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© Joe Heathcote
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The British Isles have thousands of years of history, so it's weird that all most people were taught at school was World War Two, how many wives Henry VIII had and that the Battle of Hastings took place in 1066 (always worth a try if you are trying to guess someones pin number).
If you've always wanted to learn about all the bits between these events, but only if it can be done in a random and eclectic manner why not try Consistently Eccentric History? A podcast where each week you can listen in while I tell one of my friends a story about a lesser known person or event in British history, the weirder and less believable the better. With an archive of over 150 episodes you will never again be short a weird historical fact when trying to impress others.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
238 Episodes
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As a special bonus episode, Pamela is taking us through the history of both of the Obelisks that have been given the monicker 'Cleopatra's Needle.'This is a story that covers nearly 4,000 years and a hell of a lot of wrangling over shipping costs, but which ends with New York City getting crabs!Guest Host: Pamela Loetterle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we have beaten a plague of technical troubles to recount an Elizabethan tale of a born-again Christian who took things a little too far.William Hacket was an illiterate servant who managed to talk his way into a good marriage and a malting business. However this didn't seem to fulfil him, so when he was introduced to the concept that protestants can have a direct conversation with God he decided to throw himself headfirst into a life as a travelling preacher. Headstrong, controversial and generally full of Booze, William blazed a trail down the east of England before finally arriving in London, where he planned to begin his reign as 'King of Europe'...Which of course would mean getting rid of Elizabeth I.Guest Host: Ollie Green Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we finish our dive into British Wrestling with the story of the Crabtree brothers and how they inadvertently contributed to the decline of the wrestling industry.It is a story of office politics, nepotism and at least one death. Guest Host: Emma Heathcote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It is time to lace up your boots and get ready to rumble as we dive into the history of British Wrestling.From an Edwardian fad for Greco Roman wrestling we follow the highs and lows of grappling in the UK through seven decades, to the institution that was World Of Sport on a Saturday afternoon.It is a story of adaptation, exploitation and features a memorable cameo by a polar explorer that answers the question: 'What did Scott of the Antarctic have to do with Big Daddy?'Speaking of which, stay tuned for part 2 next week!Guest Host: Emma Heathcote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we are heading into the bowels of Yorkshire to talk about Robert Maudsley, a man who holds one of the most unwanted records in human history.After an abusive upbringing and decent into drug addiction, Robert made some choices that landed him in Broadmoor Hospital for the Criminally insane, but when you prove to be too much for an insane asylum to handle there is only one place to go......Wakefield.So join us for a story of punishment, isolation and ongoing trauma. Now also (hopefully) in video format.Guest Host: Ollie Green Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we are discussing the weather in Ireland. Specifically the evening of January 6th 1839, when 'Women's Christmas' was interrupted by one of the worst storms in Irish history.We discuss the loss of life, livestock and (tree) limbs, and explore how the lack of support following the disaster helped to further cement the view that being governed from London was not necessarily in the interests of the Irish-Catholic majority......and yes we do also mention the potato famine.Guest Host: Evie Heathcote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week both Emma and Ollie are joining in for the story of the worst aviation accident in Britain during WWII, which just so happened to take place a stones throw from where Emma grew up.The unassuming village of Freckleton was more than willing to do its part for the war effort, welcoming around 10,000 American servicemen into the local area, and trying their best to make them feel at home.But when two American B-24 bombers went up for a test flight on August 23rd 1944, they had not taken into account the building storm clouds, an error that would result in the deaths of 5% of the village residents.Join us for a tragic tale of completely avoidable disaster, but rest assured that we will try to lighten the horror with a game of bingo and multiple celebrity cameos...Not that it works. Guest Hosts: Emma Heathcote & Olle Green Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we are lucky enough to have an extra bonus episode written and presented by friend of the show Pamela Loetterle, who has been delving into the rather naughty history of the Nuns of Elstow Abbey.A tale of longstanding religious insubordination, illicit meals in the buttery and questionable worship in the choir, you may end up asking the question; "Was Henry VIII onto something with the dissolution of the monasteries?"You just have to spare a thought for the Anchorite who missed out on all the fun (but could most probably hear it)Guest Presenter: Pamela Loetterle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we are heading to my hometown of Southport to discuss Dr Robert Clements. A man who saw marriage as a means of improving his bank balance, and who was willing to 'divest' himself of his wife as soon as the money ran out.While you would think that this would arouse suspicion, Dr Clements was able to point to the death certificates, which stated that his wives just kept dying of obscure medical conditions, as proof that he was just unlucky in love... Of course he did sign those death certificates himself, but that is beside the point.So join us for a tale of greed, abuse of power and murder most foul from the first half of the 20th century.Guest Host (and Southport resident): Jack HeathcoteJack also has a book out: INKLING, which can be found here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4335276473/inkling-collectors-1st-edition-bundle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we are getting spooky in Scotland, with the tale of how a volcanic eruption may have contributed to the country's last mass witchcraft trial.When little Christian Shaw began experiencing fits, she was soon able to convince her parents that the cause was infernal, leading to every odd character in the area falling under suspicion of working for the devil.But surely no one was actually going to be killed based on the say so of an 11 year old girl... Right?Guest Host: Ollie Green Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Get ready for another extra special episode from friend of the show Pam Loetterle!This time she is bringing us the tale of John St. John Long, a handsome Irishman who decided that actually studying medicine should not be a requirement for becoming a doctor.Instead he swapped a promising career illustrating medical books for one as a top medical professional in London. Though to be fair he did streamline his approach by offering only one cure regardless of what ailment he was faced with.So join us as we discuss his rise to fame, his patented panacea, and how the side effects eventually landed him in a spot of bother.Guest Presenter: Pam Loetterle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week (on the hottest day of the year) we are talking about Joseph Pocklington. A man with a dream to become an architect, and who was fortunate enough to have enough money to make that dream a reality despite a complete lack of skill.Creating a series of questionable buildings across Nottinghamshire, Joseph then set his sights on the Lake District. However, he found that the locals were a bit less tolerant of his 'beautification' of the area.Given the moniker: 'The Man With No Taste', Joseph knew he needed to do something big to win over the people of Cumbria......But fortunately he had already built a fort complete with a gun battery on his own personal island, so the solution seemed obvious.Guest Host: (A very hot) Emma Heathcote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
As we end our series on Robert Clive we discuss his second attempt to break into UK politics and the results of his governorship of Bengal... It turns out that trying to reform corrupt business practices is much harder if everyone knows that those practices are precisely how you made your fortune. But as the EIC responsibilities in India grew way beyond what they were capable of managing and profits began to drop (along with up to 1/3 of the population of Bengal) there was a growing call for someone to take the blame.Would Clive be able to survive with his fortune in tact, and how would he be remembered to history?Guest Host: Ollie Green Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we are taking a quick break from Robert Clive to mark the beginning of Wimbledon by talking about the most interesting of the early champions, Charlotte 'Lottie' Dod. Due to the success of her father's cotton business Lottie knew that she would never have to work a day in her life, and didn't particularly need a husband. With the freedom to do whatever she chose, Lottie decided to focus all her energy on the world of Sport, spending three decades of her life competing at the highest level.But while most people would be content to be a champion in one sport, Lottie was always ready to try something new, resulting in a multi-sport career that will potentially never be matched.Guest Host: Evie Heathcote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Strap in for the first ever Consistently Eccentric episode written and hosted by Evie!We are heading back to the Georgian era to discuss the life and achievements of Anna Atkins, a botanist with a passion for reproducing what she saw in the natural world, first as illustrations and then with chemicals.Just be careful not to tire yourself out, as apparently that can be rather dangerous.Guest Presenter: Evie Heathcote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We are returning to our tale of Robert Clive, picking back up with his return to England as a celebrity and the way he managed to blow through a fortune in only two years.Luckily the East India Company were more than happy to welcome him back with open arms, provided he agree to settle down into the life of an administrator in Madras......so naturally part two features pirates, political coups and lots of battles, fought in the traditional Robert Clive manner: All attack, all the time.But will Robert be able to revive his fortune? Will he finally lose a fight? And how big a bribe should you extort from your puppet rulers?We answer all these questions and more!Guest Host: Ollie Green Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We are heading back to the Georgian era this week to begin the tale of a man who is arguably the single person most responsible for the British taking control of the Indian subcontinent for nearly 200 years.But how did the son of a minor country gentleman end up wielding such enormous power and influence? In this first part of the story of Robert Clive we will reflect on the trauma of his childhood and how this influenced his worldview. And how he found himself in the perfect place to quickly rise in the military ranks. Guest Host: Ollie Green Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We are making our way across the Atlantic this week to discuss one of the shortest lived, but undeniably most fun settlements on the New England Coast.When Lawyer, Thomas Morton, was left in temporary charge of a small group of indentured servants, he decided to try setting up his own communal utopia. Offering to free his charges (which he had no authority to do) he suggested they live as equals, engage on friendly terms with the locals and try to have as good a time as possible.But while the members of this newly-named colony of Merrymount were having a good time, their puritan neighbours to the south did not approve......and they just so happened to have access to an armed militia. Guest Host: Emma Heathcote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week we are heading back to the 15th century to discuss the life of a middle class housewife who just so happened to also regularly speak to Jesus Christ.Following the traumatic birth of her first child, Margery Kempe began experiencing religious visions which would last for the rest of her life, and would eventually (after a misstep into the world of brewing) lead her to become a professional religious fanatic. It is a tale of miracles, prophesy, pilgrimages and more than one accusation of heresy. All to the backdrop of constant weeping...... so much weeping.Guest Host: Ollie Green Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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