The Things That Made England

Roifield and David's Stories of England in 50 Objects

Sun, 15 Mar 2026 16:16:55 GMT

Roifield and David talk about 5stories of England as part of the Very English Chat project, to tell stories of England in 50 objects.

‘A very English chat’ works is a wonderful project to escape division and polarisation, and the arid quarrels about flags - to build and celebrate a sense of Englishness, as part of a build up to England's national day, St George's Day on 23rd April. We are all invited to share our own 5 objects to be included in a virtual ‘pocket museum’ telling ‘The story of England 2026 in 50 objects.

To take part in a conversation between parishioners of the History of England, add your comment below, or go to the History of England Facebook Group.

To share your 5 objects for submission to the Pocket Museum of Englishness, please go to the A Very English Chat site.

I'd love to hear from you - and have fun celebrating a shared, positive and inclusive vision of Englishness means to us.

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Birmingham Midweek, Turning Points in English History with David Crowther

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 15:39:56 GMT

In this lively episode of Birmingham Midweek, host Roifield Brown returns from California to catch up with historian David Crowther, creator of The History of England podcast. The duo embarks on an ambitious journey through English history, aiming to cover turning points from the Battle of Hastings to Brexit, though they start much earlier, around 6000 BCE. Crowther brings his signature wit and depth, proposing the sinking of Doggerland as England’s first turning point, setting the stage for an insular identity.

The conversation moves swiftly through history, from the arrival of the Beaker people and the Anglo-Saxon migrations, to Alfred the Great’s resilience in 878 and the seismic shift of the Norman Conquest in 1066. Crowther highlights the establishment of Parliament in the 13th century and the pivotal role of the Magna Carta, while Brown interjects with a mix of sharp questions and local pride (including a plug for Birmingham’s market charter in 1166).

The pair push into modernity with the Industrial Revolution, abolition of slavery, and the 19th century’s political reforms, before time runs short. Despite a few playful jabs, the episode strikes a fine balance between education and entertainment, setting up a likely return to tackle the 20th century.

Five Notable Quotes:

David Crowther: “We are who we believe we are. If there’s someone in Mongolia who considers themselves English, then as far as I’m concerned, they are English.”
Roifield Brown: “Aren’t you David first? No, you’ve subsumed yourself. You are just England.”
Crowther on 1066: “The Normans didn’t just conquer England, they imposed a colonial lordship that echoes through our countryside ownership even today.”
Brown: “We pivoted from looking across the North Sea to looking south. The Normans didn’t just bring castles, they reoriented our entire culture.”
Crowther on Cromwell: “Ironically, it’s Cromwell’s legacy that pushes us toward religious toleration. Not the story most people tell.”

Further Reading:

The History of England Podcast
Benedict Anderson’s Imagined Communities
Information on the Putney Debates: British Library
The Magna Carta at the National Archives: National Archives
The 1832 Great Reform Act: UK Parliament

If you love a blend of historical insight and sharp banter, this episode delivers, and with a promise of more to come, it’s worth keeping an eye on Birmingham Midweek.

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The Levellers

Sun, 26 May 2024 07:00:58 GMT

The Levellers were the first radical political movement of modern history. They developed a full constitution based on wide male suffage, religious toleration and equality in law. They called it 'The Agreement of the People'. In 1649 they were at the very centre of power; where did they come from - and where did they go?

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In Glen's Steps: A Journey with Dementia Promo

Thu, 16 May 2024 12:21:31 GMT

In Glen's Steps: A Journey with Dementia is a deeply personal and heartfelt podcast series that explores the impact of dementia on Glenroy Brown, a man of remarkable character, and his family. Through candid conversations, personal reflections, and expert insights, we share the journey of his life, from his early years in Jamaica to his current experiences with dementia. This series offers an intimate look at the challenges, changes, and unexpected joys that come with living with this condition, providing support and understanding to families facing similar challenges.

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The Sandwich

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 07:28:07 GMT

In 1762 John Montague earl of Sandwich ordered an easy to east snack to keep his strength up while gambling - and the word Sandwich was born. Was this one of the things that made England?

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Anthony Brown, a Windrush Story.

Sun, 25 Jun 2023 22:00:54 GMT

Seventy-five years ago, on June 22, 1948, the HMT Empire Windrush docked in Tilbury, marking a pivotal moment in British history. In this episode, we delve into the significance of this landmark event, as we explore one man's journey to prove his British citizenship amidst a hostile environment. Thanks to the dedicated work of journalist Amelia Gentleman, who shed light on the plight of tens of thousands of British West Indians facing wrongful deportation, the Windrush scandal came to the forefront of public consciousness

Amelia Gentleman, a journalist renowned for her tireless efforts, played a crucial role in bringing the Windrush scandal to light. Her in-depth reporting exposed the injustices faced by the Windrush generation, many of whom had lived in Britain for decades, only to find themselves wrongly targeted by deportation measures. By acknowledging Gentleman's sterling work, we pay tribute to her dedication and the impact of her reporting in raising awareness about the systemic mistreatment faced by British West Indians and the urgent need for reform.

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David and Roifield answer your questions on UK political history.

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 21:25:12 GMT

David and Roifield answer your questions on British political history. This episode is the last in a five-part miniseries going from The Exclusion Crisis to the vote on Brexit.

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UK Party Politics - 1945 to 2019

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 16:17:37 GMT

-1945: The end of World War II and the election of Clement Attlee's Labour Party, which introduced the National Health Service (NHS) and the National Insurance Act.
1950: Labour Party loses the general election to the Conservative Party, led by Winston Churchill, who becomes Prime Minister for the second time.
1964: The Labour Party, led by Harold Wilson, wins the general election and begins a period of economic and social reform.
1970: The Conservative Party, led by Edward Heath, wins the general election, but is unable to form a stable government and calls for a new general election in
1974: The Labour Party, led by Harold Wilson, wins the general election, but is unable to form a stable government and calls for a new general election in October.
1974: Labour Party led by Harold Wilson wins the general election in October and forms a minority government.
1976: The Conservative Party, led by Margaret Thatcher, wins the general election and begins an era of neoliberal economic policies.
1979: The Conservative Party, led by Margaret Thatcher, wins the general election, beginning an era of neoliberal economic policies.
1997: Tony Blair's Labour Party wins a landslide victory, introducing policies such as the minimum wage and devolution for Scotland and Wales.
2010: Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats formed a coalition government
2015: Conservative Party led by David Cameron wins the general election, beginning a period of austerity measures and the Brexit referendum.
2016: The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in a historic referendum.
2017: Conservative Party led by Theresa May loses majority in general election, leading to a hung parliament and a minority government.
2019: Conservative party led by Boris Johnson wins a majority in general election, resulting in the UK leaving the EU on January 31, 2020.

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UK Party Politics - 1906 to 1945

Sun, 15 Jan 2023 20:26:01 GMT

David and Roifield tackle the first half of the 20th century.

Labour Representation Committee (1900–1906)

Liberal reforms 1906–1914

People's Budget (1909)

David Lloyd George

First Labour government and period in opposition (1923–1929)

1926 General Strike

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UK Party Politics - Victoriana

Sun, 08 Jan 2023 14:54:21 GMT

The Great Reform act transformed politics and parties in the UK - and Victoria's reign was the stage for one of the great political rivalries - Gladstone and Disraeli

1832: The Reform Act of 1832 expands the electorate, giving more men the right to vote.
1867: The Second Reform Act expands the electorate further, giving many working-class men the right to vote.
1885: The Liberal Party, led by William Ewart Gladstone, wins a general election.
1886: The Irish Home Rule Bill is introduced, but it fails to pass.
1892: The Liberal Party, led by Gladstone, wins another general election.
1895: The Conservative Party, led by Lord Salisbury, wins a general election.
1906: The Liberal Party, led by Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, wins a landslide victory in a general election.

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UK Party Politics - Whigs and Tories - Exclusion to The Reform Act

Sat, 31 Dec 2022 02:00:10 GMT

David and Roifield go over the start of UK party politics from Exclusion Crisis to the Great Reform act of 1832

Make the point that the growth of political parties is closely linked to the growth in the power of parliaments in Britain, and the exercise of politics in parliament rather than court, in the public eye (importance of war in that process)
What are political parties? A few definitions
Parliamentary politics before the Stuarts & the shock of the Civil Wars, & the arrival of adversarial parliaments; the concept of representation & involvement in politics
The Exclusion crisis and the Glorious Revolutions: The appearance of Whig and Tory, and what they stood for
The Whig Dominance, Hanoverians, Walpole and the unconstitutional office of PM
George III and the attempt to turn back the clock – putting the Bute in
Pitt, the French Revolution and Tory dominance
The Great Reform Act & it’s impact.

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Heavy Metal

Sun, 21 Aug 2022 07:00:17 GMT

Where did metal start? What were its influences? Who is the greatest guitarist ever? What is Feminist Doom Metal? No idea, but you will hear some clips of guitar music, and hopefully there'll be a small plastic caddy at the end of it all

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Rave Culture

Mon, 30 May 2022 16:55:57 GMT

Luke and Roifield discuss whether Rave Culture can be considered a Thing That Made England. The episode includes an interview with globe-trotting DJ Tristan and we hear one of his banging tunes. We also have music from Occult playing while we chat and this chilled, ambient track plays out to the end of the episode.

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Intelligent Speech Announcement

Mon, 23 May 2022 18:37:27 GMT

Luke announces the Intelligent Speech Conference, find out more at: https://www.intelligentspeechconference.com

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Footpaths and Commons

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 08:45:56 GMT

Ancient routes criss-cross England and Wales, giving access in law to all English and Welsh citizens across private property, to tread in the feet of countless generations. We talk firstly to Kate Ashbrook of the Open Spaces Society about the OSS's work to broaden access to the countryside and protect what we have. Then Luke and I blather on about some other issues and Right to Roam - R2R not being, I hasten to add, part of the OSS policy.

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Beer

Sun, 30 Jan 2022 08:00:01 GMT

Lulu and I discuss beer, a topic we have avoided for a while it must be said. Because - beer's been available everywhere for ever. How can the English lay claim to such a thing? And yet...and yet... I figure many people would say there's something distinctive to the English about beer. Is it the type of beer? Or the setting? Or does it stay outside the Cabinet along with The Sun?

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English Comedy and Blackadder

Sun, 14 Nov 2021 16:38:00 GMT

In this second episode on English comedy, we put the historical comedy, Blackadder up for consideration. Is it a thing that made England? Does it exemplify English comedy? Is it historically accurate? Is it even funny? Is David a polyglot? For the answers to all these and more, have a listen to the show.

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English Comedy and Monty P

Sat, 23 Oct 2021 16:03:00 GMT

Is there such a thing as specifically English comedy? Certainly the English have thought so since Shakespeare's time, it's one of our vanities. Luke and David sicuss what English comedy might be - and test Monty P against the framework

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Shakespeare

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 08:48:07 GMT

At long last we bring you the one and only William Shakespeare, or "Billy the Bard" as some prefer. Fiona proposes the great man as a thing that made England. Does anyone dare disagree? Have a listen to find out.

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Ska again live from Clubhouse

Sat, 15 May 2021 16:22:48 GMT

Ska is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s. Ska combined elements of mento and rhythm and blues. It is characterized by accented with stabs on the off-beat. Prince Buster

Ska developed in Jamaica in the 1960s with Prince Buster, producers Clement Dodd, and Duke Reid and found its way to England in the early sixties alongside the wave of Jamaican immigrants that moved to England's big cities from the Caribbean.

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Buns III

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 10:36:56 GMT

The Buns that made England - Crumpets and Muffins, and some bun throwing traditions

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Buns II - Revenge of the Lardy Cake

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 09:00:00 GMT

To Lardy Cake and beyond!

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Buns the First

Sun, 28 Feb 2021 14:31:16 GMT

Some triumphant buns in the bread cabinet of English cooking over which you may salivate. And come to Facebook to post pictures of your buns too.

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The British Empire

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 01:15:57 GMT

The British Empire... was it a thing that made England or a thing that England made? Find out here, well, find out what we think any way.

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Fish and Chips

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 03:32:14 GMT

Fish and chips is a hot dish consisting of fried fish in batter, served with chips. The dish originated in England, where these two components had been introduced from Jewish immigrants and probably flemish migrants. Fish and chips is a common take-away food in England and numerous other countries, particularly in English-speaking nations.

Fish and chips first appeared in the UK in the 1860s, and by 1910, there were over 25,000 chippies across the UK.

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The British Constitution

Wed, 16 Dec 2020 17:39:48 GMT

The Constitution of the United Kingdom is the system of rules that decides the political governance of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Unlike in most countries, it is not codified into a single document. However, it recognises that there are principles, such as parliamentary sovereignty, the rule of law, democracy and upholding international law.

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Elizabeth 1 - Gloriana

Mon, 24 Aug 2020 11:24:46 GMT

Luke and David discuss Elizabeth I, sometimes called the Virgin Queen, Gloriana or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the last of the five monarchs of the House of Tudor.

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Public Schools

Thu, 02 Jul 2020 09:19:05 GMT

A public school is a fee-charging endowed school originally for older boys which was "public" in the sense of being open to pupils irrespective of locality, denomination or paternal trade or profession. Public schools have had a strong association with the ruling classes

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Youth Cultures

Fri, 29 May 2020 12:02:44 GMT

Following World War II, there was a baby boom which brought about the birth of a distinct youth culture in England which frequently reinvented itself every few years or so. Young people began to turn away from their parent’s ethics and style of dress to dance to new music, the influence of US culture and post war affluence created the English Teenager but then England made it its own.

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Athelstan

Sat, 25 Apr 2020 18:00:59 GMT

Athelstan was King of the Anglo-Saxons from 924 to 927 and King of the English from 927 to 939 when he died. He was the son of King Edward the Elder and his first wife, Ecgwynn. Modern historians regard him as the first King of England and one of the greatest Anglo-Saxon kings.

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The Bank of England

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 04:23:11 GMT

The Bank of England is the central bank of the United Kingdom and the model on which most modern central banks have been based. Established in 1694 to act as the English Government's banker, and still one of the bankers for the Government of the United Kingdom, it is the world's eighth-oldest bank.

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The Archers

Sat, 01 Feb 2020 19:40:11 GMT

Roifield and David talk about The Archers a British radio soap opera on BBC Radio 4 which has been broadcast since 1951, having aired over 19,100 episodes, it is the world's longest-running drama.

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The English Countryside

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 01:00:58 GMT

"The countryside holds a special place at the heart of English life and culture. And although the vast majority of Britons are now urban, the countryside remains for most people in Britain an idyllic place, a place where one can live and relax. At weekends and other moments of free time, Britons love to go to the country. And they do not hesitate to do so, because the English countryside is beautiful, diverse, and often easily accessible from the major cities.

For many people, the countryside is Britain as it should be - an area full of historic sites, memorials, monuments, protected areas, pretty villages, pubs with tables in the garden – a part of Britain where time seems to have stopped in its tracks. But as towns and cities, even villages, keep growing to cater for England's rapidly growing population, and with England already the most densely-populated country in Europe, the English countryside is shrinking and changing.

Fortunately, there are still plenty of wonderful places left to see." Taken from https://about-britain.com/tourism/english-countryside.htm

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The Sun Newspaper

Sat, 26 Oct 2019 23:30:00 GMT

The Sun is a tabloid newspaper published in England. It was founded in 1964 as a successor to the Daily Herald, and became a tabloid in 1969 after it was purchased by its current owner News Group Newspapers division of News UK. It was the beating heart of England in the 80's under editor Kelvin McKenzie.

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The Beatles

Sun, 13 Oct 2019 07:42:50 GMT

Do I need to introduce them? A boy band, popular back in the 60-s and early 70s. Can a 4 piece really be part of what makes England?

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Curry

Sun, 05 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT

Curry is a variety of dishes originating in the Indian subcontinent that uses combination of spices or herbs, usually including ground turmeric, cumin, coriander, ginger, and fresh or dried chilies. The word also originated in Southern India and Curry is generally prepared in a sauce.

The UK celebrates National Curry Week every October because we have made curry our own. it’s so popular that it contributes more than £5bn to the British economy. Chicken Tikka Masala has been the nations favourite dish for 20 years, we are not a nation of pie munchers any more.

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A Nice Cup of Tea

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 06:04:05 GMT

A nice cup of tea, a cuppa, tea at the Ritz, I'm off for my tea now...tea time. Not just a thing that made England, but the thing that helps get it moving, and at the same time put its feet up.

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Birmingham

Mon, 08 Apr 2019 22:29:52 GMT

Birmingham is the second city in England, a "city of a thousand trades" its the heart of modern Britain, Birmingham is the cultural, social, financial and commercial centre of the Midlands.

Birmingham is the epitome if Englishness, it's had a civil war battle, victorian grandeur, ring roads and Baltis. It's growth shadows the rise of industrial England, it's the city of thousand trades and fuelled the industrial revolution. Though mentioned in the Doomsday book Birmingham became an urban and commercial centre in 1166. The Lord of the Manor Peter de Bermingham obtained a charter to hold a market at his castle, “ a bull ring” and after this a market town began.

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Geography

Sun, 24 Mar 2019 11:47:04 GMT

England's geography has played a significant part in shaping her history and culture and making her as she is. I say that without fear of contradiction.

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A tale of festive English ghost stories by Yokel Bear

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

England is a haunted country. Yokel bear talks about the English tradition of literary ghost fiction. Nineteenth-century England was perhaps the golden age of the ghost...

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Songs that remind you of England

Tue, 25 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Hello and Merry Xmas, it's me Roifield without David, we thought we'd give you an episode of songs that remind you of England. We asked you on Facebook to nominate your most English of ditties, so as you pull your crackers we give you some songs that made England!

Michael Wheal - Vin da Loo!

Alison Mary Hebborn Remember 'singing ' Jerusalem on a coach to the hotel after a Czech /English wedding.

The Beatles - I want to hold your hand.

Stephen Bōden wrote on the facebook page, “I vow to thee my country” deserves a place on any such list

Abide with me', it was nominmated by one David Crowther

A Song of Patriotic Prejudice by Flanders and Swann: which was nominated by Patrick Adams.

Stephen Bōden wrote that In these days of austerity, I reckon there’s a place in our national discourse for “Hard Times of Old England”.

The Human League's - Don't You Want Me" unmistakably the moment the Second British Invasion, hit The States

Blur - Park Life

Waterloo Sunset - The Kinks was originally entitled "Liverpool Sunset".

On Facebook Richard Lyle opted for Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life

Lets All Go Down The Strand And Have A Banana.

Baddiel and Skinner’s - Three Lions.

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Allotments

Sun, 02 Dec 2018 14:02:28 GMT

'I'm off down the allotment!'. What could be more English than that? Literally nothing

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BBC Radio 4

Sun, 18 Nov 2018 18:55:48 GMT

BBC Radio 4 is a spoken-word radio channel owned and operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is Gwyneth Williams, and the station is part of BBC Radio and the BBC Radio department. The station is broadcast from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasting House, London.

Radio 4 is the principal radio channel in the UK for:

news and current affairs
debate and discussion
comedy
culture, arts and drama
science and technology
philosophy
history
religion and ethics
factual programmes

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Queuing

Sun, 04 Nov 2018 08:16:55 GMT

The English queue even in a crowded bar, when the casual observer might see no physical evidence. But is this any different to the Canadians, or Singaporeans, both high quality queuing nations? Why do the English queue. I think I have the secret.

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Football

Sat, 20 Oct 2018 23:00:00 GMT

Football is a global sport. Football is thought to have originated in twelfth century England and became so popular that the Kings Henry II and Henry IV had to ban it.

It’s a game where the average sized person can excell. The shot to success ratio being low meaning that a team of lesser ability can overcome a better one. What helped with the globalisation of football was Britains global influence. At the peak of its power, the British Empire nearly covered a quarter of the planet, meaning that it was very easy to spread the game of football.

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Fashion

Sun, 07 Oct 2018 08:00:17 GMT

England has had a reputation for a certain kind of traditional fashion (suits, boots and so on) for a while, but in the 60’s English Fashion surprised the world. And English flair for fashion design has carried on ever since. Or so I would contend. But what I know about fashion could be written on the inside of a ping pong ball.

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Road Signs

Mon, 24 Sep 2018 21:52:58 GMT

Margaret Vivienne Calvert is a British typographer and graphic designer who, with colleague Jock Kinneir, designed many of the road signs used throughout the United Kingdom, as well as the Transport font used on road signs,

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Magna Carta

Sun, 09 Sep 2018 14:45:12 GMT

Magna Carta has a reputation as one of the foundational documents in the development of the rights of the individual and in limiting he powers of monarchs. What does it actually say? And does it deserve its reputation?

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Margaret Thatcher

Sun, 26 Aug 2018 10:37:17 GMT

Margaret Thatcher, 13 October 1925 – 8 April 2013 was a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the UK from 1979 to 1990. The longest-serving prime minister of the 20th century she was the first woman to hold that office. A Soviet journalist dubbed her the Iron Lady. As Prime Minister, she implemented policies that came to be known as Thatcherism. Roifield proposes that her tenure kicks starts English and Scottish nationalism.

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The Longbow

Sun, 12 Aug 2018 08:00:00 GMT

For a while, from the 13th to 15th centuries, the king of England possessed a military tool that no other nation appeared to be able to imitate. The argument is whether it had any lasting impact of why England is as she is.

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The Suit

Sun, 29 Jul 2018 23:00:00 GMT

The modern suit was founded in the industrial revolution in the late 18th century in London. Mens clothing moved away from the elaborately embroidered and jewelled formality of the 18th century into the simpler and more elegant clothing of the British Regency period, which gradually evolved to the stark formality of the Victorian period. It was in the search for more comfort that the loosening of rules gave rise in the late 19th century to the modern two piece suit.

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Cricket

Sun, 15 Jul 2018 08:00:00 GMT

The greatest game invented by the human race. Surely a simple decision?

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HP Sauce

Sun, 01 Jul 2018 04:54:00 GMT

This week Roifield and David discuss the most English of condiments, HP or Brown sauce that is fighting to keep all manner of fancy BBQ and other foreign sauces from invading our English dining tables!

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The Flag of St George

Sun, 17 Jun 2018 08:00:00 GMT

Where does the flag of St George come from and why is it England's national flag? Is it a symbol of unity or division, why is there relatively little flag waving in England and should we be waving it more? And most importantly - does it go in the cabinet as one of the things that made England?

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Dunkirk

Sun, 03 Jun 2018 23:00:00 GMT

The Battle of Dunkirk was a military operation that took place in Dunkirk, France, at the Second World War which as come to define 20th Century England. The battle was fought between the Allies and Germany, as part of the Battle of France. The Battle of Dunkirk was the defence and evacuation to Britain of British and other Allied forces in Europe from 26 May to 4 June 1940, something that was seen as miraculous a that time. The War Cabinet under Winston Churchill the newly appointed as the Prime Minister was deeply divided with what to do during the German encirclement of the BEF, with Viscount Halifax, the Foreign Secretary believing that in view of the imminent Fall of France that the United Kingdom should explore the possibility of a negotiated peace settlement with Adolf Hitler

Proposition – why should it go on the cabinet?

Why should the Dunkirk go into the cabinet?

The it marks a change of how the English perceive themselves that is still with us today
It gives us “Little Englanders”
National Myth building - a thousand little boats
it gave us the term Dunkirk Spirit

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Ska

Fri, 25 May 2018 14:10:16 GMT

Roifield presents the proposition that Ska is not just important because it's the one musical form everyone can dance to.

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English Accents

Sun, 20 May 2018 18:15:19 GMT

Are English accents a joy and delight, a sign of rich diversity or irritating and divisive? And what is it about the Midlands that makes everyone think they can ignore it? Luke tells us what you all thought of Ska

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Ska

Sun, 06 May 2018 08:00:00 GMT

Roifield presents the proposition that Ska is not just important because it's the one musical form everyone can dance to.

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1066 - A New Dawn?

Mon, 23 Apr 2018 05:53:32 GMT

Where else could we possibly start other than at the most famous date in English history. The Normans. Is this an iconic event which made England as she is? Was it a good thing, bad thing - or just a thing? Or just a matter of very poor hairstyles?

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