The English Heritage Podcast

This week, we’re at a temporal and cultural crossroads in the early story of the British Isles. It’s the Iron Age – a time when the political landscape of the British Isles was complex and fragmented, with competing and collaborating groups ruling different regions. But their way of life was under threat from a powerful empire from the south: The Romans. We’re joined by English Heritage Properties Historian Dr Andrew Roberts and the Curator of the European Iron Age collections at the British Museum Dr Julia Farley to discuss how two native queens responded in very different ways to full-scale Roman invasion, their fates, and, of course, their historic legacies. To learn more about Cartimandua, Queen of the Brigantes, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/women-in-history/cartimandua Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we’re joined by Collections Curator Susan Harrison, Senior Properties Historian Dr Steven Brindle and Interpretation Manager Ruth Haycock to discuss a new project to bring the story of Lindisfarne Priory on Holy Island in Northumberland to life.Learn about the monks who lived here, the cult of St Cuthbert, the famous Lindisfarne Gospels, the vicious Viking raid of AD 793 and the new displays, artefacts and experiences that you can discover during a visit.To discover more or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/lindisfarne Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we’re shining a light on the clandestine machinations of high-ranking spy Jane Whorwood, who worked for King Charles I during the English Civil War. Her story is one of mystery, intrigue, coded letters, codenames, ambiguous and strained relations, high stakes, high drama and personal disappointment.Joining us to steer us through her life and legacy is our special guest contributor Nadine Akkerman, who is Professor of Early Modern Literature and Culture at Leiden University in the Netherlands.To read more about Jane Whorwood’s life, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/carisbrooke-castle/history/jane-whorwood Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we reveal the colourful history of Launceston Castle. This site has served as the administrative headquarters for the Duchy of Cornwall, a courthouse, a prison, a pleasure garden and a Second World War hospital. The castle is also home to an intriguing collection of artefacts discovered during site excavations, including a near-complete whale vertebra measuring more than half-a-metre across.Joining us to pick up the story are Curator of Collections Ian Leins and Head of Historic Properties for Cornwall and Devon Georgia Butters.To discover more about Launceston Castle or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/launceston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Women's history is often lost to the ages, obscured or even unexplored. But there are numerous examples of women from the past who have played a pivotal role in shaping England and who are linked to sites that are now in the care of English Heritage.Joining us to discuss some of these stories, and to explore why it's important to celebrate the achievements of women in the past, are Senior Properties Historian for English Heritage Dr Amy Boyington and British art historian Dr Janina Ramirez.To discover more stories of inspiring women throughout English history, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/women-in-history Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re joined by Senior Properties Historian Steven Brindle to discuss the life and legacy of Britain’s most famous architect, Sir Christopher Wren, as we approach the 300th anniversary of his death.We discuss how he discovered his talent for design, his commission to create St Paul’s Cathedral and a possible link to Stonehenge in Wiltshire.To discover the story of Christopher Wren’s blue plaque at his former London home, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/christopher-wren Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re talking about one of the oldest and most important Neolithic sites in Britain, which has recently come into English Heritage’s care. Thornborough Henges comprises three circular earthworks that dot the landscape about seven miles north of the cathedral city of Ripon in North Yorkshire.We’re joined by former Senior Properties Historian Dr Susan Greaney and Senior Interpretation Manager Joe Savage to reveal the history of these henges, their significance and how their story will be told to future visitors.To learn more about English Heritage’s prehistoric sites or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/prehistoric-monuments Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of 16 forts along Hadrian’s Wall, Carrawburgh Roman Fort is also home to the Temple of Mithras, which was built to worship a Persian god. But who was Mithras, what was Mithraism and why was the temple built here, in northern England?Joining us to reveal all are Senior Properties Historian Paul Pattison and Curator of Hadrian’s Wall and the North East Dr Frances McIntosh.To learn more about Roman life along Hadrian’s Wall or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/hadrianswall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re joined by two ancient pottery technology specialists – father and daughter team Graham Taylor and Sarah Lord – and Stonehenge Interpretation Manager Melanie Coussens to explore potted history at our most famous Neolithic site.Discover the role of eating and drinking vessels in prehistoric daily life, where they’ve been found in the landscape, what they were made of and how replicas of them made today are helping visitors get closer to the ancient past.To learn more about prehistoric life at Stonehenge or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re making our own little piece of history as we reach episode 200 of the English Heritage Podcast.To celebrate, we’re joined by English Heritage’s Chief Executive Kate Mavor and Head of Learning and Interpretation Dr Dominique Bouchard to discuss six amazing but little-known sites to visit in 2023, which have all benefitted from a major project to re-tell their stories in new and exciting ways.To plan a visit to any of our sites, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices