The English Heritage Podcast

This week we’re discussing the story of Bridget Atkinson, a Cumbrian woman who amassed a huge collection of shells from across the globe during the 18th century.We’re joined by English Heritage Collections Curator Dr Frances McIntosh, Principal Curator at the Natural History Museum Dr Tom White, Bath Spa University lecturer Matthew Law and family researcher Richard Atkinson. They reveal who she was, how she collected her shells despite rarely leaving her home county and how a family connection led to a selection of her recently rescued treasures going on display in the Clayton Museum at Chesters Roman Fort on Hadrian’s Wall.To plan a visit to see Bridget’s shells for yourself, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/chesters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're joined by Turner Prize-nominated artist and photographer, Ingrid Pollard, to discuss her new art installation, titled 'There is Light in the Fissures', at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens in Northumberland.Discover what inspired her artwork and what you can expect to find during a visit as a result. Plus, we chat to English Heritage's Chris Osborne who reveals the plans for other thought-provoking creative installations at English Heritage sites across the country. To find out more about our creative programme plans, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/creative-programme/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, as we approach Mother's Day here in the UK, we're joined by senior properties historian Dr Megan Leyland and senior lecturer in history at the University of Derby Dr Ruth Larsen to examine how mothers raised their children in the past. Join us as we look back at life for mothers and those who helped them between the 16th and 19th centuries, drawing on the stories of people who lived and worked at English Heritage properties.Content warning: this episode includes discussion of sensitive topics, including baby loss and miscarriage, that some listeners might find uncomfortable.For inspiration for a family day out with your mum, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/familydaysout/mothers-day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Britain was part of the Roman Empire for over three-and-a-half centuries. Following the invasion under the emperor Claudius in AD 43, the province was part of a political union that covered most of Europe. But what happened in Britannia when rule from Rome ended in the early 5th century?Cameron Moffett, English Heritage's curator of collections for the West Midlands, and Dr Roger White, honorary senior lecturer in archaeology at the University of Birmingham, explore the end of an empire.To learn more about Roman Britain, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/romans.To learn more about Wroxeter Roman City or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/wroxeter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we head to Gloucestershire for a stroll along a section of Offa's Dyke — the great earthwork boundary dyke built along the Anglo-Welsh border by Offa, King of Mercia, and one of the most remarkable structures in Britain.We're joined by professor in archaeology Keith Ray, who reveals when and why Offa's Dyke was built, who the Mercians were, how they used the structure, and how the dyke is protected and maintained today. To learn more about Offa's Dyke or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/offas-dyke. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're joined by senior historian for the blue plaques scheme Howard Spencer and writer and performer Mark Farrelly to explore the life and legacy of filmmaker, artist and activist Derek Jarman, who died 30 years ago and was commemorated by a London blue plaque in 2019.Join us to discover the story of Jarman's career, his role as a gay rights activist and the new touring show that has been created to document his colourful life.To learn more about Derek Jarman's blue plaque, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/derek-jarman.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Valentine's Day is on its way and romance is most definitely in the air, so we're focusing our attention on a selection of the love stories that played out at English Heritage sites.Joining us to discuss the true romances formed at Osborne on the Isle of Wight, Brodsworth Hall in South Yorkshire, Wrest Park in Bedfordshire and Eltham Palace in London are collections curator Eleanor Matthews and properties historians team leader Dr Andrew Hann.To learn more about Victoria and Albert's time at Osborne, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/osborne.To learn more about life at Brodsworth Hall, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/brodsworth.To learn more about life at Wrest Park during the First World War, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wrest-park/history/wrest-park-at-war.To learn more about the history of Eltham Palace, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/eltham. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hidden among the collections at Corbridge Roman Town on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland are a series of dodecahedra (12 sided objects) made of copper alloy that have been puzzling archaeologists since the 18th century. Each one is slightly different, but have common features, with a hole in the centre, decoration and knobs on each corner.We're joined in the studio by collections curator Dr Frances McIntosh to discuss these rare Roman objects, the theories about their use and the new exhibition they have inspired.  To learn more about the dodecahedra at Corbridge Roman Town, go to https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/corbridge-roman-town-hadrians-wall/dodecahedron-exhibition/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're joined by senior properties historian Dr Steven Brindle and historian John McNeill to discuss the story of Old Sarum in Wiltshire — one of the most eclectic and important sites in southern England, with over 2,000 years of history.Continuously occupied since Roman times, it uniquely combines a royal castle and cathedral within the remains of an Iron Age fortification. Join us to discover how it was once the setting of the Oath of Sarum under William the Conqueror and the location of Salisbury's original Cathedral before becoming a rotten borough.      To learn more about Old Sarum or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/oldsarum.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're tracing the fascinating story of an almost forgotten currency. In early medieval England, eels were exchanged for goods and services and to settle debts.We're joined by medievalist and cartographic historian Dr John Wyatt Greenlee to reveal how these once abundant fish powered the medieval economy, why they were coveted as both a food and currency and what caused their eventual fall from favour. To learn more about Meare Fish House or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/meare-fish-house. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices