When you visit the ruins of abbeys and priories today, it can be hard to imagine that these places were once teeming with people – and not just monks and nuns, with an army of workers employed to keep them running smoothly. We’re joined by Senior Properties Historian Dr Michael Carter to look back at working life at England’s medieval monasteries and discuss the role and importance of servants in their stories. 

To find out more about our abbeys and priories, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/monasteries-and-abbeys

Episode 192 - Cobbler, tailor, candlestick maker: the role of servants at our medieval monasteries

This week, we’re making our own little piece of history as we reach episode 200 of the English Heritage Podcast. To celebrate, we’re joined by English Heritage’s Chief Executive Kate Mavor and Head of Learning and Interpretation Dr Dominique Bouchard to discuss six amazing but little-known sites to visit in 2023, which have all benefitted from a major project to re-tell their stories in new and exciting ways.

To plan a visit to any of our sites, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit

Episode 200 - Little wonders: six hidden historic gems to visit in 2023

This week, we’re joined by two ancient pottery technology specialists – father and daughter team Graham Taylor and Sarah Lord – and Stonehenge Interpretation Manager Melanie Coussens to explore potted history at our most famous Neolithic site. Discover the role of eating and drinking vessels in prehistoric daily life, where they’ve been found in the landscape, what they were made of and how replicas of them made today are helping visitors get closer to the ancient past.  
 
To learn more about prehistoric life at Stonehenge or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge

Episode 201 - Exploring the history of Neolithic pottery at Stonehenge

As the nation celebrates King Charles III’s coronation, we’re joined by English Heritage’s head historic properties curator Jeremy Ashbee and senior properties historian Steven Brindle to look back at the long and colourful history of royal coronations. Discover who was the first English monarch to be formally crowned, how the ceremony, regalia and anthems have changed over time, and the previous coronations where things didn’t quite go according to plan. 
 
To learn more about our kings and queens through history, please go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/monarchy.

Episode 212 - Crowning glory: a history of coronations

This week we’re joined by English Heritage senior properties historian Dr Megan Leyland to look back at the remarkable life and achievements of this former duchess, philosopher, poet, playwright, science-fiction pioneer and socialite on the 400th anniversary of her birth.

Discover how Margaret Cavendish became one of the most published women of the 17th century, how she came to live at Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire and what you can learn about her during a visit today. 

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

Episode 225 - The extraordinary life of Margaret Cavendish

We’re joined in the studio by senior properties historian Paul Pattison and senior properties curator Roy Porter to answer all the questions we received about the English Civil Wars and Restoration from English Heritage Members and followers on our social media. 

Join us to discover the origins of the war, if the Roundheads always intended the country to become a republic and the role of Scotland, Ireland and Wales in the conflicts. We’ll also reveal if Oliver Cromwell really did cancel Christmas, how Charles II evaded the Parliamentary soldiers and what provided the turning point between the execution of Charles I and his son being crowned king.  
 
To learn more about the origins, events and legacy of the English Civil Wars, go to  www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/the-english-civil-wars-history-and-stories/the-english-civil-wars.

Episode 227 - Ask the experts: Everything you want to know about the Civil Wars and the Restoration

When we think of our most famous prehistoric site, Stonehenge, we don’t automatically think of flowers. But in 1842, the site played host to a huge dahlia exhibition, attended by around 10,000 people.

Joining us to reveal the story of this event and how it is being recreated over four days this autumn are English Heritage landscape advisor and historian Louise Crawley and archivist for the National Dahlia Society David Brown.

To learn more about the history of Stonehenge or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge

Episode 228 - Flowering interest: recreating the Stonehenge Dahlia Exhibition

This week, we’re heading behind the scenes at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens as the finishing touches are put on the major project to conserve and transform this historic country estate in Northumberland.

Joining us to talk us through the project – which was partly funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund – and the history that has been brought to life as a result are national project manager Cheryl Moore, properties historians' team leader Dr Andrew Hann and senior gardens advisor Dr Michael Klemperer.

To discover more about Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens or to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/belsay.

Episode 229 - Reawakening Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens

This week, we’re talking about King Henry V, who is famous for his victory over the French at the 1415 Battle of Agincourt, his military abilities during the Hundred Years’ War with France and the Shakespeare play named after him.

Joining us to reveal more about this celebrated medieval king and the time he spent at Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire are head historic properties curator Dr Jeremy Ashbee and emeritus professor of medieval history at the University of Southampton Anne Curry. 
 
To discover more about the history of Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden or plan a visit, go towww.english-heritage.org.uk/kenilworth.

Episode 230 - Henry V at Kenilworth Castle and his 'pleasance in the marsh'

This week, we’re celebrating a historic landmark for the London Blue Plaques scheme after our 1,000th plaque was unveiled to commemorate the work of the Women’s Freedom League.

To help us understand more about the plaque and the league’s role in the suffrage movement in the early 20th century, we’re joined by English Heritage’s blue plaque historian Howard Spencer, historian Susan Skedd and writer and historian Jill Liddington.

For details of our blue plaques scheme, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques.

Episode 233 - Celebrating the Women’s Freedom League with our 1,000th blue plaque

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

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

Episode 233 - Celebrating the Women’s Freedom League with our 1,000th blue plaque

English Heritage

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