The English Heritage Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 36 - The rise of Mead: Toasting the world’s oldest alcoholic drink Dec 05, 2019

Show notes

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 of it and how modern cocktails have helped to reinvent mead for a new generation of fans.

For three mead cocktail recipes to try at home, go to: www.english-heritage.org.uk/about-us/search-news/mead-resurgence/

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Episode 35 - Deal Castle and Henry VIII’s ‘device forts’ Nov 28, 2019

Show notes

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, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/deal

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Episode 34 - Charles Darwin and 'On the Origin of Species' at Down House Nov 21, 2019

Show notes

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.

For more information about Down House, Home of Charles Darwin and to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/downhouse

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Episode 33 - Memory & Light: the sound installation delighting visitors’ senses at Belsay Hall Nov 14, 2019

Show notes

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 and Arup, the great engineers and designers . 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, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/belsay

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.

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Episode 32 - Nursing the nation: how Wrest Park became a First World War country house hospital Nov 07, 2019

Show notes

Ahead of Armistice Day on 11 November, we talk to senior properties historian Dr Andrew Hann to find out how Wrest Park, the magnificent former seat of the De Grey family in Bedfordshire, was reinvented as a country house convalescent home and later a military hospital during the First World War.

Discover the stories of the nurses who worked here, what the soldiers did to keep their spirits up and the disaster that forced it to close.

For more information about Wrest Park and to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/wrest

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Episode 31 - 'These Our Monsters' : Retelling myths and legends in our new book of short stories Oct 31, 2019

Show notes

This week we’re back in the studio with English Heritage’s publishing manager Katherine Davey and literary reviewer and journalist James Kidd to discuss These Our Monsters, our new book of short stories by eight contemporary novelists inspired by the myths, legends and folklore connected to our sites.

Join Charles, Katherine and James as they discuss the concept of the book and James’s own involvement, before looking at how the writers took on the challenge of re-imagining the stories of the past.

To order a copy of These Our Monsters, go to https://www.english-heritageshop.org.uk/books-media

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Episode 30 - The Duke of Wellington and the Battle of Waterloo at Apsley House Oct 24, 2019

Show notes

We’re at Apsley House in London, the grand former home of the Duke of Wellington, to meet keeper of the Wellington Collection Josephine Oxley.

Listen on to discover why this beautiful Georgian building in the heart of the capital was once known as 'Number 1 London', its role in honouring the Iron Duke’s great victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and why it is home to one of the finest art collections in London.

For more information or to plan a visit, go to https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/apsley-house/

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Episode 29 - Rembrandt’s ultimate ‘selfie’ at Kenwood Oct 17, 2019

Show notes

To mark the 350th anniversary of Rembrandt’s death a new exhibition has been launched at Kenwood, the London home of the Dutch artist’s most famous painting, Self-portrait with Two Circles. The exhibition, called #nofilter, sees the painting re-presented alongside a new digital artwork which will be comprised of ‘selfies’ taken by visitors.

We meet senior curator Wendy Monkhouse to find out more about the enduring appeal of the painting, how it came to be at Kenwood and what visitors can expect during a visit to see it and the rest of Kenwood’s remarkable collection of art today.

For more information or to plan a visit, go to https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kenwood/

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Episode 28 - Behind the scenes of the 1066 Battle of Hastings re-enactment Oct 10, 2019

Show notes

We head to 1066 Battle of Hastings, Abbey and Battlefield in East Sussex to discover what goes into recreating history at our infamous annual Battle of Hastings re-enactment on the very site where the armies of King Harold and William the Conqueror clashed.

We meet events manager Diane Evans and re-enactor Nigel Amos, who has played both King Harold and William the Conqueror in previous years, to reveal what is involved in organising and taking part in the biggest event in the entire English Heritage calendar.

To find out more or plan a visit, go to https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/1066-battle-of-hastings-abbey-and-battlefield/

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Episode 27 - Exodus: the story behind reggae legend Bob Marley’s blue plaque in London Oct 03, 2019

Show notes

This week, we interview historian Howard Spencer to reveal the story behind the new blue plaque at the Chelsea house where reggae singing sensation Bob Marley lived in 1977 after fleeing from Jamaica.

It was while living here that Marley and his band the Wailers finished recording songs for what became the Exodus album, including Waiting in Vain, Three Little Birds, One Love and Jamming. The house is also near the pitches in nearby Battersea Park where Marley and his bandmates played football.

To find out more about our blue plaque scheme, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/

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