History

Here for the History

Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson reveal the surprising moments in history behind the traditions, customs and objects all around us.

Latest Episodes:

Why Don’t We Wear Hats Anymore? Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

For centuries leaving the house without a hat would be like leaving the house without your phone or keys - you simply wouldn’t do it. But these days, headwear is an optional add on - a fashion choice, a weather protector, or found on the head of a wedding guest.

Alice and Ben look under the brim of history to find out what on earth happened to the ubiquity of the hat?

We’ll cover a parent’s desperate tactic to keep a son out of trouble, there are highwaymen, practical jokes, and a British supermodel.

Key Sources: The Cultural, Social, and Ideological Role of the Hat in Early Modern England - Professor Bernard Capp Dress for Deference and Dissent: Hats and the decline of Hat Honour - Professor Penelope J. Corfield Hats - Fiona Clark

Why Are We Dog Obsessed? Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

Dogs are man’s best friend - but has it always been that way?

Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton look into how humans and dogs first got acquainted, we’ll hear about the tough lives of medieval dogs, and we’ll reveal how the Victorians forged our modern relationship with our canine friends.

This episode contains a brief description of cruelty to animals. Listener discretion is advised.

Key sources:

Collared: How We Made the Modern Dog - Professor Chris Pearson.

Man and the natural world: Changing attitudes in England 1500-1800 - Sir Keith Thomas.

The Hardworking Dogs of Medieval Europe - Livia Gershon.

Dog, Natural Histories - BBC Radio 4.

Who Invented the “Whodunit”? Sep 17, 2026

Show notes

It was the vicar that did it! In the billiards room! With a candlestick!

To many fans of a murder mystery, this is perhaps a familiar sounding phrase from a classic “whodunit”. But just how did this endlessly popular genre come to be?

Alice and Ben leaf back through the pages of history to uncover just where “whodunits” came from, who invented them, and how they’ve endured centuries of changing tastes.

They will discuss multiple lines of inquiry; from our historical appetite for the gruesome and thrilling; to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; Agatha Christie; and even the impact of the World Wars.

Key Sources: Agatha Christie: A Very Short Introduction - Professor Gill Plain The TV Crime Drama - Professor Sue Turnbull Forever England: Femininity, Literature, and Conservatism Between the Wars - Alison Light Agatha Christie: Lucy Worsley on the Mystery Queen - BBC / Lucy Worsley Caught in the Web of Words: Whodunit - Ken Liss

Where Do Manners Come From? Sep 10, 2026

Show notes

Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton explore how Renaissance books on courtly conduct inspired an era of civility.

They untangle the 18th century age of politeness, and we’ll find out how the Victorians shaped the way we behave today.

But are manners getting worse?

Key Sources:

Sorry! The English and Their Manners - Henry Hitchings. In Pursuit of Civility: Manners and Civilization in Early Modern England - Keith Thomas. Thomas Hoby’s translation of Castiglione’s Book of the Courtier - Mary Partridge, The Historical Journal. The Duel in Early Modern England - Markku Peltonen. In Our Time, Politeness - BBC Radio 4.

Why Do Scots Wear Tartan? Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson dig through the folds of time to understand how Tartan became so woven into Scottish history.

Just how did the material become so intrinsically linked to the nation’s image?

It’s a winding and dramatic story. There’s an exiled prince, a romantic writer, a pair of charismatic brothers and a young queen. It’s a tale of ancient tradition, war and fakery.

Key Sources:

Tartan: The Highland Habit - Professor Hugh Cheape. National Museums Scotland. West Highland Museum.

Why Do We Love Pubs? Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

How did the pub become so central to British culture?

Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton reveal how women ran medieval alehouses, how the Reformation led to a golden age of boozers, and how competition from gin produced the iconic Victorian pub.

Key Sources:

Dr Paul Jennings - The Local: A History of the English Pub. Dr James Wright. Dr Peter Clark. Dr Mark Hailwood - Alehouses and Good Fellowship in Early Modern England.

Why Does the Union Jack Look Like That? Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson delve into the history of the Union Jack - the flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

It’s one of the most recognisable British icons, but just why does it look the way it does? What’s the story behind the pattern?

We’ll get into the saintly foundations, the Stuarts, and of course the age old question - where on the flag is Wales?

Key Sources:

The Union Jack: The Story of the British Flag - Professor Nick Groom

Why Do We Have ‘Ugly’ Buildings? Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

Modern buildings are ugly - that’s what opinion polls suggest - but if it’s true, what’s the story behind it?

Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton see how a Swiss architect turned the British establishment against traditional architecture, and how his followers rebuilt British cities in the hope of improving society.

For some, modern architecture is a crime against the public realm. For others, it’s iconic. Alice and Ben explore the debate over the decades.

Subscribe to the podcast on BBC Sounds and on Here For The History’s YouTube channel.

Key Sources:

A Short History of British Architecture: From Stonehenge to The Shard, Simon Jenkins The Modern British City 1945-2000, Otto Saumarez-Smith

Who Invented the Weekend? Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

Have you ever wondered why we get Saturday and Sundays off each week? Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson try to figure out who invented the weekend. We got Sunday, then Saturday afternoon.. Then finally the full two days - but how? We’ll be taking a look at the Medieval period, we’ll introduce you to an important clerk from the Industrial Revolution, and finally a few familiar names will round out the story. Key Sources Professor Nicholas Orme Dr Ilaria Bultrighini Brad Beaven BBC Who Do You Think You Are?: Series 13: Sir Ian McKellen

Why Do We Wear Suits? Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

From royal coronations to criminal trials, the suit is men’s go-to uniform. But why?

Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson reveal the suit’s origins in the court of Charles II, how the original dandy Beau Brummell shaped men’s style to this day, and how sporty Victorians forged the modern suit.

But with the rise of working from home, are the suit’s days numbered?

Key sources: The Suit: Form, Function and Style, Christopher Breward Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen’s Men of Fashion, BBC Radio 4 A Stitch in Time, BBC FOUR This 19th-century London dandy caused a style revolution, National Geographic, 2019 Suitably Dressed, The Economist, 2010

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