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Hear the stories behind the places and collections in our care with our podcast episodes, series and playlists.
Back When history podcast
Our past is all around us. In Back When, our new history podcast, you'll be able to experience the Great Stink of London; make an entrance onto the Georgian dating scene; find out if you'd survive a medieval battle; and unlock the secrets of Britain's space race.
Join historians Helen Antrobus and James Grasby as they take you inside the stories of the people, places and moments that made us.
Take your pick of our latest episodes, or follow Back When on your favourite podcast app for when you're on the go.
Graveyard of Ships | The Royal Anne Galley
On 10 November 1721, the Royal Anne Galley ship sank after hitting treacherous rocks at Lizard Point in Cornwall, tragically claiming the lives of more than 200 people. Join Helen and archaeologist David Gibbins as they explore the 300-year-old wreck and the disaster's eerie aftermath.
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14:29
WW2 Bunkers | Inside Britain’s Secret Tunnel Network
75 feet beneath the White Cliffs of Dover lies Fan Bay Deep Shelter – a network of bomb-proof tunnels that once housed up to 185 soldiers during the Second World War. Hear about its role in wartime Britain, its later abandonment and then remarkable rediscovery in 2012, when over 100 tons of debris had to be removed by hand.
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23:40
General Wolfe and the Battle of Culloden
Discover the story of General James Wolfe, who became a soldier at 14 years old and fought at the Battle of Culloden in Scotland as a teenager. Join Historian James Grasby as he visits Wolfe's childhood home, the place that shaped him into becoming one of Britain's best known military leaders.
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25:16
HG Wells | The Father of Science Fiction
Time travel, free love and Martian invasions all have one thing in common: HG Wells. Discover how Wells brought science fiction to the masses, drawing inspiration from a network of underground tunnels and a telescope in an attic room.
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23:08
The Great Stink | London's Smelly History
It's the height of summer in 1858 and something rotten is lurking in the River Thames. Join Historian James Grasby as he unravels a pungent problem in Victorian London – hear how politicians scrambled to keep the Great Stink out of parliament and find out what the smell meant for the working classes.
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13:51
Black Arrow Rocket | When Britain joined the space race
Britain's space race efforts were bold but short-lived. By the 1970s, the British had one last chance to get into space with the ambitious Black Arrow Rocket – but was it a success?
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24:09
Introducing Back When
Discover Back When, our new history podcast launching on 2 April. Get transported back to the times of castles, dance halls, Second World War bunkers and workhouses, and discover the people whose stories have shaped who we are today.
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Our partners
Back When is sponsored by CEWE, Europe's leading photo printing company. We've teamed up with them to share more stories from the thousands of photographs in our collections.
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History
Learn about people from the past, discover remarkable works of art and brush up on your knowledge of architecture and gardens.