Extraordinary Stories of Britain
By Stories of Britain
Extraordinary Stories of Britain is a history podcast packed with fun and informative tales from our island’s long and storied past.
Visiting little-known corners of British history, shedding new light on familiar faces, uncovering unusual - and sometimes bizarre - facts along the way, this is the podcast for anglophiles, history buffs, and anyone interested in finding out more about the UK.
From killer queens to grime and punishment, from medieval medicine to celebrity cats, from secret sewers to pickled philosophers, we leave no historic stone unturned.
Follow our blog at: www.storiesofbritain.com
Visiting little-known corners of British history, shedding new light on familiar faces, uncovering unusual - and sometimes bizarre - facts along the way, this is the podcast for anglophiles, history buffs, and anyone interested in finding out more about the UK.
From killer queens to grime and punishment, from medieval medicine to celebrity cats, from secret sewers to pickled philosophers, we leave no historic stone unturned.
Follow our blog at: www.storiesofbritain.com
Latest episode
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The Bow Street Runners - Law & Disorder in the 1700s
During the 1700s London was a lawless capital plagued by theft, violence and corruption. We tell the dramatic story of the Bow Street runners, Britain's first police force formed by Henry and John "the blind beak" Fielding. Hear how they brought thi… -
Love Letters, Spies and Stolen Mail - The History of Britain’s Post
From the first Valentine’s letter to postal highway robbery, from spies to street wars and the invention of the first postage stamp, this British history podcast tells the story of how the Royal Mail evolved into a network that connected a nation. -
History of Money Part 2 – Forgers, Firesticks & Financial Fiascos
Discover how war, crime and chaos shaped Britain’s money. From wooden money to lusturous gold Guineas to Isaac Newton hunting forgers, this episode reveals the stories behind Britain’s currency. The dramatic history that gave us the coins and notes s… -
A History of Money - Coin Clippers, Con-Men and King Coppernose
The extraordinary history Britain’s money. Where kings mutilate moneyers, coins spark riots and fortunes are made, debased, clipped and forged. This podcast shows how money isn’t just metal — it’s about power, violence, trust, and the magic of the … -
The Diary of a Graverobber - London's Darkest Trade
The Diary of a Graverobber dramatises the true-life story of Joseph Naples, a London gravedigger in the early 1800s who slips into the city’s darkest trade — stealing corpses to sell to surgeons. Driven by poverty and desperation, Naples is lured int… -
About Time: The History of Timekeeping
From Stonehenge to Greenwich, Celtic seasons to Roman calendars, candle clocks to knocker-uppers - and John Harrison’s chronometer. This podcast tells the story of how language, and technology shaped the way we keep time. -
Murder at the Theatre - The William Terris Story
The story of William Terriss - Victorian London’s beloved stage hero. While audiences flocked to the Adelphi Theatre, a troubled bit-part actor plotted his downfall. What followed was a sensational courtroom drama, and a ghost story that haunts the t… -
Dr Johnson - The Man Who Made the English Dictionary
Hear the story of the extraordinary life of Samuel Johnson. The sicky, part blind, provincial boy, a failure at Oxford University he went on to create the first great dictionary of the English language. -
Heratic? Homosexual? Spy? - The Life and Murder of Christopher Marlowe.
Christopher Marlowe was the star writer of the 1580s. The Elizabethans flocked to his plays. But Kitt’s life was shrouded in mystery. Was he a secret agent? A Catholic spy? A double agent for Queen Elizabeth’s government. There is evidence that … -
Strange Stories of Animals - From Pigs to Pigeons, Ravens to Elephants
Amazing stories of animals in Britain. From performing pigs, to medal-winning pigeons. From war elephants to bears who appeared in Shakespeare plays. From a runaway goose to the famous ravens in the Tower of London.