Send us a text

This week on a Dark Cup of Histortea, we travel to London at the end of the 19th Century, to the terror-stalked streets of Whitechapel. Who was Jack the Ripper? More importantly, who were his victims? Join us and we will try to find out...

Disclaimer - this episode contains graphic descriptions of violence, murder and sexual crimes. Listener discretion is advised.

Support the show

Send us a text

This week we are celebrating our third birthday here at A Nice Cup of Histortea with a trip to 17th Century London and watch as it goes up in smoke.  Starting on 2nd September 1666 and lasting for four days, costing millions of pounds in damage, displacing thousands and killing six this is the conflagration that saw a King firefighting alongside his people to save the city they called home, and forever changed the face of England's Capital. 

And in our ridiculous death we discuss why that urge to dance needn't cost you your life. 

Support the show

Send us a text

This week we do a special request from one of our lovely listeners, Linda, who wanted to hear the story of Beowulf, an Old English Epic Poem of man vs monster, with plenty of feasting and a dragon thrown in for good measure. 

Want to read a bit more about this example of Anglo-Saxon Storytelling? Have a look at the below links: 
https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/beowulf
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Beowulf
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50114/beowulf-modern-english-translation
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/16328/16328-h/16328-h.htm
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beowulf-Translation-Commentary-together-Sellic/dp/0007590067

Support the show

Send us a text

This week we dive back into the darker side of history with our fourth Dark Cup of Histortea episode all about the Salem Witch Trials. Was it devilry, land disputes or just the wicked machinations of a group of vindictive and hysterical girls? 

And for our ridiculous death we look at why sometimes it's better to wait a little bit longer for your lobster. 

Support the show

Send us a text

Support the show

Send us a text

This week we take a look at the life and work of P. L. Travers. Author, poet and the creator of everyone's favourite nanny, Mary Poppins. 

If you're an avid reader and want to hear more about authors, from their own words, there's a little something in there for you too. 

So grab a cup of tea, get comfy and let's get historical! 

Support the show

Send us a text

Welcome to the third episode of our spin-off series A Dark Cup of Histortea. This week we talk about everyone's favourite demon doggo - Black Shuck. Known by many other names and in many other guises around the world, we take you on a whistle-stop tour of some of his more famous myths. 

So grab a drink and a blanket, turn the lights on and let's get Dark. 

Disclaimer - we apologise for any dodgy pronunciations, please feel free to let us know if we've got it wrong, it's the only way we can improve!

Special mention this week to the Spooky Movie Project - into your horror films and want to hear more about them, or not sure how to tell your Freddie from your Jason? Have a listen to the Spooky Movie Project, available in most places where you can get your podcasts.

Support the show

Send us a text

This is a very special and poignant episode. In this week's episode we discuss the life and work of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. In light of his recent passing, we realised just how little we knew about it, so we set about rectifying this and we would like to pass this knowledge on. 

We know he wasn't to everyone's taste, but if you are intrigued please join us on this journey of exploration. We venture with respect, honesty and no small amount of thanks into the life of a frankly extraordinary gentleman.

Support the show

Send us a text

Support the show

Send us a text

Disclaimer - this week's episode contains some graphic descriptions of death. 

Join us this week as we talk about the notorious eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD/CE that destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. We take a look at the different types of volcanic eruption and walk you through step by step what happened in that fateful 24 hours. 

For our ridiculous death we stay in Pompeii and see possibly the unluckiest person in history... Maybe.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01706fw/clips - here is the programme referenced in this episode for anyone interested in the experiment mentioned.  

Support the show