The Story of London

Chapter 124- Engrossers (1351-1356) Nov 20, 2024

The Black Death has passed… and now the disaster begins. In the aftermath of the plague, London finds itself in a new political climate; without fuss and fanfare many of its ancient rights are removed, and we study a few years where new political fortunes were made. This week we follow a myriad of stories, but crucially how a secretive fraternity based in a local London parish church, was to become increasingly powerful and create one of the more powerful factions in London’s political history.

It’s time to visit a city being blamed for the economic consequences of the pandemic, and who is trying to cope with a wave of negative press towards one class of resident… the hated ‘Engrossers’

Chapter 123- The Orphans of London (1349) Nov 13, 2024

The saga of the Black Death continues as The Story of London spends an episode detailing the epidemic in London continuing into 1349. As the weather warmed up and the massive death toll of the winter gave way to a fresh onslaught that Spring, we follow as London tried its best to cope with the chaos this caused, and the effects it had, upon rich and poor, old and young… and the plethora of orphans created by this disaster.

Book 5 Trailer- London’s Roses (1349-1486) Nov 10, 2024

The Story of London reaches Book 5 of its epic saga… covering the era between the arrival of the Black Death to the rise of the Tudor Dynasty. And era of great change for the city and the country as the 100 Years Wars ended and the insanity of the War of the Roses erupted… welcome then to London’s Roses.

Chapter 122- Nomannselond (1348) End of Book 4 Nov 06, 2024

The year is 1348 and everything changes… welcome as we take a detailed look at what London was doing in the year of the arrival of the Black Death; and how it coped when the terrible disease took hold of the city, leaving hundreds dying every day. We close out book 4 of the story, with a guide to how London responded to the first advent of the disease that was to shape the City for centuries to come.

Chapter 121- Angels of Death (1341-1347) Oct 30, 2024

We rapidly race to the end of Book 4 of the story, with a chapter filled with London spending fortunes to rebuild parts of the walls, the king triggering a national political crisis, fake rugs, drunken spur makers, and canons being fire as gun crews learned how too use them…

6 years in the life of the city as it tried to stay on top of ongoing economic difficulties, mayors suddenly dying, and above all, a war like no other. Across the channel, in the fields of northern France, Londoners helped make up a brutal army that fell like angels of death upon the French, and a glorious series of victories graced the English… but something far more terrifying was on its way. Welcome to the story of London in the years before the Black Death.

Chapter 120- Thunderbolt (1333-1341) Oct 23, 2024

So after chapters focused on London, its time to cast our gaze outwards for an episode… as Edward III, the young, dynamic and energetic King of England, finds himself dragged into a war with Scotland, which in turn leads to a war with France… and how this, mixed with complicated French dynastic politics, to produce the conditions that led to the start of the 100 Years War.

Covering how the country slid into this war, the seemingly constant set backs and occasional brilliant victory at sea, and Edward virtually bankrupting the nation, ‘Thunderbolt’ sets up the situation in London, with the king turning up in the Tower and trying to purge his entire government for backsliding. Wild times abound.

Chapter 119- The Battle of Bridge Street (1330-1339) Oct 16, 2024

The story returns with a wild episode, focusing on London’s vibrant life in the era; from rich orphans, to skinners-turned-burglars; from bolshy shopkeepers, to successful tent makers, this episodes looks at the little people of London in a busy decade. We see the first ever mention of gunpowder weapons (six canons hidden in Guildhall), encounter drunken outbursts at official ceremonies, the king demanding a LOT of cash from London, and ultimately, a massive street fight between some angry fishmongers and a new mayor.

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Chapter 118- A near disaster on Cheapside (1330-1335) Oct 09, 2024

We have reached the reign of King Edward III, easily one of THE most important King’s in English history, and begin this episode with a guide to the influences upon the young teenager who had taken the throne, how London was trying to get back to ‘normal’ after the follies and passions of the rule of his father, and more than that? How a glorious celebration upon Cheapside almost turned into total disaster.

Pomp, circumstance and poor building standards combine to describe a near disaster on Cheapside…

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Chapter 117- The Legacy of the She-Wolf (The Livery Wars: Part 6) (1324-1330) Oct 02, 2024

The final part of the epic saga of the reign of Edward II and his impact on London comes to its bloody conclusion; when the Queen rebels against the King and launches an invasion of England, the result is a savage eruption of mass violence and death on London’s streets. But this month long anarchy cannot cannot stem the ongoing internal political conflicts in the city, and the final bevvy of London’s great political leaders try and prevent it slipping into anarchy… as we cover the conclusion of three decades of change in the cities tale…

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Chapter 116- London Defeated (The Livery Wars: Part 5) (1321-1324) Sep 25, 2024

Rebellion stirred, the position of Mayor was restored and London hoped to get respite from the capricious king… but it was a ray of hope that was not to last. And in the years that followed, London was to see it come under the most sustained political attack in its history. Each and every one of its right, of its liberties were to be eroded as the city was to basically become the plaything for Edward II and Hugh Despenser… this is London defeated!

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Chapter 115- The Serpents Iter (The Livery Wars:Part 4) (1316-1321) Sep 18, 2024

In 1316 the City had managed to calm down a little under a pragmatic alliance of a radical mayor, and a leading conservative Alderman, who allied with the Lords Ordainer’s to keep a lid on things. But economic issues, trade opportunities, and a terrible famine destabilised this alliance and then? Then one of the greatest political operators in the cities history, the King’s new favourite Hugh Despenser, unleashed a terrible Inquisition upon the city, turning faction against faction, and dividing London so he could have the King take over and the Mayors be abolished… the brilliant cunning of this serpent of a man revealed as the Livery Wars continue… and London inches towards an explosion of violence. Support the podcast (if you feel like it) here: https://buymeacoffee.com/thefeck

Chapter 114- A sudden eruption of unexpected violence… (The Livery Wars: Part 3) (1311-1315) Sep 13, 2024

The city of London finds itself torn between two competing factions- the radical elements, hostile to foreigners, and supporters of the Lord Ordainers, who finally get a Mayor who supports them… and the conservative, monied merchants, who seek to prevent London breaking to far away from the King are reduced to silent opposition. But as the King’s favourite is murdered, the war in Scotland turns, and political fortunes of the nation swing wildly back and forth? An unlikely alliance emerges to prevent the City descending into turmoil. Our second anniversary celebration continues with a second episode this week, detailing this most intense and complex of city political rows…

Chapter 113- The Favoured Peacock (The Livery Wars: Part 2) (1307-1311) Sep 11, 2024

We celebrate the 2nd anniversary of the Story of London with the first of two episodes dropping this week, as we return to the story of the birth of London’s livery companies. As London was dividing between its political factions, the nation as a whole became caught up in the issues related to the King’s favourite, Piers Gaveston; and this episode explores why he became one of the most contentious people in England and how the national factions began to impact upon London. Above all, how three mayors in quick succession (a goldsmith, a pepperer and a mercer) all tried to keep London balancing on a tightrope…

Chapter 112- Carta Mercatoria (The Livery Wars: Part 1) (c.1298-1307) Sep 04, 2024

Edward I was dead… a new era was about to begin in the story of London. But to understand what was to come we need to go back in time a decade or so. Because under the surface, deep political divisions were brewing in London; the city was at odds with itself over how it should be ran. This episode we go back a few years to examine the events that had taken place over the last 5 episodes, but in a new light; as we focus on a series of growing political issues that were to cause savage bloodshed on the streets of the city. And this episode? A small, much overlooked and utterly forgotten document that was to drive the cities politics into violence…

Chapter 111- Brave Hearts (1303-1308) Aug 28, 2024

One of the most famous executions in London during the medieval period was that of William Wallace, the great hero of Scottish indepedence. And yet, there was more to his execution… why was he dragged all the way TO London to be killed? And why were the great and the good of the City so heavily involved in seeing him to his grisly fate? These questions, plus the building of medieval Southwark’s most famous inn, the White Friars being the victim of a vicious smash and grab robbery and the death of King Edward I, all coming up in this episode…

Chapter 110- The Westminster Job (II: The Great London Cover Up) (1303) Aug 21, 2024

The Great Robbery of the Crown Jewels and the entire Royal Treasury of Westminster had been discovered and the culprits found… or had they? This episode we look at the FULL circumstances behind the robbery, follow the story of the vast cabal of criminals who pulled off this most daring raid and discover that London and many of its most important citizens (as well as many of its poorer ones), went to extraordinary lengths to cover up London’s role.

Chapter 109- The Westminster Job (I: The Great Robbery) (1300-1303) Aug 14, 2024

A saga within a saga; in 1303 a daring band of robbers raided and plundered the royal treasury of King Edward I, making off with a fortune in gold, silver, precious items and jewels. What was worse was that the robbery seemed to have been an open secret known by dozens in and around London… but no one seemed to have bothered to tell then king for weeks. The story of the circumstances, the people and the events involved in this epic tale begin the first part of this, the story of ‘The Westminster Job’.

Chapter 108- The rise of Soper’s Lane (c1270’s-1300) Aug 07, 2024

We take a break from the recent events by looking at London’s behind the scenes economic situation; and the rise of the importance of what was for a while one of cities most important places- the lost street of Soper’s Lane. Why did dozens of merchants move here and what has this to do with the sudden and dramatic changes in the fortunes of London’s merchants? And why did the rope-makers of London go from craftsmen to multi-faceted merchants with powerful import/export businesses? All of this in a bumper issue all based around that most golden of rules… follow the money!

Chapter 107- The Great Blag of 1299… (1295-1300) Jul 31, 2024

In the final years of the 13th Century, England was gripped in a crisis caused by a series of ongoing wars all around them; economically, socially, as well as militarily, the country was being pushed to its limits. And in this episode, which details a lot of what was going on around it, the City of London, and a former mayor of London, saw an opportunity to exploit this situation for their advantage… and to try and blag from the brutal Edward I the return of something long thought lost…

Chapter 106- Orate Pro Anima Londinium (1290-1295) Jul 24, 2024

The Story of London returns with England slipping into a huge war with Scotland (and Wales, oh and France) and the circumstances behind this. In London we see the circumstances behind the rising of Charing Cross (and its sister Cheapside Cross) and the city continue under the Wardens, but we also have Vikings (no, honestly, they still around), 4 year old Scottish queens, Gascony pirates, and why someone fortified the Savoy. All of this and more…

Chapter 105- The screams upon the river sands (1285-1290) Jul 17, 2024

London was without a mayor; a new regime of a City Warden ran the city, and the community tried to come to terms with what that meant. But while this was going on, while fairs were being held, and exotic animals were being shipped to the Tower of London and the stench from the rivers became bad… forces beyond everyones control were about to impact upon the city… and London’s Jewish community was about to be destroyed, leading to a horrific incident, on a sand bank, far down the river Thames…

Chapter 104- London Bridge has fallen (1280-1285) Jul 10, 2024

In 1280 London was carrying on, seemingly as it had always done; a thriving, bustling city by the banks of the Thames, with a Mayor who ran the city and a bridge across the river which was known across Europe. By 1285 BOTH these things were gone; the Story reaches five years where London’s fortunes took a dramatic turn, as terrible weather, a hostile King, and above all, a scandalous murder and a salacious cover up, destroyed the iconic symbols of the cities independence.

Chapter 103- From the darkness of hate… (1275-1280) Jul 03, 2024

The story of London returns to the onward rush of events as we cover the years 1275-1280- the oligarchs choices of mayors run the city without serious political opposition; the day to day difficulties of the growing city always there; there is redevelopment of some prime real estate; a war in Wales and the hiring of mercenaries… and something else. In the shadows of hate and anger, London witnesses over 600 citizens killed simply because they were not Christian.

Chapter 102- The NIMBYs of the 13th Century (c.1270’s) Jun 26, 2024

After all the excitement of the recent events, we slow things down a little, as we examine the bylaws, rules and regulations that governed daily life in London. What WAS it like to live in London in the early reign of Edward I. An episode filled with rules about prostitutes, street cleaners, bad haircuts, grim advertisements, and gutters. So much about the gutters!

Chapter 101- The City of the Crusader King (1272-1274) Jun 19, 2024

A Chapter in two halves… firstly the story of the 8th Crusade, and how Edward I of England was to find himself in the Middle East; fighting off assassins, avoiding winter storms and furious at everyone seemingly all the damn time. But it’s also the story of one of THE biggest political arguments in London’s long history; two men claim to be mayor. One has the support of the people. The other? The Oligarchs. And with a dying King, who will prevail? Let’s find out in the tale of the years leading up to the coronation of Edward I.

Chapter 100- The Shadow Wars of London (1268-1273) Jun 14, 2024

As a special 100th episode, we cover the final years of Henry III’s reign; and witness an extraordinary few years for the city; in between deadly floods and churches collapsing, the City descends into a series of wars in the shadows- be it gangs of Londoner’s prowling the streets at night and murdering each other; secret inquisitions leading to mass purges of citizens; subtle campaigns of manipulation against foreign merchants, or even a whole bunch of folks trying to avoid their tax bills, this is a London of grand passion and vicious conflict.

Chapter 99- The Unexpected Rebellion of Gilbert De Clare (1266-1267) Jun 12, 2024

So, London had just been part of a huge rebellion against the King. And they had lost. The clampdown by the victorious royal forces continued, and London was systematically stripped of its ancient rights, privileges and positions. So how should London respond to this? Well… apparently? Stage ANOTHER rebellion it seems. A Chapter filled with politics, violence, murder, hastily erected defences and a bunch of guys nipping down the river and looting Westminster. I mean… what’s the worst that can happen?

Chapter 98- The Thunder of Retribution (1264-1265) Jun 05, 2024

After the battle of Lewes, the residents of London sang wild songs lampooning the supporters of the King and rejoicing in the victory of Simon De Montfort. But by the end of the next year… it was done. London had picked the wrong side and now, stripped of the position of mayor, and its sheriffs, and with the King ordering the most brutal clampdown ever seen in the city, the residents of London had to cope with the end of an era.

Chapter 97- Blood Stains The Fields of Lewes (1263-1265) May 29, 2024

A bumper episode as finally all the things that have been building during the long reign of Henry III come to a head… a massive bank robbery; a terrifying moment for the Queen; a genuine pogrom; vigilante gangs wandering the streets of the city and tearing down whole buildings; and the armed forces of London finding itself in a field in Sussex… facing down a wall of horsemen led by a furious prince. A prince who was furious at just them! The story covers a much overlooked important couple of years in the history of the city.

Chapter 96- Vir Simplex (1259-1263) May 22, 2024

England slowly but with relentless inevitability, slipped into civil war… and London was dragged along with it. But while the actions of the powers that be made what was to come unavoidable, the City carried on as best it could; it was sometimes funny, sometimes proud, and sometimes fearful. And then, for reasons that will become clear, it found itself armed to the teeth. And this… this was never a good thing to do to London.

Chapter 95- The Ambiguity of The Nightmare King (1258) May 15, 2024

A country teetering on the verge of becoming a failed state… famine kills thousands and disease kills more; the economy is shrinking in the face of the pandemic; the king is away following wild dreams of foreign glory that could bankrupt the nation; powerful landowners move to seize power; everyone becomes convinced that a rash of poisonings are taking out the powerful… and London was going to have to cope with this, mobs killing French squires, what we THINK is the city’s first ‘bank robbery’ and finding itself unsure IF it should side against the king who had vexed them so much. This is 1258, and it’s one hell of a year…

Chapter 94- A Gathering Storm (1251-1257) May 08, 2024

London faced relentless attack upon it by the regime of Henry III- city officials would find themselves dragged into the courts again and again, as the King seemed determined to find any excuse- no matter how stupid, to extract money from it. But take this, foreign policy misadventures, a devastating famine that killed thousands, and a terrible flood? Even the distractions caused by royal visits and wild animals being placed in the Tower of London could not derail the City from hurtling headlong towards an inevitable conflict with the crown… matters political and legal dominate as the Story carries on.

Chapter 93- A rumble in St Barts… (1248-1250) May 01, 2024

London and King Henry III were NOT getting on; and while the 7th Crusade was gloriously sailing towards disaster in Egypt, and the affairs of the nation carried on regardless, the city and the king would repeatedly clash as he provoked the place endlessly. And then? There was a huge fight in the beloved St Barts church. Who caused it, and why it led to mobs of Londoners prowling the streets and swearing vengeance on the VERY high powered offender, is covered this episode.

Chapter 92- Jesus came to Westminster (1247-48) Apr 24, 2024

In October 1247 King Henry III led a grand procession from London to Westminster, carrying a sacred and holy relic the like of which London had never seen before. Its importance is overlooked because in the great scale of things- it didn’t amount to much in the long history of the city. But at the time? It captured a pivotal moment, as the King and City continued to fall out, and the seeds were being sown for something VERY ugly in London’s future.

Chapter 91- The Great Whale of London Town (1240-1247) Apr 17, 2024

We return to all things London with an in depth look at the events of the early part of the 1240’s; we have earthquakes, storms, prophecies, politics, factions, new buildings being built, old buildings being revamped, processions and a whale suddenly finds itself at London Bridge! It’s also an insight into one of confusing eras of London’s political history as two mayors, Mr Tovey and Mr Bat, begin to reflect the growing divisions in the city.

Chapter 90- The Shine of Foreign Silver (c1240’s-1260’s) Apr 10, 2024

The Story takes a brief break from the regular narrative of events, with a look at two things that were impacting upon the city. The first was the ongoing crusades, and we look at the stories of the 5th and 6th Crusades along with the ‘Barons Crusade’ as this will become increasingly important later on, and then examine the perilous economic situation London was facing. Economics drives politics and politics drives history, and much of what was to come is explained here.

Chapter 89- Celebrations, Most Royal… (1233-1239) Apr 03, 2024

The story continues with an insight to six years in the cities history; we have a minor but important confrontation between the bishop of London and a bunch of French moneylenders; two royal weddings (both of which were scandalous for differing reasons), ongoing political tensions, wild street parties, drought, ambitious civil engineering and more. There are even some Vikings… in the distance but still. Vikings! The Story of London continues the cities amazing history.

Chapter 88- The Four Men in the Bed (1226-1232) Mar 27, 2024

Crime has always been a feature of urban life; but during this era a series of criminal cases are reported… which highlight a growing conflict between the authorities of London and the crown. But arguments about jurisdiction and authority soon obscure deeper debates and passions in the city. An episode that brings to life the alien nature of justice in the 13th century.

Chapter 87- The lamentable death of Constantine FitzAnulf (1219-1225) Mar 20, 2024

We kick off Book 4 with the story of a man executed for supposedly having a fight over a wrestling match… but his death could well have been the result of the chaotic aftermath of the recent Civil War. An episode about why Westminster started growing, a massive expansion of the Tower of London, the arrival of new orders of monks to London, and how the symbol of one of the men mentioned in this episode is seen on the streets of London to this day.

Book 4 Trailer- The Winter Kings (1219-1348) Mar 18, 2024

The Story of London reaches Book 4 of the saga of the city… covering the years 1219 until 1348, and bringing to life the extraordinary tale of the city during the early Plantagenet Kings…

Chapter 86- “A king from their own land…” (1216-1219) (End of Book 3) Mar 13, 2024

The wild, violent and crazy few years were coming to a close… London stood defiant; most of the country was within the regime of it’s French Prince, and their enemy was a 9 year old boy. And yet, somehow Henry III secured the English throne and London’s part in this great usurpation attempt is forgotten about. Why? Well, in this final episode of the Third Book of the Story of London, we explain how.

Chapter 85- “The commune of all the realm…” (1215- 1216) Mar 06, 2024

The Magna Carta had left London virtually independent as a city, beholden only unto the Committee of 25 signatories of the document. But the game was not over yet, and the political skill of King John soon drove London into taking its boldest move ever… inviting a French Prince to cross the sea and come take the throne of England. As the nation descends into utter chaos, what motivated the city in these amazing few months…

Chapter 84- “The Barons came to London…” (1215) Mar 02, 2024

May 17th, 1215: the day London was taken by an armed force for the first time. This being said, powerful forces within London helped them do this, and the city was to not just be under military occupation. The Mayor of the city was staging a putsch, and by his acts, not only was the city to see a score of arrests as political opponents were rounded up… by this act the regime of King John collapsed. Presenting a fresh insight into the creation of the Magna Carta from London’s point of view.

Chapter 83- “…render him their slave.” (1214-1215) Feb 28, 2024

The story begins to examine the crucial role London was to play in the political saga that led to the Magna Carta, as King John goes from being on the verge of glory, to being cast down into the pits of weakened despair. Who was the new faction who seemed to be in charge of the city, and what was their relationship to the Barons? And how did London find itself starting a civil war…

Chapter 82- “The land kept silent…” (1212-1214) Feb 21, 2024

We return to a London in the middle of a wild few years… the Great Fire of Southwark; the destruction of Baynard’s Castle; a plot to kill King John; an invasion by the French; three crusades and the death of the cities first Mayor, all conspire to make London in these few years, a very intense place to be.

Chapter 81- “…all I have lost.” (1199-1211) Feb 14, 2024

We arrive at the first dozen years of the reign of ‘Bad King John’; and enter a decade where the principal focus of the Kingdom was the disintegration of the great Empire of Henry II. But who was John? What drove this King? And how did events in these years dictate the events to come?

Chapter 80- The Dancers in the Shadows (1196-1199) Feb 07, 2024

The story takes a moment to reflect… there has been a lot going on over the last few years, but for all the events happening elsewhere, what can we work out was going on ‘behind the scenes’ in London itself? How did economic and societal factors drive London politics; and were the actions of the oligarchs of the city driven by greed… or survival? An in depth look at trade, the relations with the crown, and the arrival of a new King.

Chapter 79- The Shade of William Longbeard (1196) Jan 31, 2024

A very special episode of the Story, as we examine the circumstances around one of London’s most overlooked but important characters; William FitzOsbert aka William Longbeard, who man who appears to have briefly almost took over the city and defied the highest powers in the land… so who was he? And what did he do? And why does his tale complete the story of the First Mayor of London? Let’s find out shall we…

Chapter 78- The London Stone (1192-1196) Jan 24, 2024

The story of the First Mayor of London continues as we cover 4 intense years of English political history; the King’s Crusade rages across the Holy Land; the King of France seeks to destroy the Angevin Empire; Prince John is endlessly trying to take the throne, and the Mayor of London is to find the city called upon to do a most ancient duty… and in the distance, something terrible was coming to the city.

Chapter 77- The London Podestra (1191) Jan 17, 2024

The story finally reaches the pivotal moment in London’s history; the arrival of the first mayor. But what exactly WAS a mayor in this era? Where had this idea come from? How did this new post in the city come about? And above all, just WHO was this first mayor and what was his remarkable background? A detailed look at this most remarkable of circumstances that changed the way the city would be run forevermore…

Chapter 76- The Tyranny of Lesser Men (1190) Jan 10, 2024

While London recovered from from the bloody massacre upon its streets, events elsewhere rapidly began to spiral out of control. The King was lumbering towards the Holy Land, ineptly making scores of enemies along the way, while in England various factions began to draw up battlelines. And London suddenly found itself at the heart of all of this… and yet, London had seemingly changed.

Chapter 75- The Sins of King Yes or No (1189) Jan 03, 2024

The story returns with an episode dedicated to just a few months in the city’s saga… but a dark, terrible few months that were to see the city changed forever. We are in the year 1189 and the circumstances around the elevation of King Richard I, which led directly to the darkest moment in the cities history; how this useless King was to scar the city forever with his ineptitude and selfishness within only a few weeks, sets up the next part of the tale of London’s first mayor…

Chapter 74- The Devil’s Crown (1184-1189) Dec 27, 2023

The end of the reign of Henry II is one filled with high level visits from dignitaries to London, the implosion of the Royal Family, a new status quo in Europe, and headline grabbing events in the Middle East dominating even domestic politics… welcome to start of the tale of the elevation of the first mayor of London.

Chapter 73- In praise of the mundane things… (1173-1183) Dec 20, 2023

The story returns with a seemingly ‘quiet’ decade from London’s history; but one filled with many mundane things- including legal reforms, much gossip and above all, the rebuilding of London Bridge in stone. Welcome to the calm before the next storm… picture rights for episode cover: "London Bridge. City of London Boundary Dragon. East Side." by amandabhslater is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Chapter 72- The Last Vikings (and the birth of the London Irish) (1170-1172) Dec 13, 2023

The Story continues by looking away from London for a few years; as we examine how and why Henry II invaded Ireland and the roots of the Irish diaspora of London, with a special chapter dedicated to examining some overlooked aspects of the event… why did Henry find himself, in the midst of the biggest political crisis of his reign, running off to intervene in a foreign country?

Chapter 71- Thomas of London II: The Men of God (1160-1170) Dec 06, 2023

Returning and finishing the story of Thomas Becket, with a bumper episode that covers his elevation to Archbishop, why he fell out with the King, his intense theological war of words with the new Bishop of London and why, towards the end of his life, in a charged and emotive moment… London embraced their wayward son. The epic story of Thomas of London concludes.

Chapter 70- Thomas of London (The City Boy Made Good) (1119-1160) Nov 29, 2023

The Story gets to the first part in the two-part saga of the life of Thomas Becket- the London boy who would go on to become Chancellor of England and Archbishop of Canterbury. And yet his story illustrates, perhaps perfectly, not just the tale of a man, but how the citizens of London navigated the powerful, unstable, and violent nation around them.

Chapter 69- FitzStephen’s London (Life in the city 1174) Nov 22, 2023

We have reached the first of a series of special episodes- an examination of the first document that attempts to describe the social life of Londoner’s in the 12th century… so who was William FitzStephen, and what was the city he described? Welcome to London in the year 1174…

Chapter 68- The Money Pit (1161-1174) Nov 15, 2023

London was once the financial capital of the world, and still is a significant player in this realm. But when, and how, did this role start? The Story of London reaches the decade where London’s position as a credit and banking centre begins to emerge, as an unlikely combination of circumstances and communities begins to create something unique… and this begins to impact upon the city itself.

Chapter 67- Almost Nobles… (1154-1161) Nov 08, 2023

The Story of London reaches the opening years of the reign of Henry II; foreign merchants start growing in power in the city; the Knight’s Templars make a spectacular land grab, and while the oligarchs who run the city continue to run things for their own benefit, a powerful new group emerge from within the streets of London itself…

Chapter 66- The Child of the Anarchy (1148-1154) Nov 01, 2023

The Story continues as we come to the end of ‘The Anarchy’- that wild rambling civil war unlike any before; the nation around them slowly drags itself towards a most unusual solution, and in the meantime London deals with the Thames freezing over, the death of the most charismatic man in the city, a new local family basically takes over St. Paul’s cathedral… and something much darker begins to grow…

Chapter 65- A London Way of War (1142-1148) Oct 25, 2023

The Anarchy continues, and London finds itself in the thick of it! As the civil war continues to slow burn itself across England, this chapter examines how London copes and then profits from this. It also covers how London politics may well have instigated a second front in the war, the way the 2nd Crusade was going on while this was happening (and how this impacted on some of the figures in the Story) and how these events were linked to events in London’s distant past.

Chapter 64- The Empress & The Bells of London… (1141) Oct 18, 2023

1141 is one of the most important, and overlooked, years in the story of the City of London, and this episode is dedicated to telling its tale in full. Why had The Anarchy erupted? Why was it different from other civil wars? How did the city cope with being on the losing side? And how did London help turn the course of this war upon it’s head? All hell breaks lose… and I try to do this story justice.

Chapter 63- The Acts of Great and Terrible Men… (1136-1141) Oct 11, 2023

While England was sliding into civil war, London itself seemed mostly unconcerned; a new class of Oligarchs were enjoying the benefits of London’s new Commune status, and this episode serves as an introduction to some of them; their personalities, friendships, nepotism and rivalries. It also explains why the new Bishop of London was fired by the Pope, what Rahere of St. Bart’s did next, and why London may have wondered if they had picked the wrong King…

Chapter 62- The King of London (1135-1136) Oct 04, 2023

Away to the south, in the furthest corner of his realm, King Henry I was dying… and events were to be unleashed that was to see London transformed. A look at the opening salvos of The Anarchy, how London was involved from the very beginning, why London got so involved and how all the events of the last few generations seemed to come to a head in a court case…

Chapter 61- The Golden Deal (1130-1135) Sep 27, 2023

We arrive at the period of 1130 to 1135; the age of The Pentecost Fire of London; the birth of Bartholomew’s Fair; sundry legal issues and the King, Henry I made a deal with London- creating a new, generous charter for the City. A suspiciously generous Charter for the city… which begs the question- was it a fake? All of this and the tale of an odd hermit and his impact upon tourism in London today in this weeks episode.

Chapter 60- The Passion of London (1122-1130) Sep 20, 2023

The story returns to all things London with an in-depth look at a decade where London’s spirit, the one that made it the place to defy Kings and which had been hiding since the Norman’s showed up, began to wake up… a chapter filled with miracles, and above all, the passion of the city.

Chapter 59- The Ghost of The White Ship (1120-c1125) Sep 14, 2023

A special episode looking at the situation in Normandy during the early 1120’s- how did the sons of William I get themselves so wrapped up in such a mess, how it involved the French, and then, ultimately, how it leads to the biggest disaster of Medieval English history- a shipwreck like no other, and the consequences of it. Welcome to The Ghost of The White Ship.

Chapter 58- A London Ephemeris (1111-1120) Sep 13, 2023

We celebrate our first year anniversary with an episode that tries to get into the heads of 12th Century Londoners; how did they think about things & what did they have to cope with living in London at the time? A look at how people came to terms with the difficulties in writing, overcrowded streets, sudden infant death, and new migrants arriving. Full script will be available here: https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 57- The Tears of Barefoot Priests (1101-1111) Sep 06, 2023

A bumper episode crammed with detail as we try and get through events in London during the first decade of the 12th Century; churches were built; volcanos in Iceland ruined crops; there was ANOTHER invasion from Normandy, we have a brilliant new Queen; Jewish and Christian scholars engaged in debates; and the first escape from the Tower of London took place. Oh, and 200 priests staged a pitiful protest about proposed changes in inheritance laws. A wild decade ahead. https://www.realpolitik.zone/the-story-of-london/

Chapter 56- The Hounds of London (1100-1101) Aug 30, 2023

The Story returns to London with a look at the realities of the ‘splendour’ of medieval rule; the rash of church building across the city; a fairly unique animal pest problem and the usurpation of the throne of England… AGAIN! Two fascinating years in the life of London. Full script will be placed here in the next week or so: https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 55 -Deus Vult (1096-1100) Aug 22, 2023

A special episode dedicated to examining the conditions that led to the First Crusade, and the side effects that Crusade had upon England, and London. We are not going to try and tell the story of the crusade, but just go try to place the crusade into context, and get a glimpse of the social, economic, theological and political impact it was to have at the time and in the years to come.

Chapter 54- A Red Storm Over London (1088-1099) Aug 16, 2023

The reign of William II of England (William Rufus) is often overlooked, but was to have a profound impact upon the city; a decade of intense rebuilding after disaster, MORE disasters, political arguments and we meet the forefather of the London’s financiers- Ranulf Flambard. It’s time to explore the Red Storm Over London…

Chapter 53- Four Horsemen (1086-1088) Aug 09, 2023

Welcome to 1086… and arguably the worst two years in London’s history. Famine, plague, fire and war all descend upon the unfortunate residents, as circumstances dictate the worst of all times. Detailing a horrendous couple of years in the Story of the city… check out support materials available on https://www.realpolitik.zone/the-story-of-london/

Book 3 Trailer Aug 04, 2023

Introducing the next stage of the story of London… The Dark Age.

Chapter 52- Doomsday (c1086) Aug 02, 2023

We end Season 2 of the podcast with an argument- why 1086 constitutes the end of an era in London’s history and also why it represents the start of the darkest time in the cities history. A wide ranging guide to why you could see the last Season as London rising to heights it would not see for centuries, before it comes crashing down.

Chapter 51- The Three Towers (1078-1085) Jul 25, 2023

In the aftermath of the Great Fire of 1077 London rebuilt itself, and the powers that be erected the great White Tower of London. This episode examines the foundation of the Tower, and also it’s two sister towers built on the other side of London, as well as the creation of churches within the city and the impact of the Domesday Book. Free script will be available via the weblink to this page.

Chapter 50- Catching Fire (1068-1077) Jul 19, 2023

In the aftermath of the Norman Conquest, London witnessed as England burned in rebellion and revolt… but what part did the city take in the terrible events which followed?

Chapter 49- Conquered (1067-1068) Jul 12, 2023

William the Conqueror is the new King of England… now what the hell does London do about this? A chapter that looks at the immediate aftermath of the arrival of the Norman’s, and how London tried to navigate it’s way around their new overlord. Some things remain the same, but some things forever changed.

Chapter 48- 1066: The Year of Three Kings (part 2) Jul 05, 2023

The last few months of 1066 was to see London suddenly find itself as THE crucial focus of invasion of England, and a minor political figure from the city called Ansgar is about to become one of the most important men in the country, as we conclude the account of the city in one of the most amazing years in its history.

Chapter 47- 1066: The Year of Three Kings (Part 1) Jul 05, 2023

We finally reach 1066; King Edward of England is dying and London prepares for the grand ceremony to consecrate his new vast abbey down on Thorney Island… but in the shadows an ambitious English noble is about to plunge the nation into crisis.

Chapter 46- Godwinland (1055-1065) Jun 28, 2023

In the decade before the Norman Invasion London had to come to turns with a reality it could not argue with: Harold Godwinsun and his family dominated English politics. But this meant London was helpless as this inept man steered the nations towards inevitable disaster… a harsh (but I think honest) look at Harold’s failures, events that cause the Norman Invasion of 1066.

Chapter 45- The Sacred Island (1053-1062) Jun 21, 2023

Sometime in the 1050’s Edward the Confessor constructed two new buildings which were to play a pivotal role in the cities history going forward- Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster. But the stories of their creation hide a deeper secret about what was going on in the court of the king… Full script will be available on https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM soon.

Chapter 44- A Godfather Trilogy (Part 3: The Revenge of Earl Godwin) (1051-1053) Jun 19, 2023

The concluding part of A Godfather Trilogy is the one where we finally understand why I spent so much time on this little moment from English history- Earl Godwin returns in fire and fury and London finds itself besieged for the first time since the reign of Cnut… a full script will be available at https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 43- A Godfather Trilogy (Part 2: An Ambush in Southwark) (1050-1051) Jun 15, 2023

The epic conflict between King Edward and Earl Godwin properly erupts as they clash over power and influence… leading to a dramatic meeting in South London. A script and write up will be posted here https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM in the next week or so.

Chapter 42- A Godfather Trilogy (Part 1: Two Households) (1048-1050) Jun 14, 2023

Around 1000 years ago there began a political fight that was to change the fate of the nation beyond all others; a clash of two men, two ‘Godfathers’ of the nation, whose struggle for domination would cause profound changes to the fate of London. This is part of a three part special, which explains the backdrop to this argument. A full script will be available on https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM.

Chapter 41- The Many Fleets of Lambeth (c1040’s-1050) Jun 07, 2023

Warfare has changed a lot over the centuries; but somethings remain constant. This episode looks in detail at the power and might of the fleets of England in the 11th Century, and how London became not just the centre of them, but the focus of the power of England. A crucial episode in the story of London; a rough script will be found on https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM in the next few days.

Chapter 40- Resurrection (1042-1049) May 31, 2023

A new King takes the throne of England… and London gets to witness a series of really unfortunate events. For years. We start the reign of Edward the Confessor with a plethora of natural disasters and how Londoner’s may have conceptualised the world to come to terms with them. A script will be available here:https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM in the next few days. As well as that- here is the link to the podcast mentioned in the show https://open.spotify.com/episode/4qgm8e4jMRuAssbgnXF0Hv?si=7iRw1NmdQT6WOec40JVvhw for all things Vikings (of the Irish Sea)

Cover art: "Edward the Confessor - Lichfield Cathedral" by ell brownis licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Chapter 39- The Red Wedding of Lambeth (1040-1042) May 24, 2023

In June 1042 a wedding feast take places in Lambeth; who got married at that wedding and what happened at that wedding, and the stories of those people, offer a unique insight into the power politics that led to the rise of King Edward the Confessor. Feasts, politics and sly insults from Monks abound… A full script with pictures of this episode will be available on https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM soon.

Chapter 38- Things Fall Apart… (1030-1040) May 17, 2023

The 1030’s were a tough decade for London. It started with Cnut as Emperor of Northern Europe; it saw natural disaster, political crisis and three kings having been in control. How London (and England) coped and how London ended up dictating who was going to rule after Cnut (or trying to) is the subject of this episode. Script will be available here https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM for any who want to read along.

Chapter 37- The Umbral Empire (1024-1030) May 10, 2023

London finds itself with a King who would be an Emperor; an episode trying to explain how Cnut went on to become overlord of Denmark, Norway, parts of Sweden and more… and how London was very much part of this. A version of the script will be available here for those who like to read along, https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM.

Chapter 36- Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Relics… (1020-1023) May 03, 2023

The complex and difficult relationship between Cnut and London carries on as we look at the reasons behind many of Cnut’s early political moves, the reasons why these are hard to fathom, and the most insane robbery ever carried out by a King of England. Script will be posted here https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM But the bad South London accent is free!

Chapter 35- The Blood Raven (1017-1020) Apr 26, 2023

England had been invaded and a foreign King sat upon it’s throne; as he ruthlessly consolidated power, eliminating any remaining threats to his new regime, London was to find itself on the receiving end of his retribution… a version of the script will be available here https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM for those who want to read along.

Chapter 34- The Great Siege of London Town… (1016-1017) Apr 19, 2023

A Danish Prince leads his armies across England… the King grows ill… his rebellious son tries to marshal resistance… the year 1016 sees London as a beacon of hope in a desperate campaign making it briefly the eye of a storm. Full script will be available here https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM for those who wish to read along.

Chapter 33- In the shadow of the Archangel (1014-1016) Apr 12, 2023

Two great and terrible calamities smash into England, leaving London possibly reeling. A giant wall of water pulverises England, followed by a second invasion by the Danes, and the rise of an unlikely saviour. Full script of this episode will be posted here https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM for those who wish to follow along.

Chapter 32- The fall and rise of King Æthelred (1013-1014) Apr 05, 2023

The Danish King leads a huge force across England, aiming at London, which hunkered down to prepare for the last stand of King Æthelred… two of the most dramatic, violent and amazing years in London’s history are about to take place. A full script with illustrations will be available on https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 31- The birth of a capital (Part 2- A shire unto itself…) (c1000’s) Mar 29, 2023

We continue the deep dive into the changes taking place in London during this era; this time looking at how it grew, new buildings, how it started to run itself, the prolific action of churches and more. Full script, with maps and illustrations, will be available here: https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 30- The birth of a capital (Part 1- Show me the money…) (c.1000’s) Mar 29, 2023

The first in a special two part episode where we really dive deep into the changes taking place in London; this part focuses on the economic and trade explosion that appears to be taking place in the city during this era. Script with pictures and maps available here: https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 29- London Bridge Stands (c.1013) Mar 23, 2023

The Story of London takes a moment to examine one of the great urban myths of London- the idea that the nursery rhyme ‘London Bridge is Falling Down’ was based on a real life attack by some Vikings in or near the year 1013. Was it true? Where did the idea comes from? Let’s find out… and full rough script will be found here https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 28- The King in the North (1010-1013) Mar 16, 2023

This is it… the start of the end game of King Æthelred of England; three years of destruction, mayhem, murder, intrigue, false hopes, and growing problems in both England AND Denmark was to set up for another battle at the walls of London. Carnage awaits us… A copy of the rough script used for this episode can be found here: https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 27- The War of the Thames (1003-1009) Mar 08, 2023

In the winter of the year 1009, an overlooked conflict broke out on the river Thames; on one side the fleet of the most feared Vikings in Europe. The other? London. This chapter explains how this campaign came about, and how and why London triumphed. A wild ride of a story, with a free rough script available here https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 26- A most just extermination? (1001-1003) Mar 03, 2023

London was to witness one of the darkest moments of the era with the St. Brice’s Day Massacre; but what actually happened? Did the King really order the deaths of all the Danes of England? And how did that impact London going forward? A rough script for this episode is available here https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 25- The Wolves of London (995-1001) Feb 22, 2023

Fresh from the defence of the city, the residents of London suddenly have to cope with some dramatic changes. A new Bishop of London exploded upon the city, with barnstorming sermons and a ferocious legal mind… and the King suddenly began a new, aggressive foreign policy. Rough script used for this episode to be found here https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 24- The Battle of London (993-994) Feb 15, 2023

London suddenly, and without warning, found itself facing a giant fleet sailing right up the Thames to sack the place but the Vikings were running into a town who had come a long way from the small village it use to be. What follows? Sounds like a bloodbath… the first battle of London had begun. A rough script for this chapter can be found here https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 23- London Roars (982-992) Feb 08, 2023

As England lurches from crisis to crisis, London finds itself growing, becoming more influential and eventually spearheading a new offensive against the Viking raiding fleets… only to be met with betrayal at the highest level. Rough script available for any to read here https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 22- The Anglo-Saxon Omnicrisis (980-982) Feb 01, 2023

So in order to get to just how drastic some of the future actions by London were to be, we need to look at what drove them to do what they will do. This episode (which has way too many Vikings in it), looks at the political and military crisis tracking place in England and elsewhere that would trigger the events that would see London become the capital of England. Rough script is available here https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM for folks to read along if they want.

Chapter 21- Meeting God’s People (960-980) Jan 25, 2023

London during the 10th century began to transform into a town known for its strong religious feelings; a chapter that examines some of the causes of this, plus how it was to witness the chaos caused by the sudden death of the King… rough script of this episode available here: https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 20- Laying the Foundations (917-960) Jan 19, 2023

We get stuck into tenth century London with a detailed look as to the era when the city began to go from A Saxon town, to THE Saxon town and why this process began during the reign of King Æthelstan. Rough script of this episode to be found here: https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 19- The Great Game (912-980) Jan 12, 2023

We return to the Story of London by briefly going over the events in Britain going on around London, and which would influence London over the next few decades. A massive series of wars between the Kings of Wessex and the forces of the Vikings… welcome, then, to the Great Game. Rough script available for listeners here: https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 18- The Story so far… (pre-History to c950 CE) Jan 03, 2023

We come to a natural end in the Story of London; all that was past is prologue. This is a special episode, where we go over the history of the place in a nice short summery, condensing the previous 17 episodes in a nice re-cap. After all, we have covered a LOT of territory. Link to the rough script used is here: https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 17- The Heart of Darkness (899-c940) Dec 21, 2022

We return after a brief hiatus with a slightly longer look at the start of the 10th century- an episode that tries to reconstruct what London looked like, when EXACTLY London Bridge was rebuilt and more than that… explore the birth of the London mob. A copy of the rough script will be shared to https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 16- London’s Dark Twin (894-899) Nov 30, 2022

Continuing the tale of the war of 893-897; London faced the prospect of a large Viking fleet upriver that promised to bring war and destruction upon the town… and yet greater threats lay hidden in its future. An episode that takes us to the end of the reign of Alfred the Great. Rough script available here: https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 15- The fangs of London (886-894) Nov 24, 2022

London was about to discover it was no longer utterly helpless in the face of Viking raids. For the first time the residents of the town were empowered to mobilise as an army… and over the course of a war that is much overlooked these days, suddenly found they had teeth… a copy of the rough script of todays episode is available here https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 14- The Chaotic Birth of the Fortress City (886) Nov 16, 2022

We finally reach the year the City of London as we know it was created- 886. But the story behind it, and the confusion it seems to generate, are examined in a wild episode involving war, political gestures and Viking’s Vikinging other Vikings.

You can follow along the rough script used for this Chapter as well as links to support it here: https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 13- Who killed Lundenwic? (Part 2/2) (872-886) Nov 09, 2022

The second part of this bumper section, we now examine the actions of the other two candidates for the murder of London- the Viking leader Guthrum and Alfred the Great. Links to the rough script used in this episode (and all the others so far) to be found here: https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 12- Who Killed Lundenwic? (Part 1/2) (872-886) Nov 09, 2022

A special two part episode, as we try and work out who was responsible, ultimately, for the death of Saxon London as it was. In the first part, we examine the role of the King’s of Mercia and the great Viking Leader, Halfdan… Links to all the scripts found here https://imgur.com/gallery/hajiHGM

Chapter 11- The First Occupation (866-872) Nov 02, 2022

The Story of London gets to the part where the Viking attacks increase as we explore two things impacting upon it- the start of the reign of Alfred the Great and the Great Heathen Army! And how the Viking’s came to occupy the town… draft script and pictures/maps available on the website.

Chapter 10- Survivors… (852-866) Oct 20, 2022

The Vikings had raided London… how did the survivors cope and how did this change them? The Story continues looking at both the aftermath and potentially what created the identity of the city of come. A rough script and support materials can be found on the website.

Chapter 9- The Violations of London (836-851) Oct 12, 2022

An deep dive into both the evolution of the tactics and scale of the early Vikings and their impact upon London; how the small collections of pirates grew and escalated their attacks to the point they could take on huge towns, and accounts of the first two raids upon London in 842 and 851.

Chapter 8- Odin’s Fashionistas (Part Two- The dirty secret of the early Vikings) (820-835) Oct 05, 2022

The second part of the special looking closely at the advent of the age of the Vikings; exploring why the residents of London would have seen these guys as highly fashionable merchants and not raiders for a whole generation… and exploring the complexity of the era in some depth.

Chapter 7- Odin’s Fashionista’s (Part One- The decline of Mercia) (820-835) Oct 04, 2022

The first of a two-part special; it’s 820, and London is part of the powerful and strong Mercian Kingdom; and yet within 15 years the world was to turn upside down, and on the horizon, something scary was looming…

Chapter 6- Offa’s Emporium (733- 820) Sep 30, 2022

We return to the story of London with the tale of the most powerful of the Mercian King’s of the city, and why London was producing coins with faux Arabic script on them…

Chapter 5- A Mercian Market (666- 733 CE) Sep 27, 2022

The story continues as we look at how Lundenwic (London) thrived and grew due to it’s relationship with the Kingdom of Mercia; also look at some of the wider implications of the towns story so far.

Chapter 4- The Mercian Takeover (627-666 CE) Sep 20, 2022

The story of London continues as we look at how the weak kingdom of Mercia ended up taking over the town of Ludenwic, starting a centuries long relationship with the city.

Chapter 3- Welcome to Lundenwic (450-627 CE) Sep 13, 2022

The story of London continues with the tale of the formation of the Saxon settlement of Lundenwic, the market town built one mile west of the old Roman ruins, and the complicated and obscure changing world around it…

Chapter 2- The birth, life and (multiple) deaths of Londinium (47CE-450CE) Sep 08, 2022

Welcome back to the second episode of the story of London; this one with added controversy. We do the entire history of Roman London in one episode.

Why? Because… reasons…

All music courtesy of artlist.io

Chapter 1- London BEFORE London Sep 08, 2022

Welcome to the Story of London. Our opening episode quickly introduces the scale and size of what we will be trying to do, before getting stuck right into our first part of the story; an account of the region before the Roman’s came. What WAS there before London was built?

All music & SPFX courtesy of artlist.io

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