The English Heritage Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 16 - Studying the skies above Stonehenge with space scientist Maggie Aderin-Pocock Jul 18, 2019

Show notes

To celebrate the launch of our new digital project, Stonehenge Skyscape, allowing everyone anywhere to watch the sun, moon and stars above Britain’s most famous prehistoric monument, we join space scientist and BBC’s The Sky at Night presenter Maggie Aderin-Pocock to find out more.

Discover the role astronomy might have played in prehistoric life, the meaning of archeoastronomy and what you should look out for in the sky above the stones.

To experience Stonehenge Skyscape for yourself, go to https://www.stonehengeskyscape.co.uk/

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Episode 15 - The centenary of the Cenotaph: the UK’s most famous war memorial Jul 11, 2019

Show notes

A century after the unveiling of the original Cenotaph memorial in London, we are joined by senior properties historian Dr Steven Brindle and Dr Lucy Noakes, professor of modern history at the University of Essex to discover its story.

Listen on to find out how and why this famous First World War memorial was created for the Peace Day celebrations of 19 July 1919 and how it’s come to inspire the designs of other memorials to conflict all over the world.

To find out more about the World War I memorials in our care, go to https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/20th-century/london-wwi-memorials/

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Episode 14 - The story behind Kenilworth Castle’s Elizabethan Garden Jul 04, 2019

Show notes

Ten years since our gardening team recreated the Elizabethan garden at Kenilworth Castle, we meet landscapes advisor Emily Parker and head gardener Fiona Tansey to discover the story behind the garden, the Elizabethan garden style, the planting and features of the garden that visitors should look out for during a visit today and the activities planned to mark the anniversary, including 19 days of celebrations planned to commemorate Elizabeth I’s historic 19-day visit to the castle in the summer of 1575.

To take an interactive tour of the garden and find out more visit: www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kenilworth-castle/history-and-stories/elizabethan-garden/

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Episode 13 - How the Victorians invented the great British beach holiday Jun 27, 2019

Show notes

As thoughts turn to holidays ahead, we join senior properties historian Andrew Hann to discover the role of the Victorians in popularising British beach holidays and seaside resorts.

Learn how many of the things we now associate with a trip to the British seaside (fish and chips, promenades and piers) have their roots in the Victorian summer holiday, and how Queen Victoria herself developed a love of the seaside at her own private beach at Osborne on the Isle of Wight.

You can find out more about life during the Victorian era here: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/victorian/

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Episode 12 - Behind the scenes of Summer Solstice at Stonehenge Jun 20, 2019

Show notes

As the team at Stonehenge prepare to welcome thousands of visitors to celebrate the start of summer and see the sun rise between the stones on the longest day of the year, we head behind the scenes to meet Senior Properties Historian Dr Susan Greaney and Senior Property Curator Heather Sebire.

Discover how the solstice informed the formation of the stones, how the solstice was originally celebrated here, the challenges of managing the solstice celebrations today and what you need to do if you want to join the festivities.

To find out more about Stonehenge and Summer Solstice, visit https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/plan-your-visit/summer-solstice/

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Episode 11 - The mythology of plants at Mount Grace Priory Jun 13, 2019

Show notes

At Mount Grace Priory in North Yorkshire, our gardening team are growing plants inspired by medieval monks across Europe with aphrodisiac, narcotic and hallucinogenic qualities and names like mandrake and deadly nightshade. Today these might sound like the stuff of storybook spells, but for medieval monks they were ingredients in everyday remedies to treat all kinds of complaints*.

We asked our Senior Gardens Advisor for the North and Midlands, Dr Michael Klemperer, to help us uncover the stories behind some of the plants you’ll find in our garden.

For more information about Mount Grace Priory, visit https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dover-castle/history-and-stories/d-day-deception

*Never consume any of the plants referenced without medical advice.

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Episode 10 - The D-Day landings and Dover Castle Jun 06, 2019

Show notes

On the 75th anniversary of D-Day on Tuesday, 6 June 1944, we meet English Heritage’s senior properties historian Paul Pattison to discover the story of the Normandy landings, the other operations that fed into this turning point of the Second World War and how the iconic fortress of Dover Castle played its role.

For more information about the D-Day deceptions, visit https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dover-castle/history-and-stories/d-day-deception/

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Episode 9 - Author George Orwell’s blue plaque and the making of 1984 May 30, 2019

Show notes

On the 70th anniversary of the publication of author George Orwell’s most famous novel 1984, presenter Charles Rowe interviews historian Howard Spencer to discover the story behind Orwell’s blue plaque in London and discuss how accurate he was in predicting the future.

To find out more about our blue plaques scheme or order a copy of our guide to London’s Blue Plaques, go to https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/

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Episode 8 - Conversations in Making: artist Linda Brothwell on her new exhibition at Stonehenge May 23, 2019

Show notes

As Stonehenge prepares to welcome visitors to its new exhibition, Conversations in Making, which opens on 24 May 2019, we headed to artist Linda Brothwell’s studio at Spike Island in Bristol to get a preview of her artwork about to go on display.

The exhibition will feature a collection of 40 copper and silver bowls, beakers and vessels that form a portrait of the area, charting the connections between Stonehenge and the communities that have lived around the monument, both past and present.

For more information, go to https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/things-to-do/linda-brothwell/

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Episode 7 - Discover the treasures of Kenwood in London May 16, 2019

Show notes

We travel to Hampstead Heath in London to explore the breathtaking interiors and world-class art collection of Kenwood in the company of assistant curator Louise Cooling. Discover the story of this hidden gem, its former owners and its renowned collection of paintings, which remain free for everyone to enjoy today.

To learn more about the history of the house and its treasures, or to plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/kenwood

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