British History Podcast

Through the eyes of Eleanor Bruce and Lucilla Gray, collectively known as 'Roman Found,' we uncover the fascinating world of metal detecting. They share their journey—from their first finds to the stories behind ancient objects. We explore their passion for history, the research involved, and their plans for the future discoveries, as well as highlighting the importance of responsible archaeology and some tips for people who want to take up metal detecting as a hobby.

You can watch this episode on YouTube at Youtube.com/@BritishHistory

Get bonus content, watch ad-free and have the opportunity to submit your own questions for future guests at Patreon.com/BritishHistory.

Buy 'Things We Found in the Ground' and have it shipped anywhere in the world for free from Blackwells - Click Here - (this is an affiliate link)

If you enjoy this interview please give it a 5* review and let me know what you liked about it.
I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Jason tells us about his journey from his working-class background to becoming a celebrated Belfast historian, and surprising stories like the Belfast city cemetery's underground wall and Charlie Chaplin’s Belfast connection. We also talked about the challenges and rewards of being a public historian and content creator, and his upcoming books on Belfast’s streets and the Irish revolutionary period from a Belfast perspective.

You can watch this episode on Youtube.com/@britishhistory

Chapters:
00:00 - The curious enthusiasm for Protestants and Catholics protesting together in Belfast's history
00:19 - Charlie Chaplin’s brief Belfast stay and the city’s commemorative statues
01:04 - Introduction to Jason Burke and his work in sharing Belfast’s vibrant history
02:13 - Jason’s background: from inner East Belfast streets to historical research and storytelling
04:51 - The influence of WWI street names and Belfast’s community housing for ex-servicemen
06:44 - How university sparked Jason’s research passion and his focus on Belfast’s WWI contribution
08:01 - The role of community engagement in local history projects and memorial landscapes
09:28 - The impact of social media and digital storytelling in today’s public history
12:02 - Navigating the challenges of finding or creating opportunities as a historian
14:24 - Audience interest in specific periods, like WWI and stories of cooperation across Belfast communities
15:46 - The significance of stories that buck societal trends, like the Battle of Messines and 1930s protests
18:33 - Personal anecdotes about individuals caught in history, from soldiers to activists
22:08 - The story of Belfast’s sectarian cemeteries and the underground walls that separate the communities even in death
28:05 - Lesser-known Belfast landmarks: Charlie Chaplin’s statue and historic architecture stories
30:52 - The challenges of historic building preservation amidst Belfast’s tumultuous past
42:38 - How Jason chooses his podcast topics and the importance of balanced, fact-based storytelling
45:58 - Handling controversial topics with sensitivity and respect for multiple perspectives
48:20 - The importance of integrity and storytelling in ensuring history endures beyond digital life
50:27 - Future projects: exploring Belfast’s revolutionary period and the partition’s impact on the city
63:20 - Jason’s upcoming books: street-by-street history of Belfast and Belfast’s role in Irish independence
67:20 - Building a career as a self-made public historian and the value of persistence
68:35 - Connect with Jason Burke: website, social media handles, and how to follow his work

Jason's website: https://www.jasonburkehistory.com/
I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this interview with renowned Tudor art and cultural historian Professor Elizabeth Goldring, we go beyond the famous portraits of Hans Holbein the Younger and into his fascinating life — exploring the man behind the masterpieces.

(Get early access to all historian interviews plus bonus content and the videos ad-free, so no interruptions at Patreon.com/BritishHistory)

Elizabeth shared with me insights into Holbein’s religion, his journey from Augsburg to Tudor England, how the Shrove Tuesday riots in Basel affected him, plus, his relationships, artistic challenges, and the enduring legacy of his work in British history.

We discussed Holbein's contribution to how we see the Tudor court of Henry VIII, if the Tudors would have been as famous as they are without Holbein and how Holbein was pivotal in the beginnings of art collecting.

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Holbein's Impact on Tudor History
00:24 Holbein's Early Life and Artistic Beginnings
01:20 Holbein's Move to England and Court Patronage
02:16 Holbein's Personal Life and Challenges
12:58 The Basel Riots and the Reformation's Impact on Holbein
16:32 Holbein's Role in the Tudor Court and Portraiture
24:33 The Realism and Flattery in Holbein's Portraits
30:17 Holbein's Death and Legacy
49:35 The Roots of Art Collecting and Connoisseurship in England
54:59 Holbein's Influence on Modern Perceptions of the Tudors

What to do next?
Visit a museum to see Holbein's works up close
Buy Elizabeth Goldring's book on Holbein
Explore the history of Tudor portraiture

WATCH THIS EPSODE ON YOUTUBE AT youtube.com/@britishhistory

Thank you for listening to this episode, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more history episodes here for you to enjoy including around 60 fantastic historian interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Castor, Helen Carr and many more.

Join my Patreon to enjoy ad-free, extended interviews with bonus content, Historical Book Club, early access to content, exclusive blogs, discounts on British History Events and more, all for £5/month.

You can also give me one off support by donating at www.buymeacoffee.com/Philippa

You can support me for free by commenting on this episode and subscribing to the podcast.

Visit www.BritishHistoryTours.com for full details of history tours and events.

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About Philippa
Philippa is a Historian and the founder of British History Tours and British History Events.

Receive weekly history news (including links to new historian interviews) from Philippa by subscribing to my Substack at Substack.com/ ⁨@BritishHistory⁩
I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As complex figures go, you can’t get much more complex than Sir Thomas More. Was he a Saint? Was he a Sinner? Was he simply a man of his time?

Dr Joanne Paul seeks to answer these questions in her book ‘Thomas More. A Life and Death in Tudor England’ which explores More’s roles as a statesman, scholar, and martyr, and understand how his beliefs, actions, and the historical context shaped his enduring reputation.
(WE WILL BE COVERING JOANNE'S BOOK IN BOOK CLUB ON 24TH MAY - JOIN IN AT PATREON.COM/BRITISHHISTORY)

In my interview with Joanne, filmed at the Harvington History Festival 2025, I asked her about Thomas More's multifaceted identity, his role in Henry VIII's court, his religious beliefs and persecution of heretics, and his influence on political and religious history.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Thomas More and his significance
01:45 Different ways people encounter Thomas More
02:40 Was Thomas More as complex as his legacy suggests?
03:46 The importance of understanding his life in context
05:46 More's family and personal beliefs
07:53 The roots of his religious fervor and fear
08:54 His stance on heretics and persecution
10:53 His beliefs about society and community
12:55 The impact of the Reformation on his views
13:46 Where to find more about Joanne Paul and her work

Buy the book at Blackwells for Worldwide Delivery - Click Here

If you've enjoyed this please follow and rate this podcast.

Hi! I'm Philippa, welcome to the British History Channel.

Thank you for listening to this episode, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more here for you to browse through including over 50 fantastic historian interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Carr and many more.

Buy books from these incredible historians, shipped worldwide from Blackwells - click here (This is an affiliate link. I get a commission on books sold via this link but they are at no extra cost to you).

Join my Patreon - click here and enjoy ad-free extended interviews with bonus content, Historical Book Club, early access to content, exclusive blogs, discounts on British History Events and more for all for £5/month.

You can also give me one off support by donating at www.buymeacoffee.com/Philippa

You can support me for free by commenting and rating this episode.

Visit British History Tours for full details of history tours and events.

⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️⚔️
About Philippa
Philippa is a Historian and the founder of British History Tours and British History Events.

Receive weekly history news (including links to new historian interviews) from Philippa by subscribing to my Substack
I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rogues, scallywags, fraudsters and criminals have all trodden the corridors of the UK Houses of Parliament. In this conversation with Philippa Lacey, Debbie Kilroy discusses the themes of her new book ‘Members Behaving Badly.’
The discussion covers political misbehaviour over the past 4 centuries, exploring various scandals, notorious figures, and the evolution of public perception regarding politicians. We talked about the patterns of corruption and sexual scandal seen throughout all the periods of history covered by Debbie in her book, as well as the importance of engaging with politics, and what happens when people feel disillusioned with their leaders.
The discussion highlights the need for understanding historical context and the human nature of politicians, emphasising that while many have committed egregious acts, they can also possess redeeming qualities.

Buy 'Members Behaving Badly' - click here

Find Debbie on Instagram 'debbiekilroyauthor' and her website debbiekilroy.com and gethistory.co.uk

Chapters
00:00 The Book's Inspiration and Themes
08:24 Historical Figures and Their Misdeeds
14:20 Patterns of Political Misbehaviour
20:23 Cultural Reflections in Political Behaviour
24:46 The Legacy of Lord Thomas Cochrane
29:18 Understanding Historical Morality
31:29 The Nature of Political Power
36:14 Public Tolerance for Political Scandals
43:12 The Evolution of Political Systems
49:12 Engaging with Political Discourse

Thank you for listening to this episode, I hope you enjoyed it. There are many more historian interviews here for you to enjoy including over 50 fantastic historian interviews with people such as Tracy Borman OBE, Gareth Russell, Helen Castor, Helen Carr and many more.
I'd really appreciate your help in making this show the best it can be. I know time is precious but if you do have 10 minutes you can spare to fill out this anonymous listener survey, I'd be really grateful - http://bit.ly/britishhistorypodcast-survey

Philippa founded award-winning Historic Tour Operator British History Tours in 2014. Find out about these luxury, fully-escorted, immersive historical experiences at BritishHistoryTours.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.