The English Heritage Podcast

This week, we’re tracing the story of a historic heist. But it’s not the one from the 1660s involving the Crown Jewels and the Tower of London that some people might recognise. This raid dates back more than 700 years to 1303 and the reign of King Edward I, taking place in unlikely surroundings.Helping us piece together the story are English Heritage’s head properties curator Dr Jeremy Ashbee and medieval historian Sally Dixon-Smith.For more information about Chapter House and Pyx Chamber or to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/chapter-house-and-pyx-chamber. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re celebrating a historic landmark for the London Blue Plaques scheme after our 1,000th plaque was unveiled to commemorate the work of the Women’s Freedom League.To help us understand more about the plaque and the league’s role in the suffrage movement in the early 20th century, we’re joined by English Heritage’s blue plaque historian Howard Spencer, historian Susan Skedd and writer and historian Jill Liddington.For details of our 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 you find us Audley End in Essex, where we’re joined by English Heritage landscape advisor and historian, Louise Crawley and PHD student, Helen Brown, to learn how our historic gardens were designed to stimulate different senses.Join us to discover how sensory experiences can help to understand the past, how sensory experiences in the past differ from those we have now and what you should look out for during a visit to one of our historic gardens today.For details of our historic gardens or to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/historic-gardens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a new school year gets underway, we’re joined by senior properties historian Michael Carter to discover what education was like in the Middle Ages and how it compared to today’s classrooms.Discover the different forms of medieval schools, the role of the monasteries as educators and how the educational opportunities differed for boys and girls. We’ll also reveal what the curriculum comprised, what a medieval school day looked like and where you can find out more today.For details of the school visit opportunities at our historic sites, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/school-visits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re talking about King Henry V, who is famous for his victory over the French at the 1415 Battle of Agincourt, his military abilities during the Hundred Years’ War with France and the Shakespeare play named after him.Joining us to reveal more about this celebrated medieval king and the time he spent at Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire are head historic properties curator Dr Jeremy Ashbee and emeritus professor of medieval history at the University of Southampton Anne Curry.To discover more about the history of Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Garden or plan a visit, go towww.english-heritage.org.uk/kenilworth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re heading behind the scenes at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens as the finishing touches are put on the major project to conserve and transform this historic country estate in Northumberland. Joining us to talk us through the project – which was partly funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund – and the history that has been brought to life as a result are national project manager Cheryl Moore, properties historians' team leader Dr Andrew Hann and senior gardens advisor Dr Michael Klemperer. To discover more about Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens or to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/belsay. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we think of our most famous prehistoric site, Stonehenge, we don’t automatically think of flowers. But in 1842, the site played host to a huge dahlia exhibition, attended by around 10,000 people.Joining us to reveal the story of this event and how it is being recreated over four days this autumn are English Heritage landscape advisor and historian Louise Crawley and archivist for the National Dahlia Society David Brown.To learn more about the history of Stonehenge or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re joined in the studio by senior properties historian Paul Pattison and senior properties curator Roy Porter to answer all the questions we received about the English Civil Wars and Restoration from English Heritage Members and followers on our social media.Join us to discover the origins of the war, if the Roundheads always intended the country to become a republic and the role of Scotland, Ireland and Wales in the conflicts. We’ll also reveal if Oliver Cromwell really did cancel Christmas, how Charles II evaded the Parliamentary soldiers and what provided the turning point between the execution of Charles I and his son being crowned king.To learn more about the origins, events and legacy of the English Civil Wars, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/the-english-civil-wars-history-and-stories/the-english-civil-wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we’re joined by broadcaster and author Anita Anand and historian Susan Skedd to reveal the story of Indian princess, campaigner for women’s votes and goddaughter of Queen Victoria, Sophia Duleep Singh.Join us as we reveal how she came to be part of the British royal family, her role in the Suffragette movement and the story behind her blue plaque at her former London residence near Hampton Court.For more details about Princess Sophia Duleep Singh’s blue plaque, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/sophia-duleep-singh.With thanks to The Taylormade Trio who you can hear performing at the unveiling of Sophia’s plaque, in May 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we’re joined by English Heritage senior properties historian Dr Megan Leyland to look back at the remarkable life and achievements of this former duchess, philosopher, poet, playwright, science-fiction pioneer and socialite on the 400th anniversary of her birth.Discover how Margaret Cavendish became one of the most published women of the 17th century, how she came to live at Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire and what you can learn about her during a visit today.For more details about Bolsover Castle or to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/bolsover. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices