Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson reveal the surprising moments in history behind the traditions, customs and objects all around us.
Episodes
Why Do We Still Have a Monarchy? Part 1
The British Royal Family is arguably one the most famous in the world. Throughout history, monarchies across the globe have been replaced, often by presidents, after civil wars, rebellions and invasions. So how has the British monarchy weathered such storms? In this first of two episodes Alice and Ben go back in time to meet medieval kings and rebel barons, witness royal executions and even a fore
Why Do Brits Love Curry?
How did curry become Britain’s “national dish”?
Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton explore curry’s imperial origins, the first Indian restaurant in Britain, and the postwar curry house boom.
Key Sources:
Curry: A Tale of Cooks and Conquerors - Lizzie Collingham.
“Going for an Indian”: South Asian Restaurants and the Limits of Multiculturalism in Britain - Elizabeth Buettner.
The British love a
Where Did Cash Come From?
When you find a coin down the back of the sofa, have you ever wondered where it came from? Do you know your farthings from your pennies? Your guineas from your pounds?From ancient Lydia and Roman Britain to the founding of the Royal Mint and Decimalisation Day — Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson tell the story of how Brits started using coins and banknotes.Key Sources:Economica, Victoria Bateman.Brit
Do Brits Have Bad Teeth?
British people have terrible teeth. That’s the stereotype - but is it true? And what’s the story behind it?Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton explore how Brits got a reputation for bad teeth thanks to our love of sugar, and we see how British and American teeth took wildly different paths after the Second World War.Key Sources:June Thomas - Journalist.The Bad-Mouthing of British Teeth - Decoder Ring p
Where Did The Modern Toilet Come From?
Have you ever stopped to think about the technological marvel that is the modern toilet? Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson chart a course from a Roman fort in Northumberland via Victorian London to a council flat in 20th century Glasgow. All to find out - when did we get flushing loos? And what happened to all that waste?
Does it surprise you how recently these things became the norm? Let us know in
Why Are We Obsessed With Work?
Do you ever feel like work is taking over your life? Well, society didn’t always place so much value on work ethic.Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton uncover the surprising history behind our modern obsession with hard work. First, medieval marriage reforms transformed people’s relationship with work. Then, monastic orders and the Protestant Reformation framed hard work as sacred. Finally, the industr
Why Don’t We Wear Hats Anymore?
For centuries leaving the house without a hat would be like leaving the house without your phone or keys - you simply wouldn’t do it. But these days, headwear is an optional add on - a fashion choice, a weather protector, or found on the head of a wedding guest.Alice and Ben look under the brim of history to find out what on earth happened to the ubiquity of the hat? We’ll cover a parent’s despera
Why Are We Dog Obsessed?
Dogs are man’s best friend - but has it always been that way? Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton look into how humans and dogs first got acquainted, we’ll hear about the tough lives of medieval dogs, and we’ll reveal how the Victorians forged our modern relationship with our canine friends. This episode contains a brief description of cruelty to animals. Listener discretion is advised.Key sources:Coll
Who Invented the “Whodunit”?
It was the vicar that did it! In the billiards room! With a candlestick! To many fans of a murder mystery, this is perhaps a familiar sounding phrase from a classic “whodunit”. But just how did this endlessly popular genre come to be? Alice and Ben leaf back through the pages of history to uncover just where “whodunits” came from, who invented them, and how they’ve endured centuries of changing ta
Where Do Manners Come From?
Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton explore how Renaissance books on courtly conduct inspired an era of civility.They untangle the 18th century age of politeness, and we’ll find out how the Victorians shaped the way we behave today.But are manners getting worse? Key Sources:Sorry! The English and Their Manners - Henry Hitchings.
In Pursuit of Civility: Manners and Civilization in Early Modern England -
Why Do Scots Wear Tartan?
Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson dig through the folds of time to understand how Tartan became so woven into Scottish history. Just how did the material become so intrinsically linked to the nation’s image? It’s a winding and dramatic story. There’s an exiled prince, a romantic writer, a pair of charismatic brothers and a young queen. It’s a tale of ancient tradition, war and fakery. Key Sources: Ta
Why Do We Love Pubs?
How did the pub become so central to British culture?Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton reveal how women ran medieval alehouses, how the Reformation led to a golden age of boozers, and how competition from gin produced the iconic Victorian pub. Key Sources:Dr Paul Jennings - The Local: A History of the English Pub.
Dr James Wright.
Dr Peter Clark.
Dr Mark Hailwood - Alehouses and Good Fellowship in Ea
Why Does the Union Jack Look Like That?
Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson delve into the history of the Union Jack - the flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.It’s one of the most recognisable British icons, but just why does it look the way it does? What’s the story behind the pattern?We’ll get into the saintly foundations, the Stuarts, and of course the age old question - where on the flag is Wales?Key Sources:
Why Do We Have ‘Ugly’ Buildings?
Modern buildings are ugly - that’s what opinion polls suggest - but if it’s true, what’s the story behind it?Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton see how a Swiss architect turned the British establishment against traditional architecture, and how his followers rebuilt British cities in the hope of improving society.For some, modern architecture is a crime against the public realm. For others, it’s iconi
Who Invented the Weekend?
Have you ever wondered why we get Saturday and Sundays off each week?
Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson try to figure out who invented the weekend.
We got Sunday, then Saturday afternoon.. Then finally the full two days - but how?
We’ll be taking a look at the Medieval period, we’ll introduce you to an important clerk from the Industrial Revolution, and finally a few familiar names will round o
Why Do We Wear Suits?
From royal coronations to criminal trials, the suit is men’s go-to uniform. But why?Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson reveal the suit’s origins in the court of Charles II, how the original dandy Beau Brummell shaped men’s style to this day, and how sporty Victorians forged the modern suit.But with the rise of working from home, are the suit’s days numbered?Key sources:
The Suit: Form, Function and St
Package Holiday: Why do Brits go to Benidorm?
For decades Brits have enjoyed package holidays in sunnier climes of Spain, in resort towns like Benidorm. But why is that? Where did the package holiday itself come from? Was it one person who invented it?Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson unpack the stories which have all contributed to the success of the package holiday.We’ll start our journey off in Victorian Britain, with a layover to visit a Nor
Stiff Upper Lip: Do Brits Have Emotions?
There’s a well known stereotype that Brits don’t show their emotions. George Gershwin even composed a song about the famous ‘Stiff Upper Lip’.This week Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson delve into the history of emotions and ask where the British stiff upper lip came from.We’ll hear how the French Revolution turned Brits against emotion, how the Victorians made repression a virtue, and why everything
Why Don’t Women’s Clothes Have Pockets?
To the frustration of many, a lot of women’s clothes don’t have pockets. But why on Earth is that the case? Especially when men’s clothing seems to be full of pockets.Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson track the tumultuous and muddy history of women’s pockets. From capacious beginnings, through many fashion changes, to suffragette campaigning and societal expectations.Alice and Ben unpick the surprisi
Why Are Brits So Obsessed With Football?
Why are Brits so obsessed with football?Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson explore the origins of football, how the game transformed from a gentleman’s hobby to the people’s game, and then how it became the most popular cultural phenomenon in the world.Key sources:
The Ball is Round: A Global History of Football - David Goldblatt
The Association Game: A History of British Football - Matthew Taylor
English Language: Why Do We Speak Like That?
Why do our spellings not match our pronunciations? Why are so many words just really weird?Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson take us on a whistle stop tour of some of the key moments that forged the English Language as we know it today.We’ll be looking at Germanic and French invasions, the impact of a period of history called the Great Vowel Shift and Caxton’s first printing press, our ever-increasin
Why Does British Food Have Such a Bad Reputation?
Is British cooking a crime against food? Or is this a foreign plot to do down Britain?
Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton investigate the history behind Britain’s culinary reputation. They explore how British aristocrats turned towards French food from the 1600s, while Britain’s peasant cuisine was crushed by the industrial revolution and land enclosures. Finally, they examine the enduring legacy o
Why Do British People Love Tea?
How and when did tea arrive in the UK? Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson take a look at the mythological origins, the role of a Portuguese princess and even going to war for a cuppa.
We’ll start our journey with the first appearance of tea in England in the 1600s and its popularisation in the English royal court thanks to the Portuguese princess, Catherine of Braganza who married King Charles II.
Are You Here For The History?
Do you ever stop to think where the stereotypes, social norms, traditions, and beliefs that fill our everyday life come from?History lovers Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson uncover the origin stories behind all sorts of things - why we dress the way we do, why football is our national sport, why our cities look the way they do.Where does the idea of Britain’s stiff upper lip come from? And why does
