The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the world’s most prominent pieces of medieval art. Depicting the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England, the tapestry tells a story through detailed embroidery. But what can we learn about the Norman Conquest and the people being it through this skilful art?...

In September 2014, a metal detectorist discovered the rarest collection of Viking-age objects ever found to date in Britain. The Galloway hoard displays a remarkable variety of material and treasures, not only from the United Kingdom but as far as central Asia. In this episode, Dr. Martin Goldber...

How we bury the dead has changed drastically throughout history, from grave goods to bed burials. But just how drastic are the changes in burial practices? In this episode, Cat is joined by archaeologist Dr. Emma Brownlee. Emma has studied an astonishing 33,000 graves across England and Europe an...

Medieval manuscripts can shed light on some of the most important events of the past. But what about the physical manuscripts themselves? And what can it tell us about the people who made them? In this episode of Gone Medieval, Matt is joined by author Mary Wellesley as they examine the extraordi...

Richard III of England is one of medieval history's most controversial figures. Known to many as a tyrant, a sleazy, greedy king who even murdered his nephew. But how much of this is true? This episode of Gone Medieval is quite different today, as our very own Ricardian Matt Lewis takes us throug...

The word 'medieval' is often used to describe backward ideas and opinions, but why is this the case? The middle ages was a time of life-changing advancements in the world of science. Cat is joined by Seb Falk, a historian, broadcaster, and lecturer at the University of Cambridge, as they debunk m...

From ghost town to ceremonial, ecclesiastical and economic hub: how did London develop in the Saxon era, and how is that crucial to what London has become. Rory Naismith is the author of ‘Citadel of the Saxons: The Rise of Early London’ and a lecturer at Corpus Christi College at the University o...

People of a multitude of cultures, religions, and cultures around the world have long travelled vast distances as forms of pilgrimage. But why would people undergo a pilgrimage? And why do some send people in their honour? In this episode of Gone Medieval, Matt is joined by Architectural Historia...

Witchcraft has a plethora of negative connotations attached to it. Being accused and found guilty of this in the Middle Ages could be fatal, but could it also be used as a political tool that even members of the royal family could not avoid? Matt is joined by author and Historian Gemma Hollman to...

A 23-carat gold coin, worth £12,000 in today's money. The leopard coin was part of Edward III's unsuccessful attempt to institute a gold currency. But did this coinage make more of an impact than we know? Matt is joined by Dr. Helen Geake, archaeologist and Finds Liaison Officer in Norfolk for Th...

It's often assumed that women played a passive role in Medieval society. But did women hold more power than we know? When a richly furnished grave at a Viking burial site was recently discovered to be the final resting place of a woman, not a man, it stunned many archaeologists and challenged the...

The Vikings are remembered fundamentally as seafaring people, and how could they be so if not for their ships? In this episode, Cat speaks to a world expert on Viking ships, Professor Jan Bill, who introduces us to the incredible remains of a Viking ship discovered in a field in Gjellestad, Norwa...

With Christianity dominating Europe, the Church became one of the most powerful institutions in Britain during the Medieval period and its places of worship played a crucial role in the focal points of people's lives, from birth to death. But as populations declined in areas within the UK, so did...

Many of us use Bluetooth technology every day, but know nothing or little of its namesake. And there is little to be known of the King of Denmark Harald “Bluetooth” Gormsson, except that he is credited with introducing Christianity to Denmark. In this episode, Søren Sindbæk explains what we do kn...

In Britain, you’re never too far from a castle. These landmark structures are key to the history of the country, the rise and fall of great powers being marked upon their walls. In this episode, Dan Spencer takes a closer look at the use of castles in the Wars of the Roses both as defensive garri...

Making sacrifices to the Gods is common practice in religion, even today. From symbolic to physical offerings, this is something that has happened for millennia. But did human sacrifice ever take place? And what do we even mean by human sacrifice? In this episode, Cat is joined by Archeologist Ma...

King Arthur of Camelot, we've all heard stories about him, but who exactly was he? In this episode of Gone Medieval, Matt is joined by Senior Lecturer of Early Medieval European History, Katherine Weikert. Exploring King Arthur's impact and power, we delve into why such an elusive king became a h...

His 38 years as king make him one of the longest ruling monarchs in English history, and yet he is remembered as unsuccessful, naive and overly harsh on his opponents. In this episode, Levi Roach discusses the rule of Æthelred the Unready. Was he as much of a failure as his nickname suggests? And...

Giving birth in the middle ages was a dangerous time for women. It had no regard for class, wealth, or status. It could even have been more dangerous for richer noblewomen. Matt is joined by author Michèle Schindler, to take us through the realities and some of the weird and wonderful stories aro...

For thousands of years, the building of walls has played an essential role in shaping the world as we know it; from being used to monitor populations to controlling trade, they have often acted as borders of entire nations. In this episode, Howard Williams takes us through some of the most famous...

Taxes are now an established aspect of our lives, but scattered across Britain’s countryside are reminders of their earliest days, when farmers were obliged to offer 10 percent of their produce to the church: these are tithe barns. In this episode, Joseph Rogers explains how we can spot a tithe b...

When we think of great Medieval battles, many people imagine the Battles of Hastings or Agincourt. Another clash, however, between the kings of England, Dublin, Scotland and Strathclyde late in AD 937, also had far-reaching consequences and resulted in alliances of a scale unseen before. For this...

Born in 1415 as the youngest of the 1st Earl of Westmorland's 22 children, Cecily Neville led one of the Medieval periods' most captivating lives. Her life was filled with promise and power from the very beginning, and Cecily soon became one of the most powerful women in England. In this episode ...

How did Viking remains find themselves under a house in Orkney? in 2015, human remains were unearthed on the northeast coast of Papa Westray. The graves were stumbled upon by sheer luck, with further investigations revealing the finds to be remains of Viking age burials. Cat is joined by field ar...