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The History of England

David Crowther

This my retelling of the story of England, which is a regular, chronological podcast, starting from the end of Roman Britain. There are as many of the great events I can squeeze in, of course, but I also try to keep an eye on how people lived, their language, what was important to them, the forces that shaped their lives and destinies, that sort of thing. To support the podcast, access a library of 100 hours of shedcasts of me warbling on, and get new shedcasts every month, why not become a member at https://thehistoryofengland.co.uk/become-a-member ? You know it makes sense...

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Our Editor's Take

The History of England podcast is an informative and entertaining history series. Listeners will discover the stories behind Eleanor of Aquitaine and the Angevin Empire. Why did Charles I choose the personal rule approach over working with parliament? What was life like in the Stuart era?

History graduate David Crowther admits upfront he's not a professional historian. David produces the podcast from his shed, also known as a "Shedcast." He wants to share his enthusiasm for English history in an entertaining way. David examines textual sources and the British reaction to each era. He explains historical myths and answers popular conundrums. He also invites guests such as Grey History host William Clark to join him for special episodes.

The podcast starts with the Anglo-Saxons. The episodes move across history, through Roman Britain and toward the present day. David sets the scene of immense change and violence in Anglo-Saxon England. He explains this era's lack of historical material, calling it "a disgrace!" He talks through the sources available, providing insight into this undocumented era.

By episode 21 of the podcast, the history has moved on to the impact of the Normans on Europe. David explains how Durham Cathedral is an excellent example. He sees it as impressive on the outside and a stunning feat of architecture on the inside. David explores the Norman story before 1066 and how they started as Vikings. He discusses the French king who had become disheartened by Viking raids. That king offered Normandy in exchange for allegiance.

Episode 42 of the podcast explores Henry I and the invasion of Ireland. Henry wanted to increase revenue, ignoring the long-term impact of his attack. This signaled the start of a complex relationship between the two countries. David provides a brief history of Ireland and how its politics, rule, and religion differed from England's.

The History of England podcast provides context and detail to every stage of history. David recommends starting at the beginning due to its chronological nature. Anyone interested in subjects like Tudor Britain or the King of Scots can skip straight to their dedicated episodes.

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Season 8