#OTD 1940, St Paul's Cathedral miraculously survived one of the most devastating air raids of the London Blitz, an event now known as the Second Great Fire of London. Hear the story in our London Blitz Podcast: tinyurl.com/mrx4huz4 #history #WW2 #blitz #london

Elizabeth Johnson was a Tudor widow. In 1591 she was found guilty of clipping silver shillings, taken to Tyburn and hanged. Hear the poor woman’s story in our History of Money podcast: tinyurl.com/vdaufpea #history #tudors #money #tyburn #elizabethanengland

In Britain, the day after Christmas is called Boxing Day. Hear about the origins of this strange name in our Stories of Christmas Podcast: podbean.com/eas/pb-anfqe-1768735 #history #christmas #traditions #britain #boxingday

On 25 December 1950, four Scottish students broke into Westminster Abbey, removed the coronation stone from the throne and took it to Scotland. Hear the story in our Westminster Abbey podcast: tinyurl.com/ke5r2ftp #history #scotland #westminsterabbey

On Christmas day 1647, Puritans tried to stop celebrations in Canterbury. Forcing shops to open and people to work. Hear how it ended in our Stories of Christmas Podcast: podbean.com/eas/pb-anfqe-1768735 #history #christmas #canterbury

The story of Santa Claus goes back 1700 years. From the patron saint of children, via Holland to the man coming down the chimney. Hear about the evolution Santa in our Stories of Christmas podcast: www.podbean.com/eas/pb-anfqe-1768735 #history #Christmas #santaclaus

In the 1840s a Christmas engraving of Queen Victoria and her family was published. It took hold of the imagination and popularised the Christmas tree tradition in Britain. Hear about Victoria and Christmas in our Stories of Christmas Podcast: podbean.com/eas/pb-anfqe-1768735 #history #christmas

From crafty coin clippers to a monarch who crashed England’s currency. From chopping off mint workers hands to a Tudor-era virtual coin, listen to these stories in our History of Money podcast: tinyurl.com/vdaufpea #history #money #coins #currency #finance #cash #economics

Today is the shortest day of the year. Marked at the ancient megaliths of Stonehenge by Druids, Wiccans and worshipers who make a winter pilgrimage. Hear the story of the henge at winter solstice in our Stonehenge Podcast: tinyurl.com/44ddu6ww #history #stonehenge #solstice

A Christmas Carol was published #OTD 1843. Charles Dickens’ beloved story of Scrooge and Tiny Tim changed the way we celebrate Christmas. Hear why in our Stories of Britain Podcast: podbean.com/eas/pb-anfqe-1768735 #christmas #Dickens #history #charlesdickens

Died #OTD 1897 William Terris, the star of the Adelphi Theatre plays. Bit-part actor Richard Prince hated the matinee idol. We bring to life a story that haunts London’s West End in our Murder at the Theatre Podcast: tinyurl.com/56nnmbfp #history #theatre #victorianlondon #haunting #ghosts

Margaret Cavendish died #OTD 1673. The duchess wrote poetry and natural philosophy and with The Blazing World created what many argue is the first-ever work of science fiction. Hear her story in our Women and Writing podcast: tinyurl.com/jrcjkwwc #history #literature #sci-fi #women

In the 1840s, a Christmas engraving of Queen Victoria and her family was published. It popularised the Christmas tree tradition in Britain. Hear about Victoria and Christmas in our Stories of Christmas Podcast: podbean.com/eas/pb-anfqe-1768735 #history #christmas #victorians #christmastree

Died #OTD 1784 Dr Johnson. This part-blind provincial boy who never finished university wrote the dictionary that defined the English Language. Hear his life story in our podcast: tinyurl.com/r6x2d9m7 #history #literature #english #dictionary #writer

Ada Lovelace born #OTD 1815. She learned maths as a young girl, and as a pioneering computer programmer wrote the first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine. Hear her story in our Women and Science Podcast: tinyurl.com/4fh5tpe8 #history #computor #womeninscience #math

Helen Duncan died #OTD 1956. The Scottish medium was the last person to be imprisoned under the Witchcraft Act 1735. She was famous for producing ectoplasm and speaking with the dead. Hear her story in our Women and Witchcraft podcast: tinyurl.com/3st7u6j4 #witch #history #witchcraft

Edith Cavell, born #OTD 1865. Treated wounded soldiers at her Brussels hospital and helped hundreds of allied soldiers escape the Germans. Arrested and sentenced to death. Commemorated near Trafalgar Square Hear her story in our Women and War Podcast: tinyurl.com/yu4yedh6 #history #WWI #nurse

Copenhagen was the Duke of Wellington’s horse. His steed at the battle of Waterloo, and when the Duke rode to Downing Street as Prime Minister. Hear the story from the horse’s mouth in our Strange Animal Stories Podcast: tinyurl.com/2mcp4ww5 #history #animals #horses

Punch Magazine’s writers used the Punch Tavern as their unofficial office. The birthplace of Victorian satire still carries the scowling puppet that gave both the tavern and the magazine their name. Hear the story in our History of Beer Podcast: tinyurl.com/47yrta2v #history #pubs #satire #london

What are the origins of the words day, month and calendar? When is ereyesterday and overmorrow? Why does a clock "tick"? Find out in our History of Timekeeping Podcast: tinyurl.com/yahhpzbm #history #timekeeping #clocks #english

Ada Lovelace died #OTD 1852. Recognized as a pioneering computer programmer, Ada wrote the first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine. Hear her story in our Women and Science Podcast: tinyurl.com/4fh5tpe8 #history #science #women #computers #computing

Born #OTD 1897, Helen Duncan was the last British person imprisoned for witchcraft. She was famous for producing ectoplasm and speaking with the dead. Hear her story in our Women and Witchcraft podcast: tinyurl.com/3st7u6j4 #history #witch #witches #witchcraft #magic

King Haakon IV of Norway sent English King Henry III a white bear. It was taken to live in the Tower of London. Hear about the Pale Bear’s life in our Strange Animal Stories Podcast: tinyurl.com/2mcp4ww5 #history #animals #bear #toweroflondon

The Grapes in Limehouse is a famous riverside boozer. Charles Dickens came here as a boy. Today it has a famous owner. Hear the story in our London Pubs Podcast: tinyurl.com/y34k8jxd #history #pubs #docklands #dickens #london #eastend

Moll Cutpurse was a child pickpocket. Branded for thieving, she became a London celebrity and appeared on stage in The Roaring Girl – a tale of cross-dressing and scandalous behaviour. Hear her story in our Women and Crime Podcast: tinyurl.com/bde5bt3f #history #Tudors #theatre

Died #OTD 1560 John Harrington. The poet and courtier invented a flushing toilet that was installed for Elizabeth I – but the Queen was too scared to use it. Hear the story in our History of Sewage Podcast. Listen at: tinyurl.com/2ys6jpf3 #history #toilets #elizabeththefirst #tudors

Hanged #OTD 1724 Jack Sheppard. His escapes from the infamous Newgate Prison made him a celebrity. On his final journey to Tyburn, a quarter of London turned out to see him. Hear the story of the original “Jack the Lad” in our dramatic podcast: tinyurl.com/48dr483b #hisotry #london #crime

Charles Byrne came to London in 1782. At nearly 8ft tall, he made money exhibiting his extreme size. But as his health failed, anatomist John Hunter was determined to get hold of Byrne’s body. Hear the story in our History of Medicine Podcast: tinyurl.com/3e8bj827 #history #anatomy #medicine

From Hatfields to Silk Steet and Cloth Fair - many streets in London take their names from the clothing traditions. But how did Piccadilly get its name? Find out in our Men’s Fashion podcast: tinyurl.com/4xtkxth4 #history #fashion #london #menswear #clothes

For a thousand years, British kings and queens have been crowned at this royal church. Hear about babbling bishops and falling dukes, spurned queens and medieval murders, stolen stones and dazzling diamonds in our Westminster Abbey Coronation Podcast: tinyurl.com/ke5r2ftp #history #royalty

Frank Bostock and his Victorian travelling menagerie popularised African wildlife. He was attacked by a tiger and lion, but in the end died of flu – buried in a grand lion tomb. Hear the story in our Strange Animals Podcast: tinyurl.com/2mcp4ww5 #history #animals #lions #graveyards

During the eight months of bombing, misery and resistance known as The Blitz, many families slept on the underground. Hear the stories of firefighters, bomb squads, the Home Guard and London’s trailblazing women in this podcast: tinyurl.com/mrx4huz4 #history #WW2 #Blitz #london

She was the most eccentric pilgrim in Medieval Europe. Weeping while travelling to Rome and Jerusalem. Her story lives on in The Book of Margery Kempe - the earliest autobiography in English. Hear her story in our Women and Writing podcast: tinyurl.com/jrcjkwwc #history #christianity #women

Dr James Barry was one of the most important surgeons in the British army, on his death Barry’s great secret was revealed. Hear the story in our Women and War podcast: tinyurl.com/yu4yedh6 #history #medicine

Tango, Nelson, Munich Mouser and Jock - the original marmalade puss. Winston Churchill loved cats. They lived with him at home and at Downing Street. Hear the story in our History of Cats Podcast: tinyurl.com/3cmky79u #cats #Caturday #history #churchill

Forty Elephants were Britain’s first documented girl gang. Started in 1870, this Elephant & Castle mob of thieves and confidence tricksters went on the make for nearly a century. Hear their story in our Women and Crime podcast: tinyurl.com/4hducnyh #history #truecrime #women #crime

Many people believe this London cemetery tomb is a time machine. The memorial has no name inscribed on it - and the key has vanished. Hear this strange story in our Death and Burial podcast: tinyurl.com/25upnarr #history #tomb #graveyarrd #cemetary #death #timetravel

In the 1700s men wore wigs that signalled status, style and rank. They got taller and more flamboyant, until foppish men were tottering around in absurd giant periwigs. Hear the story in our Men’s Fashion Podcast: tiny.cc/3anu001 #history #fashion #menswear #clothes

James Norris was a former soldier. Sent to Bedlam, where he was tied to a post for 10 years – causing his intestines to burst. We tell his story in our podcast. Bedlam – The Story of a Madhouse: tinyurl.com/2whtb2xh #history #bedlam #mentalhealth #veteran

What is the oldest pub name in England? What is the funniest? Strangest? Most popular? Which writer has 33 pubs named for him? Find out in our History of Beer Podcast: tinyurl.com/47yrta2v #history #beer #pubs #england #ale

Tom was a decoy goose. He fell in love with a goosy girlfriend and followed her to London. But ended up at Leadenhall poultry market. Would he survive? Find out in our Strange Animal Stories Podcast: tinyurl.com/2mcp4ww5 #history #animals #goose #london

#OTD 1 November 1666 a farmhand gasped his final breath - the last of 260 people to die from plague in the remote Derbyshire village of Eyam. Hear the story in our Plague Village Podcast: tinyurl.com/2hhejvpw #history #plague #derbyshire

Wondering "witch" podcast to listen to at Halloween? Hear the story of the Pendle witches, a Lancashire family accused of putting a crippling curse on a local peddler, summoning up talking black dogs and bewitching a child to death. Listen here: tinyurl.com/v5c55e47 #history #halloween #witch

The Borough Gang robbed bodies from burials in London churchyards. The parishes built watchtowers to guard fresh graves from the bonediggers. We bring the story to life in our podcast: The Diary of a Graverobber. Listen here: tinyurl.com/rhswu35f #history #halloween #graverobber

Born #OTD 1740 James Boswell. The Scottish writer gave the world one of its greatest biographies: The Life of Samuel Johnson. A devoted friend and keen observer, Boswell captured Johnson in all his wit and wisdom. Hear the story in our Dr Johnson Podcast: tinyurl.com/r6x2d9m7 #history

Sir Walter Raleigh died #OTD 1618. The privateer and explorer was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, but was sent to the executioner’s axe at Westminster by King James I. What happened to his head? Find out in our Heads Podcast: tinyurl.com/f6n5j7kv #history #halloween #Tudors

London. 1810s. A ruthless gang of grave robbers terrorised the city. One of them writes a diary detailing the bodies sold to the surgeons. We bring the true story to life in our podcast: The Diary of a Graverobber. Listen here: tinyurl.com/rhswu35f #history #halloween #graverobber #london

Margery Jourdemayne was a seer. She became a necromancer to the Dutchess wife of the king’s brother. Accused of witchcraft, her life was in peril. Hear the story of Old Mother Madge in our Women and Witchcraft Podcast: tinyurl.com/2d4a7y2k #history #Halloween #witches #witch

The ghost of jilted lover Juliet Tewlsey haunts the Old Ferry Boat Inn - built over her grave. Juliet rises each year on the anniversary of her death. A Halloween story included in our History of Pubs Podcast: tinyurl.com/47yrta2v #history #halloween #ghosts #pubs #beer #podcast

Artist and Model Elizabeth Siddal was buried in Highgate Cemetery. Her husband, painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti, placed an original poetry manuscript in the coffin. What happened when he wanted it back? Find out in our Death and Burial podcast: tinyurl.com/4k9sfdpu #history #halloween #death