In the Middle Ages, people source ingenious ingredients to tackle stubborn stains. Henry VIII’s laundry risks causing a scandal. The Ancient Romans use questionable substances to clean their clothes. And the first washing machines revolutionise life in the home…

A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds.

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A prehistoric pot from Japan inspires a fingerprinting technique used by modern detectives. A whole city is built from waste in Neolithic Turkey. The Maya celebrate the new year by throwing out everything associated with the old one. And in London’s King’s Cross, an army of scavengers ekes out a precarious living on a mountain of dust…

A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris.

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Vigilantes chase a thief through the streets of medieval Winchester. A French king creates one of the world’s first gated communities. Villagers across Europe turn on each other with dangerous accusations of witchcraft. And the human race meets its very first neighbours - 45,000 years ago…

A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds.

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The world’s oldest breadcrumbs are discovered in Jordan. Ryebread causes a devastating disease in medieval Germany. In 18th-century France, the rising price of flour sparks popular unrest. And a carbonised sourdough loaf is discovered in Herculaneum, entombed by the Mount Vesuvius eruption…

A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds.

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In ancient Korea, ingenious underfloor heating is invented. A king in dire financial straits institutes a controversial tax on fireplaces. Young boys are sent up treacherous chimneys in Victorian England. And the Great Smog envelops London, with deadly consequences…

A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris.

For ad-free listening, exclusive content and early access to new episodes, join Noiser+. Click the Noiser+ banner to get started with a 7-day free trial. Or, if you’re on Spotify or Android, go to noiser.com/subscriptions

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A medieval countess swoons over tales of courtly love. Georgian families amuse themselves by playing ‘bullet pudding’. Victorian writers do their best to crack down on saucy party games. And on a windswept island in the Bristol Channel, radio is born…

A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds.

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A miniature sundial survives the destruction of Pompeii. The most elaborate clock the world has ever seen is constructed in 11th-century China. In medieval Normandy, mechanical clocks rouse monks in the middle of the night. And an opportunistic Londoner starts a business that literally sells time…

A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris.

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Fleas spell disaster for people living in the Middle Ages. The inhabitants of an ancient Iraqi city hurl scorpions at an invading army. In Victorian London, a rat catcher turns his unsavoury profession into a form of street entertainment. And a miracle new pesticide turns out to have deadly unintended consequences…

A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds.

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A Roman emperor terrifies his guests with a macabre dining room display. At a feast in Norway, drunk Vikings engage in a rap battle. A teenage Alexander the Great makes a scene at his dad’s dinner party. And partygoers in Victorian London get up close and personal with an unusual guest - an Egyptian mummy…

A Noiser production, written by Roger Morris.

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This taster episode is taken from the Betwixt the Sheets podcast, created by our friends over at History Hit.

Betwixt the Sheets looks into the history of sex, scandal and the weirdest, most fascinating areas of society - from the history of cosmetic surgery, to the Profumo Affair, to Henry VIII’s sex life. It’s hosted by sex historian, Kate Lister - and twice a week, every week, she’s

joined by an expert.

In this taster episode, Kate is joined by writer, actor, and Charles Dickens superfan Miriam Margolyes to discuss everything Dickens and how his relationships with the women in his life influenced his work.

If you enjoy this episode, search ‘Betwixt the Sheets’ in your podcast app and hit follow for new episodes every Tuesday and Friday. Or follow this link: https://podfollow.com/betwixt-the-sheets-the-history-of-sex-scandal-society

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In medieval Ghana, an exhausted traveller stares in wonder at panes of glass glistening in walls. Craftsmen in 15th-century York assemble an intricate work of art, fit for the divine. A tax on windows leads to some interesting architectural solutions. And in World War II, covering your windows becomes a matter of life and death…

A Noiser production, written by Nicole Edmunds.

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