The English Heritage Podcast

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 spectacula...

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...

All too often during Women’s History Month, stories of high-status women outshine those of unsung working women. In this episode, we’re joined in the studio by English Heritage’s senior properties historian Dr Megan Leyland and properties historians’ team Leader Dr Andrew Hann to discover a selection of the working women who played their part in shaping the stories of English Heritage’s sites. Cha...

This week we’re looking at the colourful lives of a 17th century couple and their pleasure palace in Derbyshire. In the 1600s, William and Margaret Cavendish used Bolsover Castle as a place for entertaining and pursuing their personal interests. Today, this creative couple and their fairy tale mansion are the focus of a new project designed to bring their stories to life for visitors through theat...

This week we’re travelling back to the 13th century to tell the story of the woman at the centre of the 1265 siege of Dover Castle. Eleanor de Montfort was the wife of the powerful earl of Leicester, Simon de Montfort. He led baronial opposition to King Henry III, which spilled out into conflict in 1263. A year into the war, Henry and his heir Prince Edward were captured at the Battle of Lewes, an...

For the 100th episode of the podcast we’ve made the journey over to Boscobel House and the Royal Oak in Shropshire to search out the story of the king who hid in an oak tree. Charles II will forever be linked to Boscobel House and the tree that saved his life. But how did a king end up seeking sanctuary here and what was the state of England at the time? We’re joined by site manager Daisy Lambert,...

Responsible for caring for 1,300 artworks in properties across the country, along with 15 in situ painted decorative schemes and the nation’s largest collection of wall paintings, English Heritage’s paintings conservators have their work cut out. We’re joined by senior collections conservator Rachel Turnbull, to discover what goes in to caring for and restoring this fine art collection – and what...

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...

This week we’re joined by head properties curator Dr Jeremy Ashbee to discover a real-life Games of Thrones story involving one powerful family, two castles, five successive kings, rebellion and restitution. Listen on to learn about three generations of the powerful Bigod family, their royal rumbles and the rise, fall and rebuilding of their home at Framlingham Castle in Suffolk. To discover more...

Imagine you're living in the 1800s, with the vision (and budget) to build a glorious new home. How would you go about making your grand design a reality? We’re joined by properties historian team leader Dr Andrew Hann and landscape advisor Emily Parker to discuss how Sir Charles Monck did just that at Belsay Hall in Northumberland, and the influence of his travels on his grand home and gardens. To...

So many English Heritage sites are ruined – famously lots of abbeys and castles, but also houses, parish churches and chapels, Roman villas and bath-houses – but this does not detract from their importance or the enjoyment of visiting them. We’re joined by head properties curator Dr Jeremy Ashbee and properties curator Sam Stones to discuss the challenges of conserving them, why English Heritage d...

We’re joined in the studio by senior properties historian Dr Michael Carter and interpretation assistant Nick Collinson to discover the story of the most important churchman in 12th century England. At the time of his death in 1167, Aelred of Rievaulx Abbey in North Yorkshire was immediately regarded as a saint. During his life, he accomplished many things, serving as a royal steward, an emissary...

This week, we’re joined by curator of collections Cameron Moffett and curator of collections (Hadrian’s Wall & the North East) Frances McIntosh to discover what we know about the Romans’ beliefs in magic, superstitions and the ‘Evil Eye’. And we’ll look at the evidence for these at English Heritage sites, including the discovery of some rather surprising objects thought to protect the holder again...

As many of us prepare to hang up a new calendar for the year ahead, we’re joined by Professor Robert Poole to reveal the surprising history of our calendar. Discover how Britain switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in the 18th century, why the change was necessary to catch up with most of Europe, and the truth behind the 'calendar riots' of 1752. We’ll also discuss the probl...

This week we’re joined by English Heritage Trustee Professor Ronald Hutton to discuss the pagan winter customs behind the Christmas traditions we take for granted today. Discover the ancient origins of winter feasting, Christmas carols, present giving, kissing under the mistletoe and more! To read about the history of Christmas, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/christmas/the-history-of-christmas...

It’s traditional to eat a lot at Christmas, but did you know that winter has been a time of feasting for far longer? This week we’re joined by Properties Historians Team Leader, Dr Andrew Hann, and Properties Historian, Dr William Wyeth to discuss delectable dinners and diners through the ages, from prehistory to the near present. We’ll look at what was eaten, where and when, including at Stonehen...

On the 850th anniversary of an event that shook medieval Europe, we’re joined by senior properties historian Steven Brindle to look back at the murder of Thomas Becket, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury, and how it happened. We’ll also discuss how King Henry II, whose knights carried out this crime in 1170, tried to salvage his tattered reputation. And we’ll investigate how the building of Dove...

This week expect winter chills as we’re joined by senior properties historian Dr Michael Carter to delve into stories of ghosts, ghouls and hauntings at our sites. Join us as we learn about the monks who loved a spooky story, medieval beliefs about death and the afterlife, remarkable revenants and the impact of the Reformation on people’s beliefs in ghosts. To discover some more spooky stories con...

Here on the podcast we spend most of our time discussing the actions of people at the places where they worked or lived through the ages. But far less well known are the stories of the animals and pets that lived alongside them. This week, we’re joined by properties historians team leader Dr Andrew Hann, senior properties historian Dr Megan Leyland and landscape advisor Emily Parker to discuss som...

This week, we’re joined by Senior Properties Historian Dr Susan Greaney and Properties Curator Mark Douglas to reveal the story of a prehistoric site – and the man who unearthed it. Decades before Time Team turned its experts into much-loved celebrities, one archaeologist was making a name for himself through the new medium of television. That man was Sir Mortimer Wheeler. Discover the story of hi...

This week, we’re delving into the hidden history of spies, intelligence personnel and secret agents with English Heritage’s senior historian for blue plaques, Howard Spencer. Find out about six men and women whose exploits were crucial to British intelligence and, for some, to our endeavours in World War Two. In the past, their lives, work and achievements were shrouded in secrecy. But today, thei...

Did you know that English Heritage cares for more castles than anyone else? That’s why we invited you to put your questions to our experts: head properties curator, Dr Jeremy Ashbee and properties historian, Dr William Wyeth. Join us as we discover the definition of a castle, why the Normans couldn’t stop building them and how they have changed over time. If you’ve ever wondered what a Motte and B...

Grab your broomsticks and warm your toes by a bubbling cauldron as we explore the history of witches, witchcraft and witch trials in England with Diane Purkiss, Professor of English literature at Oxford University. Discover when stories of witchcraft really started to take hold in England, the meaning of the phrase ‘the witching hour’ and the purpose of the mysterious witch marks that have been fo...

We’re joined by English Heritage properties historian Andrew Roberts and collections curator Frances McIntosh to discuss the story of Chesters Roman Fort on Hadrian’s Wall, which remains the most complete Roman cavalry fort in Britain. Discover what life was like for the men stationed here, the importance of the cavalry and the story of John Clayton, who excavated the fort from 1843 until his deat...

Every October, Black History Month celebrates the many achievements of black Britons throughout the centuries. But it also encourages us to look at Britain's dominant role in transatlantic slavery, and to understand the legacies of the trade that still shape our world today. We’re joined by Professor of History and Memory of Slavery at the University of Bristol, Olivette Otele, to find out more. T...