Latest Episode
Episode 291 - Ask the experts: England’s medieval kings and queens
Today, we’re joined by English Heritage’s senior properties historian, Dr Steven Brindle, and head properties curator, Dr Jeremy Ashbee, to answer all your questions about England’s medieval kings and queens. Join us as we reveal which medieval monarch had the greatest impact on English history, the perils of being a member of the Royal Family at the time, what happened to Henry VIII’s tomb and more.
More on England’s kings and queens through history
Listen HereA taste of food history
What were people eating in days gone by, and how? Tuck into these episodes to step into the kitchens and dining rooms of our properties and discover the history of food, from Victorian houses to Roman feasts and more.
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Episode 6 - Victorian cook Avis Crocombe at Audley End
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Episode 48 - How to cook the Victorian way with Mrs Crocombe at Audley End
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Episode 133 - Divine dairies and the history of butter
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Episode 163 - Feasts through history: Dining and reclining at Lullingstone Roman Villa
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Episode 176 - Feasts through history: fine dining at Stokesay Castle
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Episode 195 - Winter warmers: what our ancestors ate at the coldest time of year
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Episode 36 - The rise of Mead
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Episode 90 - Festive feasts through the ages
Black History
In these episodes of the podcast, discover the story of the Crafts' incredible journey and fight for freedom, what life would have been like for Dido Belle growing up in the georgian aristocracy and the legacy that the transatlantic slave trade has left at our properties. Plus we discuss the black people commemorated by Blue Plaques in London, including musical legend Bob Marley.
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Episode 288 - Revealing the historic voices of Brixton
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Episode 78 - The Story of Dido Belle At Kenwood
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Episode 81 - Voices of England: How slavery shaped the nation
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Episode 80 - Black plaques: Celebrating London’s black history
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Episode 132 - Freedom fighters: the story of Ellen and William Craft
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Episode 27 - Exodus: the story behind reggae legend Bob Marley’s blue plaque in London
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Episode 79 - Untold stories: Poetry for English Heritage
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Episode 131 - Exploring the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade at Brodsworth
Myths, magic and superstition
Join us and a host of experts to discover tales of mischief and magic as we explore the history behind magical beliefs, myths, legends and superstitions.
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Episode 83 - Halloween special: Witchcraft and witch marks
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Episode 88 - Medieval ghosts, ghouls and hauntings
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Episode 135 - Medieval medicine, magic and superstition
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Episode 93 - Superstition, magic and the Evil Eye in the Roman world
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Episode 184 - Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Whitby Abbey and the Victorian Gothic
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Episode 3 - The origins of myths, legends and folklore
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Episode 31 - 'These Our Monsters': retelling myths and legends
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Episode 108 - Here be dragons! Fire breathing beasts and where to find them
1066
Join us on The English Heritage Podcast as we unpick the real events and people behind the famous story of the Battle of Hastings. We discuss who had the strongest claim to the English throne, what happened in the days and months leading up to the battle and what William I did to cement his reign in the years that followed the Norman Conquest. Plus, go behind the scenes to discover just what it takes to pull off a live action remake of the battle each year at the Abbey and Battlefield site in East Sussex.
Monasteries
Now enigmatic ruins perfect for a peaceful day out, throughout medieval England our monastic properties were once home to communities of monks and nuns. Explore their stories, from their daily life and religious practices, to the catastrophic dissolution ordered by Henry VIII.
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Episode 172 - A medieval mission: converting Anglo-Saxon England
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Episode 243 - St Milburga: princess, abbess, miracle worker
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Episode 77 - What happened to monks & nuns after the Dissolution of the Monasteries?
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Episode 47 - Saints and crusaders: medieval relics and pilgrimage at Battle Abbey
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Episode 208 - Illuminating Lindisfarne Priory
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Episode 94 - The life and work of St Aelred of Rievaulx
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Episode 135 - Medieval medicine, magic and superstition
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Episode 125 - Ask the experts: Everything you want to know about England’s monasteries
Castles
Step back in time as we explore what life was like at our historic castles. From epic battles and sieges, to tales of power and political machinations that wouldn't look out of place in Game of Thrones, listen to these episodes to discover their stories.
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Episode 280 – Bad King John: England’s worst monarch?
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Episode 97 - Tale of two castles: The Bigods, royal rebellions, Framlingham & Orford Castles
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Episode 237 - The horrifying history of Farleigh Hungerford Castle
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Episode 230 - Henry V at Kenilworth Castle and his 'pleasance in the marsh'
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Episode 251 - The remarkable rise and fall of Old Sarum
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Episode 56 - Mary Queen of Scots at Carlisle Castle
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Episode 206 - Launceston Castle
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Episode 114 - A knight’s tale: The real-life English Heritage knights
The Romans
From AD 43 to AD 410 Britain was under the control of the Roman Empire, from Hadrian’s Wall in the north of England to Richborough Fort in Kent. Listen to these English Heritage Podcast episodes to explore the archaeological discoveries made at these sites, and what they can tell us about life in the past.
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Episode 147 - Hadrian’s Wall part 1: The man behind the wall
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Episode 154 - Hadrian's Wall part 2: Life on the frontier at Housesteads Roman Fort
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Episode 209 - Cartimandua And Boudica: Iron Age Queens
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Episode 136 - Who were the Romans of Britannia?
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Episode 256 - What happened after the Romans left Britain?
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Episode 93 - Superstition, magic and the Evil Eye in the Roman world
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Episode 214 - Richborough Roman Fort: gateway to Britannia
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Episode 126 - Hot tubs and hypocausts: Roman bathing in Britain
Women's History
From queens to commoners, women have been integral in shaping the history of our castles and historic homes. Join us as The English Heritage Podcast explores the fascinating stories of women associated with our sites.
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Episode 277 - In the Ayahs’ Home: Pioneering Indian and Chinese women in Hackney
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Episode 151 - The extraordinary life and times of Eleanor of Aquitaine
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Episode 101 - Woman at war: Eleanor de Montfort at Dover Castle
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Episode 98 - Eleanor of Castile: Spanish princess and English queen
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Episode 205 - Celebrating the great and good of women's history
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Episode 113 - Painting a portrait of Sarah Forbes Bonetta at Osborne
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Episode 103 - The remarkable working women at our historic houses
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Episode 207 - Jane Whorwood: Royalist spy
Blue Plaque Biographies
Commemorative blue plaques found on buildings across London connect people and place together – but there is much more to discover about these famous figures. Join us to find out more about the fascinating stories behind the plaques, as The English Heritage Podcast delves into their histories in this series of episodes.
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Episode 274 - Heroes of the 1924 Paris Olympics
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Episode 138 - At home with London’s rock and pop stars
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Episode 144 - Life on ice: Sir Ernest Shackleton and the blue plaque polar explorers
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Episode 49 - The blue plaque women who changed the course of English history
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Episode 62 - A literary legacy: at home with Charles Dickens
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Episode 85 - On His Majesty’s Secret Service: The real-life blue plaque secret agents
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Episode 9 - George Orwell and the making of 1984
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Episode 189 - From stage to silver screen: the life and career of Charlie Chaplin
Ask the experts...
In this mini series, our experts answer your questions. From castles and monasteries to prehistory, discover the things you always wanted to know. Get your question answered in a future episode: email us at podcast@english-heritage.org.uk with your question and your name to be included.
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Episode 148 - Ask the experts: Everything you want to know about the Neolithic period
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Episode 177 - Ask the experts: everything you want to know about the Romans
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Episode 235 - Ask The Experts: everything you want to know about the Battle of Hastings
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Episode 84 - Ask the experts: everything you want to know about castles
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Episode 264 - Ask the experts: medieval knights and jousts
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Episode 291 - Ask the experts: England’s medieval kings and queens
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Episode 125 - Ask the experts: Everything you want to know about England’s monasteries
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Episode 197 - Ask the experts: everything you want to know about the Tudors
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Episode 227 - Ask the experts: Everything you want to know about Civil Wars & Restoration
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Episode 186 - Ask the experts: everything you want to know about country houses
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Episode 210 - Ask The Experts: Everything You Want To Know About The Georgians
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Episode 158 - Ask the experts: Everything you want to know about the Victorians
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Episode 246 - Ask the experts: everything you want to know about the history of Christmas
All Episodes
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If you would like to access any of our episodes in a written format, please email Podcast@english-heritage.org.uk to make a request.