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In the summer of 2024, eight catapult shot were discovered at Kenilworth Castle during a project to improve paths in and around the castle. Ranging in weight between 1kg and 105kg, the stone balls are believed to have been fired during the momentous 172-day-long siege of the castle in 1266. We’re joined by properties historian Dr William Wyeth to discover the story of the siege, the people who took part and its legacy today.
To discover more about the history of Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kenilworth-castle/history-and-stories
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This week, we’ve got a mouthwatering treat for you as we’re joined by food historian Sam Bilton to dig into the story and evolution of this much-loved winter warmer. Discover what constitutes a pie, the earliest record of one, the ingredients pie makers through the ages experimented with and whether the humble pie still has a place in our 21st century, health-conscious world.
To discover more about the history of the English pie, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/a-history-of-the-english-pie
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This week, we’re looking back at the history of Hailes Abbey, a ruined monastery in the Cotswold countryside, which was once one of the most significant pilgrimage sites in medieval England. For centuries, visitors flocked here to see the Holy Blood of Hailes – a prized relic said to be a portion of the blood of Jesus Christ. We’re joined by English Heritage senior properties historian Dr Michael Carter and Hailes Abbey’s property manager Jess Eyres to discover how the Holy Blood came here, the miracles attributed to it, what happened to it and everything today’s visitors can expect to find.
To discover more about the story of Hailes Abbey and the Holy Blood, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/hailes-abbey/history-and-stories
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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.
To discover more about England’s kings and queens through history, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/monarchy
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As we head into the darker part of the year, we’re preparing for a trio of historical events designed to commemorate the dead. Everyone knows Halloween, of course, but what about All Saints' Day and All Souls’ Day, which follow straight after? We’re joined by English Heritage’s senior properties historian, Dr Michael Carter, to find out more.
To discover more, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/halloween-saints-souls/
For more spooky stories, gruesome tales and unmissable Halloween events, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/Halloween
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Today, we’re marking 100 years since the 1924 general election, which saw 41 women compete for seats in the UK’s House of Commons. One of the candidates that year was Mary Katherine Middleton of Belsay Hall in Northumberland, northeast England. Joining us to talk about her life, her accomplishments, and the women’s political movement of the time are properties historian Andrew Roberts and historian of women and politics in modern Britain Dr Lisa Berry Waite.
To learn more about the Mary Middleton’s story, go to: www.english-heritage.org.uk/mary-middleton
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We’re joined in the studio by the founders and young members from the Voices Project to learn about a new walking tour they’re creating to celebrate the Black history of Brixton, London. Discover the stories they uncovered, the blue plaques that feature on their route and what they hope their new tour will help to achieve.
To learn more about English Heritage’s youth engagement project, Shout Out Loud, go to www.shoutoutloud.org.uk
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Many of us are familiar with ‘William the Conqueror’, but he was also William, Duke of Normandy and William the Bastard. So how did a duke with questionable legitimacy rise through the nobility on the opposite side of the Channel then seize a foreign crown? Who was he? What did he do after the invasion? And how did his story end? Joining us with the answers are senior properties curator Roy Porter and curator of collections and interiors Dr Kathryn Bedford.
To learn more about the legacy of William the Conqueror, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/blog/blog-posts/what-was-the-legacy-of-william-the-conqueror
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John of Gaunt was the Duke of Lancaster, a medieval prince and the richest man in England for most of his life. The founder of the Lancastrian dynasty, he ensured that three Henrys would become king and had connections to six castles that are cared for by English Heritage today. Joining us to discuss his life and legacy is curator of collections and interiors, Dickon Whitewood.
To discover more about John of Gaunt’s former home, Kenilworth Castle, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/kenilworth
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This week, we're on-site at North Leigh Roman Villa in Oxfordshire – one of the larger villas of Roman Britain, which once included 16 mosaic floors and 11 rooms with underfloor heating. As a major conservation project gets underway, we find out about who lived here, how the site was discovered and the important work taking place to protect it. Joining us are senior properties curator (west) Win Scutt, collections conservator (west) Wendy Richardson, and national project manager Zoe Stubbs.
For more information on North Leigh Roman Villa, go to: www.english-heritage.org.uk/north-leigh-roman-villa
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This week, we’re getting to know possibly the first woman in England to be accorded the role of ‘Keeper’ of a castle. As well as possessing Donnington Castle, Lady Elizabeth Russell was highly educated and ambitious, and her extraordinary life even included a run-in with Shakespeare. Here to tell us more are English Heritage interpretation manager Jessica Freeland, and associate professor at the Shakespeare Institute Dr Chris Laoutaris.
To find out more about Donnington Castle, go to: www.english-heritage.org.uk/donnington
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As a young man working for Dutch art dealer Goupil & Co, Vincent Van Gogh was sent to London in 1873 to work in the firm's Covent Garden branch. Two months later he moved to a house in Stockwell – a building now marked by a blue plaque. In this episode, we're joined by Van Gogh House London's Alice Childs and Livia Wang, and art critic Andrew Graham-Dixon, to explore Van Gogh's life in the city and the role it played in inspiring him to become an artist.
To find out more about London's blue plaques, go to: www.english-heritage.org.uk/blue-plaques
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Nuns played an important part in Anglo-Saxon religion and society, and remained integral to English religious, social, political and economic life for the rest of the Middle Ages. But what was daily life like, why did women choose to become nuns, and what happened to nunneries following the Dissolution? To find out more, we're joined by senior properties historian Dr Michael Carter and professor of medieval history Janet Burton.
To discover more about women and monasticism, go to: www.english-heritage.org.uk/abbeys
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Sir Henry 'Hotspur' Percy (1364–1403) was the most admired knight of his time. He fought in several campaigns against the Scots and the French during the Hundred Years' War, was a prime mover behind the deposition of Richard II, rebelled against Henry IV and was featured in plays by Shakespeare. Here to discuss his remarkable life is properties historian Dr William Wyeth.
To find out more about Warkworth Castle, go to: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/warkworth/
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In this special episode created in partnership with The Gilded Gentleman podcast, English Heritage curator of collections and interiors Christopher Warleigh-Lack joins host Carl to discuss Queen Victoria’s grand estate on the Isle of Wight.
Osborne House reveals an intimate view of the private life of Queen Victoria and her family. Book your visit here: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/osborne/
For more information on the American Friends of English Heritage, visit https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/american-friends/
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King John, who reigned from 1199 to 1216, has gone down in history as one of England's worst monarchs, thanks to his military failures and excommunication by the pope. Yet he is associated with significant historical events, including the signing of the Magna Carta. Senior properties historian Dr Steven Brindle and senior properties curator Roy Porter join us to determine why this medieval ruler's reputation is so terrible – and whether it's deserved.
To learn more about King John and the sieges of Dover Castle, go to: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/sieges-of-dover
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This week, we're in Oxfordshire to unravel the story of a landmark that has been here for around 3,000 years: the Uffington White Horse. As excavations of the site take place, we join senior properties curator Win Scutt and archaeologist David Miles to discover more about their research, and to find out about the work taking place to restore the oldest chalk-cut hill figure in Britain.
For more information on the Uffington White Horse project, go to: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/uffington-wh-project
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Today, we’re looking at the history of one of the last complete surviving Georgian villas along the River Thames in south-east London. Marble Hill belonged to Henrietta Howard and was created to provide an escape away from her life in Georgian court society. But how was it designed? And how did Henrietta start building this remarkable property? We’re joined by senior properties historian Dr Megan Leyland to find out more.
To learn more about Marble Hill or plan a visit, go to: www.english-heritage.org.uk/marblehill
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Today we're marking South Asian Heritage Month with a look at the Ayahs' Home – the Hackney property for nannies and nursemaids from Asia that is now honoured by a blue plaque. Joining us to reveal the stories of the pioneering Indian and Chinese women who lived here in the early 1900s are blue plaques historian Dr Rebecca Preston and the manager of Hackney Museum, Niti Acharya.
To learn more about the Ayahs' Home, go to: www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/ayahs-home
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Today, we meet English Heritage landscape advisor Emily Parker and head gardener Andrew Luke to explore the eye-catching parterre gardens at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire. Discover the history of these ornamental flower beds, what goes into planting and maintaining them today and where else you can admire similar schemes.
To learn more about our perfect parterres, go to: www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/perfect-parterres/
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