Toilets Through Time

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What was it like to do your business in a Roman communal toilet? Why were medieval monks so afraid of going to the loo? Did constipation turn Henry VIII into a tyrant? Join David Musgrove as he heads down the u-bend in the company of leading historical experts to see what we can learn from the most universal of all experiences: going to the loo.

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19/11/2025 • Solo abbonati

Early modern chamber pots

David Musgrove and Mark Stoyle tackle the toilets of the early modern period – from Samuel Pepys' graphic garderobe confessions to chamber pots and literary loo paper Samuel Pepys describes in great detail the toilet experiences of 17th-century Londoners. But how far did that reflect the bathroom habits of the whole population? For this final episode of Toilets through Time, Professor Mark Stoyle leads David Musgrove into the early modern water closet.

36 min
19/11/2025 • Solo abbonati

Prehistoric toilets

In episode six of Toilets Through Time, David Musgrove and Dr Sue Greaney look back at what we can learn about studying people's toilet habits from the Neolithic to the Iron Age. How and where did prehistoric people to go to the toilet, and what can we learn from studying their toilet habits? Dr Sue Greaney explains to David Musgrove what we know about loos from the Neolithic through to the Iron Age.

32 min
19/11/2025 • Solo abbonati

Anglo-Saxon and Norman cesspits

Did King Edmund Ironside die on the toilet? Why did the rich and powerful in Anglo-Norman England want their clothes to smell of poo? And could you use the facilities in front of an audience? These are just some of the questions tackled in this episode of our Toilets through Time, where David Musgrove talks to Dr Katherine Weikert about the Anglo-Saxon and Norman toilet experience.

26 min
19/11/2025 • Solo abbonati

Victorian lavatories

In the forth episode of Toilets Through Time, we’ve reached the age of avant-garde sewerage systems and shining porcelain cisterns: the Victorian era. David Musgrove is joined by historian and author Jerry White, who explains why the period nevertheless saw appalling sanitary conditions that sparked debates about the public health of Britain’s cities – and shares some surprising toilet-based euphemisms.

26 min
19/11/2025 • Solo abbonati

Tudor garderobes

Did constipation turn Henry VIII into a tyrant? For the third episode of Toilets Through Time, David Musgrove revisits the luxurious surroundings of the royal Tudor water closet. To tell him more about unappealing 16th-century alternatives to loo roll, 'grooms of the stool' and Henry VIII’s gut health, David is joined by author and public historian Tracy Borman.

32 min
19/11/2025 • Solo abbonati

Medieval privies

Why were medieval monks so afraid of going to the loo? In the second episode of Toilets Through Time, David Musgrove heads into the dark and dangerous world of medieval latrines on a quest to find out. Helping him navigate the risks of fire, filth and eternal damnation that came with paying a visit in the Middle Ages is author, architectural archaeologist and medieval myth-buster James Wright.

34 min
19/11/2025 • Solo abbonati

Roman latrines

What was it like to do your business in a Roman communal toilet? In the first episode of Toilets Through Time, David Musgrove begins his journey through the bathrooms of British history in the Roman era, with historian Dr Hannah Platts. They discuss dubious ancient ablutions, the confronting experience of sitting alongside your neighbours on the toilet, and why one gladiator reportedly stuck a toilet sponge down his own throat.

32 min
18/11/2025 • Solo abbonati

Introducing Toilets Through Time

What was it like to do your business in a Roman communal toilet? Why were medieval monks so afraid of going to the loo? Did constipation turn Henry VIII into a tyrant? Join David Musgrove as he heads down the u-bend in the company of leading historical experts to see what we can learn from the most universal of all experiences: going to the loo.

32 min

Trailer • Solo abbonati

Introducing Toilets Through Time

What was it like to do your business in a Roman communal toilet? Why were medieval monks so afraid of going to the loo? Did constipation turn Henry VIII into a tyrant? Join David Musgrove as he heads down the u-bend in the company of leading historical experts to see what we can learn from the most universal of all experiences: going to the loo.

18/11/2025

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32 min

The HistoryExtra podcast brings you gripping stories from the past and fascinating historical conversations with the world's leading historical experts. HistoryExtra is a free history podcast, with episodes released six times a week. Subscribe now for the real stories behind your favourite films, TV shows and period dramas, as well as compelling insights into lesser-known aspects of the past. We delve into global history stories spanning the ancient world right up to the modern day. You’ll hear deep dives into the lives of famous historical figures like Cleopatra, Anne Boleyn and Winston Churchill, and explorations of intriguing events from the past, such as the Salem witch trials, the battle of Waterloo and D-Day. Expect fresh takes on history, helping you get to grips with the latest research, as we explore everything from ancient Roman archaeology and Viking mythology to Renaissance royals and Tudor kings and queens. Our episodes touch on a wide range of historical eras – from the Normans and Saxons to the Stuarts, Victorians and the Regency period. We cover the most popular historical subjects, from the medieval world to the Second World War, but you’ll also hear conversations on lesser-known parts of our past, including black history and women’s history. Looking at the history behind today’s headlines, we consider the forces that have shaped today’s world, from the imposing empires that dominated continents, to the revolutions that brought them crashing down. We also examine the impact of conflict across the centuries, from the crusades of the Middle Ages and the battles of the ancient Egyptians to World War One, World War Two and the Cold War. Plus, we uncover the real history behind myths, legends and conspiracy theories, from the medieval murder mystery of the Princes in the Tower, to the assassination of JFK. Featuring interviews with notable historians including Mary Beard, Tracy Borman, James Holland and Dan Jones, we cover a range of social, political and military history, with the aim to start conversations about some of the most fascinating areas of the past. Unlock full access to HistoryExtra.com for 6 months for just 99p https://www.historyextra.com/join/

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Travel writer and history buff Paul Bloomfield will be joining expert guides with rich local and historical knowledge. Venturing to the great cities of Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas, they'll explore centuries-long stories of foundation and growth, and examine how contact between continents shaped these far-flung places. Along the way, they'll introduce the colourful characters who played pivotal roles in the development of these cities, and lead listeners through the must-visit palaces, temples, bazaars and, of course, bars and restaurants. And, our experts will also share insider tips to help visitors discover hidden facets of each fascinating destination. History’s Greatest Cities is produced by the team behind HistoryExtra. For more fascinating stories from the past, head to HistoryExtra, the home of ‘History’s Greatest’ podcasts. There you can find other feeds including the HistoryExtra Podcast, History’s Greatest Conspiracy Theories and HistoryExtra Long Reads. Find out more at historyextra.com/podcast. We'd love to know what you think about the podcast, so leave us a review and let us know the topics you think we should be covering. Or, follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram or YouTube to keep in touch. You can listen ad-free to this episode and more by subscribing to HistoryExtra Plus here: https://historyextra.supportingcast.fm/

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On 30 January 1649, King Charles I was led on to a freshly erected scaffold outside Whitehall’s Banqueting House in London. Thousands of spectators watched in shock and awe as the king of England, Scotland and Ireland was executed as a traitor. It was the climax of one of the most destructive sagas in Britain and Ireland's history: the Civil Wars. What led to this brutal outcome? How did the dynamic between the three Stuart kingdoms evolve as the wars progressed? And had conflict always been inevitable? In our new HistoryExtra podcast series, historian Rebecca Rideal runs you through events blow-by-blow – from the first battles in Scotland, to resistance and rebellion in Ireland and all-out war in England and Wales. Speaking to historical experts, she explores a story of shifting loyalties, changing times, and devastating conflict. Produced by HistFest Productions.

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