History City traces the story of York - possibly the second most important place in England - from the end of the last Ice Age to the present day.

Episode 14: Henry VII comes to town

In this episode, we hear how the City of York - having publicly backed King Richard III prior to the Battle of Bosworth – has to face up to being on the losing side.

The authorities grit their teeth for that awkward moment when the new King Henry VII pays a visit, but they find a cunning way around the embarrassment.

And they have to face a threat to the city walls – not from English rebels or warring Scots – but from pigs.

Thanks to our guests, Doctor Eliza Hartrich, lecturer in Late Medieval History at the University of York and to archaeologist Barry Crump, also at the University of York.

Thanks also to Andrew Isherwood for voicing the quote from the City House Book – York Council’s minutes-record from 1485 – about the city fathers’ sadness at the Death of King Richard III.

The Spirit of York is Alison Willis.

You can learn more about the period from History Hit’s Gone Medieval podcasts, https://podfollow.com/gone-medieval/view from the origins of the Tudors, to Richard III.

The BBC’s In Our Time also has a podcast on the Wars of The Roses https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00546sp

And there's always wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VII_of_England

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambert_Simnel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perkin_Warbeck

This episode of History City was made with the help of the Institute for the Public Understanding of the Past at the University of York. So my thanks to Dr Victoria Hoyle and to researcher Katie Vernon. We’re also grateful for the assistance of Brittany Scowcroft at the University of York’s Centre for Medieval Studies.

The episode was recorded and produced by Guy Morgan of Soundstagenorth.

If you enjoyed the programme, why not write a review on your podcast provider’s site?

It helps spread the word.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

History City traces the story of York - possibly the second most important place in England - from the end of the last Ice Age to the present day.

Episode 13: York and the Wars of the Roses, a delicate balancing act

In this episode, we look at how Yorkshire – and in particular the City of York – became a crucial player in what the Victorians called The Wars of the Roses (thank you Walter Scott).

We chart events from the field of the bloodiest battle fought on English soil (possibly),through the musical chairs/game of thrones of the 1470s to the city’s popular nobleman and king who ended up under a car park.

Thanks to our guests, Doctor Eliza Hartrich, lecturer in Late Medieval History at the University of York and James Wright of The Yorkshire Museum https://www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk/

Thanks also to Towton Battlefield Society, whose pocket-sized Visitor Information Centre at the Crooked Billet pub clearly explains how the battle unfolded: https://www.towton.org.uk/

Of course we have to include the Richard III Society, who have a positive view of his life and reign. https://richardiii.net/ They also give a detailed account of his time in the North and particularly the City of York. https://richardiii.net/richard-iii-his-world/his-life-and-death/the-north/

You can learn more from History Hit’s Gone Medieval podcasts, https://podfollow.com/gone-medieval/view from the origins of the Tudors, to the Battle of Towton and of course, Richard III.

The BBC’s In Our Time also has a podcast on the Wars of The Roses https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00546sp

The Spirit of York is Alison Willis.

This episode of History City was made with the help of the Institute for the Public Understanding of the Past at the University of York. So my thanks to Dr Victoria Hoyle and to researcher Katie Vernon. We’re also grateful for the assistance of Brittany Scowcroft at the University of York’s Centre for Medieval Studies.

The episode was recorded and produced by Guy Morgan of Soundstagenorth.

If you enjoyed the programme, why not write a review on your podcast provider’s site?

It helps spread the word.

Thanks for listening to History City, and we hope you can join us next time.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

History City traces the story of York - possibly the second most important place in England - from the end of the last Ice Age to the present day.

Episode 12: 1400 to 1455 Rebellious bishops, bawdiness and feuding families

In this episode, one king (Richard II) is deposed and another takes the throne. Henry IV uses York to display his power with a tournament that attracts attention from all over Europe but he also crushes opponents – as the Archbishop of York finds out to his cost.

Meanwhile, there’s a construction boom which completes many of the classic medieval buildings we still see in York today, the Minster, the Shambles and the churches. We hear about the craft guilds and their long lasting contribution to York’s heritage -- the Corpus Christi Mystery Plays – and how they slipped bawdiness and black humour into what were meant to be sacred tales.

WARNING! there’s also an account of a divorce case which mentions body parts and the use of unusual expert witnesses……

And we’re introduced to the families whose feuding around York became absorbed into what was later to be called the Wars of the Roses.

Thanks to our guests, James Wright of the Yorkshire Museum, www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk/ and also to Linda Terry and Janice Newton of York Mystery Plays Supporters Trust. You can see more of their work at https://ympst.co.uk/ and on their YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@ympst.

Appropriately, we recorded their interview during rehearsals at All Saints Church, North Street,

www.allsaints-northstreet.org.uk which has one of the finest collections of medieval stained glass in England, dating from 1410 to 1440.

By the way, the voice of God you heard during rehearsals was supplied by Daniel Wilmot.

The Spirit of York is Alison Willis.

This episode of History City was made with the help of the Institute for the Public Understanding of the Past at the University of York. So my thanks to Dr Victoria Hoyle and for the invaluable help of researcher Katie Vernon.

This show was recorded and produced by Guy Morgan of Soundstagenorth.

If you enjoyed the programme, why not write a review on your podcast provider’s site?

It helps spread the word.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.