Podcasting is so much fun that I have been rather breeding them, so here is a brief guide. You may select the series you want from the drop down, or see them all after this message.

Members: There are over 22 hours of Shedcasts. They cover all sorts of things usually in English history which fire my enthusiasm. There are topics like Nationalism and its growth in medieval England; lots of biographies, some historiography, and then from time to time we have something a bit less worthy; such as how Henry VIII started a fashion for beards.
Then there’s The History of Scotland 18 hours of listening so far, the history of Scotland from the dawn of time to 1900. And then Britain and the Sea, an occasional series which add depth and stories to accompany the History of England podcast. And of course new episodes join all the series all the time!

Free podcasts: There is the History of England of course. But why not also try History in Technicolor where Wolf and I talk about history films, or the Things that made England – where Roifield and I talk about the cultural and historical habits and history that male England as she is.

Sh 34 John Clare – the Peasant Poet - Members Only

John Clare was for a while a sensation – a poet who gives us access to nature, and also the lives of England’s villagers and society in a time ofRead More

307 All Around the World

By David Crowther Jan 17, 2021 2 Comments

For a couple of years in the mid 1570s Elizabeth nixed proposed exploration projects for fear of Spain. At the same time she was discussing a secret voyage with a selectRead More

306 A Devil and No Man

By David Crowther 1 week agoJan 17, 2021 2 Comments

Together the Elizabethan explorers, and authors like John Dee and Richard Hakluyt built excitement about the possibilities of global exploration. Francis Drake gave it expression. The Spanish MainRead More

305 The Frog Prince

By David Crowther 3 weeks agoJan 10, 2021 9 Comments

From 1578 to 1582 the courts of France, Spain and England buzzed with the possibility of the latest office romance – between the Queen of England and Duke of Anjou.Read More

304 Seeds of Irish Nationhood

By David Crowther 1 month agoDec 28, 2020 2 Comments

By the 1580s, the English atrocities and the rebellion of James Fitzmaurice and the Earl of Desmond, Catholicism and its association with resistance ot English rule was clearly established. Events atRead More

Margaret Omnibus 3 EPs 7-9 - Members Only

Margaret and Henry Stafford made a home at Woking Palace during a time of changing lifestyles which prompted changes to the great houses. Despite a seemingly happy life, the vicissitudesRead More

Margaret 9 Readeption - Members Only

Warwick the Kingmaker supreme

Margaret 8 The Life Domestic - Members Only

Margaret seems to have fallen on her feet and her marriage from 1458-1471, as far as we can tell, would seem to have been happy and fulfilled, working together onRead More

Margaret 7 The Great House - Members Only

The image is of the Great Hall at Haddon Hall. Note the wooden screen in front of the 3 arches, which in rutn lay before the Buttery and Pantry, andRead More

303 Shane the Proud

By David Crowther 2 months agoDec 13, 2020 0 Comments

The later Tudors faced a choice in their policy towards Ireland – would they resign themselves to the old ways, ruling through the Old English with minimal control; or wouldRead More

302 England’s Garland

By David Crowther 2 months agoNov 29, 2020 2 Comments

This beautiful technical drawing of Revenge was left by Matthew Baker; unlike the equally beautiful Anthony Roll of 1545, it is technically accurate, created by one of England’s greatest shipwrights.Read More

MB Omnibus 2 EPs 4-6 - Members Only

In an extraordinarily dramatic few years, the painfully young Margaret goes through the events that will shape her life – two marriages and a child.

301 Black Tudors

By David Crowther 3 months agoNov 15, 2020 0 Comments

Black Africans began to make their way in increasing numbers to England – firstly mainly via trading countries like Spain and Portugal, but increasingly direct. What sort of lives didRead More

Margaret 6 After Towton - Members Only

Margaret’s marriage to Henry Stafford appears to have started as it would go on – reasonably happily as far as we can tell. But the political chaos of theRead More

Margaret 5 Widow’s Weeds - Members Only

Though protected by the walls of Pembroke Castle, the death of Margaret’s husband left her vulnerable – something of a catch on the marriage market. Margaret, probably on the advice andRead More

Margaret 4 A Short Marriage - Members Only

Against a background of increasing political turmoil and military violence, Margaret turned 12 and was married in 1455. Despite her tender age, she was soon pregnant as she and EdmundRead More

300 Trade and Exploration

By David Crowther 3 months agoNov 05, 2020 1 Comments

Elizabeth’s reign famously saw England enter the search for new markets with which to trade and explore. In this episode, we focus on trade with West Africa, and John Hawkins’ infamousRead More

299 West Africa

By David Crowther 4 months agoOct 22, 2020 11 Comments

A horribly brief introduction to the West African kingdoms with which the Portuguese started to trade and a smidge of their backstory, before the English began to arrive inRead More

Sh 33 Thomas Gresham - Members Only

Written up as a sort of national patriotic hero by the Victorians, Thomas Gresham was in fact as hard as nails, a deal maker, a money man, a controller. ButRead More

Margaret Omnibus 1 EPs 1-3 - Members Only

Margaret's reputation, lineage and childhood

298 A Curate’s Egg

By David Crowther 4 months agoOct 22, 2020 7 Comments

What started as a curate’s egg of an episode, ends up with an introduction to a new player, Francis Walsingham, and the story of the St Bartholomew’s Day massacreRead More

Margaret 3 A Short Childhood - Members Only

Margaret's childhood was short, but seemingly happy

Margaret 2 Family - Members Only

Margaret's family history would shape her life

297 Servant of Crime

By David Crowther 5 months agoSep 20, 2020 1 Comments

Through the 1560s, the progress of the reformation gave both the Protestant Godly and Catholics much leeway and wriggle room. A series of events in the late 1560’s and earlyRead More

Margaret 1: Margaret through Time - Members Only

Margaret Beaufort through the eyes of historians

296 Rising of the North

By David Crowther 5 months agoSep 06, 2020 15 Comments

The saga of the life and times of Mary Queen of Scots continues, but in 1568 something stirs in the north of England… Transcript Last time, I left you withRead More

Marshal 26 No Finer Knight - Members Only

Just the French and the Grim Reaper to go...

Marshal Omnibus 8 EPs 23-26 - Members Only

From zero to hero and back to zero

295 Marvellous Good Order

By David Crowther 5 months agoAug 27, 2020 3 Comments

In Scotland Mary’s grasp on her kingdom begins to wobble. In 1566, Elizabeth’s parliament also gives her serious grief, drawing an increasingly waspish response. Read More

25 Guardian - Members Only

As John lay dying at Newark he dictated his will. It laid down that Henry III’s minority should be managed by 13 Ordainers. So how did we get fromRead More

294 Alarms and Excursions

By David Crowther 6 months agoAug 09, 2020 8 Comments

Did Elizabeth have a foreign ‘policy’? If so what principles drove it – dynasty, parsimony, protestantism? This week Elizabeth intervenes in Scotland and France. Transcript This week,Read More

Marshal 24 The Barons’ War - Members Only

Enough was enough. The baron’s decide now is the time to bring their wayward king to heel.

Marshal 23 Rehabilitation - Members Only

John gets his fingers burned and needs friends. This is good news for Marshal – bad news for the Briouse family

293 Sex and Marriage

By David Crowther 7 months agoJul 26, 2020 8 Comments

Dudley was for long considered the front runner for any possible marriage; but there was a long list of suitors. And Elizabeth was under pressure from the badgersRead More

292 The Queen’s Marriage

By David Crowther 7 months agoJul 05, 2020 7 Comments

What were the issues around marriage for Elizabeth and her subjects? Because as the continuing barney between the two of them would prove, it really mattered to both parties. Read More

291 Queen and Court

By David Crowther 7 months agoJun 28, 2020 6 Comments

How did Elizabethan government work, and what was Elizabeth’s court like? Transcript This week I thought we should have a bit of context, why don’t we? Over the nextRead More

Marshal Omnibus 7 EPs 20-22 - Members Only

From Richard I to John, changing fortunes for Marshal

Marshal 22 Irish Magnate - Members Only

A life or death struggle with his king

290 The Religious Settlement

By David Crowther 8 months agoJun 14, 2020 7 Comments

Elizabeth’s England was awash with expectation – from Mary’s bishops demanding that no change be made to Mary’s church, to a wave of Protestant Marian exiles returning with visions ofRead More

Marshal 21 Humiliation - Members Only

In 1203 John”s actions broke the loyalty of his French barons in Normandy and Anjou. And in the new world, Marshal got a taste of what living without the king’sRead More

Marshal 20 Unfailing Pride - Members Only

A French cook means a change of master for the Marshal

289 Elizabeth Regina

By David Crowther 8 months agoJun 01, 2020 8 Comments

A game of 2 halves this week; the major themes of Elizabeth’s reign and then the Funeral of Mary and Elizabeth’s coronation . Ooh, and the appointment of Cecil asRead More

288 Elizabeth I and the Historians

By David Crowther 9 months agoMay 10, 2020 10 Comments

Transcript Hello everyone and welcome to the History of England Episode 288 Elizabeth I and the Historians. We left Elizabeth passing through Temple Bar, with professions of loveRead More

Marshal Omnibus 6 EPs17-19 - Members Only

William coping with 2 liege lords - Henry II and Richard I

Marshal 19 Coeur de Lion - Members Only

The arrival of a new boss is always a tricky moment. Especially if he thinks you tried to kill him.

Marshal 18 Magnate - Members Only

With the accession of Richard, Marshal faced an uncertain future at the hands of the man who he’d bested in battle. He waited at Fontvraud to hear his fate.Read More

287 Enter Good Queen Bess

By David Crowther 9 months agoApr 26, 2020 24 Comments

Transcript Let me take you to London on a January morning in 1559. It’s cold, and there had been a light dusting of snow, and in January London 1559 letRead More

Marshal 17 To the Devil - Members Only

'God’s legs, Marshal, don’t kill me! It wouldn’t be right – I’m quite unarmed'