The English Heritage Podcast

We’re joined by senior properties historian Paul Pattison and independent historian and author of Mission France, Dr Kate Vigurs, ahead of the 80th anniversary of D-Day. We’ll reveal the story of the biggest landing by land, sea and air the world has ever seen, including how long it took to plan, the roles of Operation Neptune and Overlord and how the initial assault on northern France on 6 June 1944 helped to bring about the end of the Second World War.To learn about Operation Fortitude South and the D-Day Deception, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dover-castle/history-and-stories/d-day-deception Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re discussing the lives, loves, work and legacies of two unconventional artists from the early 20th century. Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant were part of the Bloomsbury group of writers, intellectuals, philosophers and artists in London – a group it was once said ‘lived in squares, painted in circles and loved in triangles’. They rejected the past, embraced their present and expressed themselves in new ways on canvas, cementing their place in art history.Joining us to talk us through their stories and the London blue plaque that commemorates their achievements are English Heritage blue plaques historian Dr Rebecca Preston, art critic, author and current blue plaque panel member Andrew Graham-Dixon, and writer and historian Rosemary Hill.To learn more about the London blue plaques scheme, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Delve into the rare Major Lunar Standstill phenomenon and its possible link to Stonehenge. Hear from experts about ancient beliefs, lunar alignments, and upcoming research. Explore the significance of solstices, moon observations, and celestial connections at historical sites. Uncover the efforts to preserve heritage and sacred site lines despite modern challenges. Learn about lunar alignments at Stonehenge and other prehistoric sites, hinting at hidden astronomical connections.

We’re joined by English Heritage curator of collections and interiors Dickon Whitewood and jouster, author and scholar of arms and armour Tobias Capwell to answer all the questions we received about medieval knights and jousts from English Heritage members and followers on our social media accounts. Join us to discover the rules of a joust, what a frog-mouth helmet is, the weight of a suit of armour, the practicalities of going to the toilet while wearing one and much more. To learn more about the history of tournaments, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/brief-history-of-knights-tournaments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we’re joined by two English Heritage curators of collections, Eleanor Matthews and Louise Cooling, to mark the acquisition of a painting by Dutch artist Jan Wijnants, which has a close link with Brodsworth Hall in South Yorkshire.Join us to discover the story of this and some of the other Dutch masterpieces that can be seen at both Brodsworth Hall and Kenwood in London.To learn more about Brodsworth Hall and Gardens or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/brodsworth-hall.To learn more about Kenwood or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/kenwood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we’re in Kent to take a peek into the hidden history of Walmer Castle, one of Henry VIII’s Device Forts on England’s southeast coast, where visitors are being invited to explore the private apartments of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports for the first time. We’re joined by curator of collections and interiors Kathryn Bedford to discover the history of the castle, why the Lord Warden was stationed here and what the job involves. Plus, we meet the children of a former Lord Warden to find out what it’s like growing up in one of England’s iconic fortresses.To learn more about Walmer Castle or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/walmer.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nine hundred years after a community of monks settled in the ‘vale of nightshade’ on the Furness peninsular, we’re joined by Senior Properties Historian Dr Michael Carter and site manager Juliet Fellows to look back at the history of Furness Abbey – once the largest and wealthiest monastery in north-west England.Discover how the abbey became so successful, why it was a prime target during Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries and how we’re bringing its story back to life for visitors today.  To learn more about Furness Abbey or plan a visit, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/furnessabbey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re heading to the Isles of Scilly – a small cluster of islands off the tip of Cornwall in the south-west of England. Today, this peaceful archipelago is treasured for its natural beauty and holiday charm, but, in centuries past, the islands were on the frontline of Britain’s military defence.We’re joined by senior properties curator Win Scutt and author of Defending Scilly Dr Allan Brodie to explore the islands’ military history and the heritage sites left behind as a result.To discover more about the historic sites of the Isles of Scilly, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/historic-sites-of-scilly.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we’re discussing the story of Bridget Atkinson, a Cumbrian woman who amassed a huge collection of shells from across the globe during the 18th century.We’re joined by English Heritage Collections Curator Dr Frances McIntosh, Principal Curator at the Natural History Museum Dr Tom White, Bath Spa University lecturer Matthew Law and family researcher Richard Atkinson. They reveal who she was, how she collected her shells despite rarely leaving her home county and how a family connection led to a selection of her recently rescued treasures going on display in the Clayton Museum at Chesters Roman Fort on Hadrian’s Wall.To plan a visit to see Bridget’s shells for yourself, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/chesters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're joined by Turner Prize-nominated artist and photographer, Ingrid Pollard, to discuss her new art installation, titled 'There is Light in the Fissures', at Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens in Northumberland.Discover what inspired her artwork and what you can expect to find during a visit as a result. Plus, we chat to English Heritage's Chris Osborne who reveals the plans for other thought-provoking creative installations at English Heritage sites across the country. To find out more about our creative programme plans, go to www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/creative-programme/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices