In this lively episode of Birmingham Midweek, host Roifield Brown returns from California to catch up with historian David Crowther, creator of The History of England podcast. The duo embarks on an ambitious journey through English history, aiming to cover turning points from the Battle of Hastings to Brexit, though they start much earlier, around 6000 BCE. Crowther brings his signature wit and depth, proposing the sinking of Doggerland as England’s first turning point, setting the stage for an insular identity.

The conversation moves swiftly through history, from the arrival of the Beaker people and the Anglo-Saxon migrations, to Alfred the Great’s resilience in 878 and the seismic shift of the Norman Conquest in 1066. Crowther highlights the establishment of Parliament in the 13th century and the pivotal role of the Magna Carta, while Brown interjects with a mix of sharp questions and local pride (including a plug for Birmingham’s market charter in 1166).

The pair push into modernity with the Industrial Revolution, abolition of slavery, and the 19th century’s political reforms, before time runs short. Despite a few playful jabs, the episode strikes a fine balance between education and entertainment, setting up a likely return to tackle the 20th century.

Five Notable Quotes:

David Crowther: “We are who we believe we are. If there’s someone in Mongolia who considers themselves English, then as far as I’m concerned, they are English.”
Roifield Brown: “Aren’t you David first? No, you’ve subsumed yourself. You are just England.”
Crowther on 1066: “The Normans didn’t just conquer England, they imposed a colonial lordship that echoes through our countryside ownership even today.”
Brown: “We pivoted from looking across the North Sea to looking south. The Normans didn’t just bring castles, they reoriented our entire culture.”
Crowther on Cromwell: “Ironically, it’s Cromwell’s legacy that pushes us toward religious toleration. Not the story most people tell.”

Further Reading:

The History of England Podcast
Benedict Anderson’s Imagined Communities
Information on the Putney Debates: British Library
The Magna Carta at the National Archives: National Archives
The 1832 Great Reform Act: UK Parliament

If you love a blend of historical insight and sharp banter, this episode delivers, and with a promise of more to come, it’s worth keeping an eye on Birmingham Midweek.

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