The Curious History of Your Home - podcast cover

The Curious History of Your Home

Join domestic historian Ruth Goodman as she guides you through the surprising, often epic, stories behind everyday objects in your home. Double-glazed windows? We owe those to a French king’s odd fascination with oranges. The minty fresh toothpaste by your sink? Well, if you lived in Ancient Greece, you’d be washing your teeth with ground-up bones and oyster shells. And wallpaper? It seems innocent enough, but in the Victorian era it was downright deadly. Discover the extraordinary history of the ordinary items all around you, every Tuesday, wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or if you’re on Spotify or Android, head to noiser.com/subscriptions For advertising enquiries, email info@adelicious.fm Hosted by Ruth Goodman. Production: Emmie Rose Price-Goodfellow, Tom Pink, Addison Nugent, Nicole Edmunds, Lloyd Starr, George Colwey, Miriam Baines, Katrina Hughes. Compositions by Tom Pink, Dorry Macaulay, Oliver Baines.

Episodes

Introducing: Sherlock Holmes Short Stories

A brand-new release from the Noiser Network. Join Hugh Bonneville on a thrilling journey through Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most celebrated Holmes mysteries - read in their original, masterful form. If you enjoy this taster episode, search ’Sherlock Holmes Short Stories’ in your podcast app and hit follow for more episodes. Or follow this link: https://podfollow.com/sherlock-holmes-short-stories-1 Part 2 of The Adventure of the Speckled Band is live now and waiting for you. Learn more about your a...

Dec 12, 202431 min

Sheds

The death of a woolly mammoth provides the building material for a prehistoric storage space. A tsunami in Japan puts a sturdy outbuilding to the test. And an American boy scout assembles parts for the nuclear reactor he’s building in his mother’s shed… A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noi...

Oct 21, 202439 minSeason 1Ep. 31

Laundry

In the Middle Ages, people source ingenious ingredients to tackle stubborn stains. Henry VIII’s laundry risks causing a scandal. The Ancient Romans use questionable substances to clean their clothes. And the first washing machines revolutionise life in the home… A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android...

Oct 14, 202440 minSeason 1Ep. 30

Bins

A prehistoric pot from Japan inspires a fingerprinting technique used by modern detectives. A whole city is built from waste in Neolithic Turkey. The Maya celebrate the new year by throwing out everything associated with the old one. And in London’s King’s Cross, an army of scavengers ekes out a precarious living on a mountain of dust… A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to...

Oct 07, 202441 minSeason 1Ep. 29

Neighbours

Vigilantes chase a thief through the streets of medieval Winchester. A French king creates one of the world’s first gated communities. Villagers across Europe turn on each other with dangerous accusations of witchcraft. And the human race meets its very first neighbours - 45,000 years ago… A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, if ...

Sep 30, 202444 minSeason 1Ep. 28

Bread

The world’s oldest breadcrumbs are discovered in Jordan. Ryebread causes a devastating disease in medieval Germany. In 18th-century France, the rising price of flour sparks popular unrest. And a carbonised sourdough loaf is discovered in Herculaneum, entombed by the Mount Vesuvius eruption… A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, if...

Sep 23, 202443 minSeason 1Ep. 27

Heating

In ancient Korea, ingenious underfloor heating is invented. A king in dire financial straits institutes a controversial tax on fireplaces. Young boys are sent up treacherous chimneys in Victorian England. And the Great Smog envelops London, with deadly consequences… A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Andro...

Sep 16, 202441 minSeason 1Ep. 26

Home Entertainment

A medieval countess swoons over tales of courtly love. Georgian families amuse themselves by playing ‘bullet pudding’. Victorian writers do their best to crack down on saucy party games. And on a windswept island in the Bristol Channel, radio is born… A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noi...

Sep 09, 202443 minSeason 1Ep. 25

Clocks

A miniature sundial survives the destruction of Pompeii. The most elaborate clock the world has ever seen is constructed in 11th-century China. In medieval Normandy, mechanical clocks rouse monks in the middle of the night. And an opportunistic Londoner starts a business that literally sells time… A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. O...

Sep 02, 202441 minSeason 1Ep. 24

Pests

Fleas spell disaster for people living in the Middle Ages. The inhabitants of an ancient Iraqi city hurl scorpions at an invading army. In Victorian London, a rat catcher turns his unsavoury profession into a form of street entertainment. And a miracle new pesticide turns out to have deadly unintended consequences… A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a...

Aug 26, 202445 minSeason 1Ep. 23

Dinner Parties

A Roman emperor terrifies his guests with a macabre dining room display. At a feast in Norway, drunk Vikings engage in a rap battle. A teenage Alexander the Great makes a scene at his dad’s dinner party. And partygoers in Victorian London get up close and personal with an unusual guest - an Egyptian mummy… A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free...

Aug 19, 202443 minSeason 1Ep. 22

Featuring: Betwixt the Sheets Podcast

This taster episode is taken from the Betwixt the Sheets podcast, created by our friends over at History Hit. Betwixt the Sheets looks into the history of sex, scandal and the weirdest, most fascinating areas of society - from the history of cosmetic surgery, to the Profumo Affair, to Henry VIII’s sex life. It’s hosted by sex historian, Kate Lister - and twice a week, every week, she’s joined by an expert. In this taster episode, Kate is joined by writer, actor, and Charles Dickens superfan Miri...

Aug 15, 202455 min

Windows

In medieval Ghana, an exhausted traveller stares in wonder at panes of glass glistening in walls. Craftsmen in 15th-century York assemble an intricate work of art, fit for the divine. A tax on windows leads to some interesting architectural solutions. And in World War II, covering your windows becomes a matter of life and death… A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get ...

Aug 12, 202441 minSeason 1Ep. 21

Home Security

A gaggle of geese stands guard outside a whisky distillery in Scotland. Ninjas tread carefully over creaky floorboards in Japan. A nurse in New York invents a revolutionary surveillance system. And in Ancient Greece, a guard dog’s warning goes unheeded… with disastrous consequences… A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, if you’re ...

Aug 05, 202443 minSeason 1Ep. 20

Toilets

Ruth lifts the lid on the surprising history of toilets. A cesspit proves deadly for a noble assembly in 12th-century Germany. Pigs form an unlikely part of the sewage system in ancient China. And the world’s first flushing toilet is invented… four and a half thousand years ago… A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, if you’re on Spo...

Jul 29, 202442 minSeason 1Ep. 19

Jewellery

Roman women get creative, and violent, with their hair pins. In the Middle Ages, poison rings are used to covertly contaminate food and drink. A ring seals the deal on a scandalous marriage in 16th century Germany. And in Antwerp, a gang of jewellery thieves pull off the heist of the century… A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, ...

Jul 22, 202442 minSeason 1Ep. 18

Lawnmowers

Landscape gardening leads to the downfall of a powerful politician in 17th century France. In the 1820s, two Englishmen test their new lawn mowing invention in the middle of the night, much to the displeasure of their neighbours. A camel helps to cut the grass at London Zoo. And in America, a man resorts to an unconventional mode of transport when his brother falls ill hundreds of miles away… A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access ...

Jul 15, 202440 minSeason 1Ep. 17

Ovens

In Neolithic Croatia, the world’s oldest oven provides around the clock perks to the locals. In Dublin, a celebrity chef sets up an innovative soup kitchen during the Great Irish Famine. And in Mughal India, an emperor just can’t do without his favourite tandoori meals… even during a fight to the death with his own son… A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started w...

Jul 08, 202444 minSeason 1Ep. 16

Board Games

On the Isle of Lewis, a lost cow unearths the most famous chess pieces in history. An Egyptian king and queen battle it out over the game board. A New York architect lays the foundations of Scrabble. And during World War Two, a Monopoly set is a matter of life or death for British prisoners of war… A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. ...

Jul 01, 202443 minSeason 1Ep. 15

Hats

In the Italian Alps, the world’s oldest known hat is unearthed. In ancient Rome, a simple head covering separates slaves from freedmen. In Victorian London, hats prove deadly for the men and women who make them. And Napoleon Bonaparte causes a stir, by rotating his bicorne 90 degrees… A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, if you’r...

Jun 24, 202444 minSeason 1Ep. 14

Carpets

In remotest Siberia, an intrepid archaeologist uncovers the oldest rug known to man. The Moors of north Africa occupy Spain, bringing new floor coverings with them. A young girl’s innovation turns a small Georgia town into the carpet capital of the world. And the Dalai Lama flees Tibet, taking his carpets with him… A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7...

Jun 17, 202443 minSeason 1Ep. 13

The Medicine Cabinet

A radical apothecary causes a stir during the English Civil War. Wise Women offer mysterious advice on how to rid oneself of warts. A wife’s accidents in the kitchen lead her husband to develop the first band-aid. And in Victorian London, unsuspecting mothers treat their children with a dangerously addictive drug… A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-...

Jun 10, 202443 minSeason 1Ep. 12

Introducing: D-Day: The Tide Turns - Episode 1

This is a taster episode of a brand-new podcast from the Noiser network. Host Paul McGann follows the real people involved in the D-Day landings. It’s 1944 and Europe is in the grip of the Nazi war machine. But on the shores of Great Britain, thousands of men and women are planning the great fightback. What will it take to turn the tide of World War 2? Search ‘D-Day: The Tide Turns’ in your podcast app and hit follow to get new episodes each Thursday. Or listen at noiser.com Episode 2 is live no...

Jun 05, 202454 min

Beds

Archaeologists in South Africa discover the world’s oldest bed. In Victorian London, homeless people have to choose between sleeping on a bench or sleeping in a coffin. 26 butchers and their wives get cosy in 17th-century Hertfordshire. And a bed proves fatal for three men in medieval France… A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, ...

Jun 03, 202444 minSeason 1Ep. 11

Beer

In ancient Mesopotamia, people invent straws to better enjoy their favourite tipple. The Romans turn their noses up at barbarian beverages. The introduction of hops to brewing sparks a beer-based battle of the sexes. And Prohibition in America leads to the production of potentially deadly drinks… A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. ...

May 27, 202445 minSeason 1Ep. 10

Cats

Fed up with mice pilfering their grain, farmers in the ancient Middle East turn to a new ally. In early modern Essex, a witch’s familiar is blamed for the murder of her husband. The world’s first cat lady is found living in Victorian London. And a diplomatic mission to Egypt goes awry after the death of a sacred feline… A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started wit...

May 20, 202441 minSeason 1Ep. 9

Gardening

Stories of the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon beguile generations of listeners. An Indian emperor builds paradise on Earth in memory of his beloved wife. In medieval England, gardening brings an inquisitive monk closer to God. And growing vegetables becomes a vital weapon in the war against Hitler… A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free...

May 13, 202444 minSeason 1Ep. 8

Coffee

A herder in 9th century Ethiopia discovers a stimulating plant, after observing his goats behaving strangely. The pope weighs in on whether a bitter new beverage really was invented by Satan. A stall selling hot drinks takes 1650s London by storm. And drinking coffee becomes a deadly habit in Ottoman Istanbul… A Noiser production, written by Addison Nugent. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-da...

May 06, 202443 minSeason 1Ep. 7

Forks

In medieval Italy, a woman’s death is blamed on the two-pronged utensils she uses at her wedding banquet. In 17th century France, a fed-up cardinal issues a decree to tackle bad table manners. British colonial taxes lead Americans to invent a unique way of using cutlery. And a spy sneaks into a workshop in Sheffield to uncover the secrets of steel… A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the No...

Apr 29, 202443 minSeason 1Ep. 6

Dish Washing

A high stakes summit between Henry VIII and his French counterpart leaves behind a mountain of dirty dishes. The decline of wood burning in homes changes how we clean crockery. An inventor of weapons turns his hand to more domestic pursuits. And a visionary woman in Chicago unveils a world-changing machine… A Noiser production, written by Addison Nugent. For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day f...

Apr 22, 202442 minSeason 1Ep. 5