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Ye Olde Guide is a podcast about the history and heritage of the towns and cities of England. Perhaps you’re visiting one of England's wonderful cities and want to arrive primed to explore the remnants of its past. Or maybe you’re seeking a new appreciation of the town you live in. Either way, this podcast is for you. Think of us as part guide book, part companion, part battle of towns. Visit our website yeoldeguide.com for extensive show notes, maps and discussion. We hope you enjoy the podcast. Please send us your feedback to comments@yeoldeguide.com
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Stockport isn’t just another mill town — it’s stacked above rivers, beneath viaducts, and within tunnels. In this episode of Ye Olde Guide, we peel back the layers of its unique landscape and diverse industrial past, tracing how the town grew at the very start of the River Mersey. From hat-making heritage to vast underground air raid shelters, Stockport’s story is one of hidden histories and overlooked treasures. In part 2 we explore the fantastic musical legacy of Strawberry Records, and the...
Stockport isn’t just another mill town — it’s stacked above rivers, beneath viaducts, and within tunnels. In this episode of Ye Olde Guide, we peel back the layers of its unique landscape and diverse industrial past, tracing how the town grew at the very start of the River Mersey. From hat-making heritage to vast underground air raid shelters, Stockport’s story is one of hidden histories and overlooked treasures. In part 1 we will provide a historical overview of Stockport and then discuss is...
In the Tudor and Stuart period towns in the UK were still predominantly wooden but moving to brick construction was a hallmark of success. Distinctive styles such as Oriel windows and elaborate carvings were seen on the buildings of the wealthy. Meanwhile the houses of the poor remained meagre and crowded. Join us as we continue our series on the development of town and cities. Send us a text
Welcome back to Ye Olde Guide, where we uncover the layered history of England’s towns and cities. In this episode, we journey through the transformative Tudor and Stuart period (c.1500–1700), a time often skipped over in popular imagination—but one that laid the groundwork for the urban England we know today. Following our exploration of medieval town life, we now delve into an era of upheaval and innovation. From the seismic shifts of the Reformation to the chaos of the English Civil War, t...
The UK was the birthplace of the underground railway, with London’s Tube setting the global standard. So why do so few British cities have metro systems today? In this episode of Ye Olde Guide, Liam McGrath and Daniel Gooch take a break from city guides to explore the curious case of Britain’s missing metros. From the legacy of Victorian railways and trams to post-war car-centric planning, we unpack the historical, urban, and political reasons why cities like Birmingham, Leeds, and Manchester...
Join us on Ye Olde Guide as we explore the history of Nottingham. This is the third part of three episodes on Nottingham. We will be discussing the Urban Landscape of Nottingham, looking back to its origins as two distinct settlements, growth around the market square, industrial expansion and the expansion of housing. We discuss the fine architecture of Nottingham including the imposing Council House, Lace Market, University buildings and Wollaton Hall. Check out part 1 for...
Join us on a jam packed episode of Ye Olde Guide! This is the second part of three episodes on Nottingham In the Science & industry section we discover the history of the Lace industry and the big companies that grew in Nottingham like Boots chemist, Raleigh Cycles and Players Cigarettes. We will learn about the contributions of the Universities in Nottingham. In the Arts & Culture section we discuss the legacies of Robin Hood, Nottingham's sporting clubs and several writers who...
Welcome to Nottingham, where rebellion runs deep. In this first part of our mini-series, we dive into the city's tangled history of politics and protest, from Nottingham Castle's royal showdowns to Luddite uprisings in Market Square, riots in St Ann's and the rise of justice in unexpected places. We meet England's first black magistrate, explore the Galleries of Justice, and uncover how Nottingham helped spark the English Civil War. Visit our website yeoldeguide.com for details of...
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 populati...
Brighton – the regency city by the sea, which grew from a sleepy fishing town into a centre of Georgian leisure, initially as a spa town, but later as a centre for entertainment favoured by the Prince Regent himself. As train loads of tourists replaced royalty, Brighton grew into one of England’s largest Victorian seaside resorts. In part 2 we discuss Arts & Culture and Urban Landscape Following from part 1, where we learned how Brighton became a top seaside resort, we talk ab...
Brighton – the regency city by the sea, which grew from a sleepy fishing town into a centre of Georgian leisure, initially as a spa town, but later as a centre for entertainment favoured by the Prince Regent himself. As train loads of tourists replaced royalty, Brighton grew into one of England’s largest Victorian seaside resorts. In part 1 we discuss Politics and War, and Science and Industry. In this episode we explore the royal connections, and the sometimes dubious medic...
From 1066 to 1500 towns and cities in England transformed beyond recognition. The Norman conquest brought stability, trade and resources and the construction of large castles and cathedrals. Towns became the economic focus of their rural hinterlands. Meanwhile, a generation of hundreds of planned towns emerged with involvement from King Edward I himself. Medieval towns had to survive the Black Death, Fires and dramatic changes in economic fortunes. We will disc...
After a brief historical overview our podcast explores the city in four categories: Politics & War: the royal connections to the ancient cathedral including Catherine of Aragon and Mary Queen of Scots Science & Industry: a city expanded by railway industry, brickmaking, and engines. Two pioneering female scientists. Arts & Culture: The Peterborough Chronicle, a key national record, and insight into the evolution of the English language Urban landscape: a new town joined onto a his...
Join us on a historical tour of Liverpool. World famous for The Beatles and its football clubs, Liverpool has a rich and influential history and magnificent architectural heritage. Ye Olde Guide explores the history of English towns and cities in four categories: Politics & War, Arts & Culture, Science & Industry, and Urban Landscape. In the fourth of four parts covering Liverpool we’ll explore the rich architecture of the city, including the monumental Georgian...
Join us on a historical tour of Liverpool. World famous for The Beatles and its football clubs, Liverpool has a rich and influential history and magnificent architectural heritage. Ye Olde Guide explores the history of English towns and cities in four categories: Politics & War, Arts & Culture, Science & Industry, and Urban Landscape. In the third of four parts on Liverpool we’ll be covering the industrial history of Liverpool, including the essential role of Li...
Explore the fascinating history of the impact of the Olympic games on English towns and cities. The history of venues from the groundbreaking White City Stadium built for the 1908 Olympics, to the 2012 Aquatics Centre. Delve into the transformation of venues over the years, including the use of military facilities in the 1948 "Austerity Olympics" and the extensive regeneration projects for the 2012 London Games. Discover the stories behind iconic locations like Wembley Stadium, the role of pr...
Join us on a historical tour of Liverpool. World famous for The Beatles and its football clubs, Liverpool has a rich and influential history and magnificent architectural heritage. Ye Olde Guide explores the history of English towns and cities in four categories: Politics & War, Arts & Culture, Science & Industry, and Urban Landscape. In the second of four parts on Liverpool we’ll be covering the incredible musical history of Liverpool including Merseybeat and w...
Join us on a historical tour of Liverpool. World famous for The Beatles and its football clubs, Liverpool has a rich and influential history and magnificent architectural heritage. Ye Olde Guide explores the history of English towns and cities in four categories: Politics & War, Arts & Culture, Science & Industry, and Urban Landscape. In the first of four parts on Liverpool we will be giving a brief historical overview before exploring our first category P...
Museums are at the heart of storytelling for towns and cities. We discuss how the scope, excitement and emersion of local museums helps narrate the history of urban development and culture. Our conversation explores the significance of local museums in preserving culture and democratising history. It delves into the presentation of town history, highlighting examples such as York Castle Museum and Sea City in Southampton. Fun and uniqueness aspects are also discussed, featuring I...
Discover Southampton's rich history – from its Saxon roots and pivotal role in medieval trade to its emergence as a major port in the 19th century. Explore the city's political ties, maritime connections, and the profound impact of the Titanic sinking. Southampton's cultural landscape includes the influential International Boat Show, connections to entertainment through Benny Hill and UK Garage. While medieval remnants add historical charm, post-war rebuilding has altered the city's visual co...
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