Bristol History Podcast

This week I met with Bristol-based author and artist Benjamin Dickson to discuss his graphic novel 'A New Jerusalem' - a moving and stark tale of a family struggling to come to terms with life following the end of the Second World War. We discussed (among other things) the bombing of Bristol during the war, post-traumatic stress disorder and the birth of the welfare state in 1945.

This week I met with Bristol Bears' Club Historian (and verified superfan) Mark Hoskins to talk all things Bristol Rugby. We discussed the evolution of the club from its origins in the late-Victorian era and its role in the community during the World Wars, through to the pioneering captaincy of John Blake in the 1950s and the club's eventual adaptation to the age of professionalism.

This week I met with Dr. Jessica Moody of Bristol University to discuss the ways in which Bristol has publicly addressed its involvement in the Transatlantic slave trade. We touched on methods of commemoration (using Liverpool as a point of comparison)and explored some of the reasons behind Bristol's changing attitude towards her slaving past.

This week I met with author, historian and one man Bristolian institution: Mike Manson. In a whistle-stop tour through his literary career we discussed the importance of local history, the differences between writing fiction and writing history, and Mike's exploration of some of the less well known parts of Bristol's history.

Being Brunel is one of Bristol's newest and most innovative museums. An addition to the existing SS Great Britain site, it attempts to get behind the myth and into the mind of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, one of the country's most famous engineers. I visited Being Brunel and spoke with Head of Collections Nicholas Booth about the idea behind the project, how it was realised in practice, and about the enduring appeal of IKB.

The English Civil War is often reduced to a stereotype of haughty Cavaliers and humourless Roundheads. Yet in reality it was was one of the bloodiest and most disruptive conflicts in our nation's history. I met with Dr. John Reeks of Bristol University to discuss the causes, course and consequences of the war from a Bristolian perspective.

This week I met with acclaimed historian and historical fiction writer, Lucienne Boyce. We discussed the history of the women's suffrage movement in Bristol, the continuities between the 18th century and our present day, and to what degree historical fiction can contribute to historical understanding.

As the fifth oldest zoo in the world, Bristol Zoological Gardens has been introducing Bristolians to wild animals since 1836. I met with Dr Andy Flack, Teaching Fellow in Modern History at Bristol University, to discuss the origins of the zoo, its role in civic identity and the extent to which our attitude towards animals has (and hasn't) changed over the past two centuries.

This week I met with author Jane Duffus, to discuss her new book 'The Women Who Built Bristol'. This work of collective biography tells the story of some 250 women connected with Bristol, ranging from the 12th century to the present day. We discuss the origins of the project, the history of the women's suffrage movement in Bristol and Jane gives a preview of a few of the most interesting women who feature in her book.

This week I met with Steve Poole, Professor of History at UWE to discuss his book 'Bristol from Below' (co-authored with Nicholas Rogers). We explore the life of ordinary Bristolians in the long 18th century, discussing - among other things - riots, radicalism, arson and sodomy.

This week the podcast will feature the audio from a short film telling the extraordinary tale of those people - mainly young women - who worked filling shells with mustard gas at two Avonmouth factory sites during the First World War. Many thanks to Diana Taylor for allowing us to use the audio from her short film: Gas Girls.

This week I met with Bristolian author Derek Robinson - creator of 'A Darker History of Bristol'. We discussed his life and career as a writer; what it takes to write good historical fiction and Bristol's changing attitude towards its own history.

W.G. Grace was born in Downend in 1848. Through his remarkable achievements on the cricket field he became one of the most famous faces in Victorian Britain. I met with cricket writer Scyld Berry to discuss the life, career and impact of W.G. on his sport and British society more generally.

Part two of my conversation with the Bristol-based writer ACH Smith. In this episode Anthony and I discuss writing creatively about Bristol's history; working with muppets-creator Jim Henson; cricket; and what counts as success in the world of literature.

The writer ACH Smith is a London boy who fell in love with Bristol. I met with him to discuss his long and illustrious career as a novelist, playwright, poet, memoirist, TV arts presenter, university lecturer and cricket writer.

'Trip hop' is the term most frequently applied to the creative explosion in the Bristol music scene during the late 1980s and early 1990s - centered around artists such as Massive Attack, Portishead and Tricky. I spoke with composer and academic Jeff Wragg to discuss the cultural origins of 'Trip hop' and explore the way that these artists went about creating such enduring music.

John Locke was born in the small Somerset town of Wrington in 1632 and went on to become a philosopher of global renown. I met with Dr Andrew Pyle of Bristol University to dicuss Locke's contributions to politics and philosophy, and to understand the impact of his work in the divided and dangerous place that was 17th century England.

Alcohol has always been important to Bristol and Bristolians. I met with Dr Evan Jones of Bristol University to discuss the changing economic and social dimensions of boozing throughout the city's history. How have our drinking habits changed over time? And who was more fond of a tipple - us or our ancestors?

From 2020, Bristol's Colston Hall will change its name - the venue wants to disassociate itself from the 17th century slave trader and philanthropist Edward Colston. Here I share some of my thoughts on the renaming in a mini audio essay.

The Avon Gorge is one of the most striking sights in British geography - but how was it formed? Was it due to an ancient river blasting through layers of limestone or… was it instead the result of an epic competition between two giants attempting to win the hand of a fair maiden? This week I met with Oliver Rigby, children's author, to discuss the myth of the Bristol giants.