1. EachPod

Poisoned Cakes, Flea Traps… and Dead Hedgehogs?! Pest Control Tudor-style

Author
Claire Ridgway
Published
Fri 08 Aug 2025
Episode Link
https://tudorhistory.podbean.com/e/poisoned-cakes-flea-traps%e2%80%a6-and-dead-hedgehogs-pest-control-tudor-style/

Wormwood-strewn floors. Poisoned rat cakes. Bounties on hedgehogs.

No, it’s not a dark fairy tale—it’s real Tudor pest control.



In a world without bug spray or exterminators, how did the Tudors tackle fleas, flies, rats, mice… and even moths?

Let’s just say… they got creative. And ruthless.



I'm Claire Ridgway, historian and author—and in today’s video, we’re diving into the bizarre, herbal, and sometimes horrifying methods the Tudors used to defend their homes (and health!) from pests.



You'll discover:



- Why strewing herbs were scattered on floors

- What the Goodman of Paris suggested for catching fleas

- The deadly ingredients in Tudor rat cakes

- Why hedgehogs were considered milk thieves
- And the law that made people bounty hunters


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#TudorHistory #WeirdHistory #PestControlHistory #ClaireRidgway #AnneBoleynFiles #TudorLife #HistoricalFacts #FleasAndFlames #DeadHedgehogs #TrueHistory #HistoryNerd #MedievalHygiene #OnThisDay #StrangeButTrue #HorribleHistory

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