What if I told you that England’s very first official voyage of exploration to the New World didn’t begin in London—or even under an Englishman’s command?

Join me, Claire Ridgway, historian and author, as I tell you about "The Matthew", the tiny replica ship moored in Bristol that once carried explorer John Cabot (Giovanni Caboto) across the Atlantic in 1497. Backed by Henry VII, Cabot’s bold journey from Bristol to the coast of North America marked the quiet beginnings of England’s imperial story—decades before Henry VIII or Elizabeth I ever dreamed of global power.

In this episode, we’ll uncover:

- How Cabot persuaded Henry VII to fund his voyage (well… sort of!)

- Why this humble 50-ton ship was key to England’s first steps toward overseas discovery

- What Cabot found—and why his landing was more significant than he realised

- The legacy of The Matthew, its 1997 commemorative voyage, and how Bristol remembers its most daring sailor

Learn more at https://matthew.co.uk

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Had you heard of John Cabot before? Let me know in the comments!

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