Time for some light relief today, and look at the legend of the bogeyman. This creature pops up around the world, not just in Britain, but he’s certainly significant.

Gudrun explains the inspiration behind this episode, the myth of the bogeyman and the possibility that the 'old man with the bag' in Chile was real.

Timestamps

• 0:50: Raymond Brigg's bogeyman - Fungus
• 2:08: The origins of the bogeyman
• 2:55: Characteristics of the bogeyman
• 3:18: The 'buggy men' - the least popular job during the plague
• 3:38: The Sack Man of Latin countries
• 3:56: The terrifying 'Old Man with the Bag' in Argentina & Chile

It’s about time we look at a person, and who better to represent ‘events that shaped Britain’ than Good Queen Bess?

Gudrun explores how Elizabeth defied her father to honour her mother, why she was better educated than you might think, and the conspiracies that she was a man.

She also looks at other strong Tudor women Elizabeth came up against, her battles with the two Queen Marys, and her extreme beauty habits.

Timestamps

• 0:56: How she honoured her mother, Anne Boleyn
• 1:34: Elizabeth I was better educated than you may realise
• 2:12: Was Elizabeth really a man?
• 3:10: The two Marys Elizabeth had to beat
• 4:34: The lethal Elizabethan beauty fads

Motte and Bailey castles are a feature across the country, but what exactly are they, and why would anyone build a fortress like that?

We explore the unique construction of the castles, who built them and why, as well as Warkworth Castle and the Percy family in Northumbria.

Timestamps

• 0:45: What exactly is a motte & bailey castle?
• 1:50: Who built motte & baileys?
• 2:32: Why the French needed to keep themselves safe from Vikings
• 3:12: A Northern example of a motte & bailey, and the Percy family who lived there

Here are three Ms which are all representative of the north east of England – monasteries, monks and mead.

In this episode, Gudrun looks at how Aidan and Cuthbert brought Christianity to the wilds of Northumbria, how monks began making fortified wine, mead and beer, and the different religious orders around Europe.

• 0:54: St Aidan & St Cuthbert
• 1:50: Monks & mead
• 2:15: The Benedictines & their infamous Buckfast Tonic Wine
• 3:55: Belgian not-for-profit beers

We look at the origins of the London Underground, the abandoned tube stations and London's hidden rivers.

Gudrun explains how the Tube was born out of necessity to deal with an over-congested city, and how The Metropolitan Railway had delay construction during the Crimean War.

She shares what it was like to experience the Underground on its first day, how some of the stations have been abandoned since it opened in 1863, and the forgotten rivers that run below the network.

Timestamps

• 1:15: The beginnings of the Underground
• 1:58: Opening day
• 2:57: The abandoned tube stations
• 3:48: London's underground rivers

Is the Bayeux Tapestry really a brilliant example of Norman propaganda?

In this episode, we look at what the tapestry is and some of the misconceptions around it. Gudrun explains why it didn't show King Harold in a flattering light and why the tapestry was commissioned in the way it was.

She shares what happened to it after Bishop Odo died and how it was narrowly saved from being ripped up and reused.

Timestamps

• 0:57: It's not really a tapestry at all!
• 1:31: Why is it propaganda?
• 2:10: How Harold is depicted
• 3:19: The fate of the tapestry

In this introductory episode, you'll hear about your host, Gudrun Lauret, what she does and why she's started this podcast.

You'll also find out what you can expect from future episodes.

A teaser trailer for my podcast.

• 1:57: Help people reclaim what they’ve missed
• 3:18: What about parents?
• 4:36: Important things to think about in your planning
• 5:30: 3D virtual tours s
• 6:20: Live demonstrations
• 7:05: Re-enactment societies
• 8:36: Have a party!