The History of England
David Crowther
This my re-telling of the story of England. I aim to be honest, and rigorous - but always loving of my country's history. It is a regular, chronological podcast, starting from the end of Roman Britain. There are as many of the great events I can squeeze in, of course, but I also try to keep an eye on how people lived, their language, what was important to them, the forces that shaped their lives and destinies, that sort of thing. To listen free of adverts, support the podcast, access a library of 150+ hours of shedcasts of me warbling on, and get new shedcasts every month, why not become a member at https://thehistoryofengland.co.uk/become-a-member ? You know it makes sense... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 1, 2026 • 45min
439 London Reborn
'Where there's muck, there's brass', and that was certainly the case with rebuilding London from the mess of ash and rubble that remained. And developers like Nicholas Barbon knew how to make as much brass as possible, and as fast as possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 19, 2026 • 57min
Crucible of Modernity with Dr Jeevun Sandher, MP
Dr. Jeevun Sandher, MP for Loughborough and a passionate advocate for modern democracy, delves into Britain’s pivotal role in shaping democratic ideals and economic growth. He discusses the Norman Conquest’s lasting influence, the significance of Magna Carta, and the evolution of Parliament. The conversation covers the Enlightenment’s impact on industrial innovation, the rise of the labour movement, and the transition from liberalism to social reform. Sandher reflects on how these historical changes culminated in the post-war welfare state and continue to influence contemporary societal structures.
Jan 12, 2026 • 35min
438 Burned to Sticks
The war with The Netherlands in 1665 ended on a low, with the Thames blockaded. Poor London - trade was devastated by war, trade was devastated by plague. Hopefully 1666 would be better, as the royal court rumbled back into town. Money was short, but still a fleet was sent out into the Channel, as the good people of London started to rebuild their lives and their businesses. Nothing could be as bad as 1665. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 4, 2026 • 39min
437 The Pale Horseman
In May 1665, worrying reports of plague cases crop up inside the walls of London; by June the summer heat was oppressive and it became clear - the plague had returned. Charles and his court left to terrorise Oxford while Londoners died; in plague-stricken Eyam, the villagers cut themselves off to protect their neighbours Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 21, 2025 • 40min
436 Three Horsemen
It is possible that Charles and his Privy Council didn't necessarily want war - certainly Clarendon did not; but they were prepared to rattle the sabre and man the brink to try and force trade consessions which some unprovoked acts of agression.But they allowed themselves to be diplomatically isolated, and Johan de Witt was not scared - he had the world's most powerful navy, pots of money, and a French alliance. And so the Second Anglo Dutch war was joined. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 7, 2025 • 1h 5min
School for Scandal by Gavin Whitehead
Gavin Whitehead of the Art of Crime Podcast tells us the story of the art historian, soviet spy and traitor - Anthony Blunt Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 30, 2025 • 40min
435 The Anglican Tyranny
In 1661 fresh elections brought together another Long Parliament. This, the Cavalier parliament, would sit, off and on, for 18 years. It was not inspired by a spirit of compromise. The programme they introduced tried very hard to squish the horrid innovations of the revolutionary period back into the bottle, and search for the uniformity and 'natural' order of things that seemed to have been lost. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 16, 2025 • 45min
434 Return of the King
In 1660 the King returned and immediately sought to rebuild the damaged prestige of the Crown. And in popular memory, Charles II's reputation has been among the best - the Merrie Monarch, a polymath and breath of fresh air that brought back the joy. The episode covers the king's return, his character and historical reputation - and the Restoration settlement in Ireland and Scotland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 9, 2025 • 35min
433 9.1 Restoration, Revolution and the English Enlightenment
In this first episode of Series 9, a a chance to talk about some of the themes which will drive our period of 1660 to 1715. The continuing role of religion in politics, the Rage of Parties, the varying fortunes and influences of the Three Kingdoms, the growing involvement of Britain in European conflict. But most of all a growing transformation of society, the age of improvement, the 'crucible of modernity' - the English Enlightenment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 26, 2025 • 48min
432b Europe XIII The Age of the Sun King Pt II
Throughout Europe, nations made sweeping social changes, driven the demands of war, the ideas of Absolutism and the growing belief in reason and improvement. This is the age of many of the great names of European history - Louis the Sun King, Peter the Great. It saw the ending of Spanish hegemony- and start of the French. And so - here it is, in this episode, a whistle stop tour of monarchs, mayhem, and madness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
