The English Heritage Podcast

We’re at Apsley House in London, the grand former home of the Duke of Wellington, to meet keeper of the Wellington Collection Josephine Oxley. Listen on to discover why this beautiful Georgian building in the heart of the capital was once known as 'Number 1 London', its role in honouring the Iron Duke’s great victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and why it is home to one of the finest art col...

To mark the 350th anniversary of Rembrandt’s death a new exhibition has been launched at Kenwood, the London home of the Dutch artist’s most famous painting, Self-portrait with Two Circles. The exhibition, called #nofilter, sees the painting re-presented alongside a new digital artwork which will be comprised of ‘selfies’ taken by visitors. We meet senior curator Wendy Monkhouse to find out more a...

We head to 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield in East Sussex to discover what goes into recreating history at our infamous annual Battle of Hastings re-enactment on the very site where the armies of King Harold and William the Conqueror clashed. We meet events manager Diane Evans and re-enactor Nigel Amos, who has played both King Harold and William the Conqueror in previous years, to...

This week, we interview historian Howard Spencer to reveal the story behind the new blue plaque at the Chelsea house where reggae singing sensation Bob Marley lived in 1977 after fleeing from Jamaica. It was while living here that Marley and his band the Wailers finished recording songs for what became the Exodus album, including Waiting in Vain, Three Little Birds, One Love and Jamming. The house...

We’re joined in the studio by Senior Collections Conservator Rachel Turnbull and Senior Properties Historian Dr Steven Brindle to find out about a new project to protect and conserve England’s largest collection of historic wall paintings. Learn the stories behind these rare and fragile works of art, how much work is going to be involved in their conservation and the work underway to ensure these...

We’re at Beeston Castle, one of the most spectacular medieval sites in England, to meet the team behind a project to build a replica of a Bronze Age Roundhouse in its grounds and bring its prehistory to life for visitors. Discover what goes into building a prehistoric home, the difference between an Iron Age and Bronze Age roundhouse and how it will be used once it has been completed. To find out...

As the new Downton Abbey film opens in cinemas, we head over to Brodsworth Hall and Gardens in South Yorkshire to meet curator Eleanor Matthews and discover how the story of this Victorian country house and its inhabitants can be compared to the fictional world of Downton Abbey. Learn about the Thellusson family who lived here, what the house would have been like during its Victorian heyday and ho...

This week we’re in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter to discover the story of the J.W. Evans silver factory with the founder’s grandson Tony Evans. Listen on to find out what life would have been like working here during the factory’s heyday in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, the difference between die sinkers and drop stampers and how this industrial treasure house came to be under the ca...

On the 240th anniversary of the creation of the iconic Iron Bridge in Shropshire, we meet head collections curator Matt Thompson to find out how its creation marked a turning point in engineering history, how it revolutionised the use of iron, and how it’s paved the way for other engineering projects. To find out more about the Iron Bridge or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/ironbri...

At Stott Park Bobbin Mill on the shores of Lake Windermere in Cumbria, we meet site manager Michael Callaghan and historic property supervisor Tracy Shaw to discover the story of this unique industrial heritage site. We reveal what life would have been like for the ‘Bobbin Boys’ who worked here, the secrets of producing the perfect bobbin and the challenges of maintaining the mill as they fire up...

This week we join head historic properties curator Jeremy Ashbee at Framlingham Castle in Suffolk to discover how it came to be at the centre of a succession crisis in 1553, which saw the crowning of England’s first official queen. Listen on to discover how the castle played a key role in events leading up to Mary’s coronation and why her subsequent reign was ultimately cut short. For more details...

As Tintagel Castle opens its new landmark bridge to visitors this weekend, we welcome Head Historic Properties Curator Jeremy Ashbee, Head of National Projects Nichola Tasker and Senior National Project Manager Reuben Briggs to the studio to find out more. Discover why the bridge has been constructed, how the winning design was selected and what has gone into creating this spectacular feat of engi...

We interview fashion historian and presenter of our popular historic makeup tutorials on YouTube, Amber Butchart, to trace the big developments in English fashion history, discover how much effort goes into making historically accurate costumes and reveal the most outrageous fashion statements through the centuries. To watch Amber’s latest video on Georgian makeup, go to https://www.youtube.com/wa...

As our new season of legendary jousts gets underway, we head behind the scenes at Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire to discover what goes into recreating medieval history with joust organiser Diana Evans and professional jouster Dominic Sewell. Discover when jousting was invented, how it has evolved over time and the skills involved in becoming a modern day hero on horseback for the crowds. For de...

To celebrate the launch of our new digital project, Stonehenge Skyscape, allowing everyone anywhere to watch the sun, moon and stars above Britain’s most famous prehistoric monument, we join space scientist and BBC’s The Sky at Night presenter Maggie Aderin-Pocock to find out more. Discover the role astronomy might have played in prehistoric life, the meaning of archeoastronomy and what you should...

A century after the unveiling of the original Cenotaph memorial in London, we are joined by senior properties historian Dr Steven Brindle and Dr Lucy Noakes, professor of modern history at the University of Essex to discover its story. Listen on to find out how and why this famous First World War memorial was created for the Peace Day celebrations of 19 July 1919 and how it’s come to inspire the d...

Ten years since our gardening team recreated the Elizabethan garden at Kenilworth Castle, we meet landscapes advisor Emily Parker and head gardener Fiona Tansey to discover the story behind the garden, the Elizabethan garden style, the planting and features of the garden that visitors should look out for during a visit today and the activities planned to mark the anniversary, including 19 days of...

As thoughts turn to holidays ahead, we join senior properties historian Andrew Hann to discover the role of the Victorians in popularising British beach holidays and seaside resorts. Learn how many of the things we now associate with a trip to the British seaside (fish and chips, promenades and piers) have their roots in the Victorian summer holiday, and how Queen Victoria herself developed a love...

As the team at Stonehenge prepare to welcome thousands of visitors to celebrate the start of summer and see the sun rise between the stones on the longest day of the year, we head behind the scenes to meet Senior Properties Historian Dr Susan Greaney and Senior Property Curator Heather Sebire. Discover how the solstice informed the formation of the stones, how the solstice was originally celebrate...

At Mount Grace Priory in North Yorkshire, our gardening team are growing plants inspired by medieval monks across Europe with aphrodisiac, narcotic and hallucinogenic qualities and names like mandrake and deadly nightshade. Today these might sound like the stuff of storybook spells, but for medieval monks they were ingredients in everyday remedies to treat all kinds of complaints*. We asked our Se...

On the 75th anniversary of D-Day on Tuesday, 6 June 1944, we meet English Heritage’s senior properties historian Paul Pattison to discover the story of the Normandy landings, the other operations that fed into this turning point of the Second World War and how the iconic fortress of Dover Castle played its role. For more information about the D-Day deceptions, visit https://www.english-heritage.or...

On the 70th anniversary of the publication of author George Orwell’s most famous novel 1984, presenter Charles Rowe interviews historian Howard Spencer to discover the story behind Orwell’s blue plaque in London and discuss how accurate he was in predicting the future. To find out more about our blue plaques scheme or order a copy of our guide to London’s Blue Plaques, go to https://www.english-he...

As Stonehenge prepares to welcome visitors to its new exhibition, Conversations in Making, which opens on 24 May 2019, we headed to artist Linda Brothwell’s studio at Spike Island in Bristol to get a preview of her artwork about to go on display. The exhibition will feature a collection of 40 copper and silver bowls, beakers and vessels that form a portrait of the area, charting the connections be...

We travel to Hampstead Heath in London to explore the breathtaking interiors and world-class art collection of Kenwood in the company of assistant curator Louise Cooling. Discover the story of this hidden gem, its former owners and its renowned collection of paintings, which remain free for everyone to enjoy today. To learn more about the history of the house and its treasures, or to plan a visit,...

This week we join food historian Annie Gray at Audley End House and Gardens in Essex to discover the story of Victorian cook Avis Crocombe, whose cookbook was discovered by a relative and donated to English Heritage. It provides a fascinating insight into the food that she prepared for Lord and Lady Braybrooke and their guests. More recently Mrs Crocombe has been featured as the main character in...