18th century London was a haven for kinky connoisseurs, and flagellation houses were at the heart of it.

Whatever your preference to be spanked by - birches, whips, paddles - they had you covered.

What went on behind closed doors? Who was being spanked, and why was it all the range for upper class men?

Taking Kate into this naughty underworld today is Julie Peakman, author of Lascivious Bodies: A Sexual History of the Eighteenth Century.

This episode was edited by Tom Delargy, the producer was Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.

Voting is open for the Listener's Choice Award at the British Podcast Awards, so if you enjoy what we're doing, we'd love it if you took a quick follow this link and click on Betwixt the Sheets: https://www.britishpodcastawards.com/voting

Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Sign here for up to 50% for 3 months using code BETWIXT.

You can take part in our listener survey here.

Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.