The English Heritage Podcast

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 more about mead and find some mead cocktail recipes, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/about-us/search-news/mead-resurgence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wenlock-priory/history/st-milburga.To plan a visit to Wenlock Priory, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wenlock-priory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 McIntosh.Content warning: this podcast contains graphic descriptions of historic medical procedures that some listeners might find uncomfortable.To learn more about baths and bathing in Roman Britain, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/romans/roman-bathing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 senior historian for the blue plaques scheme, Howard Spencer.To learn more about our London blue plaques scheme, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/blog/blog-posts/top-10-toilets-through-time. To find out more about Joseph Bazalgette and the location of his blue plaque, go to https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/joseph-william-bazalgette/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 guests, English Heritage senior properties curator Sam Stones and documentation officer Dr Therron Welstead.To learn more about Carisbrooke Castle or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/carisbrooke. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 Dominque Bouchard.To learn more about Stonehenge or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge.To find out more about the festival of Neolithic ideas, go to https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/whats-on/stonehenge-festival-of-neolithic-ideas/To listen to some of the other prehistory podcasts we mention in this episode, go to https://soundcloud.com/englishheritage/sets/stonehenge-and-prehistory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 explain more is historian and author of the English Heritage guidebook to Farleigh Hungerford Castle, Charles Kightly.To learn more about Farleigh Hungerford Castle or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/farleigh. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 how the prisoners came to be here, what prison life was like for them and how their stories are being brought to life today are English Heritage’s head of learning and interpretation, Dr Dominique Bouchard, education visits officer, Laura Bosworth, and associate director at Soho Theatre, Lakesha Arie-Angelo.To learn more about Portchester Castle or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/portchestercastle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 really did get killed by an arrow to the eye. Plus, we reveal how life changed for the average person in England following the battle and what might have happened if William the Conqueror had lost.To learn more about the origins, events and legacy of the Battle of Hastings, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/1066-and-the-norman-conquest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices