Hampshire HistBites

Take a walk along the banks of the River Itchen and you enter a magical world where otters play, mayfly dart, brown trout slip through the weeds and water vole peer from burrows. Winchester has its very own Wind in the Willows habitat and Susan Simmonds of the Hampshire Wildlife Trust talks to Kyle Alexander about her work protecting and celebrating the county’s glorious chalk stream landscapes an...

Archeologist Alex Langlands, presenter of the BBC’s Victorian Farm series, talks to Charlotte Tindle about his book Cræft and how, over centuries, we humans have learnt to use the natural materials around us to practical ends, from whittling wood or spinning wool to smoking  fish and meat.  Working with nature can help us engage with our local landscape in a more meaningful way, as he has also rec...

HistBites is the brainchild of Nicky Gottlieb and Becky Brown, the festival directors of Winchester Heritage Open Days. In this specially commissioned episode they talk to Emma Cornell-Stoffer about their favourite podcasts so far, ranging from the colourful history of vintage King Alfred buses to the sometimes gory stories behind our popular sea shanties. More exciting podcasts are planned. Look...

Bored with #lockdown, looking for something to add interest to your day? Then join us for a conversation about the Twitter postbox challenge with this week's guest hosts, Madelaine and Catherine. During previous and current lockdown walks they have been noticing details that might normally be missed. For example, Catherine spotted various door knockers and Madelaine started photographing boot...

Join Cecily and Rachel as they share their passion for dramatising the stories of Hampshire's ‘unheard, unsung and unvisited’ 2TimeTheatre is a young and innovative Hampshire theatre company that works with local talent and tiny budgets to revitalise the work of long dead writers as well as producing brilliant original work telling the hidden stories of women.  William Shakespeare, Jane Auste...

Welcome to part two of Johanna Strong’s episodes exploring Mary I’s life. In this one we discover Mary I’s connections to two English landmarks - Wolvesey Castle in Winchester, and Hampton Court Palace in Surrey. Both sites observed major moments in her life, namely marriage and expected childbirth. Content Warning - This episode contains a sensitive topic that some people may find uncomfortable....

The life of Mary I has deep connections with both Winchester Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. How was she forgotten by these churches? Johanna Strong uncovers the truth.  This podcast looks at the ways in which Mary I, first crowned queen regnant of England, is remembered in Westminster Abbey – the site of her coronation and burial – and in Winchester Cathedral – the site of her marriage to Philip...

After Empress Matilda fails to gain the support of London and is chased out by its inhabitants, she journeys to Winchester and makes her camp there. Join Catherine Capel as she explores the events leading up to this moment and analyses the Empress’ decision to make the city her base of operations.  In Winchester, arrows will fly, blades will clash, and blood will spill, but only one side will come...

One of our most popular events from the 2020 Winchester Open Days Festival was a live streamed event with Eoghan, founder of Proudfoot & Co. We were therefore delighted Eoghan met up with food historian and HistBites podcaster, Emma Cornell-Stoffer and discussed our British culinary heritage.  In this wonderful podcast they explore the history of the British pantry, and take us into the fascin...

We’ve been handwriting letters for thousands of years, but in recent times it has become a lost art as many of us use emails and text messages instead. A loss for us and possibly also for future historians, as not only have letters often revealed intimate thoughts and details of life in the past, but they enable us to touch a piece of history. Emails are unlikely to do that, and text messages cert...

How do we remember the struggle of medieval sex workers? Lucy Coleman Talbot explains how the Winchester Cathedral keeps the memory of the Winchester Geese alive. Also discussed is the history of Crossbones Graveyard throughout the years and its link between modern and medieval sex work. The modern social issues around sex work have existed for centuries, discover how we can remember the Geese for...

Did you know that from the 12th to 17th century Southwark in London was controlled by the Bishop of Winchester? Among other powers, the Bishop had the right to license and tax the borough’s prostitutes, they became known as the ‘Winchester Geese’.  Lucy Coleman Talbot sheds light on the Bishops' involvement, as well as the suffering endured by medieval sex workers and how we know their story...

When most people see someone’s initials scratched into the wall of the cathedral, the carvings are dismissed as graffiti and vandalism. However, those letters tell a story about the Winchester Cathedral in centuries past and the people that walked under its vaulted ceilings. Is it history, vandalism, or both? Dr. Cindy Wood explores the controversial topic. For more information, including a transc...

Arts and crafts probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of British Army Flying, but in this fascinating podcast Dan Ball explores the unique way the Army Flying Museum in Middle Wallop is using craft to involve the local community with our aviation history. And that’s not the only thing on this podcast! With over 150 years of history, the Army Air Corps and its predecessor...

Martin Jakeman is the founder and artistic director of the Winchester based Theatre company,Historical Huzzahs. He explores how theatre and live performances can be used to teach audiences about history in an active and engaging style. Learn how the idea developed from his time performing on the streets of Winchester, hearing the real stories of British citizens on the home front of World War II,...

Today, most people can hum along to the tune of “Drunken Sailor,” but the grim origins behind the lyrics are often overlooked. In this episode Martin Jakeman from Historical Huzzahs reveals the truth.  You will also discover how the shanties kept morale high at sea, how they changed with the invention of steam ships, and how the tradition is kept alive. You may be surprised by the latter! For more...

Christopher Mulvey, Emeritus Professor of English at the University of Winchester and a trustee of the English Project, takes us on a historical journey of the English Language, explaining how invasions, colonisation and transatlantic naval and aeronautical dominance have all influenced the way we speak in Britain today. Professor Mulvey also discusses dialect, sociolects and how London English ha...

Join James Freeman and Cathy Booth in this fascinating podcast. James eagerly shares his love of the King Alfred buses. This service, set up by the Chisnell family in the 1900’s, was unique to Winchester.  James has spent a lifetime trying to bring back the buses from all over the world to their final stop. Each bus has a story and James brings that to life in this episode. He also discusses traff...

Join Sophie Hacker at Winchester College as she speaks with Dr Sarah Griffin and Revd Canon Dr Roland Riem about a Book of Hours.  The three explore the Christian Book of Prayers, its shifting purpose throughout history, and how the intricate and colourful pages were made. They also discuss the meaning of the strange religious art: is a chicken with a dragon’s body simply that, or did the artists...

Until 1990, the vast history of diving was limited to temporary exhibits in maritime museums. That changed with the founding of the Historical Diving Society. Learn about the humble origins of the global community that exists today, as well as local diving history like the wrecks of the HMS Gladiator, HMS Royal George, and the Mary Rose.  For more information, including transcription and show-note...

Emma Cornell Stoffer, Hampshire’s own doorstep social historian, brings to life the excitement of the time. She guides us through recipes, cake faking, Churchill’s call for more beer, glass shortages, fancy-dress mayors, police turning a blind eye and how housewives managed, on rations, to prepare for this monumental party. It was no trifling matter. For more information, visit our website: www.wi...

Gary Wallace-Potter, one of the founding members of the Historical Diving Society, talks to Julie and tells the story of William Walker. Learn how Walker spent hours a day in the murky waters beneath Winchester Cathedral to prevent the building’s Norman foundations from sinking into the earth. Wallace-Potter also covers the strange tale behind Walker’s bust that sits in the cathedral grounds. For...

Nicky Gottlieb and Becky Brown, founders of Hampshire HistBites, discuss the origin, structure, and topics of the podcast. From the local origins of the English language, and the intricate pages of a 15th century prayer book, to the King Alfred buses that travel the streets of Winchester today, our podcast channel covers Hampshire’s unique history. For more information about the team and to downlo...

Here's a little taster of what we are about, and a hint of the episodes to come! ASYZpDynR7VouG0feNby