie Long teaming up with English Heritage to uncover some of the most fascinating forgotten stories from England’s past. We hope you enjoy it. At Pevensey Castle in East Sussex, we learn about Joan of Navarre, the medieval Queen of England who was accused of witchcraft and imprisoned at the castle by her stepson, Henry V. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re working behind the scenes to make the podcast better than ever. In the meantime, we’re diving into our archive to bring you some of our favourite episodes. Discover the story of a 17th century woman who left an amazing literary legacy. Alice Thornton wrote four books, including three autobiographies, which provide a remarkable insight into life during the English Civil Wars. To discover more about Middleham Castle or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/middlehamcastle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re still busy behind the scenes, so in the meantime we wanted to share a special series with you called Speaking with Shadows. It sees Josie Long teaming up with English Heritage to uncover some of the most fascinating forgotten stories from England’s past. We hope you enjoy it. Clifford's Tower in York was the site of a tragedy in 1190 where the entire Jewish population of the city was persecuted to their deaths. We ask how and why such a shocking event could take place and hear how the local Jewish community reflect on it today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re working behind the scenes to make the podcast better than ever. In the meantime, we’re diving into our archive to bring you some of our favourite episodes. One of 12th century Europe’s richest and most powerful women, Eleanor became Queen of France as the wife of King Louis VII and then Queen of England as the wife of Henry II. Discover the story of her remarkable rise to power, her imprisonment following a plot to remove her second husband as king and her return to power as queen dowager. To discover more about Eleanor of Aquitaine’s life, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/women-in-history/eleanor-aquitaine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re still busy behind the scenes, so in the meantime we wanted to share a special series with you called Speaking with Shadows. It sees Josie Long teaming up with English Heritage to uncover some of the most fascinating forgotten stories from England’s past. We hope you enjoy it. In this episode, Josie discovers the story of Gwen Lally, a former actress who directed thousands of performers in Battle’s 1932 pageant. We hear about Lally’s pioneering role as the first female pageant master and her exploration of gender roles both on and off stage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re working behind the scenes to make the podcast better than ever. In the meantime, we’re diving into our archive to bring you some of our favourite episodes. Join senior interpretation manager Nick Collinson, properties historian Andrew Roberts and young producer Katie Burke to discuss the LGBTQ+ history connected to a selection of the objects in the Wernher Collection at Ranger’s House. To discover more about Ranger’s House or to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/rangershouse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re still busy behind the scenes, so in the meantime we wanted to share a special series with you called Speaking with Shadows. It sees Josie Long teaming up with English Heritage to uncover some of the most fascinating forgotten stories from England’s past. We hope you enjoy it. In this episode, Josie travels to Birdoswald Roman Fort on Hadrian’s Wall to learn about the complex and diverse communities that travelled there from across the Roman Empire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re working behind the scenes to make the podcast better than ever. In the meantime, we’re diving into our archive to bring you some of our favourite episodes. This week, we interview historian Howard Spencer to reveal the story behind the new blue plaque at the Chelsea house where reggae singing sensation Bob Marley lived in 1977 after fleeing from Jamaica. To find out more about our blue plaque scheme, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re still busy behind the scenes, so in the meantime we wanted to share a special series with you called Speaking with Shadows. It sees Josie Long teaming up with English Heritage to uncover some of the most fascinating forgotten stories from England’s past. We hope you enjoy it. Beside Richmond Castle’s imposing Norman keep lies an unassuming military cell block with an extraordinary secret. Its fragile walls are inscribed with thousands of graffiti, many of them left by conscientious objectors imprisoned there during the First World War. These were men from all walks of life, united by one belief: that war was wrong. Thanks to the very personal graffiti these men left behind, we’ve been able to piece together the stories of some of their lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re still busy behind the scenes, so in the meantime we wanted to share a special series with you called Speaking with Shadows. It sees Josie Long teaming up with English Heritage to uncover some of the most fascinating forgotten stories from England’s past. We hope you enjoy it. In this episode, we visit Portchester Castle to hear about the black prisoners of war who were captured during the Napoleonic wars and brought all the way from the Caribbean to be imprisoned at the castle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re working behind the scenes to make the podcast better than ever. In the meantime, we’re diving into our archive to bring you some of our favourite episodes. In this episode, we put your questions on England’s monasteries to senior properties historian Dr Michael Carter and Janet Burton, Professor of Medieval History at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Discover what life was like for the monks and nuns who lived worked and worshipped at them, how they amassed such wealth, what happened to the monks and nuns after they were closed and much more. To learn more about English Heritage’s monastic sites or to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/monasteries-and-abbeys Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re working behind the scenes to make the podcast better than ever. In the meantime, we’re diving into our archive to bring you some of our favourite episodes. Did you know that English Heritage cares for more castles than anyone else? Join us as we discover the definition of a castle, why the Normans couldn’t stop building them and how they have changed over time. If you’ve ever wondered what a Motte and Bailey castle is or which was the most besieged English Heritage castle, this is the episode for you! To learn more about our mighty collection of castles, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/castles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re working behind the scenes to make the podcast better than ever. In the meantime, we’re diving into our archive to bring you some of our favourite episodes. This week, we join archaeologist Dr Susan Greaney and Stonehenge curator Dr Heather Sebire to answer your questions about the Neolithic period. Discover what Neolithic people ate, how they navigated their way across the British Isles and if Neolithic people ever got married. Plus, learn the secrets of our most famous Neolithic monument, Stonehenge. To learn more about the history of Stonehenge, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re working behind the scenes to make the podcast better than ever. In the meantime, we’re diving into our archive to bring you some of our favourite episodes. With Christmas now (just) behind us, we’re joined by former English Heritage trustee and Professor of History at the University of Bristol, Ronald Hutton, to look at the origins of some of England’s other winter traditions. Discover the origins of Plough Monday, Wassailing, Mummers’ plays, Valentine’s Day, Shrove Tuesday and Kissing Friday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re working behind the scenes to make the podcast better than ever. In the meantime, we’re diving into our archive to bring you some of our favourite episodes. This week, we join properties historians’ team leader Dr Andrew Hann, and director of the Dickens Museum in London Dr Cindy Sughrue, to take a very festive look back at the Christmas traditions that started in the Victorian period. We also examine the role that Charles Dickens played in shaping Christmas as we know it – and how the man himself celebrated the festive season with his family. To learn more about the Victorian origins of some of today’s Christmas traditions, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/christmas/victorian-christmas-traditions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for a bonus episode created in partnership with The Gilded Gentleman podcast. English Heritage senior properties historian Dr Michael Carter and host Carl discuss Christmases past at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire. Starting with some special stories from the First World War, they then delve back into history to discover the origins of some of our most celebrated traditions, from plum pudding to Twelfth Night. Wrest Park boasts some of the finest gardens in England, with dazzling parterres, fragrant borders, idyllic woodland walks, and hidden gems to discover. Book your visit here: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/wrest For more information on the American Friends of English Heritage, visit https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/american-friends/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re working behind the scenes to make the podcast better than ever. In the meantime, we’re bringing you some of our favourite episodes from the archive. This week, as Christmas festivities get into full swing, we’re delving into the history of the Roman midwinter festival of Saturnalia. Guiding us through the details of what it was, how it was observed, and its role in influencing today’s traditions is curator for Hadrian’s Wall and the North East, Dr Frances McIntosh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re working behind the scenes to make the podcast better than ever. In the meantime, we’re diving into our archive to bring you some of our favourite episodes. This week, we unwrap the history of Christmas party season at four of our English Heritage sites, with properties historians team leader, Dr Andrew Hann. Discover how their rich and powerful former residents celebrated, what was on the menu at festive feasts, and how the guests were entertained. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the next few weeks, we’re working behind the scenes to make the podcast better than ever. In the meantime, we’re diving into our archive to bring you some of our favourite episodes. This week, revisit the Romans of ‘Britannia’ with English Heritage properties historian, Andrew Roberts and curator, Cameron Moffett. Discover who the Romans living and working in Britain at that time were, where they had come from and how their way of life fitted in with existing British culture. To learn more about life in Roman Britain, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/romans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the summer of 2024, eight catapult shot were discovered at Kenilworth Castle during a project to improve paths in and around the castle. Ranging in weight between 1kg and 105kg, the stone balls are believed to have been fired during the momentous 172-day-long siege of the castle in 1266. We’re joined by properties historian Dr William Wyeth to discover the story of the siege, the people who took part and its legacy today. To discover more about the history of Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kenilworth-castle/history-and-stories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’ve got a mouthwatering treat for you as we’re joined by food historian Sam Bilton to dig into the story and evolution of this much-loved winter warmer. Discover what constitutes a pie, the earliest record of one, the ingredients pie makers through the ages experimented with and whether the humble pie still has a place in our 21st century, health-conscious world. To discover more about the history of the English pie, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/a-history-of-the-english-pie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re looking back at the history of Hailes Abbey, a ruined monastery in the Cotswold countryside, which was once one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in medieval England. For centuries, visitors flocked here to see the Holy Blood of Hailes – a prized relic said to be a portion of the blood of Jesus Christ. We’re joined by English Heritage senior properties historian Dr Michael Carter and Hailes Abbey’s property manager Jess Eyres to discover how the Holy Blood came here, the miracles attributed to it, what happened to it and everything today’s visitors can expect to find. To discover more about the story of Hailes Abbey and the Holy Blood, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/hailes-abbey/history-and-stories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we’re joined by English Heritage’s senior properties historian, Dr Steven Brindle, and head properties curator, Dr Jeremy Ashbee, to answer all your questions about England’s medieval kings and queens. Join us as we reveal which medieval monarch had the greatest impact on English history, the perils of being a member of the Royal Family at the time, what happened to Henry VIII’s tomb and more. To discover more about England’s kings and queens through history, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/monarchy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we head into the darker part of the year, we’re preparing for a trio of historical events designed to commemorate the dead. Everyone knows Halloween, of course, but what about All Saints' Day and All Souls’ Day, which follow straight after? We’re joined by English Heritage’s senior properties historian, Dr Michael Carter, to find out more. To discover more, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/halloween-saints-souls/ For more spooky stories, gruesome tales and unmissable Halloween events, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/Halloween Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we’re marking 100 years since the 1924 general election, which saw 41 women compete for seats in the UK’s House of Commons. One of the candidates that year was Mary Katherine Middleton of Belsay Hall in Northumberland, northeast England. Joining us to talk about her life, her accomplishments, and the women’s political movement of the time are properties historian Andrew Roberts and historian of women and politics in modern Britain Dr Lisa Berry Waite. To learn more about the Mary Middleton’s story, go to: www.english-heritage.org.uk/mary-middleton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re joined in the studio by the founders and young members from the Voices Project to learn about a new walking tour they’re creating to celebrate the Black history of Brixton, London. Discover the stories they uncovered, the blue plaques that feature on their route and what they hope their new tour will help to achieve. To learn more about English Heritage’s youth engagement project, Shout Out Loud, go to www.shoutoutloud.org.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of us are familiar with ‘William the Conqueror’, but he was also William, Duke of Normandy and William the Bastard. So how did a duke with questionable legitimacy rise through the nobility on the opposite side of the Channel then seize a foreign crown? Who was he? What did he do after the invasion? And how did his story end? Joining us with the answers are senior properties curator Roy Porter and curator of collections and interiors Dr Kathryn Bedford. To learn more about the legacy of William the Conqueror, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/blog/blog-posts/what-was-the-legacy-of-william-the-conqueror Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices