The English Heritage Podcast

By English HeritageHistory

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The English Heritage Podcast episodes

October 22 Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin: the woman who discovered the substance of stars
In 1911, when Cecila Payne was eleven, she was so musically gifted that none other than the great composer Gustav Holst encouraged her to take up music as a career.
But her sights were set – literally – much higher.
Her passion for science would lead her to become one of the leading astronomers of her generation and she changed our understanding of the
universe forever when she discovered what stars are actually made of. But in an age where female scientists were frequently marginalised and dismissed, she was initially made to repress her results and struggled against prejudice and discrimination her whole life.
To tell her incredible story, Amy is joined by English Heritage Blue Plaques historian, Dr Susan Skedd; Centre for Astrophysics’ Thom Burns and Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, herself a pioneering astrophysicist whose groundbreaking discovery of pulsars in the late 60s also transformed our understanding of the universe. She was subjected to a similar lack of recognition when her name was missed off the Nobel Prize for Physics awarded to her supervisor. We discover how she is working tirelessly to increase diversity in science and to carry on the fight
Cecilia began over a century ago.

If you’d like to nominate someone for an English Heritage Blue Plaque – especially a woman who has achieved in science – you can do so
here: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/propose-a-plaque/

Join English Heritage: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/⁠
Podcast listeners can get 20% off the first year of an annual membership. Use code POD20 at checkout.*
Support our work: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/⁠
The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales.
*Offer is available through the use of this code and valid for new memberships by annual Direct Debit only. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, on life memberships or renewals.

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44 min
October 14 1066: The Battle of Hastings blow by blow | Episode 3
The day that changed English history forever has dawned.

In this episode of English Heritage’s special 1066 series, host Amy Matthews looks at the Battle of Hastings as it happened, using established facts and some creative speculation.

Joining her are Roy Porter, Senior Curator of Properties at English Heritage, and Professor Tom Licence, Professor of Medieval History and Literature at the University of East Anglia and author of Harold: Warrior King.

Together, they unpack fresh research to separate myth from reality and explore the chaotic rumours and turning points that nearly tipped the scales in either direction as the day progressed. And with such different fighting styles and armies, was William's triumph was down to tactical genius or simple good luck?

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31 min
October 12 1066: Build up to the Battle | Episode 2
Following our look at the Bayeux Tapestry in Episode 1, host Amy Matthews explores the dramatic events leading up to the Battle of Hastings. Joining her are regular guest Roy Porter (Senior Curator of Properties at English Heritage) and Dr Rebecca Tyson (expert in 11th-century maritime history at the University of Bristol).

Together, they dive into the chaos following Edward the Confessor's death, Harold Godwinson’s rapid coronation, and Duke William of Normandy’s perilous Channel crossing. From Viking-style ship experiments to Harold’s bloody victory at Stamford Bridge, discover the practical challenges, stormy weather, and high-stakes drama on the very eve of the Battle itself.

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36 min
October 08 King Arthur, goblins and dragons - how prehistoric sites got their names
From Long Meg and her Daughters to the Devil’s Arrows to Hetty Pegler’s Tump, the British Isles is dotted with ancient places with curious names. But who came up with those titles and what inspired them?
This time, Amy is joined by English Heritage’s Curator of History, Al Oswald and Curator of Properties, Stonehenge and the West, Win Scutt, to uncover the myths and folklore that have been woven around these sites. Join them to discover, amongst other things, the inspiration for The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, why dancing on the sabbath was a terrible idea if you’re a woman, why counting stones could be fatal and why the Devil wasn’t a very good shot.
Join English Heritage: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/⁠   
Podcast listeners can get 20% off the first year of an annual membership. Use code POD20 at checkout.*     
Support our work: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/⁠      
The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales.     
 *Offer is available through the use of this code and valid for new memberships by annual Direct Debit only. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, on life memberships or renewals.  
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

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42 min
October 05 The Bayeux Tapestry: 1066 Comes Home | Episode 1
Welcome to the first episode of our brand-new, seven-part English Heritage Podcast video series exploring the historic events of 1066.

This episode unravels the years long journey to bring the iconic 70-metre Bayeux Tapestry back to English soil for a landmark exhibition at the British Museum. From negotiations and transport logistics to hidden embroidery secrets and missing end panels, discover how this 11th-century masterpiece survived and how it still captivates us today.

Join host Amy Matthews as she kicks off our journey with two expert guests: Jeremy Ashbee, Head Curator of Properties at English Heritage, and Professor Michael Lewis, Curator of the Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition at the British Museum.

Step back nearly 1,000 years and watch or listen now.

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49 min
October 01 Skeleton 1863: Reconstructing the face of “Conquest Man”
In this episode, host Amy Matthews is joined by Kevin Booth, English Heritage’s Head Curator of Collections, and Professor Caroline Wilkinson, Director of Face Lab at Liverpool John Moores University. Together, they explore how forensic science created a lifelike facial depiction of "Conquest Man" found buried at St Peter’s Church in Barton-upon-Humber around 50 years ago and known archaeologically as skeleton SK1863.
What can three mysterious applewood wands and a grass pillow reveal about his burial? How do tooth isotopes and 3D digital facial mapping uncover the overseas roots and facial features of someone who lived at the time of the Norman Conquest?
Discover how cutting-edge technology can bridge the gap to an ordinary person from the past and breathe new life into history life one thousand years later.
Join English Heritage: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/⁠   
Podcast listeners can get 20% off the first year of an annual membership. Use code POD20 at checkout.*     
Support our work: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/⁠      
The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales.     
 *Offer is available through the use of this code and valid for new memberships by annual Direct Debit only. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, on life memberships or renewals.  
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
37 min
September 24 From food to florals: The rise of the rockstar gardener
The English Heritage Podcast goes live! Host Amy Matthews records in front of a live audience at Audley End House during the 2026 Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair.
Joined by English Heritage experts Andrew Hann, Michael Klemperer and Emily Parker, Amy explores how gardening evolved from a practical necessity into a passion for beauty, leisure and horticultural showmanship.
From the rigid geometry of Tudor gardens to Capability Brown’s sweeping natural landscapes, discover how changing tastes transformed the way we garden. Hear about the lives of the people who made these gardens possible - including the head gardeners who became the horticultural celebrities of their day.
Plus, a rare 18th-century apprentice gardener’s diary from Audley End offers a fascinating glimpse into what it was really like to learn the trade.

Follow this podcast wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review if you love the show.

Join English Heritage: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/⁠ 

Podcast listeners can get 20% off the first year of an annual membership. Use code POD20 at checkout.*   

Support our work: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/⁠    

The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales.   

*Offer is available through the use of this code and valid for new memberships by annual Direct Debit only. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, on life memberships or renewals.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
39 min
September 17 Hidden lives: slavery in Roman Britain
In this episode, we explore how a simple piece of Roman pottery - a red Samian bowl - can reveal the hidden lives of people living in Britain nearly 2,000 years ago.

Found at Corbridge Roman Town, this artifact features a unique bit of ancient graffiti translating to "Nico slave of Atticus".

Joining host Amy Matthews are English Heritage historian Dr. Andrew Roberts and Collections Manager, David Hanks. Together, they unpack what this discovery tells us about the social fabric of Roman Britain. We dive into the complex and often oppressive world of Roman slavery, where individuals like Nico might have possessed personal items, or even managed businesses, despite being legally considered property.

From the poignant reality of iron shackles to inspiring stories of freedom, we bring to light the human traces left behind by those whose voices are rarely heard in history books.

Join English Heritage: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/⁠ 

Podcast listeners can get 20% off the first year of an annual membership. Use code POD20 at checkout.*   

Support our work: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/⁠    

The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales.   

*Offer is available through the use of this code and valid for new memberships by annual Direct Debit only. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, on life memberships or renewals.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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29 min
September 10 The sights, sounds and smells of a Roman fort
Housesteads Roman Fort on Hadrian's Wall is Britain's most complete Roman fort. From the remains of its buildings, we can get a good idea of what it looked like. But how did the bathhouse smell? Or, perhaps more importantly, what about the latrines? What did the food taste like? And what sounds would the Roman soldiers stationed there have heard?
Join Amy, English Heritage Curator of History, Andrew Roberts and sensory archaeologist Dr Giacomo Savani on site as they explore this remarkable fort.
Follow this podcast wherever you get your podcasts and leave a review if you love the show.

Join English Heritage: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/⁠ 

Podcast listeners can get 20% off the first year of an annual membership. Use code POD20 at checkout.*   

Support our work: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/⁠    

The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales.   

*Offer is available through the use of this code and valid for new memberships by annual Direct Debit only. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, on life memberships or renewals.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
52 min
September 03 Harmondsworth: One of England’s Medieval Great Barns
Step through the doors of Britain’s surviving medieval barns and you enter a space that once fed whole communities.
This week, Amy Matthews meets Dr Lydia Miller and Dr Nick Holder to explore the surprising power of England’s great barns.
This year marks 600 years since the construction of Harmondsworth Barn, an agricultural workhorse that sat at the heart of medieval life. Far from the quiet buildings we know today they were once places of noise, hard work and very high stakes.
Hear about the legacy of the people that once used this place: from mysterious carved horses and protective symbols to the astonishing carpentry that raised these timber giants. With Heathrow now humming nearby and modern debate gathering pace, these humble barns have stories to tell us about community, survival and heritage in the modern day too.
Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show
Join English Heritage: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/⁠
Podcast listeners can get 20% off the first year of an annual membership. Use code POD20 at checkout.*   
Support our work: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/⁠    
The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales.   

*Offer is available through the use of this code and valid for new memberships by annual Direct Debit only. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, on life memberships or renewals.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
44 min