Vanessa Collingridge and the team answer listener鈥檚 historical queries and celebrate the way in which we all 鈥榤ake鈥 history.
Programme 6
6 November 2007
Iron Farming
Making History鈥檚 Nick Baker reported from Ypres in Belgium where farmland continues to offer up the gruesome reminders of the carnage during four years of fighting during the First World War.
As human survivors of the conflict dwindle in number, local historians and museum workers now regard these human and military remains that act as a silent witness to the war.
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Crane Park and the Gunpowder Plot
Making History listener Alex Robb works for the London Wildlife Trust at its Crane Park nature reserve near Twickenham in South West London. The area was once occupied by the Hounslow Gunpowder Mills but, today, all that remains is a nineteenth century 鈥榮hot tower鈥 where lead shot was made. Alex told the programme that, according to local legend, Guy Fawkes visited the Duke of Northumberland at nearby Syon House on the 4th November 1605.
Furthermore, the gunpowder mills at Crane Park supplied Fawkes and his treacherous band with the explosives that they needed to blow up the Houses of Parliament鈥 Is there any truth in all this?
Making History consulted Wayne Cocroft of English Heritage and Professor Pauline Croft of Royal Holloway, University of London.
Wayne Cocroft explained that the gunpowder industry in England received a boost in the sixteenth century with the break with Rome. Until that time, much of the gunpowder needed by our armed forces had come from Europe. But, Catholic domination of those countries that could supply our needs forced the Crown to turn to domestic sources. Advances in armaments technology also strengthened the domestic industry. By the beginning of the seventeenth century, gunpowder mills were springing up along the River Thames and her tributaries.
Professor Croft explained that the industry was regulated by patent. However, these patents were easily obtained and it would have been relatively easy for potential buyers to source gunpowder. However, there is no written evidence which even suggests that Guy Fawkes used gunpowder from Crane Park
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Further Reading
Wayne Cocroft is the author of 鈥淒angerous Energy鈥 which is available from English Heritage.ISBN 978-1-85074-718-5; Product code 50149; Price 拢35; tel 01761 452966; email: ehsales@gillards.com
Edinburgh to London Walk
Terry Aspinall told Making History about taking part in and (he claims) winning a walk from Edinburgh to London walk in, he thinks, 1959. Terry now lives in Australia but his :
Fulford to Waltham Abbey Walk
Making History listener Chas Jones is fascinated by the Battle of Fulford in September. It was here that the Norwegian Vikings defeated the English Northern Earls and forced Harold Godwinson to march north for Tadcaster and then the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Chas wanted to know how long it would have taken the English messenger to travel south from Fulford to bring news to Harold of the defeat, so he decided to do the journey himself dressed as an Eleventh Century monk.
Making History also consulted the historian Dr Ann Williams to comment on the insight that Chas鈥檚 walk provides and discuss how Harold would then have journeyed from York to Battle in Sussex to face the Normans.
Further Reading
The Forgotten Battle of Fulford by Chares Jones. Tempus Publishing. ISBN: 9780752438108
The English and the Norman Conquest by Dr Ann Williams. The Boydell Press ISBN-10: 0851157084 ISBN-13: 978-0851157085
Vanessa has presented听science and current affairs programmes for 大象传媒, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Discovery and has presented for 大象传媒 Radio 4 & Five Live and a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday, Scotsman and Sunday Herald.听
Contact Making History
Send your comments and questions for future programmes to:
Making History
大象传媒 Radio 4
PO Box 3096 Brighton
BN1 1PL
Vanessa has presented听science and current affairs programmes for 大象传媒, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Discovery and has presented for 大象传媒 Radio 4 & Five Live and a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday, Scotsman and Sunday Herald.听