Back When | History Podcast
Imagine being a fly on the wall of history.
Historians Helen Antrobus and James Grasby take you inside the stories of the people, places and moments that made us.
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.
Our past is all around us. And we'll be transporting you behind the scenes at landmarks from castles to dance halls and WWII bunkers to workhouses. You’ll meet people from all walks of life whose fascinating stories have shaped who we are now.
Lean in for a tale from time: Back When.
You'll get a new story every fortnight. Follow Back When on your favourite podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode.
This podcast is made by the National Trust, Europe’s biggest conservation charity. Looking after history, nature and beauty for everyone to enjoy.
Discover more from National Trust podcasts
Follow Wild Tales, our podcast for nature lovers:
podfollow.com/wild-tales
Listen to Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers, our kids' podcast:
podfollow.com/national-trust-kids-podcast
See videos of the National Trust Podcast on Youtube:
www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts
Get in touch with feedback and ideas for stories you'd like to hear:
[email protected]
Historians Helen Antrobus and James Grasby take you inside the stories of the people, places and moments that made us.
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.
Our past is all around us. And we'll be transporting you behind the scenes at landmarks from castles to dance halls and WWII bunkers to workhouses. You’ll meet people from all walks of life whose fascinating stories have shaped who we are now.
Lean in for a tale from time: Back When.
You'll get a new story every fortnight. Follow Back When on your favourite podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode.
This podcast is made by the National Trust, Europe’s biggest conservation charity. Looking after history, nature and beauty for everyone to enjoy.
Discover more from National Trust podcasts
Follow Wild Tales, our podcast for nature lovers:
podfollow.com/wild-tales
Listen to Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers, our kids' podcast:
podfollow.com/national-trust-kids-podcast
See videos of the National Trust Podcast on Youtube:
www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts
Get in touch with feedback and ideas for stories you'd like to hear:
[email protected]
- Update frequency
- every 11 days
- Average duration
- 19 minutes
- Episodes
- 16
- Years Active
- 2025
Downton, Churchill and the Dollar Duchess Phenomenon
Cora Crawley in Downton Abbey may be a fictional Dollar Duchess but there are countless others who have shaped our history, including the mother of Winston Churchill, Jennie Jerome.
Join James Gra…
Join James Gra…
00:16:16 |
Wed 17 Sep 2025
Jane Austen | The Georgian Dating Scene
What was dating like in Jane Austen’s day?
Georgian Britain is certainly an era associated with courtship and marriage, but what were the rules you had to date by?
Join Cultural Heritage Curator …
00:20:00 |
Wed 10 Sep 2025
Plant Hunters | A Botanical Quest Down Under
In 2018 a team of intrepid explorers came in to the possession of a treasure map - one which would see them venture half way around the world to the Australian island of Tasmania.
Those explorers w…
00:22:41 |
Wed 27 Aug 2025
A Garden Fit for Bridgerton
Join a tour of a garden designed for pleasure, as we relive its party heyday.
Claremont in Surrey once played host to events described as the lovechild of a festival and a palace garden party. P…
Claremont in Surrey once played host to events described as the lovechild of a festival and a palace garden party. P…
00:22:26 |
Wed 13 Aug 2025
The Last Voyage | Sutton Hoo
Embark on the last voyage of an Anglo-Saxon burial ship and learn how its discovery changed our understanding of a civilisation.
In 1939, archaeologists uncovered a “ghost ship” under the acidic san…
00:26:31 |
Wed 23 Jul 2025
Roman Chariot Racing | The Prasina Stone
What does Formula One and chariot racing have in common?
High speed and high thrills races are something we usually think of when we’re chatting about Silverstone or the Grand Prix.
Celebrity driv…
00:08:38 |
Wed 09 Jul 2025
The Tale of Beatrix Potter | Writer, Scientist, Sheep Farmer
Many of us grew up reading about Peter Rabbit and Mrs Tiggywinkle, but how much do you know about the woman behind the stories?
In this episode we explore the lesser-known sides of Beatrix Potter. …
00:23:14 |
Wed 25 Jun 2025
Ela, Sheriff of Wiltshire | A Medieval Marvel
In 1196, 9-year-old Ela was hidden away in France after becoming the third Countess of Salisbury.
After being discovered and brought back to England by a knight who supposedly sang underneath wind…
00:13:47 |
Wed 11 Jun 2025
Graveyard of Ships | The Royal Anne Galley
On 10 November 1721 the Royal Anne Galley sank after hitting treacherous rocks at Lizard Point in Cornwall, tragically claiming the lives of more than 200 people.
The dead include Captain Francis Wi…
00:14:29 |
Wed 28 May 2025
WWII Bunkers | Inside Britain’s Secret Tunnel Network
Seventy‑five feet beneath The White Cliffs of Dover lies Fan Bay Deep Shelter: a web of bomb‑proof tunnels carved through chalk after Winston Churchill demanded artillery that could dominate the Chan…
00:23:40 |
Wed 14 May 2025
General Wolfe | The Battle of Culloden
General James Wolfe, the 'boy solider' who joined the military at 14 fought in one of Britain's bloodiest battles while he was still a teenager.
Historian James Grasby visits Wolfe’s childhood home t…
00:25:16 |
Wed 30 Apr 2025
Uncovering Culloden: the General who helped shape the Jacobite Uprising
In a two-episode partnership between the National Trust for Scotland and the National Trust, join host Jackie Bird as she uncovers the life of a leading general in the Battle of Culloden.
Historian…
Historian…
00:31:38 |
Wed 30 Apr 2025
H.G. Wells | The Father of Science Fiction
Time travel, Martian invasions and free love all have one thing in common - H.G. Wells.
Helen Antrobus explores how the world was changed through the writings of one author as H.G. Wells brought scie…
00:23:08 |
Wed 16 Apr 2025
The Great Stink | London's Smelly History
It's the height of summer in 1858 and something rotten is lurking in the river Thames.
Historian James Grasby unravels the smelliest side of our recent history as we step back into Victorian Lond…
00:13:51 |
Wed 02 Apr 2025
Black Arrow Rocket | When Britain joined the Space Race
Britain’s space race efforts were bold but short-lived.
Join historian Helen Antrobus for the tale of Britain’s space race.
It’s the mid 1950’s and the height of the Cold War era.
British engine…
It’s the mid 1950’s and the height of the Cold War era.
British engine…
00:24:09 |
Wed 02 Apr 2025
Introducing Back When
Introducing Back When, a new history podcast taking you inside the stories of the people, places and moments that made us. Launching 2 April.
Join historians Helen Antrobus and James Grasby for a f…
Join historians Helen Antrobus and James Grasby for a f…
00:01:10 |
Wed 05 Mar 2025
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