LGBTQ+ History – Queer Possibilities at Our Palaces
LGBTQ+ people have always existed in the history of our palaces, yet the stories of this community have often been obscured or misunderstood. When we explore queer histories, we gain a much fuller picture of societies in the past, from when our palaces were first built, right on through to their more recent history. In this week’s episode, Curator Matthew Storey is joined by Assistant Research Curator Holly Marsden, and Dr Kit Heyam, to discuss some queer stories connected to our palaces, and how best to understand them in their historic context. A transcript of this episode is available on the Historic Royal Palaces website. Explore more LGBTQ+ histories from our palaces on our website. Read Matthew’s article about Kathleen Woodhouse. Read Molly McClain's article on Stuart women. Find Kit Heyam’s books on their website. In this episode we use a range of different gender pronouns to discuss historical people, including those used in the original sources and those used by historians today. Content warnings: Homophobia, including the murder of queer people Transphobia Non-consensual medical examination Suicide
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Queens of the Medieval Tower of London
There are two Queens Consort particularly connected to the history of the Medieval Palace at the Tower of London; Eleanor of Provence and Eleanor of Castile. Although less famous than other queens, these women are emblematic of how medieval queenship could perform and embody power in the 13th century. To find out more, Curator Charles Farris is joined by Professor Louise Wilkinson. Today marks the third and final episode in a mini-series to celebrate the reopening of the Medieval Palace at the Tower of London. Read more about the life of Eleanor of Provence.
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The Medieval Jewish community at the Tower of London
The history of the Jewish community in Medieval England is complex and fascinating, but it hasn’t received as much attention as it deserves when it comes to our understanding of the Tower of London. In this bonus episode as part of our mini-series, curator Charles Farris is joined by Dr Rory MacLellan and Professor Miri Rubin to discuss how the Jewish community interacted with the Crown and the Tower of London during the Middle Ages. This episode is a re-release of the episode on the same topic from 2023, to add context to our reopening of the Medieval Palace. Read more about the Jewish community and the Tower of London. Jewish Medieval History at the Tower | Tower of London | Historic Royal Palaces Rory's research can be found on our website. The Jewish History of the Medieval Tower of London | Historic Royal Palaces Visit the medieval palace. Medieval Palace | Tower of London | Historic Royal Palaces Content warnings: This episode discusses prejudice against Jewish people, including: Blaming Jewish people for the death of Christ Blood libel Accusations of greed and financial crimes Imprisonment Mob violence Execution Forced conversion Expulsion
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The Tower of London’s Medieval Palace
The Medieval Palace at the Tower of London formed a significant part of the Tower’s large-scale expansion in the 13th Century, turning the castle into a strong defensive fortress. In this episode, Curator Charles Farris explores the Medieval Palace that survives today, to find out what place the Tower held in medieval society. How was it used by the kings and queens who lived here, and what can it reveal about the communities who worked within its walls? Explore the Tower of London’s Medieval Palace.
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The Medieval Tower of London - NEW SERIES
In this new three-part series Curator Charles Farris will be exploring what the Tower of London was like in the medieval times. We’ll step into the Medieval Palace, walking in the footsteps of the kings, queens, and communities who built these walls. In the 13th century, the Tower was expanded into the fortress we recognise today, but what can we learn from it, and how was it used by the people who lived and worked in its shadow? Join us next Thursday for our first episode on the Medieval Palace at the Tower of London.
Historic Royal Palaces are a team of people who love and look after six of the most wonderful palaces in the world. This fortnightly podcast brings you the history and stories of those palaces.
You’ll hear from our experts and the people who bring our palaces to life, as we create space to explore how history moves us, telling stories about the monarchs you know, and uncovering the lives and histories of the people you don’t.
Just like our palaces, this podcast is a mix of old and new. Each episode will have a different feel, from previously recorded live talks, to exciting new discussions and discoveries. You’ll have every opportunity to share in the history we love.
Explore more history and stories from our six palaces hrp.org.uk
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