The History of England

David Crowther

The rich and varied story of the English people in regular, edible and tasty chunks. With gravy. Some gristle every so often.

  • 45 minutes 58 seconds
    444 Danby's New Way
    Thomas Osborne, Earl of Danby had a plan as Charles' new 'Prime Minister', to repair the damage from the disastrous Third Anglo Dutch War. To rebuild his master's prestige on the pillars of financial stability, and Anglican alliance, and alliance with the Dutch.

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    5 April 2026, 7:00 am
  • 45 minutes 33 seconds
    443 Charles' Great Game
    In 1672, Charles sought to put the Treaty of Dover into operation; to join Louis XIV in making war on the Dutch Republic. The plan was to replace de Witt's government with William of Orange as Stadholder, capture key Zealand ports for England, and secure further financial support from Louis. And thus have a free hand with parliament. All that was needed was victory at sea for the Anglo French fleet.

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    29 March 2026, 7:00 am
  • 22 minutes 53 seconds
    Roifield and David's Stories of England in 50 Objects

    Roifield and David talk about 5stories of England as part of the Very English Chat project, to tell stories of England in 50 objects.


    ‘A very English chat’ works is a wonderful project to escape division and polarisation, and the arid quarrels about flags - to build and celebrate a sense of Englishness, as part of a build up to England's national day, St George's Day on 23rd April. We are all invited to share our own 5 objects to be included in a virtual ‘pocket museum’ telling ‘The story of England 2026 in 50 objects. 


    To take part in a conversation between parishioners of the History of England, add your comment below, or go to the History of England Facebook Group.


    To share your 5 objects for submission to the Pocket Museum of Englishness, please go to the A Very English Chat site.

    I'd love to hear from you - and have fun celebrating a shared, positive and inclusive vision of Englishness means to us.

     

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    15 March 2026, 4:08 pm
  • 45 minutes 33 seconds
    442 The Treaty of Dover
    After a half an episode on the really important stuff - Nell Gwyn, Aphra Behn and Restoration theatre, we reach possibly the most remarkable treaty any British monarch has made, ever. The Treaty of Dover.  

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    8 March 2026, 8:00 am
  • 45 minutes 16 seconds
    441 The Duellist
    1667 had not been a great year for Charles, with the humiliation at the Medway, and his pro French strategy in ruins. So he needed a scapegoat, and he needed to re-assert the primacy of the Royal Prerogative.

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    1 March 2026, 8:00 am
  • 48 minutes 35 seconds
    The Rage of Party with George Owers
    The period from 1670 to 1714 is a period of astounding and dramatic change; the Exclusion crisis, the Glorious Revolution, years of war, the formation of Geat Britain - and the birth of sulphurous party politics. George Owers has written a book on it - and he talks to me about the period 

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    15 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 41 minutes 44 seconds
    440 The Kingdom is Undone
    In the wake of the Great Fire, Charles worked with parliament to prepare for the 1667 campaigning season in the Second Anglo Dutch war. But there was a problem, and the problem was money. In the end a plan was hatched to ride out the year, while a treaty was negotiated. And it seemed to be working.

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    8 February 2026, 8:00 am
  • 45 minutes 52 seconds
    439 London Reborn
    'Where there's muck, there's brass', and that was certainly the case with rebuilding London from the mess of ash and rubble that remained. And developers like Nicholas Barbon knew how to make as much brass as possible, and as fast as possible. 

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    1 February 2026, 11:02 am
  • 56 minutes 30 seconds
    Crucible of Modernity with Dr Jeevun Sandher, MP
    Jeevun Sandher and I discuss some highlights from the story of how England and Britain made itself into a modern democracy, and some of the contribution it made towards the development of the modern world

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    19 January 2026, 8:00 am
  • 34 minutes 50 seconds
    438 Burned to Sticks
    The war with The Netherlands in 1665 ended on a low, with the Thames blockaded. Poor London - trade was devastated by war, trade was devastated by plague. Hopefully 1666 would be better, as the royal court rumbled back into town. Money was short, but still a fleet was sent out into the Channel, as the good people of London started to rebuild their lives and their businesses. Nothing could be as bad as 1665.

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    12 January 2026, 8:00 am
  • 38 minutes 32 seconds
    437 The Pale Horseman
    In May 1665, worrying reports of plague cases crop up inside the walls of London; by June the summer heat was oppressive and it became clear - the plague had returned. Charles and his court left to terrorise Oxford while Londoners died; in plague-stricken Eyam, the villagers cut themselves off to protect their neighbours

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    4 January 2026, 8:00 am
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