Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Erroll Flynn and Sean Connery are just a few of the actors who have performed as Robin Hood on the big screen. But who was this legendary English outlaw, whose name continues to be recognised worldwide centuries later?

Helping us to understand the story of Robin Hood and his connection to English Heritage sites you can visit today are our two guests: English Heritage senior properties historian Dr Michael Carter and professor of late medieval and Reformation history at the University of Liverpool, Dr Martin Heale.                                

To plan a visit to the English Heritage sites referenced in this episode, go to:

Whitby Abbey: www.english-heritage.org.uk/whitby 

Rievaulx Abbey: www.english-heritage.org.uk/rievaulxabbey 

Roche Abbey: www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/roche-abbey 

Rufford Abbey: www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/rufford-abbey

Episode 224 - Who was the real Robin Hood?

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

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 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

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

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

English Heritage

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