Following the completion of the five-year long Tintagel Castle Archaeological Research Project, we are joined by Properties Curator Win Scutt and Archaeologist Jaqueline Nowakowski to find out about the project and what it has revealed about Tintagel’s early medieval history. Discover why English Heritage decided to launch the project, what has happened over the last five years, the structures and key artefacts that have been discovered, and the analytical work that has happened since.
To discover more about Tintagel Castle or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/tintagel

Episode 104 - Digging for history at Tintagel Castle

This week, we’re joined by senior properties historian Michael Carter to discuss the 1,400 year-long history of Lindisfarne, or Holy Island, in Northumberland, which has been a hub of early Christianity, a monastery, a site of pilgrimage to its former bishop, Saint Cuthbert, and a victim of a devastating Viking raid. It was also the birthplace of the Lindisfarne Gospels, one of the most spectacular manuscripts to survive from Anglo-Saxon England, which was thought to have been created in Cuthbert’s honour. 

To discover more about Lindisfarne Priory or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/lindisfarne.

Episode 105 - Saints, gospels and vicious Viking raids: The story of Lindisfarne Priory

This week we’re joined by Senior Properties Historian Dr Susan Greaney and Howard Williams, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Chester, to discuss the early medieval period of British history that followed the collapse of Roman state control of lowland Britain and ended with the Norman conquest of 1066. This was a time of migrations and far-reaching contacts, Christian conversion, kingdom formation and expansion, and Viking raids and settlement. But archaeological evidence tells us so much more about these fascinating centuries. Discover what happened after the Romans left Britain, who replaced them, why this period is often referred to as ‘The Dark Ages’ and why this problematic description is now being phased out. 

To learn more about life in early medieval England, go to https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/early-medieval/ 
To read Howard’s open-access publication Digging into the Dark Ages: Early Medieval Public Archaeologies, visit https://www.archaeopress.com/ArchaeopressShop/Public/displayProductDetail.asp?id=%7BDE9A5B19-7AAD-4FA7-A097-060E0525533D%7D

Episode 122 - Early Medieval Britain: Illuminating the ‘Dark Ages’

This week we’re getting to know the Romans of Britain, or to use Latin, ‘Britannia’. But who were the Romans living and working in Britain at that time? Where had they come from? And how did their way of life fit in with existing British culture? Joining us to answer these questions and more are English Heritage Properties Historian, Dr Andrew Roberts and curator, Cameron Moffett.
                                               
To learn more about life in Roman Britain, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/romans

Episode 136 – Who were the Romans of Britannia?

Dunstanburgh Castle, a huge and jagged ruin on the Northumberland coast, was almost entirely the creation of one man – Thomas, Earl of Lancaster. Little known today, he was immensely wealthy, powerful and controversial. He fell out with rivals, supporters and family, was executed for treason, and nearly made a posthumous saint. We’re joined by Head Historic Properties Curator Dr Jeremy Ashbee to discover the story of Dunstanburgh and what its landscape and buildings can tell us about Thomas's extraordinary career.

For more details about Dunstanburgh Castle or to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/dunstanburgh

Episode 139 - Thomas, Earl of Lancaster and Dunstanburgh Castle

To mark the 1,900th anniversary of the building of Hadrian’s Wall, we’re starting a new, four-part podcast series, piecing together the story of Britain’s most famous relic of Roman rule. In this first episode, we’re joined by Properties Historian Dr Andrew Roberts to take a look at the story of Hadrian himself, ahead of the former emperor’s birthday on 24 January. Discover the story of his rise to become the Roman ruler, why he ordered the building of the wall along the northern frontier of the empire, and his vision for it.  
 
To learn more about Hadrian’s Wall and the stories of the sites we care for along it, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/hadrians-wall

Episode 147 - Hadrian’s Wall part 1: The man behind the wall

We’re joined by Senior Properties Historian Dr Steven Brindle and Professor Lindy Grant from the University of Reading to look back at the remarkable life of Eleanor of Aquitaine. One of 12th century Europe’s richest and most powerful women, she 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

Episode 151 - The extraordinary life and times of Eleanor of Aquitaine

Less than 100 years after the Black Death, England was again uprooted by dramatic upheaval. The Wars of the Roses, fought between the two powerful houses of York and Lancaster, pitted families against each other. The series of conflicts – which took place between 1455 and 1485 – spanned multiple different reigns, involved numerous foreign kingdoms, and heralded changes in English politics, social order and battlefield technology. In this first episode of our two-part series, we’re joined by Curator of Collections and Interiors Dickon Whitewood to discuss what the Wars of the Roses were, how they started and the early battles that ended with Yorkist triumph.
 
To discover more about medieval warfare, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/medieval/war

Episode 152 - The Wars of the Roses part 1: The battles begin

This week, we’re continuing our four-part mini-series on Hadrian’s Wall by looking at what life was like for the soldiers stationed at Housesteads Roman Fort in Northumberland. Lying half-way along the wall near Hexham in Northumberland, Housesteads is Britain’s most complete example of a Roman fort. It was built within 10 years of the wall’s initial construction, and for nearly three centuries was able to house 800 infantrymen. Joining us for a march through the history of Housesteads are Senior Properties Historian Paul Pattison and Curator for Hadrian's Wall Dr Frances McIntosh.

To discover more or plan a visit to Housesteads Roman Fort, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/housesteads

Episode 154 - Hadrian's Wall part 2: Life at Housesteads Roman Fort

Ranger’s House is an elegant Georgian villa on the boundary of Greenwich Park and Blackheath, which houses The Wernher Collection, a world-class art collection amassed by the 19th-century businessman, Sir Julius Wernher. However, in more recent times, its façade has become famous as the star of Netflix period drama Bridgerton. We’re joined by Senior Properties Historian Dr Megan Leyland and Head of Commercial Development Kingston Myles to learn about the history of Ranger’s House and how it was reinvented on-screen as Bridgerton House. 

To discover more about Ranger’s House or to plan a visit, go to https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/rangershouse

Episode 160 - Behind the scenes of Netflix’s Bridgerton at Ranger’s House

Have you ever been to an historic site and wondered about the people who lived there? Or the people who died there? Or maybe even those who are buried there? St Peter's Church at Barton-on-the-Humber in north Lincolnshire is home to a large collection of human bones stored in its ossuary. Joining us to reveal the story of the church, its ossuary, and the human remains housed here are Senior Curator Kevin Booth and Human Skeletal Biologist at Historic England, Dr Simon Mays. 
 
To discover more about St Peter’s Church or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/st-peters-church-barton-upon-humber

Episode 170 - Curating human remains at St Peter’s Church

This week, we’re joined by Properties Historian, Dr Andrew Roberts, and Curator of Hadrian's Wall, Dr Frances McIntosh, to answer all of your questions about the Romans. Discover why the Romans never conquered all the British Isles, how long it took to get a letter to Rome from Hadrian’s Wall, whether Romans ever really used urine as a mouthwash and much more! 

To discover more about life in Roman Britain, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/romans

Episode 177 - Ask the experts: everything you want to know about the Romans

As we prepare to recreate the events of the Battle of Hastings, we’re profiling the man who lost on that battlefield in 1066. A man who (if you believe a certain tapestry) was killed by an arrow to the eye. Here to talk about the rise, reign and fall of Harold Godwinson is historian, author and expert on the middle ages, Dr Marc Morris. Plus, we’re joined by English Heritage Event Manager Diana Evans to find out what you can expect to see at this year’s re-enactment.
 
To plan a visit to 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield, or book your place at this year’s event, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/battle

Episode 180 - 1066 and all that: the rise, reign and fall of Harold Godwinson

This week, we’re joined by English Heritage’s curator of collections and interiors Dr Peter Moore and Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences archivist Sandra Jane Freshney to reveal how Audley End House in Essex became home to a diverse collection of natural history specimens and curiosities dating back to the 19th century.

Discover the story of amateur scientific collectors Richard and Jane Neville, how and where they obtained their specimens and the objects from their collection that visitors to Audley End can see during a visit today.

To find out more or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/audleyend.

Episode 215 - Natural history at home: scientific collecting at Audley End in the Victorian era

This week, we’re joined by English Heritage properties historian Andrew Roberts and curator Cameron Moffet to explore the story of Wroxeter Roman city in Shropshire.

Though a small village today, Wroxeter was once the fourth largest town in Roman Britain, when it was known as Viriconium. It was almost the same size as Pompeii in Italy and its true size can best be judged by the scale of the surviving defences and ramparts. Discover how the city grew out of a legionary fortress, what life would have been like for its residents and how we’re sharing its story in new ways with visitors today. 

To find out more or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/wroxeter.

Episode 216 - Wroxeter: the heart of a Roman city

This week, we’re joined by English Heritage’s head of learning and interpretation Dr Dominique Bouchard and interpretation coordinator Nick Collinson to shine a light on the lives of the LGBTQ+ people from the past who have a connection to our properties or are commemorated through London blue plaques.

Join us to discover the stories of Lord Beauchamp, Anne Seymour Damer, Virginia Woolf and Radclyffe Hall, and what we’re doing to share more stories of LGBTQ+ people at our sites.  

To discover more LGBTQ+ history, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/lgbtq-history.

Episode 217 - Pride of place: uncovering LGBTQ+ histories at our sites

Today, we’re out for a walk to celebrate an anniversary. The Ridgeway is sometimes referred to as England's oldest road — and this year also marks its 50th anniversary as a designated National Trail. But how far back into history does this track go? What can you find along its route? And what is its link to the summer solstice?

Joining us to show us the way are anthropologist, TV presenter and author Mary-Ann Ochota and English Heritage properties historian Dr Jennifer Wexler.

To find out more about The Ridgeway or plan your own walk along the National Trail, go to www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/the-ridgeway.

To find out more about the Uffington Castle — White Horse and Dragon Hill or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/uffington-castle-white-horse-and-dragon-hill.

To discover how you can take part in scouring the White Horse, in August 2023, visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/white-horse-hill/events/c48bd919-77da-4d2a-9e46-500ef63fcd9b

Episode 219 - The Ridgeway: a walk through time along England's oldest road

This week, we’re tracing the story of a historic heist. But it’s not the one from the 1660s involving the Crown Jewels and the Tower of London that some people might recognise.

This raid dates back more than 700 years to 1303 and the reign of King Edward I, taking place in unlikely surroundings. Helping us piece together the story are English Heritage’s head properties curator Dr Jeremy Ashbee and medieval historian Sally Dixon-Smith. 

For more information about Chapter House and Pyx Chamber or to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/chapter-house-and-pyx-chamber.

Episode 234 - A royal raid: the 1303 burglary of the Crown Jewel treasury

We’re joined in the studio by senior properties curator Roy Porter and curator of collections and interiors Kathryn Bedford to answer all the questions we received about the Battle of Hastings from English Heritage Members and followers on our social media accounts.

Join us to discover the conflict behind the battle, how the Normans managed to transport their cavalry from France and if Harold really did get killed by an arrow to the eye. Plus, we reveal how life changed for the average person in England following the battle and what might have happened if William the Conqueror had lost.
 
To learn more about the origins, events and legacy of the Battle of Hastings, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/1066-and-the-norman-conquest.

Episode 235 - Ask The Experts: everything you want to know about the Battle of Hastings

This week we’re shifting our attention to Portchester Castle in Hampshire on England’s south coast. Situated at the northern end of Portsmouth Harbour, this site has a history stretching back as far as the Romans. The later castle was also a place for thousands of international prisoners during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, including 2,000 black soldiers.

Joining us to talk about how the prisoners came to be here, what prison life was like for them and how their stories are being brought to life today are English Heritage’s head of learning and interpretation, Dr Dominique Bouchard, education visits officer, Laura Bosworth, and associate director at Soho Theatre, Lakesha Arie-Angelo.
 
To learn more about Portchester Castle or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/portchestercastle.

Episode 236 - Unlocking the story of Portchester's black and mixed-heritage prisoners of war

As the nights grow long and Halloween approaches, we’re discussing the dark and sinister history of Farleigh Hungerford Castle near Bath.

Home to the Hungerford family for over 300 years, it’s a place where you can see Britain’s best collection of human-shaped lead coffins, explore a creepy crypt and learn about murder, disaster and scandal – one part even linked to witchcraft. Joining us to explain more is historian and author of the English Heritage guidebook to Farleigh Hungerford Castle, Charles Kightly. 
 
To learn more about Farleigh Hungerford Castle or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/farleigh.

Episode 237 - The horrifying history of Farleigh Hungerford Castle

This week, we’re making history at Stonehenge, as our most famous prehistoric site hosts its first ever Festival of Neolithic Ideas on 11 and 12 November 2023.

Joining us to tell us more about the event and how our understanding of Stonehenge and its Neolithic builders is continuing to develop are English Heritage properties historian Dr Jennifer Wexler and head of learning and interpretation Dr Dominque Bouchard.
 
To learn more about Stonehenge or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge.

To find out more about the festival of Neolithic ideas, go to https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/stonehenge-festival-of-neolithic-ideas/

To listen to some of the other prehistory podcasts we mention in this episode, go to https://soundcloud.com/englishheritage/sets/stonehenge-and-prehistory

Episode 238 - Stonehenge and the Festival of Neolithic Ideas

Join us to discover the story of one of England’s wealthiest and most powerful medieval noblewomen, Isabella de Fortibus (1237–1293).

Married at an early age before becoming a wealthy young widow and heiress, she was pursued by many ambitious suitors hoping to acquire her wealth and lands while she lived at Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight. And it’s here that we begin our story with our guests, English Heritage senior properties curator Sam Stones and documentation officer Dr Therron Welstead. 
 
To learn more about Carisbrooke Castle or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/carisbrooke.

Episode 239 - The Lady of the Isle: Isabella de Fortibus and Carisbrooke Castle

This week, we’re holding our noses to tackle the history of toilets through the ages, from latrines, privies and reredorters to garderobes and even thunderboxes!

Joining us to flush out the stories of long drops, dung gatherers and the first public conveniences are senior properties historian Dr Michael Carter and historical archaeologist Dr Ian West. 
 
To learn more about toilets through time, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/blog/blog-posts/top-10-toilets-through-time. 

To find out more about Joseph Bazalgette and the location of his blue plaque, go to https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/joseph-william-bazalgette/

Episode 240 - A history of England in stinking sewage

Join Cbeebies presenter Maddie Moate on a 12 episode audio tour along Hadrian's Wall as we delve into the lives of the Romans 2000 years ago.

#1: Discover The Wall: About the Wall

One of the most important anniversaries we are celebrating this year is the 200th anniversary of the birth of both Queen Victoria (24 May, 1819) and Prince Albert (26 August, 1819). In this launch episode of the podcast, presenter Charles Rowe interviews art curator Michael Hunter at Osborne, the royal couple’s beloved former holiday home on the Isle of Wight, to find out how they celebrated their birthdays here, the gifts they gave to each other, and the new exhibition and trail planned to honour the occasion.

Episode 1 - Victoria and Albert’s birthdays at Osborne

This week we interview senior properties historian Michael Carter to find out about Whitby Abbey’s role in setting the date for Easter celebrations, why it was selected to host the Synod and the wider significance of that decision. 

Following the completion of a £1.6 million project to transform Whitby Abbey’s visitor centre and museum, we also discover what visitors can find during a trip to the abbey today.

Episode 2 - Setting a date for Easter – the Synod of Whitby

This year English Heritage is celebrating the myths, legends and folklore connected to our properties, but where did these stories originate and how do they become rooted in the history of places? 

We interview leading expert Professor Ronald Hutton to discover the key elements of a really good myth, legend or folktale, how these stories endure and why there has recently been a resurgence of mythology in popular culture.

Episode 3 - The origins of myths, legends and folklore

A £2.3 million project called ‘Re-discovering Walmer’s Lost Pleasure Grounds’ has enabled us to restore two previously inaccessible areas of the award-winning gardens at Walmer Castle in Kent. 

Presenter Charles Rowe heads down to this Tudor fortress in Kent to meet senior properties historian Paul Pattison and head gardener Mark Brent to discover the story of the castle and its gardens, and find out what visitors can expect to see when the project is completed in the coming weeks.

Episode 4 - Re-discovering Walmer Castle's lost pleasure grounds

This week we join food historian Annie Gray at Audley End House and Gardens in Essex to discover the story of Victorian cook Avis Crocombe, whose cookbook was discovered by a relative and donated to English Heritage. It provides a fascinating insight into the food that she prepared for Lord and Lady Braybrooke and their guests. More recently Mrs Crocombe has been featured as the main character in our popular series of YouTube videos in which a re-enactor prepares a selection of her original recipes. 

To watch the videos, go to www.youtube.com/englishheritage and search for The Victorian Way playlist.

Episode 6 - Victorian cook Avis Crocombe at Audley End House in Essex

We interview fashion historian and presenter of our popular historic makeup tutorials on YouTube, Amber Butchart, to trace the big developments in English fashion history, discover how much effort goes into making historically accurate costumes and reveal the most outrageous fashion statements through the centuries. 

To watch Amber’s latest video on Georgian makeup, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5wYPgaMabY or check out our series of history inspired makeup tutorials at https://www.youtube.com/user/EnglishHeritageFilm/playlists

Episode 18 - Undressing the history of fashion with Amber Butchart

It’s almost Easter, when egg hunts take place in gardens across the country, but have you ever wondered how and why this curious seasonal tradition started? We’re joined in the studio by senior properties historian Dr Andrew Hann to reveal why eggs were first hidden for children to find, how the tradition has since evolved, and when natural eggs were replaced by the chocolate variety we’re more familiar with today.
 
To find out more, read Andrew’s blog post on Easter egg hunts at http://blog.english-heritage.org.uk/the-history-of-the-egg-hunt/

Episode 54 - The history of the hunt: how an Easter tradition was hatched

We’re joined by Cathy Power and Sarah Murden to discuss the story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, the illegitimate daughter of British naval officer Sir John Lindsay and an African woman named Maria Bell, who may have been a slave. Dido spent much of her life at Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath in North London where was raised by her great uncle, Lord Mansfield, who through the 1750s to 80s was the most powerful judge in England.

To discover more about Dido Belle and Kenwood, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/women-in-history/dido-belle

Episode 78 - The story of Dido Belle at Kenwood

We’re joined in the studio by senior properties historian Nick Holder and author Sara Cockerill to look back at the remarkable but largely untold story of Eleanor of Castile. Born in 1241, she was raised as a Spanish princess, before becoming queen consort to Edward I in England. Join us as we discuss her devoted relationship with her husband, and how she helped him to survive civil war, a crusade to the Holy Land and accumulate a large property empire for the English Crown. We also reveal how Eleanor’s legacy can be traced across a number of English Heritage sites that featured in her life, while her cultural influence in architecture, design and even gardening still survives to this day.
To read about the Eleanor Cross in Geddington – one of 12 crosses Edward I erected at the places where Eleanor’s body rested during the journey south to Westminster Abbey after her death – go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/eleanor-cross-geddington

Episode 98 - Eleanor of Castile: Spanish princess and English queen

English Heritage cares for over 400 historic buildings, monuments and sites, and brings the story of England to life for over 10 million people each year. 

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk

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