The English Heritage Podcast

As the nights draw in and the leaves start to turn, we’re joined by Professor of History at the University of Bristol Ronald Hutton, to discuss some of the traditions that come with autumn. Discover the history behind Bonfire Night and Halloween, along with less well-known events such as Harvest Home and Lammas – and the origins of the word ‘autumn’ itself.For the best English Heritage gardens to visit during autumn, go to https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/historic-gardens/english-heritage-gardens-in-autumn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we’re discussing a new archaeological excavation that is hoped to help expand our understanding of Roman occupation in the south-east of England. Richborough Roman Fort in Kent is perhaps one of the most symbolically important Roman sites in Britain, as it marked both the beginning and the end of Roman rule. And given that it witnessed these dramatic events, it seems only fitting that archaeologists will be revisiting the remains of its amphitheatre for clues about Richborough’s past.Joining us to discuss the excavation and the site’s history are senior properties historian Paul Pattison and senior archaeologist for Historic England Tony Willmott.To learn more about Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre or to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/richborough Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re joined by English Heritage interpretation manager Nadine Langford and landscape advisor Emily Parker to discuss the vital role Charles Darwin’s home in Kent played in helping him to develop his theory of evolution by natural selection. Much of his garden at Down House was used to conduct experiments, which were arguably just as important as his observations on his Beagle voyage.Discover how Darwin transformed the garden into a living laboratory, the experiments he conducted and how these are being brought to life through a new visitor experience.To learn more about Down House or to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/downhouse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, we’re taking a dip into the history of the most Roman of daily rituals: bathing. This practice of personal care left its mark across a number of English Heritage sites. These include the baths in the forts along Hadrian’s Wall in northern England and the vast bathing complex in the Roman city of Wroxeter in Shropshire.Joining us to discuss how and why the Romans bathed – and to give us a tour of some of the bathhouses they built to do so – are Properties Historian Dr Andrew Roberts and Collections Curator Cameron Moffett.To learn more about English Heritage Roman sites or to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/about-us/our-places/roman-sites Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re putting your questions on England’s monasteries to senior properties historian Dr Michael Carter and Janet Burton, Professor of Medieval History at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.These remarkable religious buildings were centres for incredible wealth and power throughout much of England's history until Henry VIII began the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536. Discover what life was like for the monks and nuns who lived worked and worshipped at them, how they amassed such wealth, what happened to the monks and nuns after they were closed and much more.To learn more about English Heritage’s monastic sites or to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/monasteries-and-abbeys Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re joined by curator Michael Hunter to discover the story of Osborne’s Swiss Cottage – a little Alpine-style chalet with its own gardens and museum at Queen Victoria’s palatial former home on the Isle of Wight. This was the royal children’s private world, where they could play at being adults and learn the skills Prince Albert believed would make them better rulers.To learn more about Osborne and the Swiss Cottage or to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/osborne Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we have an explosive episode in store as we look into the history of English Heritage’s artillery collection – and how it was used to defend the nation. We’ll also hear about the conservation work being undertaken to ensure these rare guns and cannons survive for future generations to admire.Providing the expert firepower are senior properties historian Paul Pattison, curator of collections Ian Leins and senior collections conservator Beth Stanley.To learn more about English Heritage’s cannon and the appeal to save them, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/our-appeals/save-our-cannons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we’re joined by Senior Properties Historian Dr Susan Greaney and Howard Williams, Professor of Archaeology at the University of Chester, to discuss the early medieval period of British history that followed the collapse of Roman state control of lowland Britain and ended with the Norman conquest of 1066.This was a time of migrations and far-reaching contacts, Christian conversion, kingdom formation and expansion, and Viking raids and settlement. But archaeological evidence tells us so much more about these fascinating centuries. Discover what happened after the Romans left Britain, who replaced them, why this period is often referred to as ‘The Dark Ages’ and why this problematic description is now being phased out.To learn more about life in early medieval England, go to https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/early-medieval/To read Howard’s open-access publication Digging into the Dark Ages: Early Medieval Public Archaeologies, visit https://www.archaeopress.com/ArchaeopressShop/Public/displayProductDetail.asp?id=%7BDE9A5B19-7AAD-4FA7-A097-060E0525533D%7D Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the world finally gets to enjoy the Tokyo Olympics, we’re taking a look at some of the British athletes of Olympics past, who have been honoured with blue plaques at their former London homes. Joining us to introduce this diverse array of sporting greats are two historians for the blue plaques scheme, Howard Spencer and Dr Rebecca Preston.To learn more about the blue plaques scheme, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re joined by senior curator Kevin Booth and senior properties historian Nick Holder to discover the story of one of England’s best-preserved medieval buildings, its former owners, and its changing uses over the centuries. We also reveal what has been happening behind closed doors to prepare it to be reopened to visitors under English Heritage’s stewardship and what to look out for during a visit.To learn more about Gainsborough Old Hall or to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/gainsborough-old-hall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices