However unlike in Italy and Germany the population of Britain were not interested in lurching to the right, leaving Oswald waiting for a revolution that stubbornly refused to come.

Featuring secret Italian funding, wives dying of apathy and a framed picture of Hitler!

Guest Host: Oliver Green

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While James Graham was searching for the pseudo-treatment that would make his fortune, he stumbled upon the idea of providing a medicalised model for improving marriage, specifically the procreation part. This led him to pivot from wellness guru to sexpert and creating one of the marvels of the Georgian age... but one that is now sadly lost to history. The celestial bed.

So join us for a story of love, innovation, excess and madness...

... but at least it is guaranteed to smell nice.

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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When Mary Sutcliffe reported being attacked by a man wielding a blade, it was assumed that it was an isolated incident, however as the attacks rapidly began to pile up a sense of panic seemed to engulf the people of Halifax.

Was it a maniac? Was it more than one person? Were copycat attacks now outnumbering the genuine ones? And why had almost this exact thing happened two previous times in living memory?

We will attempt to answer all these questions and more!

Guest Host: Oliver Green

With a special appearance from Tod Shaker!

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Starting in the UK it is a story of the upper classes, scandals and doomed romances. But how is this linked to a gravestone in New York and is any of it actually true?

Guest Host: Pamela Loetterle

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Going in with a naive belief that he would quickly rise through the ranks it is the story of how people born of privilege can struggle when they face even the mildest of barriers, and how the political system can be manipulated to your advantage if you don't really care about the concept of loyalty.

While he did eventually develop some policies that might have worked, Mosley's methods ensured that no one in Westminster was willing to work with him. Forcing him to consider how he might secure power outside of the established system.

But remember he was only doing it to help the British Working Class....

Guest Host: Oliver Green

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Though he originally appeared to want to do the right thing, John Cottington found that even the most successful Master Sweep would not be welcomed into the upper classes. Growing resentment at this glass ceiling (combined with an awkward marriage and extreme shaving adventures) eventually led him to a life of crime.

But would his justification of supporting the Royalist cause help him to avoid punishment?

And where the hell are parts 2 and 3 of Oswald Mosley?

Find out in this week's episode!

Guest Host: Oliver Green

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With tales of theft, murder, persecution and duels it there are parts that seem absurd, and others that are all too familiar.

So join us to see how far the British justice system has come. Now with more sexual innuendo.

Guest Hosts: Emma Heathcote and Oliver Green

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To celebrate the big day we are discussing the life of John Elwes, a Georgian man with unimaginable wealth, who chose to spend as little of it as possible.

While his eccentricities led him to become Dickens' inspiration for Scrooge, we make the argument that this is an unfair characterisation, as while he would not spend a penny on himself (or his long-suffering servants) if he could help it, John was more than happy to give away vast sums of money to help friends, acquaintances, or any random person who came to ask for help...

... and isn't giving the true spirit of the season?

Guest Host: Pamela Loetterle

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Born into privilege and the certainty that he would never have to work for a living should he not wish to, Oswald should have enjoyed an idilic childhood. However the lack of a consistent father-figure mixed with rampant narcissism led him to pursue a career in the Military as a means of gaining the recognition and praise that he felt he was due.

Joining the army as a teenager (straight in as an officer, naturally) at the very outset of WWI, Oswald Mosley proceeded to have the most 'Meh' of military careers. Joining the Royal Flying Corps so that he could feel special but spending much more time chasing older women in England than he did flying in France, Mosley nevertheless believed that he was exactly the sort of person who should speak for the 'War Generation...'

...As soon as he got back from the bone setter.

Guest Host: Oliver (not Ollie) Green

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Starting with a quick primer on the origin of the Theme Park we discuss both the worst disaster in UK history and the worst decade for deaths (maybe the Emo's were onto something).

Also I had no opportunity to edit, so this is a rare uncut episode, a great chance to see just how unprofessional we are.

Guest Hosts: Emma Heathcote & Oliver Green

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Brought up in almost complete isolation, but hearing the stories from her father's many foreign adventures, Mary dreamed of going somewhere that no other British woman had ever been before. Luckily for her there were lots of opportunities to achieve this goal...

... on the African continent.

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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However even the most pessimistic of people probably wouldn't have been able to predict just how wrong things could go...

All in all a perfect introduction to the world of Consistently Eccentric for our newest guest host, Flynn Heathcote. Hopefully it is not so depressing that we put him off guesting on anymore stories in the future.

Guest Host: Flynn Heathcote

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But while the merchants of the were making ever greater profits and building ever more houses on the tiny spit of land that constituted Port Royal, deep below the surface of Jamaica there were seismic movements that would eventually bring the entire enterprise tumbling down.

The earthquake of 1692 was massive, and would have been destructive to buildings that were well constructed with strong foundations. The buildings in Port Royal were built directly onto sand that sat only a few feet above the water table...

.... it did not end well.

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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But even a Pirate port needed leaders, and we discuss some of the most influential of the early days, as well as discussing the rise of one Henry (formerly Harri) Morgan. Morgan was a Welshman with an instinctive understanding of both military tactics and politics that would allow him to rise from a humble crew member on board a dutch pirate ship to the most consequential man in Jamaica.

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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While the Spanish were busy conquering South America, they saw Jamaica as little more than a convenient staging post. So much so that when the English were considering which Spanish territories to invade, it didn't even make the list. However even the best laid plans can go awry, and the ones made by the Commonwealth Government were far from the best, meaning that Jamaica suddenly and unexpectedly became the focus of English interests in the region.

Though they were going to need some help in order to stop the Spanish taking it back...

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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This is a story that covers nearly 4,000 years and a hell of a lot of wrangling over shipping costs, but which ends with New York City getting crabs!

Guest Host: Pamela Loetterle

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William Hacket was an illiterate servant who managed to talk his way into a good marriage and a malting business. However this didn't seem to fulfil him, so when he was introduced to the concept that protestants can have a direct conversation with God he decided to throw himself headfirst into a life as a travelling preacher.

Headstrong, controversial and generally full of Booze, William blazed a trail down the east of England before finally arriving in London, where he planned to begin his reign as 'King of Europe'...

Which of course would mean getting rid of Elizabeth I.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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It is a story of office politics, nepotism and at least one death.

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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From an Edwardian fad for Greco Roman wrestling we follow the highs and lows of grappling in the UK through seven decades, to the institution that was World Of Sport on a Saturday afternoon.

It is a story of adaptation, exploitation and features a memorable cameo by a polar explorer that answers the question: 'What did Scott of the Antarctic have to do with Big Daddy?'

Speaking of which, stay tuned for part 2 next week!

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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After an abusive upbringing and decent into drug addiction, Robert made some choices that landed him in Broadmoor Hospital for the Criminally insane, but when you prove to be too much for an insane asylum to handle there is only one place to go...

...Wakefield.

So join us for a story of punishment, isolation and ongoing trauma. Now also (hopefully) in video format.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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We discuss the loss of life, livestock and (tree) limbs, and explore how the lack of support following the disaster helped to further cement the view that being governed from London was not necessarily in the interests of the Irish-Catholic majority...

...and yes we do also mention the potato famine.

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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The unassuming village of Freckleton was more than willing to do its part for the war effort, welcoming around 10,000 American servicemen into the local area, and trying their best to make them feel at home.

But when two American B-24 bombers went up for a test flight on August 23rd 1944, they had not taken into account the building storm clouds, an error that would result in the deaths of 5% of the village residents.

Join us for a tragic tale of completely avoidable disaster, but rest assured that we will try to lighten the horror with a game of bingo and multiple celebrity cameos...

Not that it works.

Guest Hosts: Emma Heathcote & Olle Green

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A tale of longstanding religious insubordination, illicit meals in the buttery and questionable worship in the choir, you may end up asking the question; "Was Henry VIII onto something with the dissolution of the monasteries?"

You just have to spare a thought for the Anchorite who missed out on all the fun (but could most probably hear it)

Guest Presenter: Pamela Loetterle

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While you would think that this would arouse suspicion, Dr Clements was able to point to the death certificates, which stated that his wives just kept dying of obscure medical conditions, as proof that he was just unlucky in love... Of course he did sign those death certificates himself, but that is beside the point.

So join us for a tale of greed, abuse of power and murder most foul from the first half of the 20th century.

Guest Host (and Southport resident): Jack Heathcote

Jack also has a book out: INKLING, which can be found here:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4335276473/inkling-collectors-1st-edition-bundle

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When little Christian Shaw began experiencing fits, she was soon able to convince her parents that the cause was infernal, leading to every odd character in the area falling under suspicion of working for the devil.

But surely no one was actually going to be killed based on the say so of an 11 year old girl... Right?

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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This time she is bringing us the tale of John St. John Long, a handsome Irishman who decided that actually studying medicine should not be a requirement for becoming a doctor.

Instead he swapped a promising career illustrating medical books for one as a top medical professional in London. Though to be fair he did streamline his approach by offering only one cure regardless of what ailment he was faced with.

So join us as we discuss his rise to fame, his patented panacea, and how the side effects eventually landed him in a spot of bother.

Guest Presenter: Pam Loetterle

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Creating a series of questionable buildings across Nottinghamshire, Joseph then set his sights on the Lake District. However, he found that the locals were a bit less tolerant of his 'beautification' of the area.

Given the moniker: 'The Man With No Taste', Joseph knew he needed to do something big to win over the people of Cumbria...

...But fortunately he had already built a fort complete with a gun battery on his own personal island, so the solution seemed obvious.

Guest Host: (A very hot) Emma Heathcote

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But as the EIC responsibilities in India grew way beyond what they were capable of managing and profits began to drop (along with up to 1/3 of the population of Bengal) there was a growing call for someone to take the blame.

Would Clive be able to survive with his fortune in tact, and how would he be remembered to history?

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Due to the success of her father's cotton business Lottie knew that she would never have to work a day in her life, and didn't particularly need a husband. With the freedom to do whatever she chose, Lottie decided to focus all her energy on the world of Sport, spending three decades of her life competing at the highest level.

But while most people would be content to be a champion in one sport, Lottie was always ready to try something new, resulting in a multi-sport career that will potentially never be matched.

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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We are heading back to the Georgian era to discuss the life and achievements of Anna Atkins, a botanist with a passion for reproducing what she saw in the natural world, first as illustrations and then with chemicals.

Just be careful not to tire yourself out, as apparently that can be rather dangerous.

Guest Presenter: Evie Heathcote

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Luckily the East India Company were more than happy to welcome him back with open arms, provided he agree to settle down into the life of an administrator in Madras...

...so naturally part two features pirates, political coups and lots of battles, fought in the traditional Robert Clive manner: All attack, all the time.

But will Robert be able to revive his fortune? Will he finally lose a fight? And how big a bribe should you extort from your puppet rulers?

We answer all these questions and more!

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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But how did the son of a minor country gentleman end up wielding such enormous power and influence? In this first part of the story of Robert Clive we will reflect on the trauma of his childhood and how this influenced his worldview. And how he found himself in the perfect place to quickly rise in the military ranks.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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When Lawyer, Thomas Morton, was left in temporary charge of a small group of indentured servants, he decided to try setting up his own communal utopia. Offering to free his charges (which he had no authority to do) he suggested they live as equals, engage on friendly terms with the locals and try to have as good a time as possible.

But while the members of this newly-named colony of Merrymount were having a good time, their puritan neighbours to the south did not approve...

...and they just so happened to have access to an armed militia.

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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Following the traumatic birth of her first child, Margery Kempe began experiencing religious visions which would last for the rest of her life, and would eventually (after a misstep into the world of brewing) lead her to become a professional religious fanatic.

It is a tale of miracles, prophesy, pilgrimages and more than one accusation of heresy. All to the backdrop of constant weeping...

... so much weeping.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Determined to expand his territory onto the continent Humphrey came up with what he thought to be a foolproof plan...

...even if his older brother has explained to him in detail exactly why it wasn't.

So join us as we discuss his ambitions, his marriages and his eventual downfall.

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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After seeing the way that women in the 1910s were experiencing the criminal justice system, Margaret decided that the only way to improve things would be to have women on the front lines as police officers in their own right, and she would not rest until it happened...

...which thanks to the start of WWI wouldn't actually take as long as she might have feared.

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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This week we are looking into the biggest disaster in the history of Glasgow shipbuilding, when a relatively small ship designed to ferry people and cargo to Northern Ireland instead became a sunken tomb for over 100 people. Even worse it was a disaster that occurred in front of a large audience, and only a biscuit throw from shore.

A tale of cutting corners and entirely predictable consequences the story of the Daphne goes to show that the Victorians were experts at putting profits before people.

With a bonus discussion of over 500 years of ship building on the west coast of Scotland that features a cameo from at least two separate King James'

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Luckily for him he was born just in time for the dawning of powered flight. Slightly less luckily he was also in prime position to influence he development of British fighter planes during both world wars.

So join us as we shamelessly name drop some of the most important men in aviation history and discuss how the RAF were able to have the edge on the competition in spite of the Government as we delve into the life and times of centurion Sir Thomas Sopwith (who may or may not have murdered his father in cold blood....)

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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At least it did to Gerrard Winstanley, a failed businessman who took the promise of more equality to the extreme when he founded a commune in Surrey with the belief that God had told him to prove to the people of England that private property was against the teachings of Jesus.

Regardless of if this was true or not, the local landowners were not about to let Gerrard potentially prove that communal living without any attempt to profit off your fellow man could work, so they wrote to the new republic government and soon the head of the army became involved.

So join us for a story of naive optimism in the face of state power and vested interests as we see if anyone in the country actually dug the Diggers.

Guest Host: Pam Loetterle

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Starting with the most famous theatre fire in 1613 we discuss how, over the next 400 or so years, theatre owners never seemed to learn the lesson that basic safety precautions are never too expensive in the long run (also, buildings insurance seems to be a worthwhile investment).

So join us as we discuss how hundreds of people who just wanted to be entertained for a few hours were burned, choked, crushed and even had their pants literally set on fire as a result of some dodgy decision making in pursuit of profits.

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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After annoying his colleagues in Edinburgh for over a decade, Robert found himself being passed over for plumb positions to the point that he decided to move to London to see if the English would be more appreciative of his skills (and tolerant of his personality).

A man who combined natural talent with an inventive mind and a total inability to accept anything other than perfection, Robert Liston was definitely the may you wanted in charge of your operation, but the last person you would ever want to work with.

Guest Host: Ang Reddoch

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Having worked her way up to the point where she met the property threshold for a vote (had she been a man) Lilly Maxwell found herself added to the electoral roll for a hastily arranged by-election in Manchester in November 1867.

Encouraged to use this mistake as an opportunity to prove that a woman voting would not cause the world to end, Lilly, a Scotswoman in her 60s, had an opportunity to make history.

But would she take it? Would her vote be counted? And what would the fallout be if she did?

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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Born into obscurity near Manchester (possibly), young John Smith (at least we assume that was his name) dreamed of becoming famous throughout the British Isles and beyond.

To this end he reinvented himself as 'Baron Spolasco', a doctor who could cure absolutely anything, provided you had the cash.

So join us as we cover a life of flim-flammery of the highest order. With manslaughter cases, shipwrecks and children of questionable origin thrown in for good measure...

...as long as we can get Ollie's equipment sorted out.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Join us as we discuss the criminal inclinations of butchers, the impact of war with France, and the potential pitfalls of bigamy.

Guest Hosts: Emma Heathcote & Ollie Green

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Robert Fortune was a poor Scots horticulturalist who just so happened to have been born at a time when plant hunting was deemed to be of vital importance to the British Empire.

Determined that his last name would not be his only fortune Robert agreed to travel to China to steal the secrets of their their most valuable commodity... Tea.

Going deep undercover Robert would become the lynchpin in a plot to start a rival tea production industry in British controlled India. Of course this would mean long years away from his wife and children, but Robert seemed more than happy with this arrangement.

Would he be caught? Would the plants he stole survive the journey to India? and would his disguise be deemed culturally insensitive to a modern audience?

All these questions and more will be answered.

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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We are talking all about Dr John Donne. Born a Catholic and a child genius, we follow his career, love-life and eventual conversion (by Royal Decree) to become the most famous Anglican preacher of his day...

...who also liked to write saucy poetry.

Far more than just the bloke who wrote; 'For whom the bell tolls', Dr Donne was a man who found a way to get to where he wanted to be. Even if he was occasionally a bit of a goth/emo about things.

Guest Presenter: Pamela Loetterle

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Unfortunately being a king isn't all about battles, and in every other aspect it could be argued that Richard I was sadly lacking.

So join us for a story of battles and poor decision making as we discuss the life and times of Richard the Lionheart! (and his tangental influence on the England football team.)

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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Determined to serve during WWII, Jasper ended up in Cairo where the British were facing off against the tactical might of Rommel in the deserts surrounding the Nile Delta.

What follows is a story of increasingly sophisticated (and almost unbelievable) deceptions which, according to Jasper, were crucial in turning the tide of the North Africa conflict...

...of course that is if you believe Jasper.

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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Following their father losing his interest in the Cadbury's factory following the death of his wife, his two young sons George and Richard decided that they would take up the reins and try to turn things around.

With a few false starts along the way, a world trip to find inspiration and a threat to change tack to Chartered Surveying, this is a tale of learning on the job and taking risks to get one up on your rivals.

*NOW WITH BONUS POST-CREDITS CONTENT!*

Guest Presenter: Emma Heathcote

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The son of immigrants Julius was determined that he would become a man of power, wealth and influence within Court, setting his sights on the position of 'Master of the Rolls.' But as his family were new money rather than an established noble line, he would have to take a rather circuitous route in his rise to power and influence.

With potentially more historical name drops than any other episode in Consistently Eccentric History, join us as we make the case that Sir Julius Caesar should be just as well known as his famous namesake.

Lead Host: Pamela Loetterle

Guest Host: Joe Heathcote

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Barry Williams was a man who struggled to see other people as anything other than objects, and who had a fascination with guns, which is not the best combination.

So when he began to get annoyed with his neighbours in the middle 70s, it was only a matter of time before he decided he needed to take steps to get rid of them.

But at least he would not be released from custody and left to stockpile a second arsenal of weapons... Right?!

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Denounced by her neighbours as a witch, Mother Shipton leaned into the role in order to survive and did such a good job that she is still remembered nearly 500 years later.

But what parts of her story are true? Was she actually able to tell the future? And why did it take so long after her death for anyone to write her biography?

Tune in to find out.

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

If you like what we can do you can leave us a tip on Kofi at: ko-fi.com/consistentlyeccentrichistory

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Quickly rising in influence after leaving his home of Portugal in his 30s, Dr Lopez managed to reach the dizzying heights of personal physician to Queen Elizabeth herself.

But the desire to return home never left him, and the schemes he participated in to try and engineer a chance to live out his days back in Portugal led him deeper and deeper into a tangled web of split loyalties and risky choices...

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

If you enjoy our podcast you can drop us a donation on KoFi at:

ko-fi.com/consistentlyeccentrichistory

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With a brief history of whisky production over the years, explaining how a monopoly of larger distillers was encouraged by the government and how this may have contributed to setting the conditions for the disasters that followed, it is a story of profit over safety...

Luckily that sort of thing never happens nowadays right?

Guest Host: Ollie Green

*We are using the Scottish spelling in deference to the fact that Ollie does live in Scotland, not because we have an official preference between the two.

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When she was abandoned by her husband Hannah Snell decided that she was not going to take it lying down. So (according to her) she borrowed a set of her brother-in-law's clothes and headed off in hot pursuit as 'James Grey'... A name which was also borrowed from her brother-in-law.

According to her biography what followed was nearly 5 years of deception which included stints in both the Army and the Navy as well as trips to India and Africa... but just how reliable were her stories? And would she ever actually find her husband so she could give him a piece of her mind?

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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From the initial wreckers of the middle ages, through early attempts to formalise a system of help for stricken sailors, two world wars and the creation of the RNLI.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

If you like the episode you can support us via KO Fi at: ko-fi.com/consistentlyeccentrichistory

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When the plague was threatening the colony of Hong Kong the British Colonial Government had a chance to take decisive action to stop the outbreak in its tracks. All they would have to do would be to impose some restrictions...

... unfortunately this would likely cause profits to temporarily dip, and we can't have that can we?

Guest Host: Ang Reddoch

If you want to leave us a tip you can do at:

ko-fi.com/consistentlyeccentrichistory

All proceeds go back into making more episodes!

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We are coming in hot with the story of Thomas Day and his 'experiment' to try and raise a girl to become his perfect wife. Taking Sabrina from an orphanage at age 12 (under false pretences) he spent the next 6-7 years trying to mould her into becoming the kind of woman that he would want to spend the rest of his life with.

Would he succeed? Why was he not arrested? How did this man have friends?

All of these questions and more will be answered!

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

You can support what we do by leaving a tip at: https://ko-fi.com/consistentlyeccentrichistory/goal?g=0

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Starting out with a passion for plants and a plan to make a career creating beautiful gardens, Marjory Allen became convinced that gardens and green spaces should be a tool for improving the lives of all of the people living in Britain. Becoming one of the leading lights of the movement towards Landscape Architecture. Reflecting on the benefits of her own childhood spent exploring and getting muddy at the family farm, she soon developed an idea for how she could ensure that even inner city children might be able to replicate some of the positive experiences that she had as a young girl...

... and like most innovative structural ideas, it came originally from the Scandinavians.

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote (The princess of wordplay)

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And when the first Governor left and placed the leader of the New South Wales Corps in temporary charge things went downhill fast. Which is always a likely outcome when alcohol becomes the primary currency...

The impact of allowing the New South Wales Corps to abuse their power, even for a short time, led to nearly 20 years of struggle to get the colony in Australia under some sort of control.

This week we will be talking about these efforts, how they were undermined, and how eventually the Colonial Office got so desperate that they appointed the former captain of the HMS Bounty, William Bligh, to be the new Governor. Because surely you could trust everyone to follow orders under his watch?

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Despite being born in Belgium, Adrian Carton de Wiart's desire to see excitement saw him lying about both his age and nationality in order to fight for the land of his grandmother against the Boers in South Africa. This was the start of a long, distinguished and regularly painful military career.

A man apparently with no fear, and with a reputation for being damned near un-killable, Adrian would take any mission sent his way, no matter how impossible and no matter what he might lose in the process.

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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A mystery involving animal bones buried in a coffin in London. Pamala has been investigating the why, the who on a tale that takes us into the strange world of Sir Richard Owen, an anatomist who appeared much more at home around bits of dead animals and humans than he did around his wife (if the length of their engagement was anything to go by).

So join us for a podcasting debut and some extra talk regarding how to get human bones through airport security, amongst other topics.

Guest Host: Joe Heathcote.

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With a good quota of vikings, many a fortunate death along the way and some of the most difficult to pronounce names we have come across in a while, join us to learn about this important Wessex monarch.

Now if only we could figure out where we left him....

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Starting as a way to keep workers motivated in a munitions factory in Preston, the Dick Kerr Ladies quickly developed a reputation as the best team in the country (and specifically as a better team that the French could muster). Their charitable aims and massive crowds shining a spotlight on the fact that the women's game could be every bit as competitive and exciting as the men's.

Unfortunately the FA didn't like the idea of having to compete, and so hatched a dastardly plan to prevent Women's football from continuing to grow...

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote (Goalkeeper)

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When he was told that he was too poor to marry a Cape Codder by the name of Goodie Hallett, Sam decided that he would just have to get rich as quickly as possible. Which (considering his only skill was sailing) naturally led him down the road to piracy.

But would he be good at it? Would he make enough money to win his Goodie? And what would Goodie do while she waited? All this and more will be answered, regardless of if you want it to be!

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote (Who does not like extended discussions regarding nautical administration)

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So enjoy a bonus conversation between Joe, Ollie and Emma to determine if cotton merchant James Maybrick was indeed the most notorious criminal of the 1800s...

...if Joe can manage to keep them both on topic.

Guest Hosts: Ollie Green and Emma Heathcote

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Well you might end up with a man like James Maybrick who became obsessed with patent medicines to an apparently deadly degree.

A successful Liverpool Cotton Merchant, James married a young American woman called Florence, however he neglected to mention that he already had a secret family (which seems like it might have been an important). When this secret finally got out it led to a series of events that resulted in death, accusations of murder and the acquisition of many many cats.

So join us this week with a tale of Late Victorian scandal and the perils of an unregulated medicine industry.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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With quick explainers of why Pharaoh's started being buried in the Vally of the Kings, and how Tutankhamun came to die at the age of only 19 (though without mentioning the fact he was a child of incest and was married to his own sister). We follow the story of Howard Carter, a self-taught illustrator with a single-minded ambition who would do anything to stay in Egypt and keep searching for the elusive boy-king and in doing so became one of the most famous archeologists ever...

...Shame he hated talking to people.

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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Alma Fielding had it all, a new three bed house, a husband on a good wage and (potentially) a lover that she kept in the shed at the bottom of the garden... though this last one might have been cobblers.

But following a bout of kidney trouble she suddenly found herself under poltergeist attack!

Luckily for her a paranormal investigator called Nandor Fodor was on hand to help. Prepare for a wild tale of ever escalating paranormal problems, with appearances from Harry Houdini, Bela Lugosi and Sigmund Freud.

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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...Which we cover in reverse order to ensure that you are paying attention. And by the end we do promise that we will confirm which fight was in fact the last battle to ever be fought on English soil (to this point at least).

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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....that Joe try Marmite again.

It turned out that Ollie was deadly serious, so in order to ensure that the episode would be released on time Joe gave in to the demand. This allowed an opportunity to discuss the historical significance of Marmite (amazingly it turns out to have been quite important during the 20th century) and to chat about various other foods, before the conversation deteriorated into the tangental randomness that dominates all the conversations within the team when a script is not involved.

So if you want a bit of an insight into how we warm up for recording, or if you just want another opportunity to hear our lovely voices please enjoy...

.... and sorry for the swearing.

Diva of a Co-host making demands: Ollie Green

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In this first episode we are covering an accidental WWII mini-invasion, a mental health crisis that went way too far, and the many ramblings of Bonnie Prince Charlie. But were any of these actually battles? Tune in to find out if we will even need a part two!

Guest Host: Ollie Green

*Disclaimer - the host's views on Marmite are their own and should not be considered representative of Consistently Eccentric History.

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This week we are discussing the content of those pamphlets, how reliable they might be, and trying to understand why a person would admit to eating their own poop while giving evidence in a court of law.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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When banished from the court of his godmother Queen Elizabeth for saucy translations John had five years to contemplate life, and he came to the conclusion that his life could be made measurably better if he was able to poo in comfort.

So he set about trying to come up with an improved defecation system, one that he would eventually present to the Queen herself.

Would she like it? Would John be allowed to return to court? And what exactly is a 'Gong Farmer'?

Join us to find out. Now with 30% more conversations about poo!

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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This week we are off to New Zealand to discuss how a misunderstanding in a quickly translated treaty led to all out war between the British and the Maori (despite that fact that they had been united by a hatred of the French).

What started out as a mutually beneficial arrangement was quickly ruined by the British insisting on introducing tariffs and otherwise messing with the sovereignty of the Maori people of the North Island. But while in other countries the British were able to bully their way to absolute power over the locals, the Maori were not going to take it lying down.

They decided to make their frustrations known via the medium of flags, leading to one of the more unique wars the British Empire was ever involved in.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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A native of St. Andrews, born a short chip shot from the famous old course, Tom Morris was exposed to golf from the time he could walk.

However golf-related fallings out would lead to an extended exile from his home town, one that could only be ended by proving himself to be the best golfer in the British Isles....

How hard could that be?

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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James Oglethorpe was a member of the upper classes, soldier, MP and murderer (though he didn't often put this last one on his CV). Despite coming from extreme privilege, James decided to dedicate his career in Parliament to trying to reform the conditions of the common man, both in the Royal Navy and in the prison system.

It was only when his attempts to work within the parliamentary system hit a brick wall that James began thinking that things would be much easier if he was able to set up a society of his own. Where he could make the rules and ensure equality for all...

...and it just so happened that there was a space between Carolina and Florida that hadn't yet been settled.

Guest Host: Pam Lotterle

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Unfortunately the doctor in question enjoyed collecting interesting medical oddities... and he had just come up with a new method of embalming that he was keen to try out.

So join us for a tale of phobias, specialised coffins, legal muddles and ghosts.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Consisting of only four nights over the course of less than a month, the people of Belfast could not have imagined the amount of horror that could be caused in such a short span of time. But when your government assumed that they would never need to defend themselves, they tend to be slightly under prepared.

So join us for a tale of how misplaced confidence can result in terrible consequences of historic proportions.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Originally due to be held in Italy, a last minute change was required due to an unfortunately timed natural disaster. This allowed London to sneak in and put together a very British games in practically no time. From the eccentric stadium, to the selection of events, and even the rules, the 1908 games were designed for one purpose only; to put Britain at the top of the medal table.

But would the organisers succeed? Would swimmers become accidentally impaled, and what exactly are the differences between 'British Athletics Rules' and the rules that the rest of the world follow?

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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If you have not listened to part one yet, I would strongly suggest that you do so, otherwise there will be quite a few references and callbacks that will likely not make sense. Though I can appreciate it may be hard to tell if the episode seems any more chaotic than usual.

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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While most of her subjects seemed to love the young Queen, the inequality in Britain meant that there were plenty of people who felt that life was rigged against them and at least three of these subjects had access to guns.

So join us for a tale of poor marksmanship, even poorer assessments of mental health, and weird historical quirks in the first of a two part series on the people who wanted to show the establishment that they were very, very frustrated with their position in Victorian Britain.

Gust Host: Emma Heathcote

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Hatching a plot alongside not one, but two lovers, Catherine figured that the bustle of London would allow her to get away with bumping off her husband. Just as long as they could quickly get rid of the evidence. After all, no body no crime, right?

But even without a formal police force, would Catherine's plan succeed, would she finally get to enjoy her husband's money in the thruple of her dreams? And how exactly do you figure out who a head belongs to before photographs were a thing?

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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It is a story of not following conventions and updating the image of the royal family into the recognisable state it is today, and is one of the few stories we cover where my lifetime overlaps with the subject (which amazed Evie no end.)

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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Armed only with her own sense of self importance and a gift for making up stories, she left for London, determined to make her fortune. Free to reinvent her past she began presenting herself first as a globetrotter and then as a foreigner with a persona that drifted further and further from Britain as time passed.

The end result was Princess Caraboo, member of a Javanese royal family who excited the nobility of the small village of Almondsbury.

Would Mary be able to keep up her deception? What was her end game? And did she finally get to travel the world as she always wanted? We answer these questions and more.

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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Convinced that somewhere in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains was a Tribe of Welsh native Americans, John Smith headed out into the wilds with only the clothes on his back and less than two dollars in his pocket. Did he find the tribe? Did he even survive? And what legacy did his adventures leave. Join us to find out.

Guest Host: Pamela Lotterle (who you can find on instagram: @porters_rest) a fellow history buff.

# Apologies for the sound quality on the episode, we hope the story more than makes up for it #

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That lifelong dream was to become an executioner.

Donning a fake name and a sharp suit he became the go to guy for hanging prisoners throughout the 1910s and roaring 20s. But would even a former soldier be able to cope with such a stressful job into his old age?

It was all likely to be fine, just so long as his wife didn't find out what he was actually doing on his trips away...

Guest host: Ollie Green

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The daughter of a Jewish Watchmaker, Phoebe Marks couldn't have expected to climb too far socially, however her intelligence, tenacity (and the fact that her aunts just so happened to run a school) allowed her to pursue her love of science and mathematics all the way to Cambridge university.

An inventor, a suffragette, and a woman responsible for saving countless thousands of lives on the front lines of WWI. Hertha was a force to be reckoned with no matter what she turned her mind to.

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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Was he able to avoid ever seeing his housekeeper? What happened if someone wanted to ask him a question? And just how does one go about weighing planet Earth? These questions and more will be answered.

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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However when his old buddy Walter needed someone to lead a fleet to save the Jamestown colony, George answered the call, taking to the seas one last time...

...what could possibly go wrong?

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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With a simple plan and more bravery that engineering know how John set out to begin harvesting the ocean floors for profit. Just watch out for the leaks.]

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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After nearly four years of talking about the weirder bits of history I have finally relented and agreed to give Emma a full episode of nothing but cats cats cats.

Specifically a motley collection of eight moggys who have held the prestigious role of Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office over the past nearly 100 years. It is a story full of scandal which is at times equal parts tragedy and farce. We hope you enjoy, and here's to the next 150!

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

*This episode was written with the help of Magic Mind productivity shots. To learn more about how Magic Mind can help you increase focus and beat procrastination you can go to: www.magicmind.com*

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Join us as we discover how England was finally able to sync up. Why the tax year begins on April 6th and how the hell you actually calculate Easter.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

This episode was written with the help of Magic Mind, a productivity shot to boost energy and focus and help you to overcome procrastination. To learn more visit www.magicmind.com

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.... well, arranged marriage at least.

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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Capable of extreme cruelty which he would justify with a very idiosyncratic moral code Ned Low provided the exclamation mark to the end of the golden age of Piracy and has gone down in history as the most bloodthirsty pirate who has ever existed.

So join us for a tale of badly named ships, questionable cooking techniques and blood, blood, blood!

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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Born into a nomadic family, Jonathan consoled himself by convincing himself that his life would be in service of a greater purpose. While this allowed him to cope with extreme situations it also lead to him developing a very singular moral compass which at times brought him into direct conflict with the authorities.

So join us as we follow him over the high seas and into conflict with multiple long-suffering vicars toward his ultimate, god-directed purpose.

Just remember to hid the guns....

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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However despite both Isabella and Catherine doing the dutiful thing it was a later decision by Catherine to marry a simple Welsh Knight that would actually have the most long reaching impact on British History.

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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Arthur Owens, a Welshman with a chip on his shoulder, was a man who wanted money and was not in the least bit concerned about the amount of treason he might need to commit to get it. Flip flopping wildly between the British and the Nazi's he somehow managed to convince both sides that he was just about useful enough to not shoot in the face...

But was he able to keep up his double dealing once WWII kicked off and the stakes were raised?

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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Robert Curthose, the oldest son and heir to William, was a young man with a chip on his shoulder. This was partly due to his derogatory nickname, but also due to the fact that his father made it clear that he wasn't willing to give him any responsibilities. Unfortunately it turned out that his father was right to keep Robert as far away from the administration of his kingdoms as possible...

...but at least he was relatively good at hitting other people with his sword.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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See you for more official new episodes in 2024.

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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Beginning in the Neolithic, join us for a whistle stop tour of how a pagan celebration of renewal developed into the unstoppable juggernaut of presents and overeating that we enjoy today. Just watch out for the hot cockles!

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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While our American cousins had been seeing aliens regularly for almost a decade, the British had been much less willing to disclose any extraterrestrial encounters. That was until pulp fiction writer and amateur astronomer Cedric Allingham spotted a saucer while walking on the Scottish coast.

Cedric wrote a book on his experience of meeting and trying (with little success) to chat to a Martian. But would he be believed, or derided as nothing but a hoaxer?

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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Which is a situation that would never lead to any negative consequences...

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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Unfortunately the chasing of profit above all else does not sit particularly well with good health and safety practices.

Join us as we follow three generations of the Meux family and see how, if you are wealthy enough to begin with, you can ignore all sense of responsibility and consequence. But at least that is no longer true in Britain today...

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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And what a story it is! covering over 500 years and thousands of miles we follow the four men (possibly 5) who were destined to be remembered evermore in the British Isles as the patron saints of each country...

And an Emma episode will be along presently.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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A head chopping machine with a lovely view of the nearby brook, the Halifax gibbet was essentially a business sponsored initiative to reduce the amount of cloth theft in the local area. An obscenely over the top (though arguably very successful) method of ensuring profits were protected, the gibbet was infamous throughout the land for over 100 years, during which time the blade was reportedly never sharpened...

...though at least the people facing the gibbet in Halifax could console themselves that they weren't being executed in Hull.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Sir Patrick Moore's enthusiasm for astronomy was a passion so intense that he was able to create a 50 year television institution based on the sheer force of his personality alone.

A man who believed that the truth should never get in the way of a good story, he was more than happy to continually update his own biography in order to increase his status as a national treasure. So join us as we go beyond the monocle and try to sift the facts from the fictions in the life of one of the most successful amateurs of the last 100 years.

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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... and ready to get rolling with the new series of episodes by introducing Evie to the concept of family history via the story of a fellow Heathcote made good.

Hailing from the same area of Derbyshire as the forefathers of Consistently Eccentric, Gilbert Heathcote was the eldest of a set of very industrious brothers who raised the bar for the concept of social mobility. To the point that he was even able to claim ownership of a swan or two. We follow his sometimes rocky rise from an apprentice merchant to the heights of Georgian society.

With a special appearance from an irate Queen Anne.

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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Convinced that planes were the key to future wars, Claude launched a one man crusade (sponsored by the Daily Mail) to ensure that the British would be the premier European force when it came to air power. Despite lacking both the creativity of the French and the discipline of the Germans. What resulted was a wild decade of creative output with dizzying highs and frustrating 3.3bhp lows.

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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Even the endless naive optimism of William Paterson is no match for the sheer amount of reality that the expeditions experienced over the course of two harrowing years that almost bankrupted a country and set Scotland on the path to agreeing to the Act of Union.

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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He was not bothered by the fact that he had never visited the place. By the fact that he could not get anyone to invest outside of Scotland. By the open hostility of the English East India Company and the lack of support from the King...

William knew that so long as he was in charge everything would be great, and it would only cost the low, low price of half of the totality of the Scottish economy.

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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Starting out as a middle-class draper with all the advantages of a private education and tonnes of family connections it seemed like Edward Wightman would be living life on easy street (or as easy as it could be in Elizabethan England). Unfortunately his education turned out to be a bit more liberal than his parents might have expected, introducing him a world of non-conformist Christian worship and new-fangled religious ideas.

Still, so long as he kept his head down it was sure to be fine...

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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That honour goes to William Tate, an Irish-American working on behalf of the French to invade England in order to support republicanism in Ireland at the end of the 18th century. This week we follow his ill-fated mission, trying to decide if he was merely overly confident or downright delusional as he led his ramshackle force of men into the wilds of western Wales for the glory of the new French Republic.

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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Naturally this led to him being hated by the people of England and always seeming to be quite unhappy.

Eventually he decided that if he would never be king of England he may as well try to be king of somewhere, that somewhere being Castile in modern day Spain.

Join us this week to find out how he got on.

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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Peter Wildeblood was a man happy to keep his public and private lives irreconcilably separate. A successful journalist with many friends he had no reason to think that the regressive anti homosexuality laws still on the statute books would ever be used against him. That was until the threat of communism in America led to a crackdown on homosexuality in high office, and as foreign correspondent for the Daily Mail Peter Wildeblood just so happened to be friends with many a successful gay man.

Finding himself on trial to suit the government's agenda of appeasing the Americans Peter decided that he was not going to try and disown his sexuality, instead making a stand that helped to shift the public perception on same sex relationships in the process... A bold strategy indeed, but would it keep him from being sent to prison?

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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With special guest appearance from Richard Tanner! (See episode 113 for details)

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

*Gender of killer may vary...

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With special guest appearances from Winston Churchill and the Daily Mail (neither of whom come off well).

Deeds Not Words!

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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So prepare for tales of blood, flame, mind-bending terror and a lord of darkness seemingly obsessed with building civic infrastructure.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Possibly the most successful of these pre-zoo proprietors was George Wombwell, a man who traded in a shoe making business in Soho to start his own travelling menagerie in 1810.

But did 40 years of travelling in close quarters with some of the most awe inspiring animals ever lead him to question if his business was ethical?

You better believe it didn't!

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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But when the powers that be took away his lands and titles Thomas decided that he would just cut out the middleman, arrange a quick coup and make himself ruler of a country (preferably Ireland, but any country would do at a pinch).

What followed was a decade of daring escapades that made Thomas the king of all traitors in the British Isles. All he really needed to confirm it was a crown of his very own....

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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John Snow may have been born into filthy conditions but he grew up to be a poster boy for clean living. A vegetarian teetotaller who regularly attended church, he seemed like the kind of guy you would listen to when he suggested that contaminated water might be the cause of Cholera...

You know, as long as posh London doctors wouldn't discriminate based on what class someone was born into.

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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Born into a rich family Isabella would almost certainly have lived as a respectable, if boring, upper-class Victorian housewife, but luckily for her she developed a spinal tumour and was prescribed travel by her doctors as part of her recovery.

This sparked a lifelong love of going places and writing about what she saw. Which would see her visiting five continents, observing many buff young men and even managing the most impressive feat of all. Being accepted as competent by Victorian men!

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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Join us as we travel from the UK to South Africa and beyond before settling in San Francisco to look at how one of the most liberal cities in America was happy to accept the rule of an Emperor from England for over 20 glorious years. Featuring Freemasons, false arrest and a dog called 'Bummer.'

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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When she rebuffed his advances, he did not take it well. Leading to a decades long spat that eventually escalated to Philip deciding that his only option was to plan an all out invasion of England. The resulting marine mobilisation has become known to history as The Spanish Armada, a sea based army that surely could not fail...

Right?

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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Featuring special guest star, Harry Price!

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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After seeking adventure as part of the RAF in WWII, Ulric yearned to reinvent himself as a lawyer. Struggling for opportunities in England he accepted an invite to head over to West Africa to help in the process of disentangling brand new nation states from their colonial pasts...

Which was sure to be a relatively simple task, surely?

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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*Warning - There is discussion of suicide in this episode*

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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So settle in for 12 stories including: An avid fan of funerals, a terrible murderer, an elderly fraudster and an attempted assassination... of a Queen!

Normal service will be resumed with episode 113 on October 21st.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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While you would expect that there being few workers for many jobs would push up wages, the King and his nobles decided that they didn't want to pay more so they instead introduced laws to force the working class to accept a real terms cut in living standards (Imagine a government trying to do similar today?!)

I am sure it didn't cause any long term issues though....

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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Needless to say they were never short of work, or variety, from a monarch who sent tens of thousands of people to their deaths during his 36 year reign. What kind of impact does a lifetime of torturing and killing have on the human mind? Well, needless to say that neither man died peacefully in their bed.

Guest Hosts: Ang and Mel

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anyway, buckle up for nearly 2 hours of Royal facts and borderline treasonous chat.

Guest Host: Joe Heathcote

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We talk about the reasons Boudica became a bit miffed with the Romans, and how she decided to teach them a lesson. All to the backdrop of many, many people dying. With a special guest appearance from Caractacus.

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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But how would Topham cope with his sudden fame and fortune....

...badly. Really, really badly.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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However everyone has to hear the story for the first time at some point and I have found a willing six year old volunteer (my own child) to hear about it all for the very first time. Will she understand the reasons for the conflict? Will she be happy with the outcome? Does she have the attention span to complete the episode?

All these questions and more will be answered!

Guest Host: Evie Heathcote

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Proving that big business using politics to protect their interests has always been a thing, and that the law has always favoured the rich this is a story of the plucky underdogs standing up to a powerful bully (played to perfection by the British army!) which, rarely for this show, has a generally positive ending.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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We should all just be thankful that there was an American on hand....

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote (and her glass of wine)

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Mendoza was reluctant prize fighter who nevertheless birthed some of the most enduring tropes of boxers to come, including the idea of a trilogy of fights against a single opponent and using the press to drum up interest. Now with exclusive discussion of shoe measuring systems!

Guest Host: Ollie Green*

*Former Husband of Julian Clary.

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But then everyone thinks they are tough until they try to invade Scotland...

Guest Host: Ollie Green*

*Special bonus feature!!! A Scottish dialect based quiz!!!

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William Topaz McGonagall was a man who knew that the had the spirit of an artist. Unfortunately he had the occupation of a weaver and would have to wait until he was over half a century old before he could begin pursuing his dream in earnest.

With a long-suffering wife in tow he vowed to become the greatest poet in British History, determined to achieve fame, fortune, Royal favour and the respect of his fellow man...

One out of four isn't too bad, right?

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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Was it real? Was it a hoax? And what was the interest rate on a 13 Guinea loan in 1760?

We answer these questions and more!

Guest Host: Ollie Green*

*with special guests: a group of youths revving their dirt bikes.

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We follow Anna Maria as she navigates the decadence of Pre-revolutionary Paris, the uncertainty and paranoia of 'The Terror' and the absolute horror of marriage (Though it did provide a snappier name). It is a story of death, extortion and above all lies upon lies upon lies. Though how can a successful business be built upon anything else?

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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However the near absolute power they were given over their students did eventually corrupt each man leading to a missed opportunity and a completely avoidable tragedy.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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With no discernible skills in diplomacy, war or financial management David Ochterlony Dyce Sombre would have found the transition from heir to ruler hard at the best of times, but at a time of East India Company expansion it was virtually impossible. At least he could appeal to the English Courts for justice though...

... right?

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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Alexander Bain was a man with hundreds of good ideas but an unfortunate habit of encountering people determined to steal the credit (and cash) that came with them. Join us as we discover if he was able to survive the cutthroat world of the upper class Victorian Gentleman-Engineer.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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So long as he could suppress his urges to commit crimes....

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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But don't worry, it is very unlikely that anyone in this story will face any consequences for their actions*

Guest host: Ollie Green

*Aside from Charles I, obviously.

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Starting out writing pamphlets for the group she quickly progressed to taking part in direct action, engaging in ever more daring and dangerous protests before eventually creating one of the the most enduring images of the struggle for women's votes in 1913.

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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Meet Elizabeth, a young daughter from a family that barely classed as nobility. Not satisfied with the idea of being married off to incrementally improve her family's standing Elizabeth set out to climb the social ladder right to the very top using a carefully blended mix of good business sense, keen political instincts and of course aggressive marriage contracts.

She also loved building country houses, because everyone needs a hobby.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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William of Orange wanted to make Plymouth his main naval dockyard, with the only slight issue being a square mile of razor sharp rocks 9 miles offshore. But not to worry, it would be a simple fix. All it needed was someone to figure out how to build the worlds first open ocean lighthouse, and if they could front the money themselves then that would be just perfect....

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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William Churchill will not be pleased!

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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Not content to wait for the complex politics of the Clan system to resolve a dispute that had lasted for over 26 years, King Robert III decided to get a bit Roman and built a mini colosseum in Perth where the two sides could thrash things out (literally).

Featuring booze, blacksmiths and a cat's bot!

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Convinced that Mathematics was the key that could unlock the gates of heaven itself all he had to do was convince the royal family that he was not a heretic, and find some way of talking to angels. Both tasks that proved to be quite difficult.

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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Forced to support his mother and eight siblings from the age of 14, William never had the chance to let his hair down and sow his wild oats at the time that most young men do. However after a (very) brief jaunt in the Navy William finally found time for love. Join us as we see how this worked out for William, and the women of Hessle Road.

Now with two extra Burkitts for no extra cost!

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Born in Scotland, Jessie Jordan was a woman on a lifelong mission to find a place to belong. Burdened with a family curse forbidding her to be able to find a satisfying romantic relationship she was more than willing to seek a sense of family in more clandestine circles. Because hairdressers are well known for keeping secrets... Right?

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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In order to answer that question we have to discuss the origin of Humans, the rise of the Homo Sapiens and, of course, bears.

With special appearances by: Diprotodon! Gigantopithecus! and more!

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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So join us in the Market Town of Alton to see how a little girl called Fanny Adams became famous in the worst possible way, with a legacy that endures to this day,

Guest Host: Ollie Green

*WARNING - This episode does contain graphic descriptions of child murder. If this is triggering for you please feel free to give this episode a swerve*

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With a bold style and liberal use of nipples and penises he quickly rocketed to the top of the London artistic scene... Unfortunately the only way to go from the top is down.

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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... and no, he didn't see the inherent problem in wanting these two diametrically opposed things at all.

As you can imagine his life was not the smoothest sailing (though he did end up spending quite a bit of time on boats).

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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Their decision, interestingly, turned out to be no one...

Guest Host / Poet: Ollie Green

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Meet Perce Blackborow, a man who managed to pick the absolute worst way to try and live his dreams. But don't worry, at least he didn't lose any body parts...

...probably.

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Always ready to pick a side in the major issues of the day, once her mind was made up Constance was all in and would accept no compromises. Also she was pretty handy with a gun....

....I am sure it will all be fine.

Guest Host: Matt Hare

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Unfortunately for Madison Washington it was only once he had made it safely to Canada that he realised he had forgotten his wife. Returning to rescue her proved to be more eventful than Washington was hoping, sparking an international incident and indirectly contributing to the start of a war.

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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Never mind that Louisa Merrifield was only 46 and had no savings and a drinking problem when she made this decision. She was the kind of person who believed that where there was a will their was a way...

...in this case the will of a 79 year old widower called Sarah Ricketts.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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We are covering the tale of a Scottish noblewoman who was singularly unimpressed with the English having another bash at conquering her homeland and who decided that she was not going to just let them into her castle.

Despite the presence of siege weapons and being outnumbered by well over 2,000 to 1.

Was she brave? Was she suicidal? Did the English fight fairly or resort to dirty tricks? Find out the answers to these questions and more in the final episode of 2021!

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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A feat of human endurance that was as pointless as it was completely avoidable Thomas Wyatt Bagshawe proved beyond a doubt that you can always find some science to do if you look hard enough (though obviously not too hard to minimise the risk of snow blindness.)

Guest Host: Harry Heathcote

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We are going to the tip of Cornwall and the 16th century to discuss the legend that is a fisherman called Tom, who may or may not have saved an entire village from resorting to cannibalism. We discuss the cultural impact of his heroism that persists to this day, and the modern addition of cats to the story.

With a bonus recipe for a vert special fish pie!

Guest Host: Joe Heathcote

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Featuring guest appearances from a Puritan Exorcist and Beelzebub, the lord of the flies!

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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A study in the pros and cons of acquired brain injury, join us as we cover the two sides of Edward 2.0, reborn as Eadweard Muybridge!

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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A standoff between a wannabe sultan and the forces of the British protectorate. The entire conflict hinged on the calculation that the British would want to disrupt trade less than they wanted to handpick the next ruler (as was explicitly stated in the constitution that they had helped the previous Sultan to draw up.)

Join us as we cover the tense days that led up to the war with the British forces initially outnumbered, but definitely not outgunned.

Guest Host: Matt Hare

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Of course I have also managed to shoehorn in a murder or two for good measure (you've got to give the people what they want).

Guest Host: Thomas Heathcote

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With a cameo from Queen Victoria's armpit and a short detour into American capitalism, this is a story that goes to show that innovation will always be challenged and that ultimately it is the opinion of the coming generation that matters most.

Guest Host: Ang from Dissecting Medical History

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With special (and generally brief) appearances from at least half a dozen Roman Emperors this is story of truly epic proportions, not least of all because the author couldn't help but exaggerate!

Guest Host: Matt Hare

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Join us as we chart Henry Every's rise from relative obscurity, using only his drive, his ambition, his possible sociopathy and his definite disregard for any sort of long-term thinking to become the most notorious man on the planet. Though we will leave it up to you to decide if he deserves his enduring legendary status as 'The Pirate King'

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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Although it did involve the contents of her knickers and she did spend time living in a brothel, it is nothing like you are thinking, you dirty minded person...

Guest Hosts: Jack Heathcote and special bonus guest Kate Rimmer!

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Set in the idyllic village of Polstead this story not only created a brand new genre of play, but could also be considered the spiritual grandfather of 'Midsomer Murders'. There will be jilted lovers, there will be family betrayals and double dealings, there will be scandal and melodrama aplenty and, of course, there will be a dead body or two.

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Despite starting his third decade he still managed to spend 45 years sending unfortunate souls on a short drop to meet their maker, negotiating the transition from Georgian to Victorian Britain and the inexorable decline in support for capital punishment by becoming ever more bitter and misanthropic.

Guest Hosts: Emma Heathcote and Ang from Dissecting Medical History.

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With Thomas as the brains and Robert as the face it seemed like the sky was the limit in a bromance for the ages...

What could possibly go wrong?

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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We follow Sophia Dorothea's attempts to find some crumb of happiness, however small, though if you have ever listened to our podcast before you probably already know where this is heading...

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Born into a privileged position William was a man who always wanted more, and wasn't particularly fussed about how he got it. He had no limits, no impulse control and (apparently) no real clue how to commit a robbery. But does it really matter when you are considered a gentleman?

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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Join us as we chart his meteoric rise and his heartbreaking fall, all the while questioning why this amazing sportsman is not better known.

Guest Host: Matt Hare

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...even if it takes a while to get into top gear. About 50 years to be precise.

Guest Host: Ang from Dissecting Medical History

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Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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Join us as we discuss the origins of the terms 'Albion' and 'Britannia' as understood by the average person from the middle ages. It may be questionable in terms of historical accuracy but when you have giants, daemons and classical Greek heroes in the mix do facts really matter.*

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

*Yes, yes they do.

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Join us as we talk about two men and their single fateful meeting. The first, Spencer Perceval, was a lawyer turned prime minister with conservative values and a mission from god. The second, John Bellingham, was a merchant who seemed to be completely incapable of understanding the concept of a bribe.

There will be corruption, madness, violence and even a guest appearance from the Duke of Wellington.

Guest Host: Matt Hare

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Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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This week we will follow his struggles to land his dream job and the subsequent career he forged as a hangman without equal. We even have a special guest appearance from Victorian poisoner Dr Thomas Neill Cream!

Guest Host: Ollie Green

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Following an unexplained death one York Quaker will challenge the system by setting up his own version of a hospital for the mentally ill, one without restraints and where you aren't even purged regularly. I mean can you even call it healthcare? I bet he doesn't even embezzle.

Guest Hosts: Jack and Harry Heathcote

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And for the fans of our random snippets of unrelated conversations, we have added it to the end of this episode. Also, you are weird and we like you.

Guest Host: Matt Hare

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Special guest appearance from a plucky Wales!

Guest Host: Matt Hare

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Unfortunately those dreams are questionable and lead directly to his morbid claim to fame.

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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Join us as we follow a young Brit called Edward Whymper attempting to make a name for himself in the crowded field of Victorian adventurers and explorers by reaching the summit of a mountain thought by many to be un-climbable . He may not have supplies, he may not have a plan, he may very well have alienated most of the competent local guides but what he lacks in all of these important areas he makes up for in a strong desire to beat the Italians!

Guest Host: Harry Heathcote

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It also happens to have been only 7 miles from where my Guest Host lived for 3 years... There is a chance he might actually guess this one.

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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This episode was written over a year ago so it was just as much a journey of discovery for me as Freya's travels were for her!

Guest Host: Emma Heathcote

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Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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A collaboration between a drunk poet from Dublin and the self-proclaimed 'Pimp Master General of All England' This little leather book proved to be a Christmas bestseller and a high tide mark for the sex trade in the country.

Guest Host: Ang from Dissecting Medical History Podcast

*Be aware there are discussions of a number of sex acts and mentions of rape during this episode*

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And that is just his average Tuesday...

Guest Host: Jack Heathcote

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After over half a century of raiding with practically no consequences, Ivar and his brothers decided that they might as well stay a while longer. Join us this week as we tell the tale of the time that the vikings almost conquered England. Featuring a special guest appearance by Alfred (not yet great), who's reaction to the threat of heathens from across the ocean helped to shape the British Isles as we know them today.

Guest Host: Matt Hare

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