Episoder
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This week we are heading back to the turn of the 20th century to discuss the life of Margaret Damer Dawson, a one woman campaigning machine who had a strong sense of justice, and enough money to ensure that her voice was heard.
After seeing the way that women in the 1910s were experiencing the criminal justice system, Margaret decided that the only way to improve things would be to have women on the front lines as police officers in their own right, and she would not rest until it happened...
...which thanks to the start of WWI wouldn't actually take as long as she might have feared.
Guest Host: Evie Heathcote
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Happy 200th Episode
This week we are looking into the biggest disaster in the history of Glasgow shipbuilding, when a relatively small ship designed to ferry people and cargo to Northern Ireland instead became a sunken tomb for over 100 people. Even worse it was a disaster that occurred in front of a large audience, and only a biscuit throw from shore.
A tale of cutting corners and entirely predictable consequences the story of the Daphne goes to show that the Victorians were experts at putting profits before people.
With a bonus discussion of over 500 years of ship building on the west coast of Scotland that features a cameo from at least two separate King James'
Guest Host: Ollie Green
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Manglende episoder?
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We are heading into the skies this week to talk about Sir Thomas Sopwith, a man who had a natural talent for two things. Engines and business.
Luckily for him he was born just in time for the dawning of powered flight. Slightly less luckily he was also in prime position to influence he development of British fighter planes during both world wars.
So join us as we shamelessly name drop some of the most important men in aviation history and discuss how the RAF were able to have the edge on the competition in spite of the Government as we delve into the life and times of centurion Sir Thomas Sopwith (who may or may not have murdered his father in cold blood....)
Guest Host: Emma Heathcote
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This week we are delving into the brief period when Britain was a republic, and when anything seemed possible...
At least it did to Gerrard Winstanley, a failed businessman who took the promise of more equality to the extreme when he founded a commune in Surrey with the belief that God had told him to prove to the people of England that private property was against the teachings of Jesus.
Regardless of if this was true or not, the local landowners were not about to let Gerrard potentially prove that communal living without any attempt to profit off your fellow man could work, so they wrote to the new republic government and soon the head of the army became involved.
So join us for a story of naive optimism in the face of state power and vested interests as we see if anyone in the country actually dug the Diggers.
Guest Host: Pam Loetterle
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We are treading the boards this week as we investigate a series of theatre disasters that took place across Britain, but always in a building named the Theatre Royal.
Starting with the most famous theatre fire in 1613 we discuss how, over the next 400 or so years, theatre owners never seemed to learn the lesson that basic safety precautions are never too expensive in the long run (also, buildings insurance seems to be a worthwhile investment).
So join us as we discuss how hundreds of people who just wanted to be entertained for a few hours were burned, choked, crushed and even had their pants literally set on fire as a result of some dodgy decision making in pursuit of profits.
Guest Host: Jack Heathcote
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This week we are are dipping our toes into medical history, discussing the life and times of the fastest surgeon (possibly) ever. A native Scotsman, Robert Liston was already an accomplished surgeon while still in his teens. But while his talent was great, his ego appeared to be even greater.
After annoying his colleagues in Edinburgh for over a decade, Robert found himself being passed over for plumb positions to the point that he decided to move to London to see if the English would be more appreciative of his skills (and tolerant of his personality).
A man who combined natural talent with an inventive mind and a total inability to accept anything other than perfection, Robert Liston was definitely the may you wanted in charge of your operation, but the last person you would ever want to work with.
Guest Host: Ang Reddoch
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This week we are heading back to the world of the Women's Suffrage movement to discuss how a clerical error gave one shopkeeper a chance to vote in a General Election.
Having worked her way up to the point where she met the property threshold for a vote (had she been a man) Lilly Maxwell found herself added to the electoral roll for a hastily arranged by-election in Manchester in November 1867.
Encouraged to use this mistake as an opportunity to prove that a woman voting would not cause the world to end, Lilly, a Scotswoman in her 60s, had an opportunity to make history.
But would she take it? Would her vote be counted? And what would the fallout be if she did?
Guest Host: Evie Heathcote
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This week we are delving into the world of early Victorian pseudo-medicine with a man who can literally be described as 'a bit of a character.'
Born into obscurity near Manchester (possibly), young John Smith (at least we assume that was his name) dreamed of becoming famous throughout the British Isles and beyond.
To this end he reinvented himself as 'Baron Spolasco', a doctor who could cure absolutely anything, provided you had the cash.
So join us as we cover a life of flim-flammery of the highest order. With manslaughter cases, shipwrecks and children of questionable origin thrown in for good measure...
...as long as we can get Ollie's equipment sorted out.
Guest Host: Ollie Green
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This week we are viewing the events of 1756 through the editorial decisions of The Gentleman's Magazine. One of the premier publications of Georgian London.
Join us as we discuss the criminal inclinations of butchers, the impact of war with France, and the potential pitfalls of bigamy.
Guest Hosts: Emma Heathcote & Ollie Green
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This week we are following a tale of transcontinental industrial espionage from the Victorian Era.
Robert Fortune was a poor Scots horticulturalist who just so happened to have been born at a time when plant hunting was deemed to be of vital importance to the British Empire.
Determined that his last name would not be his only fortune Robert agreed to travel to China to steal the secrets of their their most valuable commodity... Tea.
Going deep undercover Robert would become the lynchpin in a plot to start a rival tea production industry in British controlled India. Of course this would mean long years away from his wife and children, but Robert seemed more than happy with this arrangement.
Would he be caught? Would the plants he stole survive the journey to India? and would his disguise be deemed culturally insensitive to a modern audience?
All these questions and more will be answered.
Guest Host: Jack Heathcote
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This week we have an extra special episode, researched and presented by the birthday girl, Pamela Loetterle.
We are talking all about Dr John Donne. Born a Catholic and a child genius, we follow his career, love-life and eventual conversion (by Royal Decree) to become the most famous Anglican preacher of his day...
...who also liked to write saucy poetry.
Far more than just the bloke who wrote; 'For whom the bell tolls', Dr Donne was a man who found a way to get to where he wanted to be. Even if he was occasionally a bit of a goth/emo about things.
Guest Presenter: Pamela Loetterle
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This week we are talking about a King who was immortalised by Disney, and who was given the nickname 'The Lionheart' due to his prowess in battle.
Unfortunately being a king isn't all about battles, and in every other aspect it could be argued that Richard I was sadly lacking.
So join us for a story of battles and poor decision making as we discuss the life and times of Richard the Lionheart! (and his tangental influence on the England football team.)
Guest Host: Evie Heathcote
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This week we are learning about what happens when a magician tries to apply his skillset in an active war zone with the tale of Jasper Maskelyne.
Determined to serve during WWII, Jasper ended up in Cairo where the British were facing off against the tactical might of Rommel in the deserts surrounding the Nile Delta.
What follows is a story of increasingly sophisticated (and almost unbelievable) deceptions which, according to Jasper, were crucial in turning the tide of the North Africa conflict...
...of course that is if you believe Jasper.
Guest Host: Emma Heathcote
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This week Emma is taking the lead to tell the tale of how two brothers took a failing drinking chocolate business from the brink of bankruptcy and made it into a chocolate colossus that still exists to this day.
Following their father losing his interest in the Cadbury's factory following the death of his wife, his two young sons George and Richard decided that they would take up the reins and try to turn things around.
With a few false starts along the way, a world trip to find inspiration and a threat to change tack to Chartered Surveying, this is a tale of learning on the job and taking risks to get one up on your rivals.
*NOW WITH BONUS POST-CREDITS CONTENT!*
Guest Presenter: Emma Heathcote
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We are back with another episode written and researched by the extremely knowledgeable Pamela Loetterle who wanted to shine a light on one of the forgotten nobles from the Elizabethan / Stuart era, Sir Julius Caesar.
The son of immigrants Julius was determined that he would become a man of power, wealth and influence within Court, setting his sights on the position of 'Master of the Rolls.' But as his family were new money rather than an established noble line, he would have to take a rather circuitous route in his rise to power and influence.
With potentially more historical name drops than any other episode in Consistently Eccentric History, join us as we make the case that Sir Julius Caesar should be just as well known as his famous namesake.
Lead Host: Pamela Loetterle
Guest Host: Joe Heathcote
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This week we are talking about a rare event in British history, a spree shooting. Though it could easily have been two.
Barry Williams was a man who struggled to see other people as anything other than objects, and who had a fascination with guns, which is not the best combination.
So when he began to get annoyed with his neighbours in the middle 70s, it was only a matter of time before he decided he needed to take steps to get rid of them.
But at least he would not be released from custody and left to stockpile a second arsenal of weapons... Right?!
Guest Host: Ollie Green
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This week we are talking about a woman who was forced by circumstance to live in a cave, and made it work.
Denounced by her neighbours as a witch, Mother Shipton leaned into the role in order to survive and did such a good job that she is still remembered nearly 500 years later.
But what parts of her story are true? Was she actually able to tell the future? And why did it take so long after her death for anyone to write her biography?
Tune in to find out.
Guest Host: Evie Heathcote
If you like what we can do you can leave us a tip on Kofi at: ko-fi.com/consistentlyeccentrichistory
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We are delving into the world of Elizabethan espionage this week to discuss a displaced Jewish doctor who realised that the way he communicated with his fellow exiles across Europe could just so happen to be turned into a readymade spy network for profit.
Quickly rising in influence after leaving his home of Portugal in his 30s, Dr Lopez managed to reach the dizzying heights of personal physician to Queen Elizabeth herself.
But the desire to return home never left him, and the schemes he participated in to try and engineer a chance to live out his days back in Portugal led him deeper and deeper into a tangled web of split loyalties and risky choices...
Guest Host: Emma Heathcote
If you enjoy our podcast you can drop us a donation on KoFi at:
ko-fi.com/consistentlyeccentrichistory
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For our first 2025 episode we are discussing two separate occasions when whisky* related disasters caused death and destruction within the British Isles.
With a brief history of whisky production over the years, explaining how a monopoly of larger distillers was encouraged by the government and how this may have contributed to setting the conditions for the disasters that followed, it is a story of profit over safety...
Luckily that sort of thing never happens nowadays right?
Guest Host: Ollie Green
*We are using the Scottish spelling in deference to the fact that Ollie does live in Scotland, not because we have an official preference between the two.
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This week on Consistently Eccentric we are discussing the life of a poor Georgian woman who enjoyed 15 minutes of fame due to a sensational biography and her willingness to wear pants.
When she was abandoned by her husband Hannah Snell decided that she was not going to take it lying down. So (according to her) she borrowed a set of her brother-in-law's clothes and headed off in hot pursuit as 'James Grey'... A name which was also borrowed from her brother-in-law.
According to her biography what followed was nearly 5 years of deception which included stints in both the Army and the Navy as well as trips to India and Africa... but just how reliable were her stories? And would she ever actually find her husband so she could give him a piece of her mind?
Guest Host: Evie Heathcote
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