About 10 miles from the centre of London is one of the most magnificent houses of Stuart England, Ham House. This lavish mansion is a treasure trove of 17th century art and architecture, a dazzling red-brick jewel on the muddy banks of the River Thames.
But Ham House also has a remarkable history of espionage and secrets. During the tumultuous years of the English Civil War, the Commonwealth and the Restoration, Ham House lay at the heart of political conflict. In this documentary Alice Loxton discovers how the Murray family - led by a remarkable mother-daughter team of Catherine and Elizabeth Murray - survived this troublesome period. Despite being fiercely loyal to the crown - even ferrying secret letters to the exiled Charles II - the Murray’s also maintained a friendship with the Cromwell family. It was an audacious act of bravery, resilience and espionage.
Up Next in Historical Tours
-
Inside the Duke of Wellington’s Resid...
Dan Snow has exclusive access to the Duke of Wellington's private collection at Apsley House.
Join historian Dan Snow MBE as he tours the former home of the 1st Duke of Wellington, Arthur Wellesley, hero of the Battle of Waterloo and defeater of Napoleon Bonaparte. In his visit Dan is shown some...
-
Rodin and the Art of Ancient Greece
Born in Paris in 1840, François-Auguste-René Rodin is quite possibly the most famous sculptor in recent history. Considered by many to be the first ‘modern’ sculptor, his works such as ‘The Kiss’ and ‘The Thinker’ have become iconic throughout the world. He possessed a unique ability to model a c...
-
Rare Planes that Changed Aviation For...
Ever wondered how we went from flying small wooden machines, to supersonic jets taking off vertically in the space of less than 70 years?
Luke Tomes travels to Brooklands Museum in Surrey, one of Britain’s first operating aerodromes and home to one of the oldest and largest aircraft factories, t...
13 Comments