Transcript for Eleanor 9

In the summer of 1151 two years after leaving Outremer, Louis and Eleanor, king and Queen of the French admitted their mortal enemy to the Court. The 39 year oldRead More

Transcript for Eleanor 8

Now, Eleanor and Louis could have chosen two broad routes to the holy land essentially – it was always something of a moot point. Did you head down to theRead More

Transcript for Eleanor 7

Although 1141 was shaping up badly enough what with Excommunication and interdict, let’s not simply assume it’s the fault of our young lovers; after all, it could be that theRead More

Transcript for Eleanor 6

I need to start with an apology. In last week’s episode I made the most horrendous bloomer, describing Eleanor’s wedding dress as being red. Rubbish. Eleanor was of course marriedRead More

Transcript for Eleanor 4

I was about to tell you all about William X and his pilgrimage, but before I do that please allow me to talk a little more about culture. Just toRead More

Eleanor 3 Education - Members Only

As a child growing up in the Ducal household, Eleanor would have been presented to the noble families she would know for the rest of her life Transcript I’ve blathered on aboutRead More

Books for Eleanor of Aquitaine

Here is a very short booklist for Eleanor enthusiasts who would like to go to the horse’s mouth   Eleanor of Aquitaine: Queen of France, Queen of England. Ralph Turner,Read More

Transcript for Eleanor 1

Hello everyone, and welcome to the very first of a brand new shiny series – a serialised biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine. A series I have failed continually to produce.Read More

William the Marshal

William the Marshal (c.1146-1219) (don’t shout at me about the ‘the’. William THE Marshall. Winnie THE Poo. This is the way life is for me) was a younger son ofRead More

Eleanor of Aquitaine

Eleanor of Aquitaine (c1124-1204) can be counted one of medieval Europe’s the most powerful women. We love Eleanor’s story because of its extraordinary variety, but also because she defied theRead More

Transcript for HoS 30

Let us start with a very famous quote. This appears in the excellent Fordun chronicles, probably in the 1380s. Fordun is describing all the inhabitants of Scotland. The manners andRead More

Transcript for HoS28

Back in the mists of time then, we left Scotland in a bit of a pickle. Although Edward III of England had sworn through gritted teeth to give up anyRead More

Some opinions about Henry VIII

Just a few quotes I have picked up over the last year about Henry VIII. Don’t forget the Henry VIII Poll after the podcast on 15th July. The official oraclesRead More

Transcript for Shedcast 29

Now then, I should start by explaining myself – what on earth do I think I am doing here, producing a Shedcast on a European topic, and such a wideRead More

Transcript for HoS 22

But this week here on the exclusive, secretive and slightly nerdy members podcasts, is not about England it is about Scotland. Or well, is it ladies and gentlemen, is it?Read More

Shedcasts

The Shedcasts are episodes for my Members of the History of England. The topics will vary over the weeks and months, but I promise will always be topics that fire my enthusiasmRead More

Transcript for Sea 2

Hello everyone and welcome to Britain and the Sea 2 – Eustace, which sounds like a great name for a band. Last time we had a super-fast catch up onRead More

Transcript for Sea 1 Origins

Now look, you might well ask me why on earth I am producing another strand in the shedcasts, and why on earth on the sea. And it is a goodRead More

Transcript and Images for Shedcast 26

Below is a transcript to Shedcast 26 on Hans Holbein, along with images of the pictures I’ve referred to along the way. Here’s also a decent gallery of Holbein paintings.Read More

Transcript for Shedcast 23c

Cromwell stands accused, and Henry stands accused, of tyranny and despotism. A priest in the Pilgrimage of Grace accused Henry of being A tyrant more cruel than Nero, for NeroRead More

Transcript for shedcast 23b

First, we might consider what principles lay behind Cromwell’s exercise of power, what were his driving motivations – if any, indeed, apart from ambition. Because as we said earlier, ReginaldRead More

Transcript 235

So, last time, Lincolnshire had risen in fury, at least in part against the religious innovations of Henry’s reign. By 11th October 1536, there were 10,000 people outside Lincoln demandingRead More

Tudors by Peter Ackroyd

Fluid, lucid style combined with detail makes a book with colour and brings the Tudor world to life but does not trivialise.

Transcript for Shedcast 20

Now my personal view is that Placename analysis is a fascinating subject that will enrich your lives. The reason is this. As you know We don’t really have much realRead More

Shedcast 16 Transcript

We are going to start with a man whose name you will have already heard in the background, Bishop John Fisher. He is usually and very understandably paired with ThomasRead More

Shedcast 15 Transcript

At the time of publishing, we have reached the Reformation on the History of England, that is to say on the free podcast, the version for the great unwashed asRead More

Sh14 Transcript

Let me take you to the year 1531. By this stage, Bishop John Fisher had become pretty much an enemy of the state as far as Henry VIII was concerned;Read More

13b Transcript

The point is that More’s position as Chancellor was likely to be compromised right from the start. More’s problem was that as a good Catholic he deeply supported the catholicRead More

Thomas More (Reputations) by John Guy

Title: Thomas More Series: Reputations Author: John Guy Genre: History Publisher: Arnold Release Date: 2000 Pages: 252 In opening the impeachment trial of President Clinton on 14 January 1999, CongressmanRead More

Tournament Quiz

A quiz designed to go alongside Shedcast 11a and 11b on the medieval Tournament. Good luck!

St Bartholomew the Great

My tale of the Church of St Bartholomew the great. Available in podcast format too, if you become a member ! An Oasis discovered There I was in Smithfield. Frankly itRead More

11b Transcript

Now then, sometime before 1150, Geoffrey of Monmouth produced his book, the History of the Kings of Britain. Even at the time some people considered it to be fluff and…well,Read More

11a Transcript

Now, depending on when you joined and where you are in the History of England, obviously, you may well have heard an awful lot about the tournament. It’s kind ofRead More