Latest Episode
Episode 169 - White horses and hill figures in England
This week we’re joined by Senior Properties Historian Dr Susan Greaney and Professor Ronald Hutton to investigate the mysterious white horses and giant chalk figures that adorn hillsides across England. Find out who created them, when and why they were created and the stories behind many of England’s most famous hill figures, from the Uffington and Westbury White Horses to the Cerne Abbas Giant and the Long Man of Wilmington.
Discover more about the Uffington White Horse and plan your visit here.
Castles
Step back in time as we explore what life was like at our historic castles. From epic battles and sieges, to tales of power and political machinations that wouldn't look out of place in Game of Thrones, listen to these episodes to discover their stories.
Jump into the world of medieval knights, battles and sieges, with our Brave knights and epic fights playlist.
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Episode 97 - Tale of two castles: The Bigods, royal rebellions, Framlingham & Orford Castles
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Episode 72 - The First Barons' War and the Great Siege of Dover Castle
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Episode 59 - What was life like at our castles?
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Episode 119 - Power and dissent: 950 years of history at Richmond Castle
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Episode 56 - Mary Queen of Scots at Carlisle Castle
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Episode 89 - Thomas Becket’s murder and Dover Castle’s Great Tower
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Episode 46 - Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley at Kenilworth Castle
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Episode 114 - A knight’s tale: The real-life English Heritage knights
The Romans
From AD 43 to AD 410 Britain was under the control of the Roman Empire, from Hadrian’s Wall in the north of England to Richborough Fort in Kent. Listen to these English Heritage Podcast episodes to explore the archaeological discoveries made at these sites, and what they can tell us about life in the past.
Celebrate 1900 years of Hadrian's Wall with our new podcast playlist.
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Episode 53 - On the edge of the Roman Empire: The forts of Hadrian’s Wall
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Episode 136 – Who were the Romans of Britannia?
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Episode 115 - A new archaeological excavation at Birdoswald Roman Fort
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Episode 82 - Send in the cavalry! The story of Chesters Roman Fort on Hadrian’s Wall
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Episode 42 - What life was like for the Romans on Hadrian’s Wall
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Episode 93 - Superstition, magic and the Evil Eye in the Roman world
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Episode 126 - Hot tubs and hypocausts: Roman bathing in Britain
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Episode 128 - Uncovering the secrets of Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre
Women's History
From queens to commoners, women have been integral in shaping the history of our castles and historic homes. Join us as The English Heritage Podcast explores the fascinating stories of women associated with our sites.
Want more? Listen to the full 'Women's History with English Heritage' playlist here.
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Episode 151 - The extraordinary life and times of Eleanor of Aquitaine
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Episode 101 - Woman at war: Eleanor de Montfort at Dover Castle
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Episode 20 - Mary Tudor and the succession crisis at Framlingham Castle in Suffolk
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Episode 98 - Eleanor of Castile: Spanish princess and English queen
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Episode 113 - Painting a portrait of Sarah Forbes Bonetta at Osborne
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Episode 103 - At your service: The remarkable working women at our historic houses
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Episode 52 - The remarkable women who changed history at our sites
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Episode 49 - The blue plaque women who changed the course of English history
Black History
In these episodes of the podcast, discover the story of the Crafts' incredible journey and fight for freedom, what life would have been like for Dido Belle growing up in the georgian aristocracy and the legacy that the transatlantic slave trade has left at our properties. Plus we discuss the black people commemorated by Blue Plaques in London, including musical legend Bob Marley.
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Episode 71 - When the bubble burst: The South Sea Company stock market crash
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Episode 78 - The Story of Dido Belle At Kenwood
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Episode 81 - Voices of England: How slavery shaped the nation
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Episode 80 - Black plaques: Celebrating London’s black history
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Episode 132 - Freedom fighters: the story of Ellen and William Craft
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Episode 27 - Exodus: the story behind reggae legend Bob Marley’s blue plaque in London
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Episode 79 - Untold stories: Poetry for English Heritage
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Episode 131 - Exploring the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade at Brodsworth
Monasteries
Now enigmatic ruins perfect for a peaceful day out, throughout medieval England our monastic properties were once home to communities of monks and nuns. Explore their stories, from their daily life and religious practices, to the catastrophic dissolution ordered by Henry VIII.
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Episode 77 - What happened to monks & nuns after the Dissolution of the Monasteries?
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Episode 11 - The mythology of plants at Mount Grace Priory
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Episode 47 - Saints and crusaders: medieval relics and pilgrimage at Battle Abbey
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Episode 94 - The life and work of St Aelred of Rievaulx
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Episode 88 - Medieval ghosts, ghouls and hauntings
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Episode 135 – Medieval medicine, magic and superstition
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Episode 105 - Saints, gospels and vicious Viking raids: The story of Lindisfarne Priory
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Episode 125 - Ask the experts: Everything you want to know about England’s monasteries
Blue Plaque Biographies
Commemorative blue plaques found on buildings across London connect people and place together – but there is much more to discover about these famous figures. Join us to find out more about the fascinating stories behind the plaques, as The English Heritage Podcast delves into their histories in this series of episodes.
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Episode 138 - At home with London’s rock and pop stars
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Episode 144 - Life on ice: Sir Ernest Shackleton and the blue plaque polar explorers
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Episode 121 - Sporting heroes: Introducing London’s blue plaque Olympians
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Episode 49 - The blue plaque women who changed the course of English history
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Episode 62 - A literary legacy: at home with Charles Dickens
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Episode 85 - On Her Majesty’s Secret Service: The real-life blue plaque secret agents
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Episode 9 - George Orwell and the making of 1984
Stones, solstices and stars
From Stonehenge and summer solstice, to interpreting clues in the landscape, and our projects to bring this distant past to life, learn about England's prehistory with this collection of episodes.
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Episode 148 - Ask the experts: Everything you want to know about the Neolithic period
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Episode 25 - Building a Bronze Age roundhouse
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Episode 51 - How pre-Christian beliefs shaped our landscapes, landmarks and language
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Episode 70 - Voices of England: The history hiding in the English landscape
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Episode 76 - Finding the sarsen stones: A journey to Stonehenge
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Episode 63 - Written in the stars: summer solstice and stone circles
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Episode 16 - Studying the skies above Stonehenge
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Episode 12 - Behind the scenes of Summer Solstice
Ask the experts...
In this mini series, our experts answer your questions. From castles and monasteries to prehistory, discover the things you always wanted to know. Get your question answered in a future episode: email us at podcast@english-heritage.org.uk with your question and your name to be included.
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Episode 84 - Ask the experts: everything you want to know about castles
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Episode 125 - Ask the experts: Everything you want to know about England’s monasteries
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Episode 148 - Ask the experts: Everything you want to know about the Neolithic period
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Episode 158 - Ask the experts: Everything you want to know about the Victorians
Early Medieval
Join us as we shed light on the period formerly known as the dark ages, and discover what life was really like in early medieval Britain.
All Episodes
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REQUEST A READABLE FORMAT
If you would like to access any of our episodes in a written format, please email Podcast@english-heritage.org.uk to make a request.
