The English Heritage Podcast

This week, we head to Gloucestershire for a stroll along a section of Offa's Dyke — the great earthwork boundary dyke built along the Anglo-Welsh border by Offa, King of Mercia, and one of the most remarkable structures in Britain. We're joined by professor in archaeology Keith Ray, who reveals when and why Offa's Dyke was built, who the Mercians were, how they used the structure, and how the dyke...

We're joined by senior historian for the blue plaques scheme Howard Spencer and writer and performer Mark Farrelly to explore the life and legacy of filmmaker, artist and activist Derek Jarman, who died 30 years ago and was commemorated by a London blue plaque in 2019. Join us to discover the story of Jarman's career, his role as a gay rights activist and the new touring show that has been created...

Valentine's Day is on its way and romance is most definitely in the air, so we're focusing our attention on a selection of the love stories that played out at English Heritage sites. Joining us to discuss the true romances formed at Osborne on the Isle of Wight, Brodsworth Hall in South Yorkshire, Wrest Park in Bedfordshire and Eltham Palace in London are collections curator Eleanor Matthews and p...

Hidden among the collections at Corbridge Roman Town on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland are a series of dodecahedra (12 sided objects) made of copper alloy that have been puzzling archaeologists since the 18th century. Each one is slightly different, but have common features, with a hole in the centre, decoration and knobs on each corner. We're joined in the studio by collections curator Dr Franc...

This week, we're joined by senior properties historian Dr Steven Brindle and historian John McNeill to discuss the story of Old Sarum in Wiltshire — one of the most eclectic and important sites in southern England, with over 2,000 years of history. Continuously occupied since Roman times, it uniquely combines a royal castle and cathedral within the remains of an Iron Age fortification. Join us to...

This week, we're tracing the fascinating story of an almost forgotten currency. In early medieval England, eels were exchanged for goods and services and to settle debts. We're joined by medievalist and cartographic historian Dr John Wyatt Greenlee to reveal how these once abundant fish powered the medieval economy, why they were coveted as both a food and currency and what caused their eventual f...

We're joined in the studio by senior properties historian Michael Carter to take a look at the annual traditions and events that mark the early part of the year — some we still celebrate today, while others have slipped into obscurity. Join us to discover the origins of Plough Monday, St Hilary's Day, Candlemas, Ash Wednesday and more. Plus, we reveal why we have leap years and why these take plac...

This week we're honouring the life of a 17th-century composer, who lived and worked at Kirby Hall in Northamptonshire. George Jeffreys was both a steward and in-house musician for the Hattons — a wealthy family who became entangled in the Civil Wars. But now, his music and memory have been reborn, thanks to a new album recorded on-site at Kirby Hall. We're joined by curator of collections Dickon W...

Today, we're in Kent in southeast England to meet English Heritage properties historians Dr Jennifer Wexler and Dr Alastair Oswald and visit an ancient sacred site with a fascinating story. Kit's Coty House and its neighbour, Little Kit's Coty House, are the remains of two megalithic 'dolmen' burial chambers. Discover who built them, how they were used and why this is a great time to visit on the...

We're joined in the studio by properties historian Dr Will Wyeth, senior properties historian Dr Megan Leyland and properties historian team leader Dr Andrew Hann to answer all the questions we received about the history of Christmas from English Heritage Members and followers on our social media accounts. Join us to discover how the origins of Christmas date back over 2,000 years, when geese were...

This week, we're joined by senior properties historian Dr Michael Carter to find out how people in the past entertained themselves during the cold and dark midwinter — and the festive mischief they got up to at this time of year. Join us to learn about Christmas irreverence through the ages, the curious traditions of boy bishops, the Bean King and the Lord of Misrule, and the English Heritage site...

As the Christmas party season gets into full swing, we're taking a look back at the history of alcoholic drinks through the ages. From mead to mulsum, beer to brandy, and wine to whisky — they're all on the menu in our figurative festive pub. Joining us to raise a glass and explain all are English Heritage curator of collections Cameron Moffett and drinks expert and writer Jane Peyton. To learn mo...

Today, we're joined by English Heritage senior properties historian Dr Michael Carter to reveal the story of St Milburga, who was a princess, the second abbess of Wenlock Priory, and a woman of international renown. Discover the story of her royal roots, her rise to Christian renown and the miraculous cures attributed to this little-known saint. To learn more about St Milburga, go to www.english-h...

This week, we’re exploring the secrets to living a healthy life in Roman Britain. The Roman’s well documented love of bathing was one aspect of this, along with exercise, ancient medical science, religion and even superstition. Joining us to shine a light on Roman medicine and healthcare are English Heritage properties historian Dr Andrew Roberts and curators Cameron Moffett and Dr Frances McIntos...

Today, we’re looking back at the story of the man who brought free healthcare to the UK in the years after the Second World War. Aneurin Bevan – also known as Nye Bevan – was the founding father of the National Health Service or NHS, which 75 years on, remains at the heart of British life. Joining us to discuss Bevan’s life and legacy, and the London blue plaque commemorating his achievements, is...

This week, we’re holding our noses to tackle the history of toilets through the ages, from latrines, privies and reredorters to garderobes and even thunderboxes! Joining us to flush out the stories of long drops, dung gatherers and the first public conveniences are senior properties historian Dr Michael Carter and historical archaeologist Dr Ian West. To learn more about toilets through time, go t...

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 gue...

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 D...

As the nights grow long and Halloween approaches, we’re discussing the dark and sinister history of Farleigh Hungerford Castle near Bath. Home to the Hungerford family for over 300 years, it’s a place where you can see Britain’s best collection of human-shaped lead coffins, explore a creepy crypt and learn about murder, disaster and scandal – one part even linked to witchcraft. Joining us to expla...

This week we’re shifting our attention to Portchester Castle in Hampshire on England’s south coast. Situated at the northern end of Portsmouth Harbour, this site has a history stretching back as far as the Romans. The later castle was also a place for thousands of international prisoners during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, including 2,000 black soldiers. Joining us to talk about h...

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 real...

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...

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...

This week you find us Audley End in Essex, where we’re joined by English Heritage landscape advisor and historian, Louise Crawley and PHD student, Helen Brown, to learn how our historic gardens were designed to stimulate different senses. Join us to discover how sensory experiences can help to understand the past, how sensory experiences in the past differ from those we have now and what you shoul...

As a new school year gets underway, we’re joined by senior properties historian Michael Carter to discover what education was like in the Middle Ages and how it compared to today’s classrooms. Discover the different forms of medieval schools, the role of the monasteries as educators and how the educational opportunities differed for boys and girls. We’ll also reveal what the curriculum comprised,...