The English Heritage Podcast

English Heritage
  • 4.6 (209)
  • History
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Every object has a story to tell. But how can one mystery item lead us on a journey through history, people and places?  In the English Heritage podcast, comedian and writer Amy Matthews brings you entertaining tales from unexpected places. Each week, we begin with a mystery item and with the help of English Heritage experts and special guests, Amy explores what our past can tell us about our present and perhaps our future. Follow us wherever you get your podcasts.

  1. 1d ago

    Halloween Special: The haunting and history of Chester Castle

    Is Chester Castle truly haunted, or is there a historical explanation behind its eerie encounters? Join host Amy Matthews as she uncovers nearly a thousand years of spooky stories and real history from behind its walls perched high above the River Dee.   In this special Halloween episode, Amy is joined by Chester Castle Site Manager Gary Ashby, who shares firsthand chilling encounters - from mysterious phantom figures captured on camera to spectral voices whispering in Norman French. Weighing in with historical scepticism is Will Wyeth, English Heritage Curator of History, who reveals the human stories behind the haunting lore, including medieval miracles, royal prisoners, and 17th-century witch trials.   Whether you’re a die-hard believer or a sceptic, discover how ghost stories help us connect with the past.   Join English Heritage: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/⁠  Podcast listeners can get 20% off the first year of an annual membership. Use code POD20 at checkout.*    Support our work: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/⁠     The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales.    *Offer is available through the use of this code and valid for new memberships by annual Direct Debit only. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, on life memberships or renewals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. 4d ago

    1066: Omens, Halley's Comet & the Fall of Kings | Episode 4

    In the fourth episode of our special 1066 series, host Amy Matthews takes a step back from the battlefield to look up at the skies. Did a cosmic sign destabilise an Anglo-Saxon kingdom, or was it medieval political spin? Dr Will Wyeth (English Heritage Curator of History) and Dr Jo Edge (historian and writer) join Amy to examine how celestial phenomena were deployed to reshape history. They explore interpretations attributed to the Bayeux Tapestry’s famous "long-haired star" - Halley’s Comet – and the ominous “ghost ships” that pre-empted William of Normandy’s invasion. Also, how numerology shaped medieval worldviews and why comets became linked to fratricide and the fall of monarchs. Find out more about Jo's work here https://joanneedge.co.uk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. Oct 22

    Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin: the woman who discovered what stars are made of

    In 1911, when Cecila Payne was eleven, she was so musically gifted that none other than the great composer Gustav Holst encouraged her to take up music as a career.   But her sights were set – literally – much higher. Her passion for science would lead her to become one of the leading astronomers of her generation and she changed our understanding of the universe forever when she discovered what stars are actually made of. But in an age where female scientists were frequently marginalised and dismissed, she was initially made to repress her results and struggled against prejudice and discrimination her whole life. To tell her incredible story, Amy is joined by English Heritage Blue Plaques historian, Dr Susan Skedd; Centre for Astrophysics’ Thom Burns and Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, herself a pioneering astrophysicist whose groundbreaking discovery of pulsars in the late 60s also transformed our understanding of the universe. She was subjected to a similar lack of recognition when her name was missed off the Nobel Prize for Physics awarded to her supervisor. We discover how she is working tirelessly to increase diversity in science and to carry on the fight Cecilia began over a century ago.   If you’d like to nominate someone for an English Heritage Blue Plaque – especially a woman who has achieved in science – you can do so here: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/propose-a-plaque/ Join English Heritage: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/⁠    Podcast listeners can get 20% off the first year of an annual membership. Use code POD20 at checkout.*      Support our work: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/⁠       The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales.       *Offer is available through the use of this code and valid for new memberships by annual Direct Debit only. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, on life memberships or renewals.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. Oct 14

    1066: The Battle of Hastings blow by blow | Episode 3

    The day that changed English history forever has dawned. In this episode of English Heritage’s special 1066 series, host Amy Matthews looks at the Battle of Hastings as it happened, using established facts and some creative speculation. Joining her are Roy Porter, Senior Curator of Properties at English Heritage, and Professor Tom Licence, Professor of Medieval History and Literature at the University of East Anglia and author of Harold: Warrior King. Together, they unpack fresh research to separate myth from reality and explore the chaotic rumours and turning points that nearly tipped the scales in either direction as the day progressed. And with such different fighting styles and armies, was William's triumph was down to tactical genius or simple good luck? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  5. Oct 12

    1066: Build up to the Battle | Episode 2

    Following our look at the Bayeux Tapestry in Episode 1, host Amy Matthews explores the dramatic events leading up to the Battle of Hastings. Joining her are regular guest Roy Porter (Senior Curator of Properties at English Heritage) and Dr Rebecca Tyson (expert in 11th-century maritime history at the University of Bristol).    Together, they dive into the chaos following Edward the Confessor's death, Harold Godwinson’s rapid coronation, and Duke William of Normandy’s perilous Channel crossing. From Viking-style ship experiments to Harold’s bloody victory at Stamford Bridge, discover the practical challenges, stormy weather, and high-stakes drama on the very eve of the Battle itself.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. Oct 8

    King Arthur, goblins and dragons - how prehistoric sites got their names

    From Long Meg and her Daughters to the Devil’s Arrows to Hetty Pegler’s Tump, the British Isles is dotted with ancient places with curious names. But who came up with those titles and what inspired them?   This time, Amy is joined by English Heritage’s Curator of History, Al Oswald and Curator of Properties, Stonehenge and the West, Win Scutt, to uncover the myths and folklore that have been woven around these sites. Join them to discover, amongst other things, the inspiration for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, why dancing on the sabbath was a terrible idea if you’re a woman, why counting stones could be fatal and why the Devil wasn’t a very good shot.  Join English Heritage: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/⁠     Podcast listeners can get 20% off the first year of an annual membership. Use code POD20 at checkout.*       Support our work: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/⁠        The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales.        *Offer is available through the use of this code and valid for new memberships by annual Direct Debit only. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, on life memberships or renewals.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  7. Oct 5

    The Bayeux Tapestry: 1066 Comes Home | Episode 1

    Welcome to the first episode of our brand-new, seven-part English Heritage Podcast video series exploring the historic events of 1066.    This episode unravels the years long journey to bring the iconic 70-metre Bayeux Tapestry back to English soil for a landmark exhibition at the British Museum. From negotiations and transport logistics to hidden embroidery secrets and missing end panels, discover how this 11th-century masterpiece survived and how it still captivates us today.    Join host Amy Matthews as she kicks off our journey with two expert guests: Jeremy Ashbee, Head Curator of Properties at English Heritage, and Professor Michael Lewis, Curator of the Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition at the British Museum.    Step back nearly 1,000 years and watch or listen now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  8. Oct 1

    Skeleton 1863: Reconstructing the face of “Conquest Man”

    In this episode, host Amy Matthews is joined by Kevin Booth, English Heritage’s Head Curator of Collections, and Professor Caroline Wilkinson, Director of Face Lab at Liverpool John Moores University. Together, they explore how forensic science created a lifelike facial depiction of "Conquest Man" found buried at St Peter’s Church in Barton-upon-Humber around 50 years ago and known archaeologically as skeleton SK1863.   What can three mysterious applewood wands and a grass pillow reveal about his burial? How do tooth isotopes and 3D digital facial mapping uncover the overseas roots and facial features of someone who lived at the time of the Norman Conquest?   Discover how cutting-edge technology can bridge the gap to an ordinary person from the past and breathe new life into history life one thousand years later.  Join English Heritage: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/⁠     Podcast listeners can get 20% off the first year of an annual membership. Use code POD20 at checkout.*       Support our work: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/⁠        The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales.        *Offer is available through the use of this code and valid for new memberships by annual Direct Debit only. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, on life memberships or renewals.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Hosts & Guests

4.6
out of 5
209 Ratings

About

Every object has a story to tell. But how can one mystery item lead us on a journey through history, people and places?  In the English Heritage podcast, comedian and writer Amy Matthews brings you entertaining tales from unexpected places. Each week, we begin with a mystery item and with the help of English Heritage experts and special guests, Amy explores what our past can tell us about our present and perhaps our future. Follow us wherever you get your podcasts.

Information

  • Creator
    English Heritage
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    400
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    The English Heritage Podcast

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