Episodes

  • Ep 199 Hackney: More Light, More Power, More Aerial Silks

    Ep 199 Hackney: More Light, More Power, More Aerial Silks
    Feb 5 2025
    This week it's the rose red empire of Hackney famous residents from the 1500s. We discover why Alex didn't watch Wolf Hall. She's a sensitive gal you know. And we go way back to 600bc, before returning, via the world's first coal powered electricity generating station, where? Really!? How Extraordinary! To the bright lights and power hungry pubs of Shoreditch in the late 1800s. Time for some civic minded Victorian engineering, to produce: More Light, More Power. The unassuming brick building on Coronet St hides a powerful past life, disguised now with the glitz, glamour and muscles of steel needed for aerial circus skills. Plus Crossness dates - 5th Apr, get in touch if you want to join us at the pumping station. Important Hat news, Rev and Amazing Grace, and at some point everyone lives near Krapy Rubsnif. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    57 mins
  • Ep 198: Walking and talking - Refugee Tales with Anna Sayburn Lane

    Ep 198: Walking and talking - Refugee Tales with Anna Sayburn Lane
    Jan 29 2025
    Today we are ringing London, joined by special guest, author and walker, Anna Sayburn Lane. Refugee Tales is a modern recreation of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. A five day walk with stories along the way. Each evening there's entertainments (and snoring, especially from the men's dorm!) The walkers are a mix of interested supporters and people who have been through the process of arriving in this country as a refugee. Sharing a path, breaking bread, and chatting along the way. This year, for their 10th anniversary the main walk in July with be around part of the Capital Ring. Plus the profound effect a walk to Canterbury can have on your life, Christopher Marlowe, a fresh red room and and a hint of Something Rotten Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    51 mins
  • Ep 197 Glorious Greenwich: a tale of two shipies

    Ep 197 Glorious Greenwich: a tale of two shipies
    Jan 22 2025
    Climb aboard and come away with us on the high seas. Take a trip to France on Henry Grace a Deau. The pride of Henry VIII's fleet. Or overtake her whilst laden with tea, wool or pianos, on board The Cutty Sark. How many woolly jumpers can you fit on the only extreme tea clipper left in the world? Henry's ship was built nearby, and maybe ended it's life nearby as well. A war ship that broke the rules, bedecked with guns in all directions. The Cutty Sark you can still visit in Greenwich. Climb her masts, peer inside her chests and squint at her figurehead. Nannie, what's that you're wearing? Alex tells us of a hard life well lived, and gracious lady who's enjoying her retirement*. Plus teaspoons and cheeseboards, news of Crossness and get your skates on if you want to see the Winter lights. *the ship, not Alex. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Ep 196 Hip hip hooray for National Hat Day!

    Ep 196 Hip hip hooray for National Hat Day!
    Jan 15 2025
    This week we are talking hats. What's Fiona's favourite London hat? Celebrating National Hat day, and giving you time to prepare for London Hat Week. We've got a bit of a beaver update to start us off, and sadly their ancestors make an appearance in one of London's notable hats - The Beaverskin or Muscovy Hat of the Swordbearer of the City of London. The hat pocket plays an important part in one of the solemn and important (or, bonkers, depending on your point of view) City ceremonies. We can't talk hats without visiting the hatters, and where better than Lock and Co. It would be quicker to list the stylish celebrities who haven't had a hat made there, than those that have. What do you get if you cross a homburg and a Bowler? and bonus points if you know who might be wearing one. And where oh where was London's most unlikely hat wearer. Plus mercury madness, Nelson's Olympic flame, and what do Chaplin and Churchill have in common? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • Ep 195 Enfield - Dedication. Norris McWhirter, small arms, llamas and a tank called Julian

    Ep 195 Enfield - Dedication. Norris McWhirter, small arms, llamas and a tank called Julian
    Jan 8 2025
    Ooh it's a mixed bag this week. A little bit of this, a little bit of that. Farming. Industry. Royal Enfield - which might not be from Enfield. What is an Enfield anyway? A heraldic beast with a bit of Fox, a touch of Eagle, maybe some wolf, that's what. And this week's main topic might be a wolf in sheep's clothing. He was a figure of fun in our house when I was growing up. Norris McWhirter - the man who checked the Guiness world records. Turns out there's a whole other story of his life I knew nothing about. If you wanna be the best, and stand out from the rest, oooh dedication's what you need. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    50 mins
  • Ep 194 Merry Christmas live at the Tap

    Ep 194 Merry Christmas live at the Tap
    Dec 25 2024
    Well here it is, the second half of our live record evening. We set out to discover the most important/ best/ typically London/ Londitudinal building. Can the champions of Regent St sway the room, to win against The Barbican? Will rock, paper, scissors, finally settle the age old question, is Roman stuff more important than Greenwich? And, critically, is St Pancras railway station better than the Wanstead Tap? Joined once again by Leo Hollis, plus lovely listeners, Dan from the Tap and friend of the pod, Katie Wignall, Alex and I ask you to put on a silly hat, maybe have a glass of something to hand, or even one in both hands, just in case, and brace yourselves for the silliness ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    59 mins
  • Ep 193 Industrious Ealing: Beavers gotta beave

    Ep 193 Industrious Ealing: Beavers gotta beave
    Dec 18 2024
    Our story this week is of a hardworking immigrant family, beavering away to improve the quality of life for Ealing. But first there’s hills made of rubble, classic comedy capers (we find out which world leader was their biggest fan) and the first incline lift in a tube station. An experiment is underway at Paradise Fields, to see if Beavers can live in an urban setting. Since moving in last year the family have been coppicing trees, damming lakes, and filtering the water. We chat about why beavers were hunted to extinction in Britain, their extraordinarily useful fur and secretions, and how they are making a comeback. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    45 mins
  • Ep 192: Lilian Bader and women of colour in World War Two

    Ep 192: Lilian Bader and women of colour in World War Two
    Dec 11 2024
    We're still on an airfield this week. But it's all about the woman wielding the tools, keeping the planes aloft. It's 1941 and Lilian Bader is one of the first women to qualify as an instrument repairer. Her Barbadian father had served in the Navy, her husband drove tanks, her son flew helicopters. Across the generations her family served across the forces, and gave back more than they received. Lilian not only broke barriers as a woman of colour, she campaigned to remember the contribution made from across the commonwealth. Her unit were the first women in the WAAF to be given overalls rather than wearing skirts. Overalls that hang on the Women of World War two memorial in Whitehall. The uniforms and clothes adopted by women to commemorate all those who served, military and civilian. Plaster wedding cakes, Pilots of the Caribbean and Who wants to be a millionaire? Plus Christmas trees, singing and an Easter egg. What's that you say Ben? BONG. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    40 mins