Ladies Who London

Latest Episodes:

Ep 168 - Titus Oates conspiracy - fantasy or fact? Apr 17, 2024

Show notes

We've been threatening this one for a while, gang! Here is the unedited history of Titus Oates, and who exactly is he? Is he a brave, whistleblowing legend, or a deluded fantasist who is about to put his foot in it? Come with us to find out more

And podcast pedestal returns! After overwhelming support, the pedestal makes a comeback, and you get to tell us what you think is the most important part of the story.

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Ep 167 - Chevalier d'Eon - the gender-fluid spy who defied the King of France Apr 10, 2024

Show notes

A week late to Trans Visibility Day, but that is on brand for us! This week's episode is all about the Chevalier d'Eon, spy to King Louis XV, and all round enigma! Were they trans? They lived as both man and woman in both France and England over many years. What weird stipulation did the King make in a deal with the Chevalier and why? We delve into this story, surrounded by myth and mystery to try and figure out what is what from the story of this fascinating person.

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Ep 166 - Livery? I hardly know her. Loving cups, demi-virgins and zoomers. Apr 02, 2024

Show notes

It is time. We've been threatening it for a year, so let's get down and dirty with the City of London livery companies! I know, I know, it's hard to contain your excitement. Fiona gets into an A-Z of livery companies, everything you never knew you wanted to know, and we find out why the loving cup is a thing, whether the Upholders really make bras, and why oh why is a demi-virgin so named.

All the chat with all* the stats

*some of the stats, most of it inaccurate. WELCOME!

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Ep 165 - LWL LIVE! Mary Davies with Leo Hollis Mar 27, 2024

Show notes

It's us, but different! We come to you LIVE, recorded last week at the Wanstead tap in east London. There are few audio teething issues at the start, but bear with, as it does come together!

We had the great pleasure of talking to the lovely Leo Hollis, author of Inheritance - the tragedy of Mary Davies, and what a story it is! A little-discussed but very influential woman, Mary inherited swathes of London which would later become Mayfair, and then nearly lost it all after an event that took place in a hotel in Paris became the subject of a court case, amidst stories of duplicity, co-ersion and unscrupulous people in her inner circle. To find out more, join us to listen!

Copies of Leo's books can be found at your local bookshop - it is well worth a read.

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Ep 164 - Women of Whitechapel - reframing the narrative Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

TRIGGER WARNING - contains themes of murder and violence against women.

It's the return of Katie from Look Up London! Twice in one month, aren't we lucky?! Katie joins us to talk about some of the women involved in the famous case of the 19thC serial killer known as Jack the Ripper. But we are not focusing on him and his action. We are focusing on the women - who were they? What are their stories? Is everything we think we know about them entirely accurate? Katie is here to dispel some myths and give the women the recognition they deserve.

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Ep 163 - 200 years of the RNLI - Women of the RNLI Mar 13, 2024

Show notes

We're on site this week at the new, fantastic exhibition of Women of the RNLI at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the RNLI. We talk to former Tower lifeboat station manager Janet, archivist Hayley Whiting, and photographer Jack Lowe about his amazing project to photograph every single lifeboat station in the UK. Join us as we find out more about this wonderful institution and Jack's fascinating project.

The exhibition was curated by Royal Museums Greenwich’s Laura Boon, Lloyd's Register Foundation Senior Curator: Contemporary Maritime and Aimee Mook, Assistant Curator of Contemporary Maritime

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Ep 162 - International Women's Day - Bella Burge, Mary Somerville & Ada Coleman Mar 06, 2024

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It's International Women's Day! So we have invited back one of our regular guests, Katie Wignall, to help us talk about 3 fabulous London women.

Bella Burge - boxing impresario

Mary Somerville - the first scientist

Ada Coleman - one of the best bartenders who ever lived.

And it wouldn't be us without having a competition about who is the best! Take a look at our socials to have your say.

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Ep 161 - Elizabeth Fry, the angel of Newgate Feb 28, 2024

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It's the first of your podcast picks, and the winner was Elizabeth Fry, the angel of Newgate. Shocked by the abject conditions she found in the most notorious of prisons, Newgate, she put her whole life on hold to try and improve the situation for the women imprisoned there. If she could make even one person's experience better, then it would be worth it. She achieved that, and so much more.

Come with us as we delve into this woman's fascinating life.

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Ep 160 - How to buy London Bridge Feb 21, 2024

Show notes

Londoners will tell you that London Bridge was once sold to a man who thought he was buying Tower Bridge. That man was Robert Paxton McCulloch, who in 1964 bought London Bridge and had it shipped to Arizona. But did he really think he was buying Tower Bridge, or is that just a fantastical myth spun for a bit of a laugh? This week we delve into the story of how one of London's most famous landmarks ended up across the sea in the United States, what record it set when it went there, and why - WHY - was it even sold in the first place?

Find out this week!

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Ep 159 - The Great Exhibition - Anyone for a Tempest Prognosticator? Feb 14, 2024

Show notes

Well gang, we've been threatening this one for a while. And you know what happens when we threaten a topic? Yes, we get round to it after about 3 years. Don't say we never treat you. This week we are FINALLY getting round to chatting all things Great Exhibition. From Tempest Prognosticators to naked statues in tents, huge chunks of gold and coal, and a glass atrium that welcomed 6 million people over the course of 6 months, there's a lot of stuff to chat about. Plus we find out how it impacted London in the ensuing years. Strap in, lads, it's going to get exciting!

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