The Things That Made England

Luke and David discuss Elizabeth I, sometimes called the Virgin Queen, Gloriana or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the last of the five monarchs of the House of Tudor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Athelstan was King of the Anglo-Saxons from 924 to 927 and King of the English from 927 to 939 when he died. He was the son of King Edward the Elder and his first wife, Ecgwynn. Modern historians regard him as the first King of England and one of the greatest Anglo-Saxon kings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BBC Radio 4 is a spoken-word radio channel owned and operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is Gwyneth Williams, and the station is part of BBC Radio and the BBC Radio department. The station is broadcast from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasting House, London.Radio 4 is the principal radio channel in the UK for:news and current affairsdebate and discussioncomedyculture, arts and dramascience and technologyphilosophyhistoryreligion and ethicsfactual programmes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Football is a global sport. Football is thought to have originated in twelfth century England and became so popular that the Kings Henry II and Henry IV had to ban it.It’s a game where the average sized person can excell. The shot to success ratio being low meaning that a team of lesser ability can overcome a better one. What helped with the globalisation of football was Britains global influence. At the peak of its power, the British Empire nearly covered a quarter of the planet, meaning that it was very easy to spread the game of football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Margaret Vivienne Calvert is a British typographer and graphic designer who, with colleague Jock Kinneir, designed many of the road signs used throughout the United Kingdom, as well as the Transport font used on road signs, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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

The Battle of Dunkirk was a military operation that took place in Dunkirk, France, at the Second World War which as come to define 20th Century England. The battle was fought between the Allies and Germany, as part of the Battle of France. The Battle of Dunkirk was the defence and evacuation to Britain of British and other Allied forces in Europe from 26 May to 4 June 1940, something that was seen as miraculous a that time. The War Cabinet under Winston Churchill the newly appointed as the Prime Minister was deeply divided with what to do during the German encirclement of the BEF, with Viscount Halifax, the Foreign Secretary believing that in view of the imminent Fall of France that the United Kingdom should explore the possibility of a negotiated peace settlement with Adolf HitlerProposition – why should it go on the cabinet? Why should the Dunkirk go into the cabinet?The it marks a change of how the English perceive themselves that is still with us todayIt gives us “Little Englanders”National Myth building - a thousand little boatsit gave us the term Dunkirk Spirit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roifield presents the proposition that Ska is not just important because it's the one musical form everyone can dance to. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

In this lively episode of Birmingham Midweek, host Roifield Brown returns from California to catch up with historian David Crowther, creator of The History of England podcast. The duo embarks on an ambitious journey through English history, aiming to cover turning points from the Battle of Hastings to Brexit, though they start much earlier, around 6000 BCE. Crowther brings his signature wit and depth, proposing the sinking of Doggerland as England’s first turning point, setting the stage for an insular identity.The conversation moves swiftly through history, from the arrival of the Beaker people and the Anglo-Saxon migrations, to Alfred the Great’s resilience in 878 and the seismic shift of the Norman Conquest in 1066. Crowther highlights the establishment of Parliament in the 13th century and the pivotal role of the Magna Carta, while Brown interjects with a mix of sharp questions and local pride (including a plug for Birmingham’s market charter in 1166).The pair push into modernity with the Industrial Revolution, abolition of slavery, and the 19th century’s political reforms, before time runs short. Despite a few playful jabs, the episode strikes a fine balance between education and entertainment, setting up a likely return to tackle the 20th century.Five Notable Quotes:David Crowther: “We are who we believe we are. If there’s someone in Mongolia who considers themselves English, then as far as I’m concerned, they are English.”Roifield Brown: “Aren’t you David first? No, you’ve subsumed yourself. You are just England.”Crowther on 1066: “The Normans didn’t just conquer England, they imposed a colonial lordship that echoes through our countryside ownership even today.”Brown: “We pivoted from looking across the North Sea to looking south. The Normans didn’t just bring castles, they reoriented our entire culture.”Crowther on Cromwell: “Ironically, it’s Cromwell’s legacy that pushes us toward religious toleration. Not the story most people tell.”Further Reading:The History of England PodcastBenedict Anderson’s Imagined CommunitiesInformation on the Putney Debates: British LibraryThe Magna Carta at the National Archives: National ArchivesThe 1832 Great Reform Act: UK ParliamentIf you love a blend of historical insight and sharp banter, this episode delivers, and with a promise of more to come, it’s worth keeping an eye on Birmingham Midweek. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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

In 1762 John Montague earl of Sandwich ordered an easy to east snack to keep his strength up while gambling - and the word Sandwich was born. Was this one of the things that made England? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seventy-five years ago, on June 22, 1948, the HMT Empire Windrush docked in Tilbury, marking a pivotal moment in British history. In this episode, we delve into the significance of this landmark event, as we explore one man's journey to prove his British citizenship amidst a hostile environment. Thanks to the dedicated work of journalist Amelia Gentleman, who shed light on the plight of tens of thousands of British West Indians facing wrongful deportation, the Windrush scandal came to the forefront of public consciousnessAmelia Gentleman, a journalist renowned for her tireless efforts, played a crucial role in bringing the Windrush scandal to light. Her in-depth reporting exposed the injustices faced by the Windrush generation, many of whom had lived in Britain for decades, only to find themselves wrongly targeted by deportation measures. By acknowledging Gentleman's sterling work, we pay tribute to her dedication and the impact of her reporting in raising awareness about the systemic mistreatment faced by British West Indians and the urgent need for reform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.