It's been long revealed that women worked at Bletchley Park, the top-secret codebreaking British intelligence service Head Quarters during World War II, but up until now it was thought that they were in menial administration roles, or tea makers! Dermot Turing's investigative work shows that many actually played a pivotal role in the codebreaking efforts of World War II and that this has long been overlooked!

You can watch this episode on Youtube - click here

Buy Dermot's book (shipped worldwide) - Click Here for Blackwells

Join Philippa's 'British History' Patreon to access ad-free, extended historian interviews and to submit your own questions for future guests - click here.

I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Elizabeth Norton joined me to discuss female monarchs throughout history, exploring the challenges they faced, their roles in governance, and the cultural attitudes towards women in power. We talked about the complexities of female rule, the unique challenges of female-child monarchs, and why being a woman in power does not mean they are a feminist!

Elizabeth is the author of a brand-new book 'Women Who Ruled. 5000 Years of Female Monarchy,' available now from all good book shops and on audible.

You can buy Elizabeth's book and get it shipped worldwide from Blackwells. Click Here (This is an affiliate link. I get a commission on books sold via this link but they are at no extra cost to you).

Watch this interview on Youtube.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the British History Channel

01:59 Exploring Female Monarchs: Challenges and Discoveries

05:40 Cleopatra: The Co-Ruler's Dilemma

08:41 Catherine the Great: Seizing Power in Russia

12:42 Aggression and Female Rulers: A Complex Dynamic

15:30 Child Monarchs: The Unique Challenges of Queens

20:40 Cultural Attitudes Towards Female Monarchs

24:36 Exceptional Women: Monarchs and Feminism

27:32 Queen Victoria: Power and Perception

31:41 The Last Queen of Hawaii: Gender and Power Dynamics

33:31 Elizabeth II: A Trailblazer for Future Monarchs

I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I was joined by Dr Richard Blakemore, Associate Professor of History at the University of Reading and author of 'Enemies of All: The Rise and Fall of the Pirates' at Warwick Words History Festival to talk Pirates!!

I began by asking what actually is a pirate but we also talked about women pirates and the reality vs the romanticised version of the life of a pirate, often seen in films.

To buy Richard's book 'Enemies of All. The Rise and Fall of the Pirates.' click here.

You can watch this episode on Youtube - click here.

Chapters

00:00 Defining Piracy: The Nature of the Pirate

02:45 Romanticism and Reality: The Image of Pirates

05:54 Government Responses to Piracy: Cooperation and Conflict

08:43 Celebrity Status of Pirates: Public Fascination

11:48 Women in Piracy: Breaking Stereotypes and Social Norms

Chapters

00:00 Defining Piracy: The Nature of the Pirate

02:45 Romanticism and Reality: The Image of Pirates

05:54 Government Responses to Piracy: Cooperation and Conflict

08:43 Celebrity Status of Pirates: Public Fascination

11:48 Women in Piracy: Breaking Stereotypes and Social Norms

I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Helen Carr, author of 'Sceptred Isle. A new history of the 14th century' | Interview with Philippa

You can also watch this interview on Youtube - click here

Buy Helen's Book - Click Here

I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In England in 1536, a number of small monasteries were dissolved, their assets removed to the Head of the Church in England, which was now Henry VIII, and the people either pensioned off or sent on to find places at one of the hundreds of monastic institutions remaining across the country.

The large scale survey commissioned by the king, know as the Valor Ecclesiasticus, was a wide ranging and deeply thorough record of church assets, which covered the majority of the country and, critically, the population. It is far more detailed than its earlier, and more famous, sister survey the ‘Domesday Book’ and it reveals in incredible detail the lives of ordinary people and the landscape you would have seen if you lived at this time.

In this interview we also learn that a total, full scale dissolution of all monasteries in England and Wales was not the plan, how passive resistance was strong and tells us a lot about Henry VIII’s actual power, and how women were uniquely affected by the closures.

(Get the extended, ad-free edit of this interview a week early in Patreon.com/BritishHistory)

Professor James Clark is one of THE leading authorities on the dissolution of the monasteries and drops truth bombs which will make you have to reevaluate everything you think you know about Henry VIII's plans, and even the man himself.

Watch the other interviews with James on the Dissolution here: Click Here

Watch exclusive talks from James about Anne Boleyn's role in the Reformation but joining my Patreon at Patreon.com/BritishHistory

I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Historian Nathen Amin joined me at Harvington History Festival to talk about the marriage of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, the involvement of their mothers and how the couple themselves felt about it.

Watch this episode on Youtube - Click Here

Support this channel, and get lots more history, by joining my Patreon - Patreon.com/BritishHistory

I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I caught up with Dr Tracy Borman OBE at Harvington History Festival to talk to her about Holbein's fascinating painting, 'The Ambassadors,' and how it captures the political intrigue of the time through its rich symbolism and hidden messages.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Tudor England's Pivotal Year

02:52 The Significance of Holbein's Painting

05:56 Decoding the Messages in the Painting

08:52 The Relationship Between the Ambassadors

12:04 The Journey of the Painting to the National Gallery

Hi! I'm Philippa, welcome to the British History Channel.

Thank you for listening. You can watch this video here.

There are many more here for you to browse through including over 40 fantastic historian interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Carr and many more. Buy books from these incredible historians, shipped worldwide from Blackwells - https://www.blackwells.co.uk?a_aid=PhilippaB (This is an affiliate link. I get a commission on books sold via this link but they are at no extra cost to you).

If you're not already, please subscribe and press the bell to get notified when a new video goes live.

Want more British History and more contact with me? Join at www.Patreon.com/BritishHistory to enjoy Historical Book Club, early access to content, exclusive blogs, discounts on British History Events and take part in Book Club! All for £5/month.

You can also give me one off support by donating at www.buymeacoffee.com/Philippa

You can always support me for free by subscribing, liking, commenting and sharing my videos.

Receive weekly history news from me by subscribing to my Substack at https://philippab.substack.com/

Visit https://www.BritishHistoryTours.com for full details of history tours and events.

⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️

About Philippa

Philippa is a Historian and History Event Organiser

Philippa Lacey Brewell lives in Central England and is well respected in her field as a historian and tour guide. She is the owner and founder of British History Tours, a tour company for those who love British History.

Philippa entertains thousands each week with her videos and stories from across the UK and British History. This ability to engage an audience, as well as being an expert in traveling the historical sites of the UK, makes her your perfect guide.

I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's this episode about?

Local historian, Aaron Manning joined me (Philippa) to talk about the rich history of Warwick Castle and the town of Warwick. We discussed the origins of the castle, its significance in medieval England, and the powerful House of Warwick. Aaron focussed on some notable figures such as Warwick the Kingmaker and the Dudley family, highlighting their influence and legacy. The episode also touches on the upcoming Warwick Words Festival

You can find out more information, and buy tickets for the festival at www.warwickwords.co.uk, you can follow the festival on Instagram and X @ Warwickwords and you can follow Aaron on Instagram as @warwick_historian. You can follow me on Instagram @British_History_Tours

I will be attending the festival and speaking to many of the speakers, so please subscribe to this channel and hit the bell icon to get notified when new episodes are shared.

Chapters

00:00 Exploring Warwick Castle's Rich History

03:51 The Significance of the House of Warwick

07:52 Notable Figures and Events at Warwick Castle

11:48 The Dudley Family and Their Influence

17:59 The Legacy of Robert Dudley

24:04 Warwick Words Festival: A Celebration of History

Hi! I'm Philippa, welcome to the British History Channel.

Thank you for watching this video, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more here for you to browse through including around 50 fantastic historian interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Carr and many more. Buy books from these incredible historians, shipped worldwide from Blackwells - https://www.blackwells.co.uk?a_aid=PhilippaB (This is an affiliate link. I get a commission on books sold via this link but they are at no extra cost to you).

If you're not already, please subscribe and press the bell to get notified when a new video goes live.

Want more British History and more contact with me? Join at www.Patreon.com/BritishHistory to enjoy Historical Book Club, early access to content, exclusive blogs, discounts on British History Events and take part in Book Club! All for £5/month.

You can also give me one off support by donating at www.buymeacoffee.com/Philippa

You can always support me for free by subscribing, liking, commenting and sharing my videos.

Receive weekly history news from me by subscribing to my Substack at https://philippab.substack.com/

Visit https://www.BritishHistoryTours.com for full details of history tours and events.

⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️

About Philippa

Philippa is a History Travel Writer and History Event Organiser. She is the owner and founder of British History Tours, a tour company for those who love British History.

Philippa entertains thousands each week with her videos and stories from across the UK and British History. This ability to engage an audience, as well as being an expert in traveling the historical sites of the UK, makes her your perfect guide.

I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I was so happy to be joined by author Annie Garthwaite to discuss her latest novel 'The King's Mother,' which explores the Wars of the Roses through the lens of four powerful women.

We delved into the maternal instincts that drove these women to do anything for their sons, the pivotal importance of female relationships in history, and Annie's journey to becoming a historical fiction writer. I also asked Annie about the challenges of balancing fact with creative storytelling.

This interview was recorded at Harvington Hall during the Harvington History Festival 2025, where Annie was speaking.

Hi! I'm Philippa, welcome to the British History Channel.

Thank you for listening to this episode, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more here for you to browse through including over 40 fantastic historian interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Carr and many more. Buy books from these incredible historians, shipped worldwide from Blackwells - https://www.blackwells.co.uk?a_aid=PhilippaB (Please cut and past this affiliate link. I get a commission on books sold via this link but they are at no extra cost to you).

If you're not already, please subscribe to this podcast and leave a review.

Want more British History and more contact with me? Join at www.Patreon.com/BritishHistory to enjoy Historical Book Club, early access to content, exclusive blogs, discounts on British History Events and take part in Book Club! All for £5/month.

You can also give me one off support by donating at www.buymeacoffee.com/Philippa

You can always support me for free by subscribing, liking, commenting and sharing my videos.

Receive weekly history news from me by subscribing to my Substack at https://philippab.substack.com/

Visit https://www.BritishHistoryTours.com for full details of history tours and events.

⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️

About Philippa

Philippa is a Historian and History Event Organiser

Philippa Lacey Brewell lives in Central England and is well respected in her field as a historian and tour guide. She is the owner and founder of British History Tours, a tour company for those who love British History.

Philippa entertains thousands each week with her videos and stories from across the UK and British History. This ability to engage an audience, as well as being an expert in traveling the historical sites of the UK, makes her your perfect guide.

I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this engaging conversation, historian Dr. Lauren Mackay discusses the life and legacy of Thomas Boleyn, father of Anne Boleyn. Lauren, who completed her PhD on Thomas Boleyn, in 2018, challenges the negative perceptions surrounding Thomas Boleyn, highlighting his significant role in Tudor diplomacy and the importance he put on his daughter's education. The discussion delves into the complexities of Tudor family dynamics, the relationship between Thomas Boleyn and Eustace Chapuys, and Thomas Wolsey, and the impact of societal biases on historical narratives. Lauren provides a fresh perspective on a figure often overshadowed by his daughter's legacy and emphasises the importance of reassessing historical figures in light of new evidence and interpretations.

You can find Lauren on Instagram: laurenmackay_c16th, X: Regina_Saba and www.laurenmackay.co.uk

Buy Lauren's books, shipped worldwide, from Blackwells - https://www.blackwells.co.uk?a_aid=PhilippaB (This is an affiliate link. I get a commission on books sold via this link but they are at no extra cost to you).

Hi! I'm Philippa, welcome to the British History Channel.

Thank you for listening to this episode, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more here for you to browse through including over 40 fantastic historian interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Carr and many more. Buy books from these incredible historians, shipped worldwide from Blackwells - https://www.blackwells.co.uk?a_aid=PhilippaB (Please cut and past this affiliate link. I get a commission on books sold via this link but they are at no extra cost to you).

If you're not already, please subscribe to this podcast and leave a review.

Want more British History and more contact with me? Join at www.Patreon.com/BritishHistory to enjoy Historical Book Club, early access to content, exclusive blogs, discounts on British History Events and take part in Book Club! All for £5/month.

You can also give me one off support by donating at www.buymeacoffee.com/Philippa

You can always support me for free by subscribing, liking, commenting and sharing my videos.

Receive weekly history news from me by subscribing to my Substack at https://philippab.substack.com/

Visit https://www.BritishHistoryTours.com for full details of history tours and events.

⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️

About Philippa

Philippa is a Historian and History Event Organiser

Philippa Lacey Brewell lives in Central England and is well respected in her field as a historian and tour guide. She is the owner and founder of British History Tours, a tour company for those who love British History.

Philippa entertains thousands each week with her videos and stories from across the UK and British History. This ability to engage an audience, as well as being an expert in traveling the historical sites of the UK, makes her your perfect guide.

I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.