Episode 36 - The rise of Mead: Toasting the world’s oldest alcoholic drink

Once the Vikings’ drink of choice, mead now has a new and growing following who are putting a modern twist on the historical classic. To celebrate the revival of this golden brew, we head into the studio with resident expert Cameron Moffett to discover the history of the world’s oldest alcoholic drink, how English Heritage became the UK’s largest retailer and how modern cocktails have helped to reinvent it for a new generation of fans. 

Try mead for yourself - buy any three English Heritage Meads and save £5*. To order, visit the English Heritage online shop and enter the code ME5 at checkout. 

For three mead cocktail recipes to try at home, click here.

*Valid online only, subject to availability. Offer includes English Heritage Traditional, Chilli, Heritage, and Banquet Mead only. Offer ends 29 February

Episode 35 - Deal Castle and Henry VIII’s ‘device forts’

480 years since Henry VIII started building his ‘device forts’ in 1539, we travel to Deal Castle in Kent to meet senior properties historian Paul Pattison and discover the story of this string of artillery forts along the southern English and Welsh coast. Find out why these unique defences were built, what distinguishes them architecturally and which forts you can visit today. 

For more information about Deal Castle and to plan a visit click here.

Episode 34 - Charles Darwin and 'On the Origin of Species' at Down House

On the 160th anniversary of publication of On the Origin of Species, we pay a visit to Down House in Kent to interview Senior Properties Historian Steven Brindle, senior gardener Kristyna Slivova and historic properties steward Kim Durham about Darwin’s time at Down House, the experiments he performed there and the legacy of his seminal work today. 

Click here for more information about Down House. 

Episode 33 - Memory & Light: the sound installation delighting visitors’ senses at Belsay Hall

This week we’re back on the road to experience a new sound installation created by the world’s most performed living composer Arvo Pärt. We meet curator Clare Farrow and site manager Samantha Shotten to find out what visitors can expect and how installations such as this are helping to bring the history of English Heritage sites to life in new and innovative ways.

For more information about Belsay Hall and Gardens and to plan a visit, click here.

Music credits: Spiegel im Spiegel, Für Alina and Silentium (from the second movement of Tabula Rasa) by Arvo Pärt © ECM Records. All music is used in agreement with ECM Records, Universal Edition and Arvo Pärt Centre.