Our dear friend and podcaster, David, has fallen ill and will be postponing future episodes of The History of England for a couple of months. We expect him to return to the microphone creating new material come this spring.
Marshal 15 The Fall - Members Only
Marshal was at the top of his game, feted and lauded. But success attracts the envious, and pride goes before a fall…
284 Popular Culture in the Ritual Year
The Lord of Misrule, the Boy Bishop. dancing the Morris and May games. A little about the celebrations of the ritual year, and how things changed. Transcript Last timeRead More
TTME The Beatles
Do I need to introduce them? A boy band basically, popular back in the 60-s and early 70s. Can a 4 piece really be part of what makesRead More
283 Little Commonwealth
The patriarchy, love and marriage, gender roles and huswifery, the daily grind and a bit about food and clothing. It’s a smorgasbord. Transcript We have a few times talkedRead More
Marshal 14 Hubris - Members Only
William was now a big name on the tournament circuit, and it made him a tidy income. And he indulged himself in more ways than one, and gloried in hisRead More
282 Parish and Protest
The parish was the essential and ever present canvas on which most lives were painted in early modern England. We discuss how it changes, it’s harmonies and the context of protestRead More
Sh 31f LLASE Going Nuclear - Members Only
As lords intensified their demands, as pressure on land increased the search was on for more productive ways to farm the land. One impact was the introduction of open field systems andRead More
281 Winners and Losers
The population growth and inflation of the 16th century had different impacts depending on your situation. And the difference was land. Plus we talk about the regions and landscapes ofRead More
Sh 31e LLASE The Manor - Members Only
From the 9th century, the need of warfare and resulting taxation drove an ever greater bureaucracy. Meantime trade and population both grew, and towns with it. All these produced profoundRead More
Marshal Omnibus 4 EPs 11-13 - Members Only
William joined the court of the Young King, but it was not a happy place. William would be at Henry’s side throughout, and help his young master find a new role.
Marshal 13 The Circuit - Members Only
Marshal and the Young King were getting hammered. So they needed to sort that out – and still enjoy all the fun of the tournament occasion
280 The Land was Never So Full
The start of a suite of 7 episodes about social and economic issues charts the changes in population and how the society it affected described itself. Please help with the HistoryRead More
Marshal 12 Tournament - Members Only
Henry the Young King needed a career. Maybe the answer lay in the tourney.
Marshal 11 Rebellion - Members Only
The Young King throws his toys out of the pram
Sh 32 Christine de Pisan with Caitlin Chapman - Members Only
Christine de Pizan (1364 – c. 1430) was a prolific and versatile French poet and author. Her diverse writings include numerous poems of courtly love, a biography of Charles V ofRead More
279 Who Wished All for the Best
1558 was a fateful year for England which would have a fundamental impact on its future. Find out why. Transcript Last time we heard about how a fortuitous doomedRead More
Sh 31d LLASE Warland - Members Only
Away from the Inland estates, the Anglo Saxon peasantry and thegnage often held their lands of ancient right, and the land they held defined their public obligations as well asRead More
HiT Bajirao Mastani
An Indian epic of epic proportions – colour, drama,. music, dancing, big stars, big budget – on the story of Maratha Peshwa Bajirao I (1700–1740 AD) and his second wife,Read More
278 The King’s Honour
The return of the King meant demands for the English to enter a war they did not want, and in which none of their interests were really at stake. Transcript The DukeRead More
Sh 31c Life on the Inland - Members Only
The arrival of resident landowners and the ever present danger of economic disaster would change the way many lived their lives and create the system of serfdom so centralRead More
HiT The Fall of the Roman Empire
Samuel Bronston’s whopping epic, directed by Anthony Mann, failed to win audiences and was a financial disaster for Bronston. But it presents a well worked view of why Rome fell,Read More
Marshal Omnibus 3 EPs 8-10 - Members Only
If William’s career was a landscape, this episode would be taking us into the deepest of valleys. From thrusting young esquire, to the pit of despair. And back? WELL you’llRead More
Marshal 10 Rescue - Members Only
William is at a low point. a landless knight, held in captivity, with a hideous leg wound and no bandages. plus, no great value in the ransom market and therefore his futureRead More
Marshal 9 Ambush! - Members Only
Back home in 1168 with fears of the rest of his life as a dull hearth son, William would instead find his way quickly back into danger
277 A Firm Hand
The story of the Marian persecution. And of a Queen’s need to have her Prince at her side to help with the alarms and excursions of protestant rebels. TranscriptRead More
HiT Immortal Beloved
The story of Beethoven’s life and music, through the lens of the mystery he left behind – who was the ‘Immortal Beloved?’ The Music is great, by the way.
Marshal 8 Expulsion - Members Only
After a brief moment of glory at Neufchatel William was back on the transfer list, and the life of a Hearth Son was starring back at him. But wait - maybe this tourney at St Jammes would be the thing?
276 The Reformation of England
The plan was that 1555 saw the transformation of England – the birth of an heir for Mary and Philip, the launch of a new Reformation Anglicae to re-invigorate Roman CatholicismRead More
Sh 31b LLASE Life on the Scir - Members Only
New petty kingdoms and lordships, scirs, began to form around tribal groups and identities, and then to consolidate into Anglo Saxons kingdoms we will begin to recognise. How were thoseRead More
Sh 31a LLASE – Settlers - Members Only
A new series – Life and Landscape in Anglo Saxon England. In this episode, the Anglo Saxon settlement, and early settlements in South Oxfordshire
HiT Paths of Glory
Paths of Glory is an anti war movie released in 1957, directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Kirk Douglas. Who does take his shirt off. It’s based a novel butRead More
Eleanor Omnibus 6 EPs 20-24 - Members Only
The last 15 years of Eleanor’s life saw her more able than ever to exercise influence and even to see her daughters; but retirement to Fontevraud was constantly interrupted. TellRead More
Eleanor 24 The End of Days - Members Only
The last years were no less busy than any of the others. And please, feedback here on the poll.
275 The Time of Trial
Once Pole had returned and parliament had re-enacted the heresy legislation after the brief Edwardian holiday, the Marian church could at last exercise the full force of the law against protestants. JohnRead More
HiT A Knights Tale
A romp, ladies and gentlemen. Chaucer walking naked after betting his shirt, peasants jousting as knights, rock music at medieval jousts. A bit of fun or hideous tosh?
Eleanor 23 John - Members Only
The Struggle for Angevin France is on
Eleanor 22 Retirement - Members Only
In 1193 Richard was held hostage by the Holy Roman Emperor. It was up to Eleanor to get him back before John took his kingdom. Eleanor’s Letters It isRead More
274 Not to Destroy but to Build
Catherine Willoughby leaves England to become one of the Marian Exiles. When Pole told parliament that he came to build he meant what he said, and would deliver, in part.Read More
Eleanor 21 Crusade - Members Only
How to manage when you go away and leave your things with an evil brother itching to get his hands on them
HiT Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
The 1989 film’s trip through time started by being received heinously by critics, and yet it’s journey has been most unprecedented until now it is remembered excellently. Though probably notRead More
HoS 37 The Road to Flodden - Members Only
James IV's road to glory and immortality
Eleanor 20 Freedom - Members Only
In 1189 in Winchester castle, Eleanor saw an entourage approach the gate led by a man from her past – William the Marshal. He had come with news.
273 Pope II – The Return
In 1554, 300 schoolboys of London played out the divisions of their parents on the fields of Finsbury. It was an instructive backdrop to the return of Papal authority inRead More
HiT Made in Dagenham
The 2010 movie depicts the fight for women’s rights at the Ford Dagenham site in 1968. Loads of fun and laughter all mixed up with serious issues produces a really goodRead More
272 The Spanish Marriage
In July 1554 Philip finally landed in England, and all went very well; Mary and Philip were married, and were kind to each other, there was a great pageant ofRead More
Eleanor Omnibus 5 EPs 17-19 - Members Only
In 1173 Eleanor took a decision about whom she would back - husband or sons. She would be paying the consequences for the next 15 years.
Eleanor 19 Squabbles - Members Only
There is no let up to the family feuding. In fact it gets worse.
HiT Selma
The historical drama directed by Ava DuVernay is about personal bravery, about moving, dramatic – and controversial events. Did it tell the story fairly? And did it convey the drama and engageRead More
HoS 36 The Renaissance Prince - Members Only
James IV made the tortured finances of royalty work, and kept his demands on parliament low. That his rather irregular methods did not provoke rebellion was due to his politicalRead More