Ladies Who London
Join us, Alex and Fiona, as we take a light look at London's history in a relaxed and entertaining way. As qualified Blue Badge Tourist Guides, we share our passion for the city with you in a chatty and fun podcast, looking at the weird, wonderful and unknown in this huge, ancient place we call home.
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Ep 26 - Liverpool St / Shoreditch - Bedlam, mel...
Bethlehem hospital, better known as Bedlam. We take a look at the history behind this infamous hospital and why the name Bedlam has been adopted into day to day language.
56 min
152
Ep 25 - Bloomsbury - Virginia Woolf, literature...
Emily is taking us over to Bloomsbury to take a look at the story of one of literature's most influential writers, Virginia Woolf. We find out why she was such an amazing writer, how she got an education when girls were routinely overlooked for learning, and her friendships and love affairs.
48 min
153
Ep 24 - Whitechapel - Joseph Merrick, the 'elep...
We are making a stop at Whitechapel to visit Joseph Merrick, otherwise known as the 'elephant man', as so many people during the Victorian era did, as a tragic star of 'freak shows'
49 min
154
Ep 23 - Chelsea Physic Garden, a garden to kill...
We're off to Chelsea Physic Garden today, and OF COURSE goth guide Emily manages to find some death and destruction amongst the lovely green plants.
48 min
155
Ep 22 - St James - James Graham & The Celestial...
Ooh er missus, it's getting sexy this week! We're off to St James for the Celestial Bed, an electrifyingly extravagant 18thC sex aid.
45 min
156
Ep 21 - Leicester Square- Dome of Wonders, desi...
The weather outside might be frightful, but inside Leicester Square's Dome of Wonder it is anything but! This week it is Emily's pick, and she is heading centrally, to the entertainment area of Leicester Square.
45 min
157
Ep 20 - Bloomsbury (again!) - The Sutton Hoo tr...
This week sees the release of Netflix's big new film, The Dig, so we are chatting about the Sutton Hoo treasure find - the subject of the film.
51 min
158
Ep 19 - Bloomsbury - Charles Darwin, controvers...
We have a guest this week in the form of Dr Aaron Hunter to chat all things Darwin. We find out how Darwin got interested in the things that would later lead him to the discoveries he made.
65 min
159
Ep 18 - Clerkenwell - Amelia Edwards, a force t...
Amelia Edwards, a pioneering egyptologist in the Victorian era, and was also gay in a time where being gay was not accepted particularly well. She's a force to be reckoned with.
36 min
160
Ep 17 - Bermondsey Leather Trade, foul wind and...
It's Emily's pick this week, and true to form, she's gone stinky! We are off to Bermondsey this week to explore the leather trade that used to be an important part of this area of south London
48 min
161
Ep 16 - Bow - The Match Girls' Strike, power to...
Join us for the Match Girls' Strike of 1888, an important event which started the tide of Victorian changes to working conditions.
36 min
162
Ep 15 - CHRISTMAS SPECIAL!
This week Emily and Alex mess with the format, and do their 12 days of Christmas - or rather their top 12 things of Christmas in London.
56 min
163
Ep 14 - River Thames - Frost Fairs, London's co...
A rare occurrence, but a spectacular one, the Frost Fairs took place when the river Thames froze sufficiently for it to take the weight of people, animals, even games, entertainment and roasting of animals!
44 min
164
Ep 13 - Westminster - Operation Mincemeat, an a...
One of the most audacious Allied plots ever conceived, involving a corpse, a fake fiancée and subterfuge of epic proportions
45 min
165
Ep 12 - Southwark - the 1212 fire, London's *ot...
It's over to the dark hearted Emily this week who has more fire and destruction for you! We look at the 1212 fire in Southwark, and the aftermath
36 min
166
Ep 11 - Waterloo - Florence Nightingale & Mary ...
The formidable nursing duo of Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole, two different women with a common aim
46 min
167
Ep 10 - Mayfair - The May Fair, debauchery and ...
Find out about the sort of debauchery that went on in the 15 day fair - barefoot women and decapitated puppets, anyone?!
43 min
168
Ep 9 - Fleet Street - Hidden Rivers, the labyri...
We take a lighthearted look at the water under your feet, the lost rivers of London.
52 min
169
Ep 8 - Westminster (again!) - Guy Fawkes & the ...
Who is Guy Fawkes, and why is he the fall guy for the plan to blow up parliament?
49 min
170
Ep 7 - Halloween special with special guest Lee...
It's Halloweeeeeen! The Ladies are joined by a lad as a special guest, in the form of actor and all round top guy, Lee Ingleby to share some ghost stories
67 min
171
Ep 6 - Westminster - Black Londoners, beloved G...
Joseph Johnson, Billy Waters and Charles McGee were all men of colour in London during the 18thC. They were not of high standing, but all played recognisable roles in London's society at the time. What do we know about them and how do we know it?...
47 min
172
Ep 5 - Rotherhithe - The Salter Family, a lasti...
Alfred and Ada Salter were instrumental in making Bermondsey a better place for people to live in the late Victorian era, and the monument shows them with their daughter Joyce, and their cat, enjoying time by the river. But all is not quite as it seems...
31 min
173
Ep 4 - Kensington - Ada Lovelace, the mother of...
A look at the fabulous Ada Lovelace, her childhood, and her outrageous, famous father
45 min
174
Ep 3 - Wapping - Captain William Bligh, Mutiny ...
The fantastic story of Captain William Bligh. Find out why he was subject to the Mutiny on the Bounty, what happened to the mutineers, & more
30 min
175
Ep 2 - Covent Garden - The London Beer Flood, a...
Well here it is, chaps. The first full episode of Ladies Who London. And we are starting off big - with beer!More specifically, the London Beer Flood. A tidal wave of your finest hot (yes hot) brown porter ale sloshing down the street towards you, and w...
33 min