In 2021, 950 years after English Heritage’s Richmond Castle was founded in Yorkshire, an amateur archaeologist joined her first dig and turned up a stunning find.  

A silver coin dating to the decades following the Norman Conquest, bearing the face of William the Conqueror, fired up historians’ imaginations.  Who lost it, what were they doing at the castle, and what did this penny mean to the people living in the north of England in the 1080s? 

Will Wyeth and Susan Harrison join Amy on this episode of The English Heritage Podcast to discuss why this area was so important for the strategic building of a castle in post-conquest Yorkshire. They’ll also explore King William’s relationship with northern leaders, his reaction to revolt and the Norman legacy in the north of England. 

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

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Stonehenge has captured the imaginations of people for millennia, leading to conspiracy theories and fantastical ideas about its construction. But cutting-edge historical analysis has allowed us to reveal more of its secrets in recent times. 

Now, author Ken Follett has turned his hand to an imagined epic about the early days of the site’s construction and the social lives and beliefs of people on Salisbury Plain. To celebrate the launch of Circle of Days, Amy is joined by Ken Follett and English Heritage curator of history, Dr Jen Wexler, to explore some of the latest research and findings about the construction of Stonehenge and the real-life inspirations for Ken’s story. 

Plus, we have an exclusive excerpt of Circle of Days for you to listen to. 

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

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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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What does a stone slab at Yorkshire’s Fountains Abbey have in common with the modern-day university?  

This time on the English Heritage podcast, Michael Carter takes Amy on his journey of discovery, from an abbot’s strangely positioned headdress to the monastic origins of doctorates. Dr Tessa Whitehouse joins the conversation as we explore how the modern university evolved from elite religious institutions, through nonconformism, to allowing women to study.  

These institutions have always had huge political importance. But have they always been a place where students can enjoy both learning and freedom? Find out in this episode. 

Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show.  

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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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It’s easy to take the food on our plates for granted, but the 20th century has been a time of enormous change for the production and supply of what we eat. Not to mention the sort of dish you’d be looking forward to on a Friday evening. Herring and pickled beetroot, anyone?  

But did you know about a highly specialised, world-renowned government institute that was developing the latest technology across the 20th century? From tractor testing to drilling and harvesting techniques, the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering was based at Wrest Park until 2006. When King George VI visited for its opening in 1948, producing food in postwar Britain was a critical priority.  

This time, Amy Matthews chats with food historian Emma Kay, English Heritage curator of history Andrew Hann and former institute employee Edwina Holden MBE to find out about this hugely influential period in the history of Wrest Park, just before it came into English Heritage’s care. 

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

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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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Caring for country houses is a delicate task, involving protecting them from fire risk, weather, pests, and much more. Some things have remained the same over the years: fire has long been a looming threat for the residents of country houses.  

This time on the English Heritage Podcast, Amy Matthews chats with Andrew Hann, Peter Moore and Richard Luscombe about the dramatic events, near misses and brilliant innovations that have helped staff and residents of country houses tackle the ever-present risk of fire.   

We’ll discuss the evolution of firefighting equipment, brilliantly organised operations, candles on Christmas trees and why Prince Albert put seashells in the floor of Osborne House on the Isle of Wight. 

Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show.  

Join: 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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In 2021, a Yorkshire metal detectorist unearthed one of the UK’s largest and most important Iron Age finds. Now the Melsonby Hoard is reshaping our understanding of life in Britain 2000 years ago.  

In this episode, we delve into the trove to discuss how values, wealth, power, culture and even transport in Britain were evolving against the backdrop of growing Roman influence. Amy Matthews is joined by English Heritage’s Dr Jen Wexler and Dr Sophia Adams of the British Museum to unpick the stories from this incredible collection of objects. 

Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show.  

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

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

Work on the excavation and restoration of the hoard was carried out by Durham University with financial support provided by Historic England. You can find out more about this partnership and the Yorkshire Museum below:

https://www.durham.ac.uk/departments/academic/archaeology/melsonby-hoard/

https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/news/iron-age-discovery-melsonby-hoard/

https://www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk/news-media/latest-news/melsonby-hoard-saved-for-the-uk-thanks-to-national-heritage-memorial-fund-and-public-support/

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How did a 13th century knight become one of the greatest national heroes of his time?  

In this episode of the English Heritage podcast, Amy Matthews and her guests discover a true knight’s tale. William, a low-level aristocrat, narrowly avoided a violent end as a child and rose to greatness through violent tournaments, warfare and royal service.   

But who was the real William Marshal, and can we trust the reverential account of his life that was written after his death?  

Medieval historian Lindy Grant and English Heritage’s Jeremy Ashbee help Amy sort the man from the myth and discuss the medieval concept of knighthood and chivalry. 

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

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People love to fill their homes with beautiful plants, but this is not a new phenomenon. The trade in wild plants and seeds has a complex history that stretches back into the past and across the world.  

Ahead of the Gardeners’ World Autumn Plant Fair at Audley End, Amy Matthews is joined by English Heritage’s Emily Parker and Joe Bagley, The Houseplant Doctor, to explore how our obsession with houseplants developed from competitive Victorian collectors to 21st century plantaholics.  

Plus, Joe has some expert tips on how to keep your horticultural housemates happy and enjoy them sustainably and ethically. 

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

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In this episode of the English Heritage podcast, we’ll discover the remarkable women who have helped to shape some of our most beautiful gardens.   

From Georgian garden retreats that provided refuge from the royal court and the backdrop for a literary coterie to the ‘weeding women’ who kept gardens looking their best, we explore their significant yet often overlooked contributions. We'll also shine a light on the independent female garden designers of the 20th century who transformed landscapes and paved the way for future generations. 

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

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In the late 19th and early 20th century, glamorous, exciting and often very wealthy American women mingled with the British aristocracy and set the gossip pages alight with rumours of engagements. But alongside this fascination, anti-American sentiment and xenophobia saw them dismissed them as mere ‘dollar princesses’ trading cash for coronets.  

This label endured long beyond its time, until historians began to explore the incredible legacies of these women. This summer, a new exhibition at Kenwood in London has brought together Sargent’s paintings of these women and highlighted their power, influence and achievements.  

In this episode, Amy Matthews heads to Kenwood meet Dr Wendy Monkhouse and Ella Letort, for a very special tour of Sargent’s magnificent heiresses. 

Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show.  

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

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