With Christmas now behind us, we’re joined by Professor of History at the University of Bristol, Ronald Hutton, to look at the origins of some of England’s other winter traditions. Discover the origins of Plough Monday, Wassailing, Mummers’ plays, Valentine’s Day, Shrove Tuesday and Kissing Friday. For more inspiration for things to do with English Heritage in January, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/top-5-things-to-do-in-january/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 145 - Celebrating England’s post-Christmas winter traditions

English Heritage cares for over 400 historic buildings, monuments and sites, and brings the story of England to life for over 10 million people each year. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk

History

Society & Culture

As we approach midsummer, we’re joined by English Heritage senior properties historian Jennifer Wexler to answer your questions about the summer solstice at Stonehenge. Discover why the solstice is important, how Neolithic people understood and celebrated it and how living traditions can help us to understand the function of the site. We’ll also reveal where the idea of creating stone circles came from, what happened to Stonehenge’s missing stones and more.   To learn more about Stonehenge or plan a visit, go to: www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehenge   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 271 - Ask the experts: Summer solstice at Stonehenge

To mark Pride month this June, we’re taking a look at LGBTQ+ history and the private lives of four rulers who had same-sex relationships with their ‘favourites’. Joining us to discuss Roman Emperor Hadrian, Edward II, James I and Queen Anne are interpretation manager Nick Collison, head properties curator Dr Jeremy Ashbee, queer historian Kris Reid and curator of collections & interiors (Osborne House & Isle of Wight) Dr Christopher Warleigh-Lack. To discover more LGBTQ+ history at our sites, go to: www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/lgbtq-history   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 270 - England’s rulers and their ‘favourites’

Today, we’re discovering just how far Roman influence spread through Britain, as we explore the stories of three fascinating forts in spectacular locations in northwest England’s Lake District. Joining us to discuss the stories and functions of Ravenglass Roman Bath House, Hardknott Roman Fort and Ambleside Roman Fort in Cumbria are English Heritage properties historian Dr Andrew Roberts and free sites coordinator Lauren Emslie.   To find out more about the Romans in the Lake District, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/romanlakedistrict   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 269 - Exploring the Roman Lake District

Today, we’re joined by English Heritage historian Dr Rebecca Preston and Professor of real estate practice law, Carrie de Silva to reveal the stories of two 20th-century women who have recently been honoured with London blue plaques. During their lifetimes, both Irene Barclay and Lady Marjory Allen contributed to improving people’s lives through their surroundings – Barclay as a convention-breaking housing reformer and Allen as a landscape architect and pioneer of children’s adventure playgrounds. To learn more about our blue plaque scheme, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 268 - Building better communities: celebrating two pioneering women

We’re joined by senior properties historian Paul Pattison and independent historian and author of Mission France, Dr Kate Vigurs, ahead of the 80th anniversary of D-Day. We’ll reveal the story of the biggest landing by land, sea and air the world has ever seen, including how long it took to plan, the roles of Operation Neptune and Overlord and how the initial assault on northern France on 6 June 1944 helped to bring about the end of the Second World War. To learn about Operation Fortitude South and the D-Day Deception, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dover-castle/history-and-stories/d-day-deception   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 145 - Celebrating England’s post-Christmas winter traditions

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