Podcasts about English Heritage

Izal medicated toilet paper was once a staple of British bathrooms - a curious cultural icon, remembered as much for its distinctive feel as for its antiseptic promise. Produced for decades by the Sheffield‑based company Newton, Chambers & Co., Izal became woven into the fabric of schools, hospitals and public buildings across the UK.So how did a product that was everywhere for so long, end up disappearing from shelves, surviving only in nostalgia, and uncomfortable memories?BBC Business journalist Sean Farrington investigates how Izal medicated toilet paper went from national widespread use to historical footnote, joined by resident business expert and entrepreneur Sam White.To uncover the story, Sean and Sam dig into industrial archives, public‑health records and the memories of those who grew up with the unmistakable crinkle of Izal. They hear from former Newton Chambers employees, alongside Dr Alice White - Digital Editor at English Heritage and Historian of Psychology and former Jeyes employees, Nicholas Goodwin and Jayne Howe- who followed the Izal brand closely after it changed hands in the 1980s.At the end, Sam must draw her own conclusions about the fate of Izal medicated toilet paper - from changing hygiene standards to the rise of softer, more luxurious competitors - and decide whether its decline was inevitable or simply a failure to adapt?If you have a good idea for an interesting Toast topic then tell us about it - email toast@bbc.co.ukThis episode was produced by Linda Walker. Toast is a BBC Audio North production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

Coming up, we explore the summer solstice and its enduring connection with Stonehenge. Larissa Palethorpe at the University of Bristol explains the astronomical significance of the summer solstice; Jennifer Wexler at English Heritage on the origins of Stonehenge; Richard Bevins at the University of Aberystwyth on the geology of the famous stones; and Vincent Gaffney at the University of Bradford on whether Stonehenge is part of a much broader landscape. Like this podcast? Please help us by supporting the Naked Scientists

This week - Brighton Fringe announced its spectacular line-up of comedy, theatre and dance ahead of its return this May for their 21st year. They are proud to be an open-access festival, welcoming any artist to put on an event and perform. Steffi chats to organiser and chair Duncan Lustig-Prean. Duncan has built an impressively diverse career: from leading the campaign for LGBT people to serve in the Armed Forces, to ensuring that the global majority was better represented by English Heritage, to running a charity supporting LGBT veterans to opera singing, to chairing Brighton Fringe!We also speak to Sam Cook is a Bristol-based comedian. Being a relative newcomer to comedy when he started his career in February 2025, he is fast becoming a rising star in the UK comedy scene His material explores loneliness, mental health and dating in the LGBTQ+ community. Sam became the winner of the fourth series of Queerovision in 2025.

Easter Monday in the Christian calendar means Christ is risen and symbolises a shift from darkness and death to life, hope and light. We're also in the middle of Passover which signifies spiritual illumination, freedom, and the transition from darkness to light. So in this special edition of Woman's Hour, Nikki Bedi focuses on women and light. How does light inspire and motivate us, and how can we harness it and use it to our advantage? Nikki speaks to GP Dr Radha Modgil about the impact of light on our health and wellbeing.We hear from Paule Constable, an award-winning lighting designer with Olivier and Tony awards for best lighting design for her work spanning theatre, opera, dance and pop music. She is joined in the conversation with Nikki by Ruth Kelly Waskett, a lighting director at engineering consultancy Hoare Lea where she advises architects and engineers on lighting choices in public buildings.In May last year we dedicated a whole programme to women and farming. When thinking about the impact of light on our lives, who better to ask than early rising farmers? We catch up with Sinead Fenton, an edible flower and herb farmer in East Sussex, and dairy farmer Lorna Burdge.We discuss light's influence on how our ancestors behaved and what they believed with Carolyne Larrington, Emerita Professor of medieval European literature, University of Oxford and Dr Jennifer Wexler, curator of history for English Heritage. How can you recreate light in other art forms? Cecilia McDowall, who is one of the UK's leading composers of sacred and secular choral music, tells Nikki about writing music inspired by light and the changes in the seasons.Presenter: Nikki Bedi Producer: Corinna Jones

After 25 years and roughly 25 trips across the Atlantic — including one where he ran out of money and had to beg his parents from a London phone box and another that ended with a $1,200 phone bill — Jonathan Thomas has learned how to travel Britain without going broke. In this special bonus episode, he introduces the completely rewritten third edition of 101 Budget Britain Travel Tips, walks through what's new (including 30–40 tips that have never been in the book before), and reads 10 of his favorite tips covering everything from the mandatory new Electronic Travel Authorization to the airport drop-off fee that cost him £140, why you don't need an Oyster card anymore, and the supermarket meal deal hack that saves his family hundreds every trip. Whether you're planning your first visit or your twentieth, this is the episode to listen to before you book. Links 101 Budget Britain Travel Tips, 3rd Edition — Anglotopia Store product page (paperback, ebook pack, and bundle with 101 London Travel Tips) 101 Budget Britain Travel Tips on Amazon — Paperback, Kindle, and Audible audiobook 101 London Travel Tips — Companion book (link to store page and/or Amazon) 101 Budget Britain Travel Tips + 101 London Travel Tips Bundle — Anglotopia Store UK ETA Official App — iOS App Store / Google Play (official UK government app, not third-party services) Royal Oak Foundation — royaloak.org (US membership for free National Trust admission). Friends of Anglotopia Club — Anglotopia membership for early podcast access and exclusive content Previous Anglotopia Podcast Episode on the UK ETA Takeaways This is a complete rewrite, not just an update. The 3rd edition has 30–40 brand new tips never in the book before, the free attractions lists have been consolidated into a master appendix by country, and the book is roughly twice as thick as the previous edition. The UK's Electronic Travel Authorization is now mandatory. As of February 24, 2026, it is being strictly enforced. If you don't have one, you're not boarding the plane. Use the official UK government app — it costs £16. Anyone charging more is a third-party service skimming money. Airport drop-off fees can sting you badly. Jonathan got hit with a £140 total charge (£100 penalty + £40 rental car processing fee) for forgetting to pay the Heathrow drop-off fee within 24 hours. The cameras scan your license plate and the bill goes to the rental car company. You don't need an Oyster card anymore. Contactless credit/debit cards now work on London's entire transport network with the same daily fare caps. Just tap in and tap out — it settles up at the end of the day at no more than about £7–8. Book trains up to 12 weeks out to save money. A same-day journey can cost 4–5 times more than one booked a month or two in advance. Jonathan recommends open tickets for flexibility since trains are frequently late or cancelled. Never pay in US dollars at a British cash register. Dynamic currency conversion is a legal scam — the merchant's bank sets the exchange rate and skims money. Always pay in pounds and let your credit card convert at the interbank rate. Supermarket meal deals are one of Europe's best budget secrets. Lunch deals (sandwich + drink + snack) run £3–4. Dinner deals for two with a main, side, dessert, and wine cost £10–15. Jonathan's family hits the grocery store as one of their first stops every trip. Join Royal Oak, English Heritage, and Historic Houses before your trip. A Royal Oak Foundation membership (under $100/year) gets you free entry to all National Trust properties. English Heritage has an overseas visitor pass. Historic Houses membership covers ~300–400 privately owned stately homes including Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey). Premier Inn is the budget traveler's best friend. Consistent quality, breakfast included, advance rates from £35/night. Not glamorous, but reliable and spread across hundreds of locations near major cities and attractions. Budget travel isn't about suffering — it's about spending smart. The book's philosophy is to save money on the things that don't matter (airport snacks, dynamic currency conversion, overpriced afternoon tea) so you can spend more on the things that do (comfortable lodging, rental cars, experiences, souvenirs). Soundbites "We came home and got our phone bill the next month — we had a $1,200 phone bill from all of our adventures in Britain. And we didn't know. This is 2008, 2009 — we just didn't know." — Jonathan on the expensive lessons that inspired the book. "Budget travel isn't about suffering. It's about spending money on the things that matter and refusing to waste money on the elements of your trip that you don't need to." — Jonathan on the book's core philosophy. "A family of four could easily spend $10,000 on a one to two week trip to Britain without even trying. Our philosophy with this book is that it doesn't have to cost that much." — Jonathan on why the book exists. "There's a new rule for visiting Britain and many Americans still don't know about it. If you don't have the ETA and you show up at the airport, you're not going." — Jonathan on the mandatory Electronic Travel Authorization. "Anyone charging you a fee more than 16 pounds to do this is ripping you off. You do this yourself. Use the official app." — Jonathan on avoiding third-party ETA services. "Making it easier to drop my wife off with the bags at the terminal cost us 140 pounds. We were not amused." — Jonathan on his personal airport drop-off fee disaster. "You don't need to buy the Oyster card in advance. You don't need to buy it when you get there. Just use your credit card as long as you have tap on it." — Jonathan on contactless fare caps replacing the Oyster card. "Do not pay in US dollars. Never pay in US dollars. You're overpaying. Pay in pounds." — Jonathan on the dynamic currency conversion scam. "We did the Fortnum & Mason high tea and it was 85 pounds per person, which is absurd. You can get an afternoon tea for half that or a third of that in many other places." — Jonathan on saving money on afternoon tea. "I had to make a panicked phone call to my parents from a London phone box begging for them to deposit my paycheck early so that we could have money to finish our trip." — Jonathan on running out of money as a 21-year-old traveler. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Angletopia Podcast 00:49 The Evolution of Budget Travel Tips 03:07 Understanding the New Travel Landscape 07:33 Key Tips for Affordable Travel in Britain 14:37 Exploring the Book's Structure and Content 18:47 Essential Travel Tips for Visiting Britain 27:38 Navigating Currency and Payment Options 29:28 Accommodation Insights for Budget Travelers 31:23 Dining and Food Tips for Travelers 36:41 Conclusion and Book Availability 40:39 anglotopia-podcast-outro.mp4

William Sandys was an antiquarian who published a collection of Christmas carols in the 19th century that turned out to be really influential. Research: Archambo, Shelley Batt. “The Development of the English Carol Through the Fifteenth Century.” The Choral Journal, OCTOBER 1986, Vol. 27, No. 3. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23547224REFERENCES Brain, Jessica. “History of Christmas Carols.” Historic UK. 12/13/2024. https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/History-Christmas-Carols/ “Carol, N.” Oxford English Dictionary, Oxford UP, June 2025, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/1684298837. Carter, Michael. “The origins of Christmas carols.” English Heritage. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/inspire-me/origins-of-christmas-carols/ Cartwright, Mark. "The History of Christmas Carols." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 05 Dec 2023, https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2339/the-history-of-christmas-carols/. Web. 03 Dec 2025. Davey, Henry, and Elizabeth Baigent. "Sandys, William (1792–1874), writer on music and antiquary." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. September 23, 2004. Oxford University Press. Date of access 3 Dec. 2025, https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-24654 Ditchfield, Peter Hampson. “Old English customs extant at the present time; an account of local observances.” London, G. Redway. 1896. https://archive.org/details/studentshistoryo00gardrich Dreamer, Percy R. et al. “The Oxford Book Of Carols.” Oxford University Press. 1928. English Heritage. “A Brief History of Christmas Carols.” https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/members-area/members-magazine/podcast-extras/history-of-carols/ Sandys, William. “Christmas carols, ancient and modern; including the most popular in the west of England, and the airs to which they are sung. Also specimens of French provincial carols. With an introduction and notes.” London, R. Beckley. 1833. https://archive.org/details/christmascarolsa00sandrich/mode/1up Sandys, William. “Christmastide: Its History, Festivities and Carols.” London: John Russell Smith. 1860. https://archive.org/details/christmastideits00sandrich/ The Law Bod Blog. “Heading towards Christmas.” 12/2/2013. https://blogs.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/lawbod/2013/12/02/heading-towards-christmas/ Huxtable, Sally-Anne. “Wassailing: ritual and revelry.” National Trust. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/history/art-collections/wassailing-ritual-and-revelry See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Strood woman faces spending Christmas in a Premier Inn after a car crashed into her bungalow, two months ago.Jill Robson was forced to move out of her property after the vehicle smashed into her bedroom on October 19th.The 84 year-old still doesn't know when she'll be able to move back in and has been speaking to reporter Elli Hodgson.Also in today's podcast, There'll be an increase of police patrols around pub and clubs in Kent this Christmas to help protect women and girls. Both plain clothed and uniformed officers will be out to identify anyone looking to take advantage, or who poses a threat to public safety.More than 170 drink and drug driving offences have been recorded in the first half of Kent Police's annual Christmas enforcement campaign.It's part of a national operation which aims to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured during the festive period. There are fears an historic building in Canterbury could collapse into the river if £250,000 worth of repairs aren't carried out.Eastbridge Hospital was built to provide accommodation for pilgrims heading to the nearby Cathedral and dates back to 1180.The site has been added to an 'at-risk' register compiled by English Heritage.Sheep are being used instead of lawnmowers as part of a conservation scheme in a new woodland near Maidstone.A flock of 10 Portland sheep has been released onto land in Sutton Valence which was recently planted with more than 2,000 saplings.And in sport, Gillingham's under-18s have been knocked out of the FA Youth Cup.They were beaten 2-0 by Stevenage in their third round match last night. Hear from manager Joe Dunne. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Grab a beer and hang out with us on Necro Overtime as we break down the viral “trashed panda” story. The drunk raccoon in Ashland, Virginia that crashed through the ceiling of a liquor store, shattered bottles of bourbon, sampled half the bottom shelf, and passed out on the bathroom floor.  Then we switch gears to the FBI's newly resurfaced Bigfoot file — a 22-page declassified Vault document from the 1970s where the Bureau actually tested alleged Sasquatch hair. Paranormal Poutine stuff! English Heritage photo LINK Humanoid UFO Iraq LINK Epstein Dental Room LINK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in the summer, lovely listener Coral won "An experience with Darren Rudge" on the podcast! Join us as Darren takes Coral, Leslie and Mollie on a guided tour of the fabulous Winterbourne gardens in Birmingham.Originally designed as a small country estate with rustic outbuildings and large gardens, Winterbourne followed the style of the Arts and Crafts movement with examples of local craftsmanship throughout the house. Margaret Nettlefold designed the garden, inspired by the books and garden designs of Gertrude Jekyll. After a period of restoration, the garden was Grade II listed by English Heritage in 2008.Come and join us for a fascinating walk through the beautiful gardens.Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We'd love to hear from you too! If you have suggestions for topics or features you'd like to hear, or any garden related questions you have, drop us a line at thehappygardenpodcast@gmail.com. It would be fab if you could rate us and leave a review too if you've got the time, many thanks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Presenter and author Alice Loxton discusses how fiction can help us understand the past – particularly when it comes to women's stories; finding humour in classic literature; and her companionship with figures from history. Alice is passionate about bringing history to mainstream, younger audiences, and she has over three million followers on social media, where her videos educate on British history, heritage and art. She has worked with many organisations including 10 Downing Street, The Royal Academy, English Heritage, The National Gallery, Tate, BBC, ITV, and Microsoft, and she writes about history for publications including The Times, Telegraph and Spectator. She's an ambassador for the National Trust, a mentor for The King's Foundation 35 Under 35 Network, and a patron of The British Pilgrimage Trust.  Alice's book Eighteen: A History of Britain in 18 Young Lives was a Sunday Times bestseller and Blackwell's Book of the Year 2024. Her new book, Eleanor: A 200-Mile Walk in Search of England's Lost Queen, sees her follow in the footsteps of Eleanor of Castile's funeral procession, bringing to life the formidable character of this lesser-known royal.   Alice's book choices are: ** Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen ** Secret Voices by Sarah Gristwood ** Through England by Side Saddle by Celia Fiennes ** The Tower by Flora Carr ** Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season eight of the Women's Prize's Bookshelfie Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women's Prize for Fiction is the biggest celebration of women's creativity in the world and has been running for over 30 years.  Don't want to miss the rest of season eight? Listen and subscribe now! You can buy all books mentioned from our dedicated shelf on Bookshop.org - every purchase supports the work of the Women's Prize Trust and independent bookshops.  This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.

fWotD Episode 3110: Royal Artillery Memorial Welcome to featured Wiki of the Day, your daily dose of knowledge from Wikipedia's finest articles.The featured article for Sunday, 9 November 2025, is Royal Artillery Memorial.The Royal Artillery Memorial is a First World War memorial located on Hyde Park Corner in London, England. Designed by Charles Sargeant Jagger, with architectural work by Lionel Pearson, and unveiled in 1925, the memorial commemorates the 49,076 soldiers from the Royal Artillery killed in the First World War. The static nature of the conflict, particularly on the Western Front, meant that artillery played a major role in the war, though physical reminders of the fighting were often avoided in the years after the war. The Royal Artillery War Commemoration Fund (RAWCF) was formed in 1918 to preside over the regiment's commemorations, aware of some dissatisfaction with memorials to previous wars. The RAWCF approached several eminent architects, but its insistence on a visual representation of artillery meant that none was able to produce a satisfactory design. Thus they approached Jagger, himself an ex-soldier who had been wounded in the war. Jagger produced a design which was accepted in 1922, though he modified it several times before construction.The memorial consists of a cruciform base in Portland stone supporting a one-third over-lifesize sculpture of a howitzer (a type of artillery field gun), which Jagger based on a gun in the Imperial War Museum. At the end of each arm of the cross is a sculpture of a soldier—an officer at the front (south side), a shell carrier on the east side, a driver on the west side, and at the rear (north) a dead soldier. The sides of the base are decorated with relief sculptures showing wartime scenes. The realism of the memorial, with the depiction of the howitzer and the dead soldier, differed significantly from other First World War memorials, notably the influential Cenotaph, which used pure architectural forms and classical symbolism. The design was controversial when unveiled; some critics viewed the dead soldier as too graphic or felt that the howitzer did not lend itself to rendition in stone. Nonetheless, the memorial was popular with others, including ex-servicemen, and later came to be recognised as Jagger's masterpiece and one of Britain's finest war memorials.The memorial was unveiled by Prince Arthur on 18 October 1925. Dedications were later added to the memorial in memory of the 29,924 Royal Artillerymen killed in the Second World War. It underwent restoration in 2011 after years of weathering and water ingress. The memorial is a Grade I listed building and is managed by English Heritage; it now shares its site with multiple other military monuments and war memorials.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:54 UTC on Sunday, 9 November 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Royal Artillery Memorial on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm standard Geraint.

Witness the reenactment of the Battle of Hastings – on the very site in Sussex where the future of England was changed forever in 1066. English Heritage invited the Plodcast to meet the people re-enacting Norman and Saxon life and then watch the battle unfold. So tune in with Plodcast host Fergus for an unforgettable day out in the countryside. Find out more about English Heritage's work preserving and celebrating the nation's history at https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/ Also, the Plodcast is very proud to announce that it is media partner for the Speakies – the British Audio Awards from The Bookseller Magazine. These new awards celebrate the very best in audiobooks. The Plodcast is partnering in the non-fiction category. Find the shortlists here: www.thebookseller.com/the-british-audio-awards And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via: The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page. The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022. If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com. If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team. The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A decision has been made by the rail regulator which could open the door for international trains stopping in Kent again.Eurostar services haven't called at Ashford or Ebbsfleet since the pandemic.Virgin Trains have now been given permission to use the Temple Mills depot in London - which is the first step in a process which would allow them to go through the Channel Tunnel.Hear reaction from Ashford MP Sojan Joseph, and Tudor Price who is the chief executive of the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce.Also in today's podcast, a Dartford tax driver is calling for tougher regulation, after claiming almost three-quarters of people working in the town are from other areas.Roger Clarke works at Bridge Cars and says he's seen business plummet since the pandemic.As part of Halloween celebration at Dover Castle, visitors will have the chance to give their deep dive into history a life-saving twist.English Heritage has teamed up with the NHS to hand out testing kits so people can find out their own blood type.And, the Medway Hospital Charity are using their 30th anniversary celebrations to raise money for more wheelchairs.The Thirty at 30 campaign has a goal of £30,000 to buy 30 chairs to meet a rise in demand. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Anglotopia podcast, Jonathan Thomas discusses how to travel around Britain on a budget of $100 a day. He shares practical tips on accommodation, transportation, attractions, and dining, emphasizing the importance of planning and making use of available resources to save money. The conversation covers various strategies for budget travel, including the use of budget chain hotels, public transportation, and free attractions, while also providing insights into dining options and money-saving tips. Links VisitBritain.com – official UK tourism website with deals, itineraries, and regional guides. BritRail Pass – britrail.net for rail pass information and booking. National Rail Enquiries – nationalrail.co.uk for live train times and prices. National Trust – nationaltrust.org.uk for passes, properties, and cream tea stops. Trainline - App for booking UK train tickets English Heritage – english-heritage.org.uk for castle and ruin visits. Click here for Overseas Visitors Passes. Royal Oak Foundation (US) – royal-oak.org for discounted entry to National Trust sites for Americans. Premier Inn – premierinn.com Travelodge UK – travelodge.co.uk YHA Hostels – yha.org.uk for affordable and scenic stays. Friends of Anglotopia Club Takeaways Traveling around Britain on a budget is achievable with careful planning. Accommodation is often the largest expense; budget chain hotels can save money. Public transportation is affordable and efficient for getting around Britain. Many attractions, especially museums, are free to enter. Using a Britrail pass can be economical for train travel if used wisely. Dining at pubs and local grocery stores can significantly reduce food costs. Avoiding airport purchases can save a lot of money. Planning meals and taking advantage of hotel breakfasts can help budget. Memberships for organizations like English Heritage can provide access to multiple attractions. Advanced booking for accommodations and attractions can lead to significant savings. Sound Bites “Budget travel around Britain is possible — and in these belt-tightening times, it can make or break whether a trip even happens.” “You don't need British cash anymore. I haven't purchased pounds in fifteen years — Britain is almost entirely cashless now.” “If you're smart about where you stay, you can get a clean room for £30 to £50 a night at a Premier Inn or Travelodge — that's the secret to keeping your budget.” “The BritRail Pass lets you travel anywhere in Britain for one set price — it's your ticket to freedom on the rails.” “Fill up on the free breakfast, grab a £3 supermarket meal deal for lunch, and have a pub dinner — that's the recipe for staying under $100 a day.” “Skip the £80 afternoon tea in London — a proper cream tea at a National Trust café for under £10 is just as lovely.” “Join the Royal Oak Foundation or get an English Heritage pass — two visits to places like Blenheim or Stonehenge and they've paid for themselves.” “Travel carry-on only — it saves money, time, and stress. Everything you need for Britain can fit in one bag.” “Avoid buying anything at the airport — it's designed for desperation. Save your money for Britain.” “The goal isn't to travel cheap, it's to travel smart — to experience more of Britain without feeling like you're missing out.” Chapters 00:00 Budget Travel in Britain: An Overview 02:48 Pre-Travel Tips for Budgeting 16:11 Accommodation Strategies for Saving 23:58 Transportation Options for Budget Travelers 26:28 Exploring the Brit Rail Pass 34:44 Maximizing Free Attractions in Britain 42:14 Dining on a Budget in Britain 46:01 Money-Saving Tips for Travelers 51:16 Final Thoughts on Budget Travel 52:22 anglotopia-podcast-outro.mp4 Video Version

This week's guest is Anne-Clare Ribbons, founder of the sustainable kids' craft brand Cotton Twist. Anne-Clare started her business ten years ago with just £400 and a big dream—to make children's crafts fun, imaginative, and kind to the planet.Find out how she grew Cotton Twist from hand-cutting paper at her kitchen table to being stocked in hundreds of shops across the UK and worldwide, including John Lewis, National Trust, and English Heritage. Anne-Clare is refreshingly honest about the realities of running a product business—what it takes to grow organically without outside funding, surviving challenges like Covid and postal strikes, and how stubborn determination (and a lot of coffee) kept her going.If you're a product creator, maker, or small business owner, you'll love Anne-Clare's open stories and practical advice on:Starting small and testing the market before investing bigManaging production and sustainability as you scaleFinding (and keeping!) your passion when things get toughWhy you should never rely on one sales channelHow community, creativity, and resilience make all the differenceThis is a warm, honest, and motivating chat for anyone building a brand from the ground up—or dreaming of doing so.USEFUL RESOURCESCotton Twist Website https://cottontwist.co.uk/Cotton Twist Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cotton.twist/Cotton Twist Facebook https://www.facebook.com/inspiredbycottontwist/Cotton Twist Pinterest https://uk.pinterest.com/cottontwist/Cotton Twist LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/acribbonscottontwist/LET'S CONNECTJoin my free Facebook group for product makers and creatorsFollow me on YouTubeFind me on InstagramWork with me Buy My Book: Bring Your Product Idea To LifeIf you enjoy this podcast, and you'd like to leave a tip, you can do so here: https://bring-your-product-idea.captivate.fm/supportAmazon Made Easy – Join AnytimeAmazon Made Easy is now open for enrolment – and the best part? You can join at any time. Whether you're just starting out or ready to scale your Amazon business, you'll get instant access to expert guidance, practical resources, and ongoing support to help you grow with confidence.https://vickiweinberg.com/membership/Mentioned in this episode:10 Amazon Q&A hours availableThis month I've opened 10 Amazon Q&A / training hours. These are focused 60-minute sessions where you can bring your biggest Amazon challenge and get clear, practical answers to move forward. They're £149, and once the October spots are gone, they're gone. You can book your session here.Book a selling on Amazon Power Hour10 Amazon Q&A slots avaialbleThis month I've opened 10 Amazon Q&A / training hours. These are focused 60-minute sessions where you can bring your biggest Amazon challenge and get clear, practical

In today's episode, I speak with Peter Brears, a world-leading food historian. He was director of both York and Leeds City Museums, and is a consultant to the National Trust, English Heritage and Historic Royal Palaces.He is the winner of the André Simon award for his book, Cooking and Dining in Medieval England, published in 2012, which is a must-have, as are his other books in the series that focus on upper-class cooking and dining in the Tudor and Early Stuart periods, and most recently in the Victorian country house.He is also a founding member of the Leeds Symposium of Food History and Traditions, which will have its 40th next year (2026)Our conversation was recorded in person at his home in Leeds.We talk about the roles of the housekeeper and butler first in the Victorian period, but then trace their histories back right to the Middle Ages in the case of the butler. Also covered: orchestrating big meals, the drinks prepared by the butler, the mysteries of the stillroom, and the pressures of preparing a baked Alaska – amongst many other things.Those listening to the secret podcast can hear about French and Russian service, when housekeepers are definitely not subservient, the dos and don'ts of displaying porcelain and the contents of the housekeeper's cupboard. Remember: Fruit Pig are sponsoring the 9th season of the podcast, and Grant and Matthew are very kindly giving listeners to the podcast a unique special offer 10% off your order until the end of October 2025 – use the offer code Foodhis in the checkout at their online shop, www.fruitpig.co.uk.If you can, support the podcast and blogs by becoming a £3 monthly subscriber, and unlock lots of premium content, including bonus blog posts and recipes, access to the easter eggs and the secret podcast, or treat me to a one-off virtual pint or coffee: click here.This episode was mixed and engineered by Thomas Ntinas of the Delicious Legacy podcast.Things mentioned in today's episodeCooking & Dining in Medieval England by Peter Brears (2012)Cooking & Dining in Tudor & Early Stuart England by Peter Brears (2015)Cooking & Dining in the Victorian Country House by Peter Brears (2023)Before Mrs Beeton: Elizabeth Rafflad, England's Most Influential Housekeeper by Neil Buttery (2023)Everyday Life in Seventeenth Century Calderdale by Peter Brears (2025)Peter's PPC article ‘What the housekeeper kept in her drawers' (2015) PPC 103, 61-74

The evolution of Charles Darwin's world-changing study, On the Origin of Species. Darwin enlists the help of his children in experiments that clarify his own thinking on animal collaboration, variation and natural selection. A new drama by Sarah Woods, recorded on location in Darwin's former home, Down House, Kent, by kind permission of English Heritage.Darwin....Robert GlenisterEmma.....Clare CorbettEtty.....Madeleine GreyParslow/Hooker.....Clive HaywardLenny.....Bertie CresswellHorace.....Wilbur ConabeareProduction Co-ordinator.....Eleri Sydney McAuliffeSound Designer.....Nigel LewisDirected by Emma Harding, BBC Audio Wales

In August 2005, 20-year-old U.S. Army soldier Joshua Bennett returned home to Illinois, grieving the unexpected loss of his father. Ne reconnects with his mother, who invited him to stay the night at her home, but within hours, Joshua would be murdered in his mother's home by a group of people who believed they were under the influence of a witch's curse. The murder of Joshua Bennett is a senseless killing fueled by occult paranoia, the power of influence, and a revenge plot gone horribly wrong. At the center: an alleged hex, a woman obsessed with retribution, and a small-town “coven” convinced that violence was their only way out.Connect with us on Social Media!You can find us at:Instagram: @bookofthedeadpodX: @bkofthedeadpodFacebook: The Book of the Dead PodcastTikTok: BookofthedeadpodOr visit our website at www.botdpod.comFeaturing a promo for A Hateful HomicideA Hateful Homicide is a true crime podcast launched on March 31, 2021, by Transgender advocate Mallery Jenna Robinson. The podcast covers global homicide cases of all trans identities.Listen here14 News WFIE Evansville. (2005, September 21). NewsWatch update on murder case. https://www.14news.com. https://www.14news.com/story/3856625/newswatch-update-on-murder-case/Admin. (n.d.). Joshua Bennett Obituary - Death notice and service information. Legacy.com. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/joshua-bennett-obituary?pid=14940170&page=4Blake, D. (2023, January 9). The Modern Witch's Coven. Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. https://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/3074#:~:text=Some%20covens%20still%20do%20a,what%20we've%20stuck%20with.Brown, J. (2024, October 7). Murder of Joshua Bennett by Irenia Cotner examined on Snapped. Daily Crime. https://www.dailycrime.com/murder-of-joshua-bennett-by-irenia-cotner-examined-on-snapped/English Heritage. (n.d.). A Journey into Witchcraft Beliefs. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/journey-into-witchcraft-beliefs/Holliday, D. (2022, September 23). When an Illinois deputy stopped a satanic cult killing spree. 100.9 the Eagle. https://101theeagle.com/when-an-illinois-deputy-stopped-a-satanic-cult-killing-spree/ILLINOIS CRIMINAL LAW: CLASS X FELONY. (n.d.). Dolci and Weiland Attorney at Law. https://www.dolciandweiland.com/class-x-felonyJg/t-C, K. R. F. T. (2006, December 22). Cotner receives 57 years in prison. JG-TC.com. https://jg-tc.com/news/cotner-receives-57-years-in-prison/article_c4c4f0c7-f301-5ebb-83c4-6bec70004ea1.htmlJoshua Bennett's aunt looks back on his life and personality | Oxygen. (2022, September 16). Oxygen. https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/season-31/episode-10/videos/joshua-bennetts-aunt-looks-back-on-his-life-and-personalityLewin, K. (2005a, August 5). Local soldier on leave dies after being stabbed. Journal Gazette and Times Courier, A3.Lewin, K. (2005b, August 25). Richland Co. murder suspect assigned $3 million bond. Herald and Review, A5.Lewin, K. (2005c, August 30). More suspects charged in stabbing death. JG-TC.com. https://jg-tc.com/news/more-suspects-charged-in-stabbing-death/article_33777360-234e-52c8-ae7b-5d238dc65f13.htmlMoran, M. (2023, October 30). “Witch” sent men on ‘Harry Potter' plan to kill pregnant woman – without revealing why. Daily Star. https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/weird-news/witch-sent-men-harry-potter-31315299Oct 26, 2006, page 10 - The Breese Journal at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/564891468/?match=1&terms=oscar%20eckOct 27, 2006, page 4 - JG-TC: Journal Gazette and Times-Courier at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/image/84803905/?match=1&terms=oscar%20eckRyden, K. (2006, October 27). Testimony offers details of hex in ‘05 murder of former Mattoon resident. JG-TC.com. https://jg-tc.com/news/testimony-offers-details-of-hex-in-05-murder-of-former-mattoon-resident/article_a4581da9-74cf-5669-9111-3748403cc873.htmlSmith, B. H. (2024, July 18). Witch Coven attacks home in order to remove alleged hex and murders occupant. Oxygen. https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/crime-news/witch-coven-attacks-home-in-order-to-remove-hex-and-murders-servicemanState of Illinois | DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS | Inmate search results. (n.d.). https://www.idoc.state.il.us/subsections/search/inms_print.asp?idoc=R80749THE WICCAN REDE (or Witches' Rede). (n.d.). https://web.mit.edu/pipa/www/rede.htmlWELCH, J. (2011). The People of the State of Illinois v. Irenia A. Cotner. In P. J. Chapman & J. Wexstten, APPELLATE COURT OF ILLINOIS FIFTH DISTRICT [Legal Case]. https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/Resources/9b391dfb-2462-4b17-beb3-ea30ead08f52/5090666_R23.pdf

At Alnwick Castle, the 4th Duke of Northumberland is probably best known for his restoration of the castle in the 1850s and 1860s, transforming the State Rooms and creating the Great Kitchen. But before all that work began, he had encountered a man named George Shaw, who was able to convince him to buy a number of pieces of antique furniture from old Percy properties. The problem? George had faked this furniture, making it himself, and deceiving the duke about its origins.To find out more about this story, we spoke to Dr Peter Lindfield of Cardiff University - an expert on George Shaw - and Frances McIntosh of English Heritage, who looks after the Duke's Rooms at Warkworth Castle, where you can still see some of the George Shaw furniture bought by the 4th Duke. We found out just who George Shaw was, what happened when the duke figured out he'd been conned, and why this Victorian rogue might be considered a 19th century Robin Hood!We hope you enjoy hearing all about it. To visit the Duke's Rooms, please visit the Warkworth Castle website through English Heritage for full information.

Another 2 weeks has gone by in the world of Shackbaggerly, so what have good pals Katie and Howard been up to?Well as usual, there's always a story to tell! Old recipe books take centre stage, after all, this is a ‘foodie' type podcast, and this time, it's a meat fee offering from 1931.Howard has been watching the English Heritage videos again featuring a Cook from the past, and somehow this leads to the vintage comedy series ‘Are you being served?!' A listener has been in touch with another weird Festival, this one featuring a Geoduck, but it's not pronounced as you would think.Probably easier if you just listen! Hope you enjoy, and please keep spreading the word.Don't forget to subscribe if you haven't already, and we do love hearing from you, be it via our Facebook and Instagram pages ‘Shackbaggerly,' or email podcast@theshackbaggerly.co.uk See you again on Friday 8 August K&H x

On this week's Taskmaster Podcast we have something a little different! We are sharing an Episode of the English Heritage Podcast which features our very own Little Alex Horne!This summer, Taskmaster have teamed up with English Heritage to set you silly challenges as you explore 17 of their sites. So, we couldn't miss the opportunity to discuss some of the more unusual games and entertainments enjoyed in the past. In this episode, Amy Matthews is joined by Taskmaster creator Alex Horne and English Heritage curator Peter Moore for some gaming nostalgia, stories of weird and wonderful games from our sites and a selection of Lady Braybrooke's after-dinner riddles to solve. Our time starts now! Don't forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Taskmaster at English Heritage: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/taskmaster/ Join: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/ Support our work: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/

Stonehenge ranks among Britain's most iconic landmarks, drawing nearly a million visitors yearly to marvel at the mysterious stone formation that has stood for over 4,000 years. We share everything you need to know about visiting this UNESCO World Heritage Site, from transportation options to insider tips that will enhance your experience.• Two types of stones make up Stonehenge - sarsen stones from 25 miles away and bluestones transported an incredible 150 miles from Wales• The stones align perfectly with both summer and winter solstices, showcasing remarkable astronomical knowledge• Visitors arrive at a dedicated visitor centre located 1.5 miles from the actual stones• The excellent museum provides crucial context about the site's history and significance• Free shuttle buses run every 10 minutes between the visitor centre and the monument• You cannot touch the stones even with special inner circle access tours• Weather protection is essential as you'll be completely exposed on Salisbury plain• Multiple transport options exist, including train to Salisbury, plus tour bus, driving, or organised tours• The nearby Avebury stone circle offers a complementary experience where you can touch the stones• Book tickets in advance, especially during peak summer months, to guarantee entry• English Heritage and National Trust members receive free entryFor more information about visiting Stonehenge and other UK destinations, join our UK Travel Planning Facebook community where we share tips, answer questions and help you plan your perfect UK trip.

In the last of a series on coastal archaeological sites and climate change, Professor Lucy Blue speaks to Dr Alex Kent, Coastal Connections Lead, a global partnership between English Heritage and World Monuments Fund.  Learn how Hurst Castle, a coastal fort built on England's southern coast is falling into the sea due to undercutting of the shingle due to storm surges and, like hundred of other sites globally, is suffering from the impacts of climate change.  By bringing together communities around the world that face similar issues, hear how Coastal Connections network aims to share common challenges and a range of solutions, including nature based ones and innovative regional ones. Aided by a series of online workshops and discussions, it became clear that there are many similarities faced by sites around the world.  Alex maps out the goals of Coastal Connections, including site information sheets, creating a worldwide network of coastal site managers and practionners sharing and showcasing solutions, as well as training hubs to equip across generations practical skills to sustainably manage heritage sites. 

In this special episode of YeOldeGuide, we delve into the fascinating history of England's forgotten settlements. Despite being a small and crowded island, some important towns have faded into obscurity or vanished entirely. Where were these missing settlements, and why did they disappear?Join us as we welcome historian Daniel Gooch back to the studio for an insightful discussion on the Lost Cities of England.  Our discussion includes:Dunwich: Once a thriving settlement with a population of over 3000, Dunwich now has only 84 residents. Coastal erosion has dramatically reshaped this town, making it a shadow of its former self.Old Sarum: Now an English Heritage site, Old Sarum was once a significant settlement. Discover its history and why it became virtually non-existent.Silchester: With a current population of 921, Silchester has Roman roots and significant wallsWinchelsea: Although not entirely lost, Winchelsea never grew to the aspirations of its planners.  Today it offers a great opportunity to see a planned town layout.  Join us for an enjoyable exploration of these intriguing locations. Are these settlements truly lost, or do they still hold a place in England's historical tapestry? Tune in to find out!Send us a text

Lady Jane Grey hit the headlines a couple of weeks ago when news broke that a portrait, quite possibly of Jane, painted from life had resurfaced. Today, I welcome Rachel Turnbull, Senior Collections Conservator in Fine Art for English Heritage onto the podcast. Rachel was the person at the very centre of this discovery and examination. She joins me to discuss the research, what new features from the portrait were discovered and how changes were made, likely long after the original painting was completed, to change the way the sitter is presented.

Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your host is Paul Marden.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on Twitter  or Bluesky for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned in this podcast.Competition ends on 19th March 2025. The winner will be contacted via Bluesky. Show references: https://www.ajah.ae/https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-griffiths-63432763/Kelly's final episodeThe transformation of Painshill Park, with Paul Griffiths, Director of PainshillWhat it really takes to launch a podcast. With Kelly Molson and Paul GriffithsPaul Griffiths has worked in the Heritage, Museums and Tourism world now for nearly 30 years.After spending 16 years working in various role for English Heritage, in 2012 he moved to the Mary Rose Museum as Head of Operations to oversee the opening and operations of the multi award winning museum, welcoming over one million visitors before in 2018 taking on moving to the Painshill Park Trust in the role of Director of Painshill. Paul spent 6 years there before his move in December 2024 to Ras Al Khaimah one of the seven Emirates that make up the UAE. In this exciting brand new role Paul is Chief Executive Officer of the Al Hamra Heritage Village, part of the Al Qasimi Foundation. Transcriptions: Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, a podcast for people working in and working with Visitor Attractions. I'm your host, Paul Marden.Longtime listeners will remember my guest today, Paul Griffiths, when he was CEO at Painshill Park, from when he was interviewed back in season one by Kelly. In today's episode, Paul comes back to talk about his new role as CEO of Al Jazeera Al Hamrah Heritage Village in Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE. Now, I'm always interested in the first 90 days of people's experience in a job, so we'll be talking more about that and his for the future. Paul Marden: Paul, welcome back to Skip the Queue. Paul Griffiths: Hello. Thanks for having me, Paul. Great to be here. Paul Marden:  Long time. Listeners will know that we always start with an icebreaker question and our guests don't get to know that one in advance. I think this one's a pretty kind one. I was pretty mean to Paul Sapwell from Hampshire Cultural Trust a couple of weeks ago because I asked him whether it was Pompey or Saints and for political reasons, he felt that he had to abstain from that.Paul Griffiths: Testing his interest. I'd have gone Pompey at the time because that's where we live. Well, did live. Paul Marden: Oh, there you go. There you go. So you've moved over from Portsmouth. You're now in the UAE. Tell listeners, what is that one? Home comfort that after three months away from Blighty, you're missing? Is it proper English marmalade? Paul Griffiths: Do you know what? I've been able to get hold of most things, but I've not been able to get. I know people who cook properly, so I should be able to do this myself, but I haven't. Cauliflower cheese, one thing I'm missing from home, that doesn't sell it anywhere in a sort of pre pack or frozen form. I can even get hold of Yorkshire puddings in Spinny's supermarket, but I can't get hold of cauliflower cheese. Paul Marden: Can you get cauliflowers? Paul Griffiths: Can get cauliflowers. I'm sure I can make cheese sauce if I knew what it was doing. But you normally. I'm so used to normally buying a pack of cheese, cauliflower cheese to have in my Sunday roast. Paul Marden: Okay. So if I ever get to come out, I need to bring out a plastic wrapped, properly sealed so that it doesn't leak on the plane. Cauliflower cheese? Paul Griffiths: Yes, please. Yeah, absolutely. Paul Marden: So your last episode was actually. Or your last full episode was back in season one, episode 22. So five years ago and the world has changed a lot in five years, but most recently it's changed a lot for you, hasn't it? So why don't you tell listeners a little bit about what's happened to you since you were with us in season one? Paul Griffiths: Wow. Yeah, well, season one seems an age away, doesn't it, now with all the wonderful guests youu've had since on Skip the Queue, it's been a different program completely. But, yeah, no, well, back then I was at Painshill, were coming out of a pandemic and I remember, you know, Kelly and I were chatting over all the different avenues that everyone had gone and what we've done at Painshill and that continued brilliantly. And however, my life has taken a change in. In sense of where I am, but I'm still doing the same sort of work, so. Which is, you know, when our industry, and it's such a fabulous industry, it's great to stay in it. Paul Griffiths: So I am now over in the United Army Emirates in the Emirate of Ras Alhaima, which is the third biggest of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, behind Abu Dhabi and, of course, Dubai. So I was approached, God, nearly always, this time last year, about a call over here. Yes. My recruitment company got in touch and went through, you know, had a good look at the job description and thought, well, actually, we'll throw my hat into the ring. And applied, went for a series of online interviews with the recruitment company, then an online interview with the people over here at various departments within the Al Kassimme Foundation and the Department of Museums and Antiquities. Paul Griffiths: So, yeah, looking at this brand new job, which I'm now lucky enough to be in, I then was flown out in August for a round of interviews, met all the team. You know, one of those things that you later discover, the whole real four days was one big interview, although there was. There was a central one. But of course, everyone you were meeting along the way was being asked to feedback, And I love chatting to people and enjoying people's company. So actually went for dinners and lunches and all sorts, which was just a lovely four days and almost felt like a free hit in many ways, Paul. Well, this is going to be a brilliant experience. Paul Griffiths: If I don't get the job, I'm going to have a great four days in Rasta Taima, seeing it, meeting everyone, enjoying the time here. And, you know, the more time I spent here, the more time with the team, the more time, you know, going and visiting sites. I just became more and more that this would be an amazing job. Obviously gave my absolute everything, did loads of research, gave everything in the interview. The interview took a rather unusual turn. After the sort of hour and a half of questions and my questions, I was asked to leave the room for a short period. Not unusual in that sense because I was, you know, I wasn't just going to leave and go because obviously I was in their hands for four days. Paul Griffiths: But the doctor, Natasha Ridge, the executive director of the foundation, came out the interview and said, “Right, that's all gone really well. We're really pleased. We're now off to the palace for you to meet His Highness Sheikh Saud, who is the ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and on the Supreme Council of the UAE.” So I was sort of, I went to one of the small meeting rooms you. Now I know that. Now I know where I was, where I went. But at that point I had no idea. One of the lovely. There's a very much a service thing here. Paul Griffiths: So, you know, we have in the Heritage Village as well later we have a wonderful member of our team, Geraldine, who does lots of cooking, prepares stuff and just had a wonderful fish taco lunch because we're four hours ahead of you, of course, here in Alaihi. So, yeah, so one of the guys came in with, gave me an English breakfast tea and sort of, you know, sat there reviewing what, thinking what on earth was I going to be asked by His Highness. And then was put into one of the drivers and we drove up through Rat Sahma City, through into the palace, up the long driveway and there I was sort of eventually, after about 20 minutes, presented with. Presented to Sheikh Sword who asked me, chatted, asked various questions. Paul Griffiths: I don't think there could be many interviews that you end up with His Highness in the second half of it. You know, it's sometimes a presentation. Yeah. So that was. I was there for about half an hour and that's your time over and off he goes. And off I went back to then go and have dinner with some of the team. So it was a very surreal afternoon. Paul Marden: Being interviewed by royalty. But when you're not expecting that as part of the interview process, that must be quite unnerving. Paul Griffiths: I had a heads up that at some point in my trip I might meet him, but there was no formal arrangements. I had me had to get in a diary. So it hadn't even crossed my mind that's what was about to happen. When I was asked to leave the meeting room, I just thought maybe they wanted to come back with more questions or, you know, say I hadn't gone well, whatever. But, yeah, no, that was the. I took that as a good sign. I thought, well, actually, if I'm being whisked up there, the interview must have gone relatively well because I'm sure they would present me to shake sword if it hadn't gone so well. Paul Marden: Yeah. You'd hope that he would be towards the end of the cycle of the interview round. Paul Griffiths: Yeah. Paul Marden: Not doing the early sifting of CVs. Paul Griffiths: No. He certainly had seen who I was because he asked me some questions about where I'd worked and. Okay, things like that. So he'd obviously seen a CV. He's a very. I mean, I've met him subsequently a few times. I've been fortunate to be a dinner hosted by him a couple of weeks ago. But he is a very, very intelligent man. Works really hard. I mean, work. He, you know, for him, he spends every minute working on the emirate. He ruled, he. He's the ruler. But he's almost a. It's a sort of combo, I guess he's all Prime Minister at the same time as being the ruler. So he is constantly working. You know, I'm really committed and I'm lucky in many ways that where I am working at the Heritage Village is his real. Paul Griffiths: One of his real pet projects that he's really driving forward. So, yes, we come with sort of royal. Royal approval, if you like. So. Yeah. Paul Marden: Excellent. So I. I've not been to the Emirates before, so for those of us that have not been, tell us a little bit about Ras Al Khaimah, of course. Paul Griffiths: Well, Ras Al Khaimah is one of the quieter Emirates mentioned. Sheikh Saud there, he's really driving a sort of, you know, a sort of agenda of bringing in more tourists. But he wants to use culture and territory as part of that. So, you know, it's a more relaxed, low level, if that makes sense. It's not Dubai, it's not full on, it's more relaxed Emirate. It's relaxed in cultural and many of the ways it's not, as you know, some of the other Emirates are, for example, completely dry. Ras Al Khaimah has given licenses to hotels and big restaurants in hotels for serving drinks. And there are a number of sellers where you can purchase for your consumption your own home, whereas Sharjah, you can't purchase any alcohol, for example, so it's a bit more chilled like that. It's a lovely place. Paul Griffiths: We're very fortunate to have the heavier mountains go through the far side of Ras Al Khaimah. So where I'm based is more on the seafront but then not, you know, I can see the mountains behind and there's a number of drives up into the mountains which are absolutely fabulous. Up to the Jebel Jais, which is the highest point in the UAE, we have the world's longest and fastest zip wire. I have not gone anywhere near that yet. Goes up to 100km an hour and is the longest over from the top of the mountain, whisking you off to the other side. I think it looks terrifying. But my. Paul Marden: I'm more interested in cables that take you to the top of the mountain. Maybe with some skis on my feet than I am attaching myself to a cable and going down the mountain. Doesn't sound like fun to me. Paul Griffiths: There's a toboggan ride as well up there as well.Paul Marden: Oh, I'd love that. Paul Griffiths: So that's the toboggan ride's on my to do list when the family get off, I'll save it for then and take my son Barney on that. But you know, there's all this sort of venture sports up on the top of the mountain and driving up there is remarkable. They put a proper road in. It's not the scary driving up the Alps, terrified what's going to come around the other corner. It's very like driving up a road, you know, normal sort of dual carriageway, two lanes each way and then right going through the mountains to the other side to one of the other Emirates for Jazeera , for example. So you're over on the Indian Ocean side Gulf Vermont. That road is just beautiful. There's no traffic on it, you know. Paul Griffiths: So Ras Al Khaimah is only about an hour and hour to an hour and a half from Dubai airport. And Dubai is a sort of people go to Dubai in the same way that we, you know, you'd go to London, I'd go to London when I was in Port Soviet, we would. It's now, you know, it's not considered a. There's always someone from work who's in Dubai every day almost for some reason. So nipping up to Dubai, I was like, I went to a dinner there last week and you know, it just seemed very normal that he jumped in a car and drove up to Dubai and came back that evening. Whereas. Seems remarkable actually to be doing that. But yeah, so because of where we are, Abu Dhabi is about two and a half hours away.Paul Griffiths: And we are the northern point of the Emirate, So we border on to Oman, split into a number of areas. Again, I didn't know any of this till I got here, but there's a part of Oman that's at the top of Ras Al Khaimah. And so, yeah, so it's a beautiful Emirate with nature, with mountain areas, which does get a bit chillier when you go up the mountains. I looked quite silly in my T shirt and shorts when I went up there on a Sunday afternoon. People were going past me like they were going skiing. You know, people wore coats and hats and looking at me as if I'm really daft. But I was still. It's interesting that because it's winter obviously everywhere here at the moment and at home, but it's. Paul Griffiths: People here are often telling me it's a cold day when I'm still standing. I still feel really quite warm. But yeah, finding that sort ofPaul Marden: Talking 30s at the moment for you, aren't we? Paul Griffiths: Yeah, it's a little bit. The last couple days have been down in the lower 20s, really comfortable. But when we last weekend, people were getting a bit nervous that summer had come very early because it was hitting the early 30s last week. So I don't know how for me, when we get to August, when it's in the mid, late 40s with real high humidity, I think I'm just going to go from aircon building to aircon building to aircon building.Paul Marden: I am such a Goldilocks when it comes to that sort of thing. Not too hot, not too cold, it needs to be just right. So I would definitely struggle in that kind of heat. Look, let's talk a little bit about where you are in the new job. So you've taken on the role of CEO of Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village. So tell me a little bit about the village. Why is this village so historic? Paul Griffiths: Well, it's a really interesting one, Paul, because it is very important, but it's not that old. And that's why what coming to me about making it more alive is something that's going to be crucial to us. So the village has been lived in for many years. It was a pearl farming village. So most of the people who worked here were doing pearl farming, which is pretty horrible job to do. You were, again, learning about this. You were jumping off boats, going to the ocean depths for up to three to four minutes. No protection really, apart from a very light shirt and some little bits on your fingers. But actually you're nothing on your eyes. Paul Griffiths: So you're having to look through the salt water, find the pearls come up and they were going up and down sometime 15, 16 times or more a day. And there's a fascinating exhibition in Dubai at the Al Shindagha Museum which really does focus on how this worked and how these guys were living. So, so it's a real. So that was the village. So the village had that, it obviously had then had fishing men, merchants making boats, merchants selling, trading wares. And Ras Al Khaimah has been quite a strategic part as all of the UAE really for the sort of trades coming from the Middle east and out into the Gulf. So the villages was being lived in up until the very early 70s. Paul Griffiths: Up in the 1970s the Al Za'abi tribe who were based here were offered I guess a new life is the only way to look at it in Abu Dhabi with new jobs, with land, with housing and it's just a better way like pearl farming was now being done so much cheaper and easier in the Orient in Japan mainly. So that was, that dropped away. There wasn't the other merchant trading going on. So actually the oil boom basically led the tribe to almost one up sticks and head to Abu Dhabi. And in many ways good story because we're still in touch with quite considerable amounts of the tribes people who were here. Lots of the elders have done wonderful oral histories, videos talking about their lives here. But this village survived as just fell into ruins, but actually wasn't developed. Paul Griffiths: And where it becomes important is this would have been what all of the Gulf would have looked like before the oil boom. The UAE wasn't a wealthy nation before then. You know, when I went up to Dubai and spent some time at the Etihad Museum, which is based around which Etihad Union is the not Around Man City Stadium should point out very much around about how the UAE had come together and how, you know, so it wasn't the wealthiest nation, but actually they discovered oil. They then brought seven Emirates together. It then has flourished in the ways that we now know what Dabi and ifwe looks like and even Ras Al Khaimah in some parts and really quite glamorous. But this village survived. Paul Griffiths: So although it fell into ruin, all the other fishing, farmhome fishing, pearl farming villages across the Gulf had become, just got destroyed, knocked down, you know, turned into hotels and high rises. And actually when you visit the other Emirates, lots of them are now recreating their historic areas or re purposing some of the historic buildings and they're doing it very well. In Dubai, Sharjah has actually completely rebuilt. It's what it calls the Harp Sharjah, which is. Which was its historic sort of areas, but. Paul Marden: Right. Paul Griffiths: But this survived. Many of the buildings had fallen into disrepair. And what we've been doing for the last few years, as the Al Qasimi Foundation and the Department of Antiquities and Museums is restoring a number of these buildings, we've then sort of gone into a sort of activation so you can walk around. So we've got, you know, carving now. Only a year ago it was mostly sand. We've now got a path going through it, so you can walk in. And the job that I've really been asked to do initially on arrival here is to really push that activation forward and really look at my sort of. What I've done in the past and what we've seen other places do and think about what can we do to bring this bit more to life? Paul Griffiths: Because it's the sort of storage village is around the 1970s. Well, it was abandoned in the 1970s. Well, you know, for us from the UK, from lots of other nationalities, actually, something in the 70s isn't very old. It's in our lifespan. You know, we are looking at this going well, actually. So when I was talking to a lot of. So RAK TDA's basically visit RAK tourism authority. So they are really supportive in wanting to push Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, which will from now on abbreviate to AJAH to save me. Keep saying that. Long tanned. So they are really keen that we're doing more stuff. So why would a tourist want to come? What is there to see once you're here? Paul Griffiths: On top of some abandoned and now beautifully restored houses, mosques, you know, things that you would have expected in a village of, you know, a thousand or so population, 500 houses, you know, so more than a thousand people, really. So that's the sort of plan in that way. So in many ways I've got a sort of blank canvas to play with. But, you know, money's not unlimited, so it's about. So working closely with local communities, working with, you know, local traders, looking at what could we bring into the village on the back of the art fair. I know we'll talk about later, but it's, you know, this has been a. This is a real challenge for me to. How do I take this sort of place forwards.Paul Marden: In my mind's eye, we go to the Weald & Downland Living Museum so open air museum, lots of houses recreating life through the ages. Is that the sort of experience that I'm going to get if I come to the village of I'm going to see the properties and I'm going to see this previous way of life come to life in front of me?Paul Griffiths: Well at the moment you'll see you just see in the houses and the buildings but you're walking around looking at historic buildings but we have got a number of the houses we've put in. Each video is at the moment showing the audio visuals so you can walk around and listen to members of the tribes chatting about their youth and what's happening and you can see the buildings in real life. I guess what I'm looking for this is telling the story a little bit of the village which we don't initially do that well at the moment that's no criteria. Yes, this is what we need to do going forward. There's been several stages of activation When I came last August part not many the paths weren't all finished. We didn't have anywhere for visitor services to be at the front.Paul Griffiths: We only had a very small sort officey area which has now been built up to where I'm. Where I'm sat today. So I think what you're going to get is a multi as a blend of traders who will be in our suitcase. The Souk is fully restored sooke and shopping market area so that's my first point is to move some people in there. So I've already got a goldsmith and move to her studio in got some handicrafts we've got some textile people moving in the. Paul Griffiths: The main gallery of Nassau Heyman Design Gallery which is the one big gallery where artists can go is going to have a sort of satellite shop if you like not shop a satellite so there will be pieces of work there are in here with their little souvenir store which they sell because they get people a lot of what the design gallery does is making souvenirs of Ras Al Khaimah that are all handmade so quite special gifts. So what we're hoping is tying up with our local hoteliers who many of which have not been so it's bringing them in and they need something more to see to send their guests here. Paul Griffiths: So you know talking to some of them over lunch when I hosted some of them on Saturday it was a case of you know actually, can they send their clients and say, you can do all your holiday shopping because at the moment they're sending people to the shopping malls which are just, you know, nice, but actually merchandise them to go to a heritage village, get that experience of what the golf would have been like and bags of shopping at the same time. Paul Marden: So who doesn't love a. A museum gift shop at the end? So, you know. Paul Griffiths: Exactly. And we don't really have that here at the moment from an Al Jazeera perspective. So on my plan for this year is to put in. We've got an info booth, as it's called at the moment. It's not a world. It's not the best customer service friendly. It's like a caravan but with some windows. And yeah, it's probably a better. Now it's got air conditioning. Yes. But it doesn't work very well for customers. You're trying to talk through little windows because you can only have small windows to keep the air con working, not have too much open to. It's just passing out. Paul Griffiths: So, yeah, so I'm looking at building this summer, hopefully. Fingers crossed, touch wood, a visitor welcome centre, which is something we're really pushing along with, which will be lovely because that will be that proper visitor welcome with a shop with an induction into an introduction. Sorry, into the Al Jazeera story. And then let people go. And then when they get to the far end, they'll be the souk full of. He says again, hopefully slowly filling them out, but full of traders and local craftspeople and people who are. Even if they're not originally local, they're based in rack, so they are considered local. The UAE is built up of a lot of expat population. When I say expats, I mean just English people from around the world. It's a really accepting, welcoming community. I've been really. Everyone says hello to you as you're walking into the supermarket shops. There's no. Whoever they are where you're from. Paul Griffiths: Everyone's talking to each other because the local population know they've had to bring people in because there's thousands more jobs than there are Emirati population in Ras Al Khaimah. So, you know, it's always been. And when you look at the foundation of the UAE, it was about, we will need to bring people in to bring this. To build this nation with us. So, you know, it's been always a sort of welcome and melting pot of different people. Paul Marden: Yeah, amazing. Look, you mentioned when we had our initial chat. You've been there now three months, you've been doing lots of visiting of other attractions. Because I think you said to me, which I thought was quite interesting, that you were. There's lots that you bring with you from the UK in your experience, but there's lots of best practice and good practice happening within the Emirates already. So you've been kind of going out and visiting a lot of cultural venues and attractions in the Emirates. Tell me a little bit about those. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, so it's been a minute of a manic last month in February, because we've had the art festival. I know we're going to keep hinting at it, we'll get to it at some point, but when I've had some time away, what's been fabulous, it's just sort of. And I think as well, because the family aren't here in my own at the moment, said, “All right, I've got some time off, let's go and explore.” Yeah. So I've sort of driven across to Fajera, spent time in Sharjah and took myself up for a weekend in Dubai, which was fantastic. Booked a very reasonably priced hotel and just spent a weekend flowering around everywhere and just really immersed in my. So and only scratch the surface. There's so much more to see. So, yeah, so I've been going and looking at. Paul Griffiths: Well, you know, I don't want to do something that's not. There'll be alien to, obviously, the culture here. And that's been really. What's been great fun in the last few months is it's not just going into a new job, you know, and learning that. It's actually been a terrifying, at some points, fabulous experience. I was learning new cultures, new working lives. You know, things are working. It's done very differently here. You know, there's a different hierarchical process we have in the UK and permissions are needed in different places. And that's not. I'm not saying any of this is a bad thing, it's just learning those different things. So I've been learning all these different cultures. You know, we're just coming into Ramadan, which I've had no real experience with before. And that is. That is a massive thing here. You know, it's the month. Paul Griffiths: Every billboard you go past is someone trying to sell something for Ramadan, whether it be a new chest of drawers, you know, your family needs this new dining table for Ramadan. It's a bit like, you know, you will see at Christmas at home, everyone catching on, you know, IKEA will be saying, new table and chairs for Christmas. You know, it's. It's not. It's a sort of different repeating itself. You know, those sort of signs you have around the supermarket. Christmas back home. They're all up now in supermarkets here for Ramadan. Paul Marden: Right. Paul Griffiths: Encouraging what people are going to buy for when they break the fast at sunset Iftar. So, you know, so it's all sort of promoting. You need this for. So it's a real. We're going to a massive thing. And that's been a real sort of learning, cultural thing for me, which has been great because actually I've always enjoyed, when I'm traveling, learning about other cultures, you know, it's always been for me, I always try and visit museums, galleries, learn about the place I'm at. And so actually living somewhere and learn about someone who's been. I think it's added to the fun of the experience. But back to your question. Paul Griffiths: Yes, I've been traveling wherever the possibility to start to look at other historic venues, looking at where they've, you know, restored historic markets and souk areas and what sort of things are going in there, what are people doing there. Up in Dubai, there is a place called Al Shindagar Museum, which is where they've. Some of the historic buildings that have been saved by the creek of Dubai have been turned into the most amazing series of museums, is the only way I can describe it, because each house is a different gallery or different theme. So you have the story of the creek being built up, the story of Dubai seafarers. There was a faith and. Faith and religion room, talking about Islam and different cultures, how that's worked around Dubai. Paul Griffiths: Dubai being built up as a city, lots about the rulers and families, but every house you went to is a different place. What was so impressive there from a visitor experience perspective was the training that Stafford had was sensational. You know, you go into someone, you think they're obviously being managed really well because obviously this is. You don't just train. So obviously someone oversees this really well. But clearly the training, everywhere you went, the customer service was exceptional. People coming out from behind counters, giving you introductions, making sure you had everything needed, you know, as you were leaving. Have you got any questions? All those things we try and all have tried to teach over the years, and in many ways we've all been different levels of success of that. Paul Griffiths: But what was amazing was they also got the security guards in on the act as well, because there's a real culture here that there's a separate, they're secure, they're very different. You know, there's, we've got them here, they're in very much brown security, clearly marked, you know, protecting places. But what they've done there is they had clearly trained those security guards as well, because every security guard you came across was getting in the act of chatting to visitors, even if their English wasn't brilliant, they were really keen to direct you to the next. Come this way. So the next place, oh, you finished that room, you must go upstairs. And you know, that sort of. Paul Griffiths: And whether they, you know, really just said, look, you can have a much more interesting day than just standing, staring at people walking around. You can actually chat to visitors from around the world and get talkative. And I just had the most amazing. I ended up in this museum for over five and a half hours or something silly like that. And I thought I was going to be there an hour because it was priced very reasonably. You know, when you judge a museum on, well, actually I paid this, I'm probably going to be here for that amount of time. And actually it was just, you know, I found myself stopping for a coffee, stopping for lunch. But I was so impressed by the way the staff interacted. Paul Griffiths: They also had a number of cultural local guides as well, who really were, you know, in the full sort of Emirati national dress, but wanted to press on. This is where. This is what I'm doing. So I've some, you know, I traveled across to Fujairah every week and was in a, an old, what was the ruler's summer house. And the guy, and the guy who ran it just took me on a tour. I didn't ask for a tour. He just said, would you. Well, he said, should I take you around? Yes, please. And we had this great hours experience as he was just chatting about all the rooms. And I think people here are very keen to share their culture and their heritage and very welcoming. Paul Griffiths: So, yeah, so I've done quite a bit traveling around the other parts of the UAE. I can't go out of the UAE because I've only got a hire car at the moment, so I can't go out to Omar, that's on my list. You get yourself a car. I can travel north of the border into Oman and explore that. But for now, seven emirates to. So no shortage of places. And I've not been up to Abu Dhabi yet, so still with that on my list. So yeah, Paul Marden: Wowzers. Okay. So I guess, and this is completely, what would I feel like if I was in your position of going to this new country, immersing myself in this relatively new place that you're leading? How do I say this without flattering you? You were a well connected guy. If I went to events, everybody knew you. You had this wide network of people having worked in the UK in the attraction sector for a long time and you've now jumped over to the UAE. What's happened to the network? How does that feel? I mean it must feel slightly kind of worrying or nerve wracking. What have you done to build the network in this new place? Paul Griffiths: There's a number of points to that. Right, so let's answer in a few minutes. So the world's a smaller place so I'm still occasionally having teams call zoom calls with really close ex colleagues, friends, you know, I'm sure, I mean I always say I'm sure but everyone keeps saying, “Oh I'm really loving the journey so please keep posting. So I am going to keep posting and probably going to start to annoy people after a while”, but the feedback so far is everyone saying we're loving the journey and following you with it and feel like we're on the journey. So I will carry on. I'm sort of keeping writing stuff up and sharing it and also I don't know how long I'll be here for. You know, probation is massive over here. I have to keep my fingers crossed. Paul Griffiths: I pass probation which is a six month period because it's a real right the UAE all not just off and across the UAE. It's a real big, you know, much more than at home, much more structured. On day one was given a series and this isn't a bad thing at all, a series of probation tasks, you know, around reports that are around other historic parts because the job that I've come over will eventually evolve into a wider heritage role. But at the moment the real focus is on Al Jazeera Al Hamra, which is great. Get one site, get it going, then see where we go next. So I think I'm still connected to lots of people back home. I'm still looking, seeing everyone's posts and enjoy. Paul Griffiths: I mean my usual jealousy of not being part of the ALVA network anymore as they're all having that great time in Belfast in the last couple of days and seeing everyone's post, not just one or two, but everyone you know, Bernard down with you know everyone's post. I wish I was there with them.Paul Marden: The FOMO was real. So I had Andy Povey in the office with me yesterday and we're both saying the FOMO about that ALVAe vent was very real for both of us having. Paul Griffiths: Having spent. You know I was at the Mary Rose few years where we joined ALVA and go experiencing those council weeks and knowing just hey how much they are great for networking A. You get very spoiled because every host wants to really show off what they can do and I think the Titanic always do that because we go there before for a council meeting but it's. Yeah. So you still see this stuff. So it's still sit home and there's still people I can reach out to.Paul Marden: Of course.Paul Griffiths: If we need to and I'm still calling on people things, you know, different projects we're doing here. But then again it's about slowly building up that network here and I think there's a slightly. You know, there's a. Within Ras Al Khaimah I've started making connections with lots of other people in the Heritage world and. And outside that. So we're already, you know, connecting up with different people from different parts of Ras Al Khaimah, the work we're going to do moving forward and for me I think it's been just a. I'm sort of still pinching myself I'm here and that sort of. So many things keep happening and you know. The weather's been gorgeous because I've come out of a grim English weather to this quite nice winter here where it's mostly been late mid-20s. Paul Griffiths: You're in she and shorts when you're off duty. You know, there's other things. The thing that really surprised me is how smart actually the dress code is for business over here. Paul Marden: Okay. Paul Griffiths: So I had to sort of all the usual brands that from home Mount Marks is next everything here so you could order online and get it delivered quite quickly. So I had sort of came out of one wardrobe thinking I was going to be far more in polo shirt and linen trousers are sort of very sort of summer at Painshill look, you know outdoor. But actually yeah my colleagues are still. Because of the aircon atmosphere. Lots of colleagues particularly in the head office are in suits. A bit like where I would have been when back in my London days. When we're in the office you were in a shirt tie. So yes, I had to sort of buy A back home wardrobe almost once I got traveled out with very lightweight clothing. So yes, it's a bit different in that sense. Paul Marden:  Yeah, absolutely. Let's talk a little bit about life as an expat. How have you found the transition? Paul Griffiths: Fine so far. I say there's lots of bits around work and practice and you know, no amount of inductions will be able to help you on some little faux pas you can make about not realising where you need approvals for staff. And obviously coming from the. For the last six years of being director of Painshill and only from feeding into a board of directors, board of trustees who we'd see quarterly and you know, I chat to the chairman every week. There was a lot of me sort of making those sort of decisions instantly was here, you know, particularly as were part of the foundation and we are representing Sheikh Saud as his name's in the title of the organization now, making sure we're going through those tick sheets. Paul Griffiths: You know, if I want to do anything that needs to spend more money, that's out budget, that is going to his Highness to be signed off. So any projects we're doing, we're needing to make cases to the highest man in the country to actually get those, you know, sign offs and things. And I'm not, that's not a bad thing. But you know, it's just that from an expat I guess it's getting used to. Everything's available here. Not the big supermarket up the road sells Waitrose and Marxist products and has a room at the back for non Muslims where you push the button, door opens, it's like a little bit of a naughty boys room. Paul Griffiths: You push back door open, slides you walk in and there's the pork heaven, you know, there's bacon, there's pork scratching, patays, you know, all because it's a real, you know, it's not just there's so many expats here, particularly from the Philippines and stuff who obviously pork is a big part of their diet. So yeah, that's available. I said earlier on there's cellars where you can pick up a great beer or a couple of glasses of bottle of wine or whatever you want. So actually it's not that I found myself flying into this really different world and I'm not really. Paul Marden:  It's a melting pot, isn't it? Paul Griffiths: Yeah. And I'm not someone who's ever been since very young, you know, going off to nightclubs or anything like that. But if you wanted that There is that. The hotels. So actually, if you're a younger person coming out and you wanted that nightlife, the hotels, particularly on Margin island and Minnal Arab, the tubing hotels have really nice restaurants, fully licensed clubs and stuff. But, you know, actually I found sort of the work is busy. Everyone's, you know, lots going on, actually, just going back to, you know, I was in a hotel for the first two months, which wasn't a dreadful thing because it was an apartment hotel. So, yeah, I had enough and now we've moved. I've moved into a villa ready for the family. Come out hopefully in about a month's time.Paul Marden:  Oh, that'd be exciting. Paul Griffiths: Yeah. So that's nice. So we've got the back onto the golf course. It's quite, you know, it's a nice place to be. It's going to be nice and, you know. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, so I've not struggled adapting because it's not. It's not that, you know, normally I've got a wonderful team here, Asia, you know, so with one Emirati and some Filipinos and other people from around the. From around the world. So that's been nice. And it's melting pot of learning their cultures as well as the local culture and. Yeah. And then they eat rice with everything. So it's. Yeah. Every lunchtime there's a bowl of rice, big bowl of salad in the main course and there's me pouring on the one on the salad, everyone else on the rice. But, yeah, it's been great, Paul. I mean, I can't. It's been one of those. Every moment you think this is just a great place to be. Paul Marden: Good. Let's go back to Al Jazeera and talk a little bit about some of the events that have been going on. So I know you're coming to the end of the Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival. Tell me a little bit about that and how well that's gone. Paul Griffiths: It's been brilliant. I know. I had no idea what to expect. First time for this. So this is the 13th International Art Fair. It started off back in the small museum back in the city of Central Town, moved to here, I think, five years ago is what I'm saying, and slowly grown every year since then. So this is the biggest one we've done, really. Lots of massive sponsors on board from across the Emirates, actually fully supported by His Highness, who's been here at least four times, if not five, since we've had the vessel. He was here at the opening ceremony for the big launch, you know it was, and it was like a proper opening ceremony. Paul Griffiths: Everyone sat round with a band and speakers and you know like not quite Olympics but you know it was a proper event. This is the opening of it and it felt like a big event. Yeah. All my female members of my team had, were given time off in the day to do hair and makeup. It was proper. Everyone looked, everyone looked the business, it was lovely. You know everyone was scrubbed up from the maintenance team to, you know, our executive director looking fabulous in a brand new dress. You know it was really was. No, I've had a new suit, I got a new suit for the occasion. Paul Griffiths: So yeah, it was a lovely evening and then it's rolled ever since and for me it's been wonderful because I've seen people in this village which has been quite quiet since I'd arrived and it's sort of been okay, how are we going to get this? But actually clearly putting something on has attracted a complete cross spectrum audience. So you know, we have people coming in, absolutely fascinating, obsessed with the art, beautiful and it's artists I should say from around the world. It's all exhibited outside or inside the little houses. So you know lots of the pieces have been blown up quite big and quite impressive. I mean do look at it on the website, you know people, you know if you go to ajah.ae you can then click on from there.Paul Marden: We'll put the links and everything in the show notes so people be able to find that. Paul Griffiths: It's been, but it's been, for me it's been fabulous because we've seen so many people in, you know I was, you know, we've had, we've got pop up restaurants so this won't mean anything to people back home but the restaurant called Puro P U R O has a restaurant at the top of the mountain at Jebel Jais. Really almost impossible to get booking, you know you have to book months advance for lunch or dinner. It's the place that everybody, both locals, internationals and tourists want to see and often frequented by his Highness. They've got a pop up restaurant here which just is fabulous. Paul Griffiths: They we've had a lovely couple, Kelly and Paolo in running a restaurant called Antica which is a sort of the chef's Italian Paolo but he's lived in Australia so it's a fusion of Australian middle Italy, sort of historic villagey type cuisine with an Emirates twist. But you're just served four or five courses without there's not a menu. It's not a restaurant as such, so it's sort of a sharing experience. But you know, the food is amazing. So I was fortunate to have dinner. Well, I've actually been fortunate enough to have dinner in Antica twice and lunch there as well. But one of the dinners I was then wandering around the village about 10 o'clock at night was full of people, you know, families just. Paul Griffiths: There is a different culture over here that people do more stuff in the evenings because of the temperature and a different way of life because the local people aren't obviously, for obvious reasons, down the pub on a Friday night, they're doing stuff with the family and you go past cafes and even outside of the village, you know, 9, 10 o'clock on a Friday night, they're full of people sitting very beautifully dressed in their finest, drinking coffee and eating desserts. That's a big thing. People seem to love coffee and desserts. Paul Marden: Okay. Paul Griffiths: But, but then of course it's because because of the heat most of the year we'll spend more time indoors resting in the day and then ready to go out at night and do some more stuff. So yeah, so we've had this sort of here in the evenings. It's really fun. What was interesting is our hours for the festival were meant to be midweek. So Monday we always close. Tuesday to Thursday we're meant to be open till 6 o'clock and then Friday, Saturday, Sunday open to 11:00. Often struggling to get people out then the first night. So the Tuesday night was the first night. Medusa goes at 6:00. 5:45, I had a queue of at least 40 people trying to get in. So we just had to make an on the hooves decision. Paul Griffiths: We're going to stay open later. And then we just opened till 8:00 in the midweek. We didn't want to push it too much because of obviously from the staff welfare perspective, an hour's work. But actually that first night were just. Myself and Sikrat, who's the director of the festival, Emirati. Wonderful. Emirati has been my cultural bodyguard in many ways because he's been the person, my go to person for what should I do here? What about this person? How should I do this? So Spencer Crouch just stood there. Look at this crowd. We both just said, “Well we can't turf them away. This would be daft.” So yeah, so we've had. And we've had about 40, 000 visitors will have come through the door by the end of the festival in 28 days. Paul Griffiths: The artworks then going to stay up in place for Ramadan. So we'll be working different hours again during Ramadan and this is the first time Al Jazeera will ever do. Has ever done anything special for. Because before now it's just been a come and visit, walk in, do what you like, leave now. We're trying to structure that visitor experience. So we're going to be for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, because Thursday's the sort of Friday night in many ways. Because a lot of people have Fridays off here. Yes, because of the day of prayers and so a lot of people in Ras Al Hamah go to Dubai and Abu Dhabi for work. So Thursday nights they'll travel back. So actually we're going to be open till midnight on Thursday, Friday, Saturday for Ramadan. Paul Griffiths: So people will break the fast with the families and then they want to do the sort of head top of activity. They've now got food back in them and an energy source. And out they come. So again, first time we've done it, hopefully see numbers with the artwork will still be in place. We're then working on some different options around cuisine, food, coffee and hopefully get some musicians in as well, just to give a bit of an atmosphere. But it is a holy month, so it's not. It's not parties, but it's enjoying the family. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. So what does the future look like for the Heritage Village and for tourism and attractions more generally in RAK? Paul Griffiths: I think for RAK itself, we're trying to bring more tourists in then trying to get the most hotels. Interestingly, as they had a lunch with five of our local big hotels at the weekend using. Using our Antico restaurant, this is excuse to have another lunch there and invite some people in and just take on their views, which is great. So just chatting and getting their thoughts on it. They were saying what. What happens in Iraq a lot at the moment is people are finding the hotels through travel agents, through, you know, searches. I know when were looking before I came out here, I know Ras Al Hamra came up on a Thomas Cumbin telescope. Yeah, similar. What am I thinking of? Probably Tui, I guess, or someone like, you know, someone like that. Paul Griffiths: I was doing a search for when went to Canary, but up came Ras Al Khaimah as a hotel and what they were saying. A lot of people will book that and have no idea really what Ras Al Khaimah is, other than it's part of the UAE. Some people think it's part of Dubai, you know, actually, because it's not, they don't realize it's seven emirates, etc. So a lot of people are booking their sort of tourists, their hotels. Our job is to try and then get them out and attract them to do other stuff. So there's lots of adventure tourism going on at the moment. We talked about the zip wire and lots of hiking, walking, camel rail, camel riding, you know, trips to the desert where you can zoom around in 4x Fours and go karts and stuff. Paul Griffiths: So from my perspective of the Heritage village is about bringing it more alive, bringing more people in, promoting it, more linking up with these sorts of hoteliers, concierges. And this is really early days for us because this has always been sort of slightly done but not really pushed yet. And sort of listening to what their advice is and seeing how we can act upon it, you know, and what sort of stuff we can take forward because, you know, there's a lot to be done. And there's lots of other heritage sites across rat about 90 on the list of actual heritage sites. And some of those are real ruins that you're never going to be able to do anything with. Paul Griffiths: Those sort of English Heritage free sites, you know, the ones you stumble across with a little brown sign and you pull up with a lay by, have a potter around and off you go without seeing anyone. There's a bit like that. But then there's a number of sites that will work well with some activation. You know, we've got Dyer Fort, which is on the World Heritage site tentative list and we're working on projects to slowly take that forward to World Heritage status. Touchwood because it's a really important for, you know, and it's perfect for visits. You climb up to the top, you get the most gorgeous views. You know, really is a gorgeous little site. So more interpretation, more things there is what's needed. But you know, again, this is all early days. Paul Griffiths: So it's all about sort of, you know, each day's excitement. What can we do, what can we push forward, who can we talk to? And what's been great is as the festival's gone on, more people have been coming and chatting to me. Mine have become more, well known. That sounds wrong, goes back to your sort of earlier question about, you know, people are sort of learning about, oh, this person's here now. Paul said, although people can call me sir or Mr. Paul, which is fine. I can deal with that. Keep saying now, people, I keep saying, please don't call me sir. You really don't need to. But it's so culturally great. But Mr. Everyone see everyone externally, she's called Mr. Paul, so I can put up with that. But I was there. Although when we host his. Paul Griffiths: His Highness hosted dinner that I was invited to, I then got even pushed up to His Excellency, which was a title. I want to go. Paul Marden: That's quite nice. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, I love that. Apparently. I always thought that someone else I knew was his title. His Excellency was part of the family, but actually it's. Once you get to a CEO director level in royal that circle, you immediately become His Excellency, so. Paul Marden: Well, there we go. I will correct myself in future communications. Paul Griffiths: Please do. Yeah, but I thought it was wonderful. That's why it's just been lovely, the funny comments coming from people back home saying, oh, well, I've amended my entry in my phone to now shake your he status. But yeah, so. But there's a sort of cultural things. It's just. Okay, right, lovely. That's fun. Paul Marden: It's been a whirlwind for you. It's been really interesting actually, talking about it and understanding more about. About what's happening there, about how exciting it is, this huge opportunity that you've got to make a something out of this beautiful historic village and then that, you know, the remit will grow from there. So I think. I think this has been lovely. We always wrap up our interviews with a book recommendation and you've had this privilege once before. So have you run out of recommendations or do you have something ready for me? Paul Griffiths: Well, I was going to recommend the Red island, an Emirati story, because it's based on Al Jazeera Al Hamra, but I thought that might be a little bit too niche. This guy. So, again, little things have come across. This guy's written a book, Adil, and he's going to be coming to Al Jazeera to do a book reading signing. These little opportunities. I have read the book, I promise. It was actually fascinating because it's all about local culture. It went off in a number of tangents, but actually from a point of view of how the Emirati local culture works and families, it was actually quite a really good induction. But now I've decided to go with a more book for management or book for running. And I don't think anyone's given this before, but if they have, I'm nervous. Paul Griffiths: But this book, Fish!, which is one of my favourite books. I've actually launched this as the Al Jazeera Book Club for the spring. So all the team have a copy. Book clubs are massive over here for work. Every department has one here in the foundation. So this book, Fish, is based around the Seattle fish market. My colleagues who've worked me in the past, both. I can hear them groaning now because they've forced everyone to read this, but it's basically around having fun when you're at work. And it talks about the story of the Seattle fish market, how they were just flogging fish, but actually one day decided, we need to liven this up. We need to want to be here. So introduced, sort of involving the crowd, fish flying through the air. Paul Griffiths: But It's a more of a story about a woman joins, it moves up in a company into a department that no one's been able to manage. She gets to the bottom of using the fish market. And it's just a really fun, easy reading book. And so I recommend it to. To listeners and viewers. Paul Marden: That's brilliant. So listeners, if you would like a copy of Fish,Paul Griffiths: It's quite a cheap book as well, Paul, so please, you have to give one away. So it's not too much money. It's just 9.99 in the non fiction section. So, yeah, cheaper. Paul Marden: Bargain. Bargain. That's the trouble with. So I've been doing a few live events where we have panels, four people with book records, recommendations. That's going to bankrupt me. No, not today. We got a bargain this time. So I like this. Yeah. If you'd like a copy of Fish, if you'd like a copy of Paul's book, head on over to Bluesky and when Wenalyn posts the show note, go over there and repost it and say, I want Paul's book. And the first person to do that will get a copy of the book. Paul, delightful as always. Three times on the podcast, at least. Paul Griffiths: I think this would be number. This would be number four because we had the original episode where Kelly grilled me about life at Painshill. Then we did the Turn the Tables episode when I grilled Kelly on setting up podcasts. And then we did. Then we did the Goodbye to Kelly, whatever it was. 100 episode. And then this. Yeah, four Skip the Queues. Which is always a pleasure and I'm so delighted as you're my favourite podcast, obviously.Paul Marden: It's, oh, you say the nicest things. That must be a record. I need to go back and check that I think four times on the podcast is pretty impressive. Paul Griffiths: I think I should get to add all mine up into one as a total so I can beat Dominic Jones, who's always had the biggest number, isn't he? Paul Marden: So, yeah, so he does and he still does. So, yeah, I think aggregating the number of listens for across all of your episodes, I think that might be within the walls. Let me see what I can do and I'll add everything up and we'll see if you can take Dom's crown. Paul Griffiths: Sorry, Dom. Paul Marden:  Because he's not competitive at all. Paul Griffiths: No, he's not, mate. He's a great guy, though. So, yeah, a friendly rival. Paul Marden: Exactly. Thank you very much, Paul. I would love to keep in touch. Paul Griffiths: Let's keep talking. Paul Marden: I want to hear what happens not just after the first 90 days, but I want to hear what happens in a year's time and two years time. So thank you so much for coming on and telling us about Ras Al-Khaimah and the Heritage Village. It's been lovely. Paul Griffiths: Yeah, thanks for having me. It's great. Been a real pleasure. Paul Marden: Thanks for listening to Skip the Queue. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review. It really helps others to find us. Skip The Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them to increase their visitor numbers. You can find show notes and transcripts from this episode and more over on our website, skipthequeue fm.    The 2024 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsDownload the 2024 Rubber Cheese Visitor Attraction Website Survey Report

Join us for an enlightening exploration of one of history's most fascinating examples of gender diversity - the Gallae/Galli, transgender priests of the ancient Mediterranean world. From their origins in Phrygia to their pivotal role in Roman society, discover how these remarkable individuals challenged traditional gender norms while serving as respected religious figures. ---------------------------------------------------------- @translessonplan @mariiiwrld Merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://trans-lesson-plan.printify.me/products⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to our newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/a914d2eca1cf/trans-lesson-plan⁠⁠⁠⁠ ---------------------------------------------------------- References: Endres, N. (2015). Galli: Ancient Roman Priests. In Encyclopedia. http://www.glbtqarchive.com/ssh/galli_S.pdf English Heritage. (n.d.). The Galli: Breaking Roman gender norms. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/histories/lgbtq-history/the-galli/#:~:text=On%20initiation%20to%20the%20cult,nonbinary%20people%20have%20identified%20with. Erez-Yodfat, N., Frigerio, G., Triggs, H., Brocklehurst, G., Department of Classics, Morales, H., & Jukes, A. (2021). New Classicists issue 5 March 2021 [Journal-article]. New Classicists, 2–64. https://www.newclassicists.com/_files/ugd/f6d36b_e82190d2fdb943ad9f4a05a60edc971d.pdf#page=35 Mowat, C. (2021). Don't be a Drag, Just be a Priest: The Clothing and Identity of the Galli of Cybele in the Roman Republic and Empire. Gender & History, 33(2), 296–313. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0424.12518 National Organization for Women. (2017, May 16). LGBTIMe Machine: Ancient Greece | National Organization for Women. National Organization for Women -. https://now.org/blog/lgbtime-machine-ancient-greece/ Pinto, R., & Pinto, L. C. G. (2013). Transgendered archaeology: the Galli and the Catterick Transvestite. Theoretical Roman Archaeology Journal, 0(2012), 169. https://doi.org/10.16995/trac2012_169_181 QueerAF. (2024, May 8). The Gallae: Transgender priestesses of Ancient Rome. QueerAF. https://www.wearequeeraf.com/the-gallae-transgender-priestesses-of-ancient-rome/ View of Close Encounters with the Third Kind. (n.d.). https://journal.lib.uoguelph.ca/index.php/classics/article/view/6348/5998 We Have Always Existed Transgender Ancient History. (2023, February 28). The Gallae: Roman Transgender Priestesses of Kybele | Ancient Transgender History [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSpNMe8j6sg

In this special episode of Behind the Trowel Podcast, I'm joined by the late Professor Timothy Darvill OBE, a leading expert on Stonehenge and prehistoric Britai`n. This conversation, originally recorded during a 2020 YouTube live show (Archaeologists in Quarantine), explores the significance of Stonehenge during the Winter Solstice and its evolution as a sacred, multi-purpose monument.Professor Darvill shares fascinating insights about:

This hour, we take a look at the legends of King Arthur. We discuss their evolution and why they endure. Plus, we talk with author Lev Grossman about his new retelling of the King Arthur legend, The Bright Sword. And, a conversation with an archeologist about excavating the history of Arthurian legends. GUESTS: Lev Grossman: Bestselling author of The Magicians Trilogy. His new book is The Bright Sword Leah Tether: Professor of Medieval Literature and Publishing at Bristol University, and Vice President of the International Courtly Literature Society Win Scutt: Archeologist and Senior Properties Curator for the West of England at English Heritage, a nonprofit that cares for over 400 historic monuments Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show. The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode. Colin McEnroe and Cat Pastor contributed to this show, which originally aired on July 30, 2024.Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Carl and Dr. MIchael Carter, Senior Properties Historian for English Heritage, to celebrate an English country Christmas.  Carl and Michael center their discussion on Wrest Park, home to the De Grey family for over 600 years.  In the 19th century, the original house was torn down and a French inspired mansion rose in its place, still surrounded by the 18th century gardens which guests can still see today. Michael shares stories of some very special Christmases celebrated at Wrest Park during World War I.  and then takes us back into history to discover the origins of some of our most celebrated traditions from plum pudding to Twelfth Night. For information on the American Friends of English Heritage, click here. 

Echoes of the past, dead objects, and creepy stores – Solange, Kloe and Jenny have a lot on their minds in this year's spooky special! Jenny also visits a newly opened paranormal museum, Liz reviews an enchanting chapter from a sumptuous tome, and Jenny reads a book of ghost stories set in heritage locations. 00:34 Have you heard of BevArt? 04:59 What are ‘ghost signs' exactly? 16:17 Solange's haunted attic dwelling 21:19 We get philosophical about the lives of objects 27:52 Spooky stores 33:01 Jenny visits Rowtons' Museum of the Paranormal and Spirituality 39:59 Jenny reviews ‘Eight Ghosts' 43:00 Liz reviews ‘Art as a Spell' 47:01 Patreon teaser – Phedra's mystery Show Notes: - BevArt: https://www.bev.art/ - BevArt's buy-back scheme: https://www.bev.art/blog/bev-art-launches-sensor-buy-back-program - Ghost signs according to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_sign - Historic England Ghost Sign project: https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/features/ghost-signs/ - Park Hill graffiti: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Love_You_Will_U_Marry_Me - S01E02 Human Remains: https://thecword.show/2017/03/15/s01e02-human-remains/ - The Unbinding: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27485427/ - Lyrics to Puff the Magic Dragon: https://genius.com/Peter-paul-and-mary-puff-the-magic-dragon-lyrics - Rowtons' Museum of the Paranormal and Spirituality: https://rowtonsmuseum.co.uk/ - Witchcraft – The Library of Esoterica: https://www.taschen.com/en/books/esoterica/08019/witchcraft-the-library-of-esoterica/ - Eight Ghosts book project via English Heritage: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/halloween/eight-ghosts/ and https://www.english-heritageshop.org.uk/eight-ghosts-paperback - Buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Eight-Ghosts-English-Heritage-Stories/dp/1910463736 Support us on Patreon! http://www.patreon.com/thecword Hosted by Jenny Mathiasson, Kloe Rumsey, and Solange Masher. Intro and outro music by DDmyzik, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license. Made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license. A Wooden Dice production, 2024.

In a scathing report published tonight, the surgeon tasked by the PM to assess the state of the NHS says it's in a "critical condition". We ask if Sir Keir Starmer has a plan to fix the health service.Also tonight:With the US Secretary of State and British Foreign Secretary in town, Ukraine has urged them to allow the use of long-range missiles against targets inside Russia. The former Defence Secretary Grant Shapps tells us he's not worried about fears of escalation.And on the hunt for the missing blue plaques - as English Heritage calls for people to help track them down.

The Summer season has come full circle again, that time of year where everyone enjoys being outside, especially in their gardens on a long, sunny day. Gardeners are still in full flow - planting out new beds, mowing their lawns and cajoling their vegetable gardens into burgeoning yields. It's a great time to be alive in horticulture as the show season reaches a crescendo, plant fairs almost every weekend threaten to empty your savings and open gardens throughout the UK inspire that next bit of work you will be doing in your own plot. As ever Lucy and Saul will bring you tales (and waffle) from their gardens, so join us every week for more horticultural high-jinx on Talking Heads.BBC Gardeners World Autumn Fair brings a nice closing curtain on Lucy and Saul's flower show circuit for the year, as the Talking Heads Pair sing the praises of the Walled Garden and the English Heritage team's Vegetable and Fruit Growing. The show itself is a delightful show case of late-summer colour, bulb planting and ideas to take away and extend your garden season into the Autumn. We also catch up with 'friend of the podcast' David Hurrion who's new book 'The Raised Bed Book' is translated into a wonderful garden showing the versatility and beauty of using raised beds in your garden.Instagram Links:Lucy headgardenerlcTwitter links:Saul @GardeningSaulIntro and Outro music from https://filmmusic.io"Fireflies and Stardust" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Support the show

In this special episode created in partnership with English Heritage, Carl is joined by curator Christopher Warleigh-Lack for a look at the once royal residence of Osborne House on England's Isle of Wight.   Christopher guides us through inside the grand estate where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert spent summer and Christmas holidays.  Following Albert's sudden death, Victoria continued to come to Osborne and even spent her final days here by the sea. A visit to Osborne House today reveals an intimate view of the private life of Queen Victoria and her family. For more information on the American Friends of English Heritage, click here. 

This week on the Country Life Podcast, Matt Thompson — Curatorial Director of English Heritage — joins our host James Fisher to talk history. · Listen to Country Life podcast on Apple Podcasts · Listen to Country Life podcast on Spotify · Listen to Country Life podcast on AudibleRecent research from English Heritage asked people to name their favourite periods of the past, and as you might expect the headline findings reflected the widespread interest in the Romans, World Wars, Tudors and Victorians.But dig deeper, as Matt explains, and a huge number of fascinating stories are revealed by the thousands of sites and artefacts that sit within English Heritage's collection.He shares many of these with James, talks about the organisation's role in stimulating our love of history and throws light on some bizarre objects — not least a single bone from a Barbary Macaque found in a Roman city. Matt also names his all-time favourite English Heritage site, and it's a beautiful, unspoilt site that's free to visit.Episode creditsHost: James FisherGuest: Matt ThompsonEditor and producer: Toby KeelMusic: JuliusH via PixabaySpecial Thanks: Adam Wilbourn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This hour, we take a look at the legends of King Arthur. We discuss their evolution and why they endure. Plus, we talk with author Lev Grossman about his new retelling of the King Arthur legend, The Bright Sword. And, a conversation with an archeologist about excavating the history of Arthurian legends. GUESTS:  Lev Grossman: Bestselling author of The Magicians Trilogy. His new book is The Bright Sword Leah Tether: Professor of Medieval Literature and Publishing at Bristol University, and Vice President of the International Courtly Literature Society Win Scutt: Archeologist and Senior Properties Curator for the West of England at English Heritage, a nonprofit that cares for over 400 historic monuments Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show. The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.  Colin McEnroe and Cat Pastor contributed to this show.Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queen Boudicca of the Iceni is by far one of the most impressive queens I have ever read about. Boudicca grew up in a time before the Romans came to Britain, but in her adult life, she had to deal with constant Roman oppression against her pepole. When the Romans refused to honour the will of her husband and attacked her and her daughters, she called upon her fellow Celts. She started one of the most destructive rebellions that the Romans ever dealt with, all to avenge her pepole and her children. Join me on today's episode to learn about her remarkable story. This podcast is sponsored by Common Era Jewelry. Use code: AYDEN for 15% off your entire order. Bibliography “Boudica.” Accessed June 10, 2024. https://penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/britannia/boudica/boudicanrevolt.html. Contributors to Wikimedia projects. “Boudica.” Wikipedia, May 6, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boudica#Background. ———. “Prasutagus.” Wikipedia, March 6, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prasutagus. Express, Britain. “Celtic Britain - History and Culture.” Britain Express. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://www.britainexpress.com/History/Celtic_Britain.htm#google_vignette. ———. “Iceni Tribe in Roman Britain.” Britain Express. Accessed June 10, 2024. https://www.britainexpress.com/History/roman/iceni.htm. Roman Britain. “Iceni Celtic Tribe,” April 13, 2021. https://www.roman-britain.co.uk/tribes/iceni/. Jacks, Lauralee. “Boudicca - The Celtic Queen Who Defied Rome.” History of Royal Women, March 3, 2018. https://www.historyofroyalwomen.com/boudicca/boudicca-celtic-queen-defied-rome/. Pruitt, Sarah. “Who Was Boudica?” HISTORY, May 31, 2016. https://www.history.com/news/who-was-boudica. Historic UK. “Queen Boudica (Boadicea) of the Iceni,” October 26, 2016. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/Boudica/. Historic UK. “Roman England, the Roman in Britain 43 - 410 AD,” October 25, 2016. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofEngland/The-Romans-in-England/. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Boudicca.” Encyclopedia Britannica, July 20, 1998. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Boudicca. English Heritage. “The Roman Invasion of Britain.” Accessed June 10, 2024. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/story-of-england/romans/invasion/.

Laurie Anderson, the Grammy award-winning artist and musician whose career has spanned five decades, discusses her latest work. a song cycle based on the final flight of the aviation pioneer Amelia Earheart. And we hear her reflections on the unexpected chart success of of O Superman back in in 1981.While most of the incoming cabinet are already familiar with their briefs ministers, Lisa Nandy has just been appointed Culture Secretary having not shadowed the role. Lara Carmona of the industry body, Creative UK and Liam Kelly, senior culture writer at the Telegraph discuss some of issues that will be at the top of her in tray from the Arts Council to tax breaks and prioritising arts education.The Oldham Coliseum has been resurrected. After last year's decision to close the building, actor Julie Hesmondhalgh led the campaign to re-open the 128 year old theatre. She's joined by the Council Leader Arooj Shah to discuss the work involved in bringing the Oldham Coliseum back to life .Adelaide Hall sang with Duke Ellington, was a contemporary of Count Basie and Louis Armstrong, a jazz and scat pioneer who broadened out into popular tunes, entertained the troops for ENSA in the second world war and sang on the BBC, living in London for more than half her life. As she is remembered with an English Heritage blue plaque, we talk to her biographer and friend Stephen Bourne.Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Ruth Watts

This episode covers three examples of historically important roads. One is quite ancient, one is an important part of the development of the U.S., and the third is a more modern road that's been lauded for its design. Research: “The Ancient Ridgeway.” Friends of the Ridgeway. https://ridgewayfriends.org.uk/the-trail/the-ancient-ridgeway/· Atkins, Harry. “The Best Historic Sites in Oxfordshire.” History Hit. May 24, 2022. https://www historyhit.com/guides/the-best-historic-sites-in-oxfordshire/· “Avebury.” English Heritage. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/avebury/ Benetti, Alessandro. “The bridge-type autogrill, infrastructure and icon of the Italian highways.” Domus. July 27, 2020. https://www.domusweb.it/en/architecture/2020/07/27/infrastructures-and-icons-the-bridge-type-autogrill-by-angelo-bianchetti-and-mario-pavesi.html Benetti, Alessandro. “Italy's ‘Sun Motorway,' the story of an exceptional infrastructure.” Domus. Aug. 5, 2023. https://www.domusweb.it/en/architecture/gallery/2021/07/16/the-sun-motorway-is-65-years-old-a-short-story-of-an-extraordinary-infrastructure.html Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "macadam". Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2014, https://www.britannica.com/technology/macadam-road-construction Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Saxony". Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Jun. 2024, https://www.britannica.com/place/Saxony-historical-region-duchy-and-kingdom-Europe Calvano, Angela & Canducci, Andrea & Rufini, Andrea. (2023). Urban regeneration of public housing settlements, in Rome: the case study of San Basilio district. Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability. 8. 10.1051/rees/2023012 Cleaver, Emily. “Against All Odds, England's Massive Chalk Horse Has Survived 3,000 Years.” Smithsonian. July 6, 2017. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/3000-year-old-uffington-horse-looms-over-english-countryside-180963968/ Ellis, Sian. “Just follow the Ridgeway, Britain's oldest highway.” British Heritage. April 30, 2024. https://britishheritage.com/travel/the-ridgeway-britains-oldest-highway Haughton, Brian. “The White Horse of Uffington.” March 30, 2011. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/229/the-white-horse-of-uffington/ Johnson, Ben. “Ancient Standing Stones.” Historic UK. https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Ancient-Standing-Stones/ “Lane Width.” U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/geometric/pubs/mitigationstrategies/chapter3/3_lanewidth.cfm Lenarduzzi, Thea. “The Motorway That Built Italy: Piero Puricelli's masterpiece is the focus of an unlikely pilgrimage.” Independent UK. Jan. 30, 2016. https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/the-world-s-first-motorway-piero-puricelli-s-masterpiece-is-the-focus-of-an-unlikely-pilgrimage-a6840816.html Longfellow, Rickie. “The National Road.” U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. https://highways.dot.gov/highway-history/general-highway-history/back-time/national-road Mclaughlan, Scott, PhD. “What were the enclosure acts?” The Collector. Nov. 12, 2023. https://www.thecollector.com/what-were-the-enclosure-acts/ McNamara, Robert. "The National Road, America's First Major Highway." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/the-national-road-177405 “The National Road.” National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/articles/national-road.htm “National Road Heritage Corridor.” https://nationalroadpa.org/ "The Nation's First Mega-Project: A Legislative History of the Cumberland Road" United States Department of transportation. 2021. https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/68561 Nifosi, Giuseppe. “Michelucci's Highway Church.” Art Unveiled.  https://www.artesvelata.it/chiesa-autostrada-michelucci/ “RESEARCH AND SOURCES FOR WAYLAND'S SMITHY.” English Heritage. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/waylands-smithy/history/research-and-sources/ “The Ridgeway.” National Trails. https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/the-ridgeway/ “The Ridgeway Information.” National Trails. https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/the-ridgeway/trail-information/ Stenton, F. M. “The Road System of Medieval England.” The Economic History Review, vol. 7, no. 1, 1936, pp. 1–21. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/2590730 “WAYLAND'S SMITHY.” English Heritage. https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/waylands-smithy/ “Wayland's Smithy chambered long barrow, including an early barrow and Rion Age and Roman boundary ditches.” Historic England. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1008409?section=official-list-entry Whittle, Alasdair & Brothwell, Don & Cullen, Rachel & Gardner, Neville & Kerney, M.. (2014). Wayland's Smithy, Oxfordshire: Excavations at the Neolithic Tomb in 1962–63 by R. J. C. Atkinson and S. Piggott. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society. 57. 61-101. 10.1017/S0079497X00004515. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we want to highlight some options if you have been considering a trip to the UK, but don't want to spend all of your time in London. There are so many options for travelers from across the world, and you will learn that there are just as many options outside of London that you are going to want to add into your travel destination list. Even if you live in the UK, this episode will definitely have you thinking about options for day and weekend trips to visit places that are straight from our recommendations. So grab your train tickets and let's get started. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure. Get Driving and Transportation Guides for the UK from Tripiamo here. Tip- get combo tickets or yearly passes for Hampton Court Palace on Historic royal palaces or Stonehenge is part of English Heritage, which also includes hundreds of other locations. We have signed up for both of these in the past when visiting mutiple locations in a single trip. There's also an overseas visitor's pass for English Heritage. Also be sure to check out Macsadventure.com for some walking adventures in the Cotswolds, in the UK, and around the world. Get Our Ultimate Packing Guide for Traveling Smart and Packing Light + Access to Exclusive Weekly Content here. Find your Perfect Stay at sunshinetravelers.com/booking Do More with Viator. Visit sunshinetravelers.com/viator to book local tours & experiences you'll remember. Read more about this and other travel destinations on our BLOG Follow our travels on Facebook Follow our travels on Instagram Save our travel ideas on Pinterest See our travel videos on You Tube Follow us on X (Twitter) Music Credit Music by OYStudio from Pixabay

Susan Mathisen has worked as an art conservator in both the United States and Europe and as a fundraiser for museums, universities, and other historical agencies. Her extensive museum career started at the Morgan Library while she was still in high school. As a textile conservator specializing in tapestries, she worked at the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and Villa La Pietra in Florence, Italy. She transitioned to fundraising during her tenure as Administrative Conservator at the Conservation Center at NYU. She has also held development positions at the American Museum in Britain, Meet the Composer, and the American Academy in Rome. In 2007, she founded SAM Fundraising Solutions, a consultancy specializing in fundraising for art conservation and historic preservation and assisting European organizations with their “American Friends” groups. Her clients in the UK include English Heritage, the American Friends of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Museums of Scotland, and in the US the Renee and Chaim Gross Foundation and the Merchant's House Museum. She has served on several boards, and is currently a member of the Metropolitan Museum's Textile Conservation Lab Visiting Committee. She is currently working on a book that explores careers in culture.  www.sammathisen.com 

*Who do the green roads and wide open spaces of Albion belong to?   *This episode is a story is about a collision of two cultures - the counterculture of the twin tribes of urban free party ravers and new age travellers - and the mainstream culture of landowners, the legal authorities, English Heritage and right-wing politicians.   *In the first of a series on '80s and '90s counterculture, Aaron Trinder, director of the documentary 'Free Party: A Folk History' came to the Bureau to tell how that collision played out in the years between 1985 and 1992 when extra-ordinary free festivals and parties built  on youthful passion, music, community, dancing, the desire to connect with the ancient landcape  - and drugs - were violently suppressed.   *We hear of the brutal police tactics at 'The Battle of the Beanfield' and at Britiain's largest ever free rave at Castle Morton; how legislation has curtailed the culture of the travellers, the use of common land and ancient rights of access, and we note that whilst free festivals have been crushed, commercial festivals have become an essential part of the the mainstream culture, the entertainment industry and the economy.   *Upcoming: Mark Angelo Harrison on Spiral Tribe   More on Aaron's film 'Free Party a Folk History'    #festivals #counterculture #freefestivals #spiraltribe #squatparty #travellers #newagetravellers #battleofthebeanfield #hippie #castlemorton #techno #drugs #lsd #soundsystem #raveculture #raves #StonehengeFreeFestival #stonehenge  

Marching 73 miles from coast to coast across the narrowest neck of England, Hadrian's Wall was the north-west frontier of the Roman Empire for nearly 300 years and yet there is still so much we don't know about it: only 5% of the wall has been excavated and 7% is viable today. Tony is joined by leading archaeologist Richard Hingley and Collections Curator for Hadrian's Wall and the North East at English Heritage, Frances Macintosh, to give him the low down on how and why Hadrian's Wall was built, by whom and what it means to us today. Hosted by Sir Tony RobinsonX | InstagramWithProf. Richard Hingley | https://richardhingley1.wordpress.com/ Professor Emeritus in Archaeology at Durham University. An expert on Hadrian's Wall, Richard is the author of Conquering the Ocean: The Roman Conquest of Britain (Oxford University Press) and Hadrian's Wall: A life, (Oxford University Press). https://global.oup.com/academic/product/conquering-the-ocean-9780190937416?cc=gb&lang=en& | https://academic.oup.com/book/27846. Dr. Francis Mackintosh | @englishHeritage | @wallcurator Collections Curator for Hadrian's Wall and the North East at English Heritage. An archaeologist by training, Francis specialises in Roman small finds, having completed her PhD on the Clayton Collection material, on display at Chesters. Follow the Show: X @cunningcastpod Instagram @cunningcastpod YouTube @cunningcast Credits: Series Producer: Melissa FitzGerald X @melissafitzg Executive Producer: Dominic de Terville Cover Art: The Brightside A Zinc Media Group production If you enjoyed my podcast, please leave us a rating or review. Thank you, Love Tony x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of Medieval England's most influential figures, Thurstan was the Archbishop of York from 1114 to 1140 who fought attempts by the Archbishop of Canterbury to assert his primacy over York. Eventually, Thurstan was consecrated by the Pope instead. Now English Heritage has discovered evidence in a 15th century manuscript that Thurstan was considered for centuries afterwards to be a Saint.In this episode of Gone Medieval, Dr. Eleanor Janega finds out more from Dr. Michael Carter, senior properties historian for English Heritage.Enjoy unlimited access to award-winning original documentaries that are released weekly and AD-FREE podcasts. Get a subscription for £1 per month for 3 months with code MEDIEVAL - sign up here.You can take part in our listener survey here.

Cultural Sociologist Rachel Hurdley travels round England and Wales to uncover what walls tell us about how we live, from iron age roundhouses to Victorian mansions, medieval halls to terraced workers' cottages, castles to the domestic interiors of today.Rachel explores how walls, which we often take for granted, define the spaces we inhabit and make sense of everyday life and our place in the world, talking to a range of experts and academics including architectural writer Jonathan Glancey. She tries her hand at making wattle and daub for roundhouses at Castell Henllys in Wales, with archaeologist Dr David Howell . She climbs through the thick stone walls of the Norman castle at Conisbrough in South Yorkshire, with buildings archaeologist James Wright and English Heritage curator Kevin Booth. From the top of the tower, Rachel explores ideas of status and wealth, where building the tallest tower was as much about impressing the neighbours, as it was about military defence and protecting the vast wealth of the aristocratic elite. She also visits St Fagans National Museum of History Wales – a living museum of vernacular buildings throughout the ages. Rachel looks at the way walls have redefined our living spaces from medieval times, such as the longhouses where farmers lived side by side with their animals and the great medieval halls. Here, daily life carried on in one space – masters and servants - until the ruling family was wealthy enough to seek privacy by building first floor solars. Now in modern day Britain, privacy can be at a premium in warehouses and factories converted into rented accommodation to meet to housing demand in sought after areas such as Hackney in London. She also hears stories of horror and superstition – people and animals incarcerated in walls – as well as the use of burn marks at Gainsborough Old Hall in Lincolnshire to keep evil spirits away and visits one of the oldest medieval houses to survive in England, the National Trust's Ightham Mote in Kent, to see centuries of change through its walls with conservation architect Stuart Page and collections manager Amanda Doran, She looks at how fashions and styles have changed with a visit the Museum of the Home where Director Dr Sonia Solicari tells Rachel more about social change through the Museum room sets. Wallpaper was a game changer, a much cheaper alternative to tapestries or rich wall paintings. She hears some surprising facts - the introduction in the 18th century of wallpaper tax, and also how the arsenic in some of the wallpaper pigments was poisoning people. Yet it was the industrial revolution which brought wallpaper and the other mass produced trappings of the home to almost everyone and a chance to curate our spaces - like those of British born Caribbean playwright and artist Michael McMillan, who remembers from his childhood the power of the front room to impress and reveal who we are.Presenter: Rachel Hurdley Producer: Sara Parker Executive Producer: Samir Shah A Juniper production for BBC Radio 4

Ep 189 is loose! And we're heading to the Elizabethan era to look into the mystery death of Amy Robsart, love rival to the Queen herself...Why did the Elizabethans love true crime? Did Amy fall, jump or was she pushed? And should any of us be on a horse?The secret ingredient is...a staircaseGet cocktails and historic true crime tales every week with The Poisoners' Cabinet. Listen to the Podcast on iTunes, Spotify and find us on Acast: https://shows.acast.com/thepoisonerscabinet Join us Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepoisonerscabinet Find us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thepoisonerscabinet Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepoisonerscabinet/ Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePoisonersCabinet Sources this week include Charles Nicholl's writings and the London Review of Books, Mortal Monarchs by Dr Suzie Edge, English Heritage, Historic Royal Palaces, History.com, the National Library of Medicine, Jessica Jewett, Tudor Society, Royal Museums Greenwich, Artnet Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Guilty Feminist 372: Protest Then and NowPresented by Deborah Frances-White and Desiree Burch with specials Susan Skedd and Media Storm.Recorded 17 September 2023 at The London Podcast Festival. Released 23 September.The Guilty Feminist theme composed by Mark Hodge and produced by Nick Sheldon.More about Deborah Frances-Whitehttps://deborahfrances-white.comhttps://twitter.com/DeborahFWhttps://www.virago.co.uk/the-guilty-feminist-bookMore about Desiree Burchhttps://twitter.com/destherayhttps://desireeburch.carrd.coMore about English Heritagehttps://twitter.com/EnglishHeritagehttps://www.english-heritage.org.ukMore about Media Stormhttps://twitter.com/mediastormpodhttps://twitter.com/mathildamallhttps://twitter.com/helenawadiahttps://mediastormpodcast.comFor more information about this and other episodes…visit https://www.guiltyfeminist.comtweet us https://www.twitter.com/guiltfempodlike our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/guiltyfeministcheck out our Instagram https://www.instagram.com/theguiltyfeministor join our mailing list http://www.eepurl.com/bRfSPTOur new podcasts are out nowMedia Storm https://podfollow.com/media-stormAbsolute Power https://podfollow.com/john-bercows-absolute-powerCome to a live recording:“Never Have I Ever” written by Deborah, Chichester Festival Theatre, 1-30 September: https://www.cft.org.uk/events/never-have-i-everKings Place, 16 October and 18 December. https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/?s=guilty+feministThank you to our amazing Patreon supporters.To support the podcast yourself, go to https://www.patreon.com/guiltyfeminist You can also get an ad-free version of the podcast via Apple Podcasts or Acast+ https://plus.acast.com/s/guiltyfeminist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan begins his ultimate historical road trip at the mysterious plinths at Stonehenge in the South-West of England. Dan uncovers how the stones arrived in Salisbury all the way from Western Wales and unravels the ancient burial practices of England's early humans with English Heritage curator Heather Sabire. He hears how England was once populated by rhinos and elephants from the Natural History Museum's Professor Chris Stringer. Passing through Old Sarum, the site of an Iron Age hillfort, Dan muses over what we have to thank those Latin invaders for in our daily lives, from our transport network to our baths. The day draws to a close as Dan prepares for the invasion of William the Conqueror at Pevensey, 100 miles east down England's south coast.Produced by James Hickmann and Mariana Des Forges. Edit and sound design by Dougal Patmore and artwork by Teet Ottin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Caroline Sheridan Norton's husband once again tried to destroy her life, she lobbied for another change in English law. This time, she worked to gain equal legal treatment for women in divorces. Research:   Reynolds, K. D. "Norton [née Sheridan], Caroline Elizabeth Sarah [other married name Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Stirling Maxwell, Lady Stirling Maxwell] (1808–1877), author and law reform campaigner." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.  25. Oxford University Press. Date of access 20 Mar. 2023,

Caroline Sheridan Norton's left an abusive marriage in 1835. She then turned her skill as a writer into a lobby for legislation that would enable mothers in England to get custody of their young children. Research: Reynolds, K. D. "Norton [née Sheridan], Caroline Elizabeth Sarah [other married name Caroline Elizabeth Sarah Stirling Maxwell, Lady Stirling Maxwell] (1808–1877), author and law reform campaigner." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.  25. Oxford University Press. Date of access 20 Mar. 2023,