Delve into the various aspects of Annie Besant’s life with Hazel Baker , from her tumultuous childhood and early marriage to the beginning of her transformation into a passionate activist and orator. As we follow the footsteps of Annie Besant, we’ll also paint a vivid picture of mid-century London, a city rife with political tensions, groundbreaking discoveries, and social reforms. We’ll discuss the key events that shaped the city during this transformative period and examine how the city’s uniq...
Mar 17, 2023•36 min•Ep 103•Transcript available on Metacast Join Hazel Baker and explore the fascinating stories and colorful characters of one of London's oldest and most beloved markets. Dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries, Leadenhall Market started as a hub for poultry and game trading, but quickly expanded to include dairy products and other goods. While the market offered a vibrant space for commerce, it was not without its share of crime and violence, which were unfortunately common in London during that time. Nevertheless, there was a sense...
Mar 10, 2023•24 min•Ep 102•Transcript available on Metacast Join Hazel Baker as she talks with Ian McDiarmid about Henry VIII's Navy. Today, Ian will be taking us on a deep dive into one of the most pivotal moments in London's maritime history: Henry VIII's Royal Navy. As one of England's most famous monarchs, Henry VIII played a crucial role in the development of the Royal Navy, establishing it as a powerful force on the world stage. Together, we'll explore the key moments and figures that shaped this era of maritime history. We'll also disc...
Mar 03, 2023•36 min•Ep 101•Transcript available on Metacast This episode, we take a moment to reflect on the origins of some of the words we often use and hear during this festive period. If you’re looking for a way to get your history and language fix all in one go, then stick around. We’ll look at how some words such as 'Christmas' and 'Yuletide' first entered our vocabulary - as well as exploring other words associated with Christmas, that of food and drink, and in songs. Join Hazel Baker as she talks with Danny Bate about Christmas words....
Dec 09, 2022•43 min•Ep 100•Transcript available on Metacast Christmas is a time for family, friends, and reflection. It's also a time for the tradition of where the monarch delivers their Christmas speech. If you're a fan of history, or just enjoy learning about the royals, then you'll love our latest podcast episode. In it, we take a look at how the modern tradition of the Royal Christmas message began, why it started later than it could have, show rote the first King's Speech, How Queen Elizabeth II embraced technology when delivering her Christm...
Dec 02, 2022•24 min•Ep 99•Transcript available on Metacast Join Hazel Baker as she talks with Paul Couchman , The Regency Cook, about the the various Christmas puddings throughout history. What could a shirt sleeve be used to cook? What is hard sauce? How did the fashion of puddings has changed over the years. Full transcript: londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast/episode-98-christmas-puddings-through-history...
Nov 25, 2022•33 min•Ep 98•Transcript available on Metacast Join Hazel Baker as she talks about Temple Bar; the location and the building. Find out about the heritage of the location, its use as an important processional route, where it features in literature, how the Great Fire of London became a catalyst for change. Find out about the new Temple Bar and the team behind its creation including Sir Christopher Wren and the gruesome part it played in the 17th And 18th centuries. Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in weekly ...
Nov 18, 2022•27 min•Ep 97•Transcript available on Metacast Join Hazel Baker as she talks with Luke Honey from the London Gasketeers about the gas lamps in Westminster and why their number is reducing. Find out about heritage of London's gas lamps, the different styles and how you can spot a gas lamp when out and about in London. Send a voice message
Nov 11, 2022•33 min•Ep 96•Transcript available on Metacast Join Hazel Baker as she talks with City of London tour guide Ian McDiarmid to discuss the Port of London in the Tudor period, a subject which is not often discussed in detail. Find out about eels, ermine and Antwerp in this Tudor-themed episode of the London History podcast. Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in weekly episodes of London history, with a splash of personality. There's so much we can't fit into our tours, no matter how hard we t...
Nov 04, 2022•44 min•Ep 95•Transcript available on Metacast By the time of his death, Sheppard’s escapades had earned him celebrity status among Londoners and he inspired popular plays, prints and ballads. For a considerable time he was the principal subject of conversation in all ranks of society. Hear more about his legendary escapes! Join Hazel Baker as she talks about the life of Jack Sheppard and his legendary escapades. Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in weekly episodes of London history, with a splash of personal...
Oct 27, 2022•27 min•Ep 94•Transcript available on Metacast Hannah Snell was an 18th-century English woman who dressed as a man and enlisted in the British Army. She served for several years before revealing her true identity. Hannah's published story is one of determination and courage. She enlisted in the Army in order to find her missing husband. Once she was in the Army, she quickly proved herself to be a brave and capable soldier. Hannah was wounded in battle. When her story became public, Hannah was celebrated as a heroine and she even went on stag...
Oct 20, 2022•32 min•Ep 93•Transcript available on Metacast London is known for a lot of things: its history, its culture, and its public executions. That's right, for over 700 Londoners have gathered to watch convicted criminals be put to death. While today this may seem barbaric, at the time it was an important way to keep the public safe. or was it? Join Hazel Baker as she talks with City of London tour guide Ian McDiarmid to discuss Museum of London Dockland's latest exhibition: Executions. Show notes: https://londonguidedwalks.co.u...
Oct 13, 2022•31 min•Ep 92•Transcript available on Metacast John Wilkes was a radical politician and newspaper editor. He used poetry and Magna Carta to mobilise public opinion, which helped him fight for many causes in his lifetime. Join Hazel Baker as she talks with City of London tour guide Ian McDiarmid to discuss MP John Wilkes and his life in London. Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in weekly episodes of London history, with a splash of personality. There's so much we can't fit into our tours, no...
Jun 24, 2022•40 min•Ep 91•Transcript available on Metacast Thomas Becket was one of the most powerful figures of his time, serving as Royal Chancellor and later as Archbishop of Canterbury in the 1100s. After his assassination he became Patron Saint of London all of the way up to 1532 with the Dissolution of the Monasteries under the reign of Henry VIII. To tell us more about the man, the myth and the Becket Pageant for London is James Winterbotham, Historical Consultant for the Becket Pageant for London. Show notes: http://londonguidedwalks.o.cuk/podca...
Jun 09, 2022•21 min•Ep 90•Transcript available on Metacast Like many other places in London, Covent Garden has evolved over the years. It started from humble beginnings as a Convent garden for Westminster Abbey, it has moved through many guises over the centuries. From a home to the aristocracy and the main centre of theatrical life in London it developed into the largest produce market in the world. The rapid expansion of the market altered the character of the area. Along with a bustling commercial market, two theatres (The First Theatre Royal o...
Jun 02, 2022•31 min•Ep 89•Transcript available on Metacast London’s Underground railway is not only the oldest system of its kind, it’s also the world’s most famous. The Tube, as it’s also known is more than just a way of getting around the capital, it is also a symbol of the city. More than four million people use it everyday. On Tuesday this week more than 130,000 passengers piled aboard the first trains running on the new £18.9bn Elizabeth line within hours of its launch. Transport enthusiasts gathered at Paddington station and Abbey Wood, in south-e...
May 26, 2022•23 min•Ep 88•Transcript available on Metacast Georgian London was a fascinating time and place. It was a time of great change, and the city was growing rapidly. This period in London’s history is often overlooked, but it is definitely worth taking a closer look at! In this podcast, we will explore some of the most interesting aspects of Georgian London. We will take a look at the architecture, the culture, and the people who made it their home and how some of them are remembered and others forgotten. A new type of society emerged in Britain...
May 12, 2022•27 min•Ep 87•Transcript available on Metacast Join Hazel Baker as she continues to discuss Shakespeare’s London with Carol Anne Lloyd including the way London is shown in Shakespeare’s plays (and even non-London location plays). They discuss whether censorship, curses and real London locations used in Shakespeare's plays. Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of London history with a splash of personality. There's so much we can't fit into our tours, no matter how hard we tr...
Apr 22, 2022•23 min•Ep 86•Transcript available on Metacast Join Hazel Baker as she discusses Shakespeare's London with Carol Anne Lloyd including the way London is shown in Shakespeare's plays (and even non-London location plays). They discuss whether Shakespeare has always been so "highbrow", was he always so popular? and how he make most of his money. Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of London history with a splash of personality. There's so much we can't fit into our tours, no matter h...
Apr 15, 2022•23 min•Ep 85•Transcript available on Metacast Join Hazel Baker as she talks with Natalia Jagielska about London geology including dinosaurs and fossils! Find out why the first dinosaur was called the human scrotum, why London's buildings don't reflect its geology and the best way to fossil hunt in the city. londonguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast
Apr 07, 2022•21 min•Ep 84•Transcript available on Metacast Join Hazel Baker as she talks with John Wyatt Greenlee about the dutch trade of eels in Medieval London. Find out how they were transported, who ate them and how they were cooked and how a clue in Wenceslaus Hollar's map led John Wyatt to become an eel historian like no other! See the full transcript and show notes: https://londonguidedguidedwalks.co.uk/podcast/episode-83-dutch-eels-in-medieval-london...
Mar 31, 2022•28 min•Ep 83•Transcript available on Metacast Covent Garden is so important in the history of English ballet. Hear why in our latest podcast episode. Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of London history with a splash of personality. There's so much we can't fit into our tours, no matter how hard we try. This London history podcast is where we can get down and dirty with the detail! You're not going to find this level of detail in any guidebook. Let us know if there's a particul...
Mar 18, 2022•25 min•Ep 82•Transcript available on Metacast What would Voltaire make of London today? The great enlightened thinker spent a couple of years enjoying London's charms. Of course, London has changed a lot since then, but some things never change and Voltaire would doubtless appreciate the city's sense of irony and humour. Join Hazel Baker as she talks with City of London tour guide Ian McDiarmid to discuss Voltaire and his life in London. Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot e...
Mar 11, 2022•27 min•Ep 81•Transcript available on Metacast How much of our thoughts about those with disabilities comes from the Victorians? Join Hazel Baker as she talks with Phillipa Connelly and disability in the Tudor period. This podcast explores the world of disability in Tudor times, and highlights some of the challenges faced by those living with a disability as well as the successes of a few remarkable individuals. Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of London history with a splash ...
Mar 04, 2022•21 min•Ep 80•Transcript available on Metacast Join Hazel Baker as she talks with Dr Gillian Williamson as they discuss what it was like to be a landlady in Georgian London and how our view of them may be warped by those who held a pen. Find out why Mary and Charles Lamb were outraged when they received an unexpected bill from their landlady and who would have been the worst lodger to have in your home. Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of London history with a splash of person...
Feb 25, 2022•20 min•Ep 79•Transcript available on Metacast Join Hazel Baker as she talks with Dr Gillian Williamson as they discuss what it was like to be a lodger and a landlord in Georgian London. How living conditions encouraged the rise of coffee houses and how lodging houses had their own micro hierarchy. Find out what James Boswell did to get kicked out of his lodgings in Downing Street and how a fire in Soho provided a real life account of the assorted neighbours. Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espres...
Feb 18, 2022•20 min•Ep 78•Transcript available on Metacast Join Hazel Baker as she talks with Lesley Russell about the DeLaune family who has researched connections to several Huguenot families who came to England as refugees from religious persecution in 1572 and who made their home in the ruins of the former Blackfriars Priory. Learn more about the families, the area the in which they lived and their community. Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of London history with a splash of personal...
Feb 11, 2022•24 min•Ep 77•Transcript available on Metacast Join Hazel Baker as she talks with Dr Daniella Gonzalez about the latest exhibition at the British Library: Elizabeth and Mary: Royal cousins, rival queens. In this episode we look at two of the most powerful women in Tudor history; Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots. Their relationship was a complicated one. They were royal cousins and rival queens. Extraordinarily the women never actually met and yet their lives were entwined. We take a look at their story as presented in the British Library'...
Feb 03, 2022•20 min•Ep 76•Transcript available on Metacast Join Hazel Baker as she looks at how the tradition of Christmas Crackers began and developed to become the traditional event we repeat each year. Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of London history with a splash of personality. There's so much we can't fit into our tours, no matter how hard we try. This London history podcast is where we can get down and dirty with the detail! You're not going to find this level of detail in any gu...
Dec 10, 2021•20 min•Ep 75•Transcript available on Metacast London is a bright and eventful place all year round, but especially during the build-up to Christmas. Streets and squares fill up with elaborate light installations that transform urban spaces while changing their atmosphere for Christmas time! Join Hazel Baker as she looks at how the tradition of Christmas Street lights began and evolved and became fixed within children's literature. Learn things about London that most Londoners don't even know in a 20 minute espresso shot episode of Lon...
Dec 03, 2021•20 min•Ep 74•Transcript available on Metacast 
