Podcast
Consistently Eccentric History
Hosted by Joe Heathcote · EN
The British Isles have thousands of years of history, so it's weird that all most people were taught at school was World War Two, how many wives Henry VIII had and that the Battle of Hastings took place in 1066 (always worth a try if you are trying to guess someones pin number).
If you've always wanted to learn about all the bits between these events, but only if it can be done in a random and eclectic manner why not try Consistently Eccentric History? A podcast where each week you can listen in while I tell one of my friends a story about a lesser known person or event in British history, the weirder and less believable the better. With an archive of over 150 episodes you will never again be short a weird historical fact when trying to impress others.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
14episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Maurice Wilson - It is plane to see that climbing Everest is hard
1w ago01:12:02Tap to summarizeThis week we are heading to the Mills of Bradford to meet a Yorkshireman whose unshakable self-belief led to one of the most longwinded self-destructions in history. Having survived the horrors of WWII (and the retail industry), a chance encounter with some Yogis set in motion a series of events that would see Maurice Wilson defy the British Government, and find himself 23,000 feet up the side of Mount Everest.He may not have had any training, he may have had the wrong equipment, he may have been explicitly told by the locals that he was mad, but could Maurice survive to tell the tale?*Guest host: Oliver Green*No, he could not. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →James Barry - It women can't be doctors, then why not stop being a woman?
3w ago01:40:48Tap to summarizeTo celebrate international Midwifery day, Pam is back in the hosting chair to tell us the story of a pioneering Doctor who didn't let their lack of balls stop them from becoming one of the top medics in the entirety of the British Armed Forces.Originally only pretending to be a man in order to get through medical training, James Barry was planning to practice as a woman in service of Francisco de Miranda in Venezuela. But when this job offer fell through he decided to leave his old life an Margaret Bulkley behind for good, embarking on a globetrotting career that included a notable first in the field of midwifery. Guest Host: Joseph Heathcote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →The Hammersmith Ghost - (or) A ghostly Georgian Blunder(buss)
3w ago01:06:16Tap to summarizeAfter a series of unfortunate events we are back with a spooky tale from the early 19th Century that resulted in multiple deaths. The Hammersmith Ghost was initially a local oddity, but as the winter of 1803 progressed it became a source of increasing fear for the local population.But as any good Georgian knew, the best way to protect yourself from the supernatural is with a bloody big gun!Guest Host: Emma Heathcote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Jeanne de Clisson - (or) Middle aged female piracy is the best kind of piracy
Apr 1201:18:13Tap to summarizeThis week we are heading across the channel to talk about how one of the many Anglo-French spats during the middle ages resulted in the creation of one of the most effective pirates who has ever sailed the high seas (of the English Channel).After her husband was executed (murdered) by the French king, Jeanne de Clisson swore revenge. However being an eminently practical woman, she ensured that her revenge. would have staying power. Two decades to be precise. This is a tale of dysfunctional marriages, power grabbing and justified anger. Which could only be untangled by a man from Yorkshire named Walter.Guest Host: Emma Heathcote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →The British Union of Fascists (Oswald Mosley Part 3) - (or) How to get London to hate you
Mar 2901:24:52Tap to summarizeFinally we have reached the end of the cautionary tale of Oswald Mosley, as we talk about his period as Britain's best known Fascist. However unlike in Italy and Germany the population of Britain were not interested in lurching to the right, leaving Oswald waiting for a revolution that stubbornly refused to come.Featuring secret Italian funding, wives dying of apathy and a framed picture of Hitler!Guest Host: Oliver Green Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →James Graham and his Celestial Bed - You don't need a degree to be a doctor of love (though you may need to be insane)
Mar 801:25:02Tap to summarizeThis week we are jumping back into the world of quack medicine, following a nearly-doctor called James Graham as he blazed a path through multiple medical fields (none of which he was remotely qualified for.)While James Graham was searching for the pseudo-treatment that would make his fortune, he stumbled upon the idea of providing a medicalised model for improving marriage, specifically the procreation part. This led him to pivot from wellness guru to sexpert and creating one of the marvels of the Georgian age... but one that is now sadly lost to history. The celestial bed.So join us for a story of love, innovation, excess and madness...... but at least it is guaranteed to smell nice.Guest Host: Emma Heathcote Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →The Halifax Slasher - (or) should we be concerned about Yorkshire?
Feb 2201:07:32Tap to summarizeThis week we are heading back to 1938 to talk about a very odd crimewave that plagued the people of Halifax during the cold, dark days of November. When Mary Sutcliffe reported being attacked by a man wielding a blade, it was assumed that it was an isolated incident, however as the attacks rapidly began to pile up a sense of panic seemed to engulf the people of Halifax.Was it a maniac? Was it more than one person? Were copycat attacks now outnumbering the genuine ones? And why had almost this exact thing happened two previous times in living memory?We will attempt to answer all these questions and more!Guest Host: Oliver GreenWith a special appearance from Tod Shaker! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Charlotte Temple - (or) a cautionary tale for Valentine's day
Feb 801:08:04Tap to summarizeAs we head toward February 14th, Pam is bringing us a tale of Georgian romance. In fact one of the first and most popular tales of romance in early American history.Starting in the UK it is a story of the upper classes, scandals and doomed romances. But how is this linked to a gravestone in New York and is any of it actually true?Guest Host: Pamela Loetterle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Mosley in Parliament (Oswald Mosley Part 2) - The life and soul of multiple (political) parties
Feb 101:29:50Tap to summarizeIt is back to the story of the most famous British Fascist this week as we discuss the Parliamentary career of Oswald Mosley, which started at the tender age of 22.Going in with a naive belief that he would quickly rise through the ranks it is the story of how people born of privilege can struggle when they face even the mildest of barriers, and how the political system can be manipulated to your advantage if you don't really care about the concept of loyalty.While he did eventually develop some policies that might have worked, Mosley's methods ensured that no one in Westminster was willing to work with him. Forcing him to consider how he might secure power outside of the established system.But remember he was only doing it to help the British Working Class....Guest Host: Oliver Green Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcribe →Mul-Sac John - Royalist Highwayman with sooty giblets
Jan 1801:18:02Tap to summarizeThis week we are talking about a humble chimney sweep who ended up becoming a millionaire, via the medium of highway robbery!Though he originally appeared to want to do the right thing, John Cottington found that even the most successful Master Sweep would not be welcomed into the upper classes. Growing resentment at this glass ceiling (combined with an awkward marriage and extreme shaving adventures) eventually led him to a life of crime.But would his justification of supporting the Royalist cause help him to avoid punishment? And where the hell are parts 2 and 3 of Oswald Mosley?Find out in this week's episode!Guest Host: Oliver Green Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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