The English Heritage Podcast

The Second World War saw a number of England’s country houses requisitioned by the military to play their part in the war effort. We’re joined by Curator of Collections and Interiors Eleanor Matthews, Properties Historians' Team Leader Dr Andrew Hann and Collections Manager David Hanks to discuss how Brodsworth Hall in South Yorkshire, Wrest Park in Bedfordshire and Belsay Hall in Northumberland w...

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 wa...

Since the beginnings of modern archaeology in the early 20th century, women have made significant contributions to preserving and understanding our cultural heritage. However, their work has often been neglected. Many of them faced institutional sexism, worked in areas that were undervalued, or had their work attributed to male colleagues. We’re joined by Senior Properties Historian Dr Susan Grean...

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...

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...

A quest to discover the origins of several mysterious Indigenous American objects in the collection at Audley End House led Curator of Collections and Interiors Peter Moore on a fact-finding mission across the Atlantic. We’re joined by Peter and Curator of The Seneca Art & Culture Centre Michael Galban to reveal what they learned about the objects, how these came to be at Audley End and a surprisi...

Ten years after the Alliance to Reduce Crime against Heritage (ARCH) was established, we’re joined in the studio by Historic England’s Head of Heritage Crime Strategy, Mark Harrison, to learn about the different kinds of heritage crime, its impact on our historic sites and what is being done to tackle it. Plus, we speak to Property Curator Win Scutt to reveal what has been happening at English Her...

This week, we’re joined by Senior Properties Historian Dr Susan Greaney and Stonehenge Curator Heather Sebire to answer all of your questions about the Neolithic period. Discover what Neolithic people ate, how they navigated their way across the British Isles and if they ever got married. Plus, learn the secrets of our most famous Neolithic monument, Stonehenge. To learn more about the history of...

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 t...

Following on from episode 130, in which we discussed the events and people behind the Battle of Hastings, we’re now shifting our attention to the turbulent years that followed. We often think of 1066 as a big turning point in English history, but it actually took another six years for the Norman Conquest to take hold. Joining us to talk through William the Conqueror’s coronation and the measures h...

With Christmas now behind us, we’re joined by 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. For more inspiration for things to do with English Heritage in January, go to www.english-heritage.o...

On the centenary of the death of Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, we’re joined by senior historian Howard Spencer to discuss Shackleton’s adventures and the blue plaque that commemorates his achievements at his former London home. We also discuss the exploits of five other polar explorers honoured by blue plaques for their commitments to mapping the globe and pushing the limits of human e...

This week we’re joined by Properties Historians Team Leader, Dr Andrew Hann, to unwrap the history of Christmas party season at four of our English Heritage sites. Discover how their rich and powerful former residents celebrated, what was on the menu at festive feasts, and how the guests were entertained. To learn more about the history of Christmas, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/christmas/the...

This week we're joined by Senior Properties Historian Dr Steven Brindle to discuss the history of The Order of the Knights Templar. Discover how they were established, their role in the crusades, the secrets of their military success, and the English Heritage sites linked to them that you can visit today. For more details about Bristol Temple Church, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/...

As the days become shorter and darker, we’re joined by Senior Properties Historian, Dr Susan Greaney, and Senior Historic Property Curator for Stonehenge, Heather Sebire, to discover how the winter solstice was marked at Stonehenge thousands of years ago. For more details about Stonehenge or to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megap...

Built in the 1720s, Derwentcote is the earliest and most complete steel-making furnace in Britain. We’re joined by Properties Historian Andrew Roberts and Volunteer Manager, Sophie Hearn to learn about the history of the furnace, its place within England’s steel-making history and how its story is being brought back to life for visitors today. For more details about Derwentcote Steel Furnace or to...

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 d...

On the 30th anniversary of the death of Queen frontman Freddy Mercury, we’re joined by English Heritage’s blue plaque historian Howard Spencer to discover the story behind Mercury’s blue plaque in Feltham, West London, along with those commemorating a supergroup of other rock and pop stars at their former residences across the capital. From Mercury to Marley and Lennon to Hendrix, discover the sto...

As we mark Remembrance Day, we’re joined by historian Dr Fiona Reid and English Heritage audience development manager Rachel Morrison to look back the armistice, remembrance, and how the red poppy became a symbol of those who gave their lives in conflicts since the First World War. We’ll also find out how and where the commemorative poppies are made today – 100 years since the first poppy appeal –...

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 ab...

This week we’re investigating some of the medieval beliefs and practices that existed to keep illness and death at bay in the Middle Ages. At a time when good health was far from guaranteed, discover how many people turned to England’s monasteries as the healthcare providers of the day, while others put their faith in magic, miracles and the supernatural. Joining us to reveal more are senior prope...

As English Heritage launches an appeal to repair and restore the 13,000 historic windows at their sites, we’re joined by senior estates manager Nicola Duncan Finn, senior properties historian Steven Brindle and properties curator Kristian Kaminski to find out what is happening and why. Discover the stories of the windows that witnessed and illuminated some of our most renowned history, from the at...

This week, we're joined by food historian Dr Annie Gray to discover the story of a delicious everyday foodstuff: butter – and some of the historic dairies where it was produced. Learn when it was first produced, when and why it became a staple food and who the biggest butter lovers in English history were. Plus, discover the stories of the butter-producing dairies and farms at Kenwood, Audley End,...

In this episode, we explore the historic journey of two refugees from slavery and campaigners for its abolition, who escaped from America to England. Ellen and William Craft ended up in London – and now, more than 170 years after they arrived, a blue plaque marks their former home in Hammersmith. Joining us to discuss their journey to England and abolitionist campaigns are English Heritage’s senio...

This week, we’re discussing how art is being used to explore the link between Brodsworth Hall and the transatlantic slave trade. The property and its gardens near Doncaster in South Yorkshire will be hosting a collection of five sculptures created by artist Carl Gabriel and inspired by the story of Peter Thellusson, a former owner of the estate who made his fortune from goods connected with slave-...