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.
176
Ep 33 - Lambeth - Charlie Chaplin, icon and ris...
We talk about Charlie Chaplin, who lived for some of his life in Lambeth. We take a look at his life, loves and career, plus we find out why he got banned from America, and the strange story of what happened to his body after he died.
70 min
177
Ep 32 - Green Park - Georgiana Duchess of Devon...
This week is the fascinating and ultimately tragic Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. Groomed for a life at the absolute peak of society, her match in a husband was horribly mis-cast, and he soon started a string of affairs with her friends, leading to a pretty catastrophic ultimatum.
70 min
178
Ep 31 - Mayfair - Norman Hartnell, how to dress...
Hold on to your party pants, we are going dress shopping for a coronation. This week is all about Normal Hartnell, the iconic royal dress designer, famous for designing both the wedding dress and coronation gown for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
49 min
179
Ep 30 - Trafalgar Sq, Angela Burdett-Coutts, mo...
We chat about the wonderfully unique Angela, who inherited a ton of money then spent her whole life giving it away! She scandalised society when she married a man over 30 years her junior and broke an important clause to her inheritance money...
75 min
180
Ep 29 -Mayfair (kinda!) - The Great Smog of 195...
This week we are off to...erm...well, everywhere in London actually! It's the Great Smog of 1952, which hung over London and caused all manner of chaos and suffering.
50 min
181
Ep 28 - Greenwich - John Harrison & Greenwich, ...
This week we are off to Greenwich to talk about John Harrison, his marine chronometers, the prime meridian and the wonderfully named Sir Cloudsley Shovell
51 min
182
Ep27 - Bankside - Ellen Terry, glamour and glitz
A chat about the glorious Ellen Terry, one of London's most famous actors. We take a look at her life, loves and legacy as one of the 19thC's foremost Shakespearean actors.
47 min
183
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
184
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
185
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
186
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
187
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
188
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
189
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
190
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
191
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
192
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
193
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
194
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
195
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
196
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
197
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
198
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
199
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
200
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