Bristol History Podcast

A podcast dedicated to exploring various aspects of Bristol’s history. Produced in partnership with the Bristol Cable since April 2018.

Bristol History Podcast: The Mystery of Princess Caraboo

On Thursday 3 April 1817, in the village of Almondsbury just outside of Bristol, a strangely dressed young woman began attracting the attention of local...

Tom Brothwell

Bristol History Podcast

Bristol History Podcast: The Pneumatic Institute in Hotwells

At the end of the eighteenth century, ‘pneumatic’ (gas) chemistry was at the forefront of scientific knowledge. In 1799 the remarkable physician Thomas Beddoes opened...

Tom Brothwell

People's History

Bristol History Podcast: Centuries of slavery and the city, and how enslaved people helped abolish the trade

Bristol's long involvement in trading enslaved human beings, and the overlooked history of how it was brought down.

Tom Brothwell

Bristol History Podcast

Bristol History Podcast: The Bristol Bus Boycott

This week I met with Professor Madge Dresser to discuss the Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963. The boycott against the Bristol Omnibus Company over its racist employment policy was the first black-led protest against racial discrimination in post-war Britain. We explored race relations in Bristol aroun...

Tom Brothwell

Bristol History Podcast

Bristol History Podcast: ‘Know Your Place’ and Planning in Bristol

This week I spoke with Pete Insole, Historic Environment Officer for Bristol City Council, to discuss the historical mapping tool ‘Know Your Place’. We also...

Tom Brothwell

Bristol History Podcast

Bristol History Podcast: Bristol and the 1918 ‘Spanish’ Flu Pandemic

Arriving at the end of the First World War, the 1918 ‘Spanish’ Flu was one of the deadliest pandemics in human history, killing between 40...

Tom Brothwell

Bristol History Podcast

Bristol History Podcast: Witches and Witchcraft in the West Country

This week I met with Mike Slater, West-Country Occult Historian, to discuss the history of witchcraft in the West Country. We spoke about the continuance...

Tom Brothwell

Bristol History Podcast

Bristol History Podcast: Graffiti and Street Art in Bristol

Nowadays Bristol is internationally known as a centre of graffiti and street art culture. I met with John Nation – pioneer and promoter of graffiti...

Tom Brothwell

Bristol History Podcast

Bristol History Podcast: Dr. Edson Burton In Conversation

This week I met with the writer, poet, historian and playwright Dr. Edson Burton. We discussed (among other things) how his historical outlook shapes his...

Tom Brothwell

Podcasts

Bristol History Podcast: Election Special: Polling Day in 18th Century Bristol

As we approach December's election, the Bristol History Podcast asks: how did we get here? To this end I spoke with UWE Professor of History and Heritage Steve Poole about what elections in Bristol looked like some 300 years ago.

Tom Brothwell

Bristol History Podcast