Speaking with Shadows

Our last episode uncovered the stories of some of the conscientious objectors who were imprisoned at Richmond Castle during the First World War. In this bonus episode Ruth Ecuyer tells the full story of how John Brocklesby, one of the conscientious objectors, came to write a wedding march for her. We also hear extended extracts from the march itself.   Visit our episode page to learn more about the conscientious objectors held at Richmond Castle. Speaking with Shadows is brought to you by English Heritage.  Presenter: Josie Long Producer: Katharine Kerr for Fresh Air Contributor: Ruth Ecuyer, daughter of a conscientious objector www.english-heritage.org.uk/speakingwithshadowsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beside Richmond Castle’s imposing Norman keep lies an unassuming military cell block with an extraordinary secret. Its fragile walls are inscribed with thousands of graffiti, many of them left by conscientious objectors detained there during the First World War. These were men from all walks of life, united by one belief: that war was wrong.  In this episode Josie Long meets historian Megan Leyland and curator Kevin Booth at Richmond Castle to discover some of the conscientious objectors’ stories. We hear from Ruth Ecuyer about a wedding march written especially for her by John Brocklesby, one of the conscientious objectors known as the Richmond Sixteen. And volunteer Carol Chappell and Judith Ellis share newly researched letters between conscientious objector James Burchell and his employer, Edith Ellis. Visit our episode page to find out more. Speaking with Shadows is brought to you by English Heritage.  Presenter: Josie Long Producer: Katharine Kerr for Fresh Air Contributors: Megan Leyland, Historian; Kevin Booth, Properties Curator; Ruth Ecuyer, daughter of a WWI conscientious objector; Judith Ellis, great-niece of Edith Ellis of Wrea Head; Carol Chappell, English Heritage volunteer on the Richmond Castle Cell Block Project. www.english-heritage.org.uk/speakingwithshadowsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1190 one of the darkest events in York’s history took place at the site of Clifford's Tower. Trapped by an angry and violent mob, the city's entire Jewish community, who were taking refuge inside York Castle’s tower, were confronted with the impossible decision of either taking their own lives or facing the mob outside, and certain death at their hands.  In this episode Josie Long visits Clifford's Tower in York and meets curators Jeremy Ashbee and Sally Dixon-Smith to hear the story of the medieval massacre of the Jews and to try to understand how and why such a tragic event took place. Also speaking to members of the York Liberal Jewish Community, Josie explores the modern parallels that can be drawn from this dark chapter in York's history and how local Jewish communities reflect on it today.  Visit our episode page to find out more.This episode contains graphic descriptions which some people may find upsetting. It is not suitable for younger listeners.  Speaking with Shadows is brought to you by English Heritage.  Presenter: Josie Long Producer: Katharine Kerr for Fresh Air Contributors: Jeremy Ashbee, Head Properties Curator, English Heritage; Sally Dixon-Smith, Collections Curator, the Tower of London; Ben Rich, Trustee, York Liberal Jewish Community; Shannon Kirshner, Trustee, York Liberal Jewish Community. www.english-heritage.org.uk/speakingwithshadowsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our last episode (2) we traced the story of the black prisoners of war who were imprisoned at Portchester Castle during the Napoleonic wars. In this bonus episode we learn more about the prisoners’ stories through the French prisoner of war theatre that took place at Portchester, and a new audio artwork recently installed in the castle keep.   Visit our episode page to learn more about the Caribbean prisoners of Portchester Castle. Speaking with Shadows is brought to you by English Heritage.  Presenter: Josie Long Producer: Katharine Kerr for Fresh Air Contributors: Kate Astbury, Professor of French Studies at the University of Warwick; Elaine Mitchener, Artist and Musician www.english-heritage.org.uk/speakingwithshadowsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When France declared war on Britain in 1793 their overseas colonies were also drawn into the ensuing conflict. Black prisoners of war captured from the French Republic in the eastern Caribbean were among the thousands brought to Portchester Castle and imprisoned there. Arriving in Portsmouth Harbour after months of sailing across the Atlantic, the prisoners were faced with a new life in an unfamiliar landscape. In this episode Josie Long visits Portchester Castle in Hampshire and meets historians Abigail Coppins and Steve Martin, and local councillor Nick Walker, to learn about the Caribbean prisoners of war who were imprisoned in the castle during the Napoleonic wars. Who were they and what were their fates as prisoners of Portchester? Visit our episode page to find out more about the prisoners of Portchester and this lesser-known side of Britain’s black history.   Speaking with Shadows is brought to you by English Heritage.  Presenter: Josie Long Producer: Katharine Kerr for Fresh Air Contributors: Abigail Coppins, Historian; Steve Martin, Writer and Historian; Nick Walker, Councillor for Portchester West. www.english-heritage.org.uk/speakingwithshadowsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The early 20th century saw a craze for historic pageants – huge theatrical events with casts of thousands. Gwen Lally called herself England’s first female pageant master, and in 1932 she arrived at Battle Abbey in Sussex with great ambitions for her latest show. It was unusual for a woman to wield such power, but even more unusual was her decision to wear masculine clothes. This was a woman who pushed the boundaries. With English Heritage curator Kathryn Bedford, Josie Long explores the story of the Battle Abbey Pageant and speaks to Lally biographer Deborah Sugg Ryan about new research that is shedding light on the enigmatic pageant master's personal life. She also meets E-J Scott, Curator of the Museum of Transology, and Francesca Reid (aka drag king Brent Would) to discuss how gender roles have been challenged through performance. Visit our episode page to find out more about Gwen Lally, the Battle Abbey pageant and women's masculine dress in the interwar years. Speaking with Shadows is brought to you by English Heritage.    Presenter: Josie Long Producer: Katharine Kerr for Fresh Air Contributors: Kathryn Bedford, English Heritage Collections Curator (South East); Deborah Sugg Ryan, Professor of Design History and Theory at University of Portsmouth; E-J Scott, Historian, Curator and Queer Cultural Producer; Francesca Reid, performer and creator of the drag king Brent Would. english-heritage.org.uk/speakingwithshadowsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Speaking With Shadows from English Heritage, the podcast that listens to the people that history forgot. Presented by Josie Long.  Launching on Tuesday 8 October 2019. Every two weeks Josie travels to an English Heritage site to uncover a lesser-known part of its past. She speaks to experts, community members and artists with modern perspectives on the stories you may not have been taught in school. english-heritage.org.uk/speakingwithshadowsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.