Best Workhouse Podcasts (2025)

1
Could You Survive The Victorian Workhouse? 45:37

17d ago45:37

45:37

Today we’re going behind the foreboding doors of the Victorian workhouse to ask - ‘Could we survive it?’. From Oliver Twist's gruel to songs about flogging, from lice-ridden clothing to soul destroying isolation. Our guest is Oskar Jensen, author of "Vagabonds: Life on the Streets of Nineteenth Century London". Edited by Tim Arstall. Produced by Fr…

1
New York's Wildest Murder Case 38:55

1h ago38:55

38:55

This 1897 New York murder case that has it all - a villain, an incredibly useless police force, and a duck who saves the day. The incredible Dr Cat Byers (@heymorguegirl) joins Maddy and Anthony to tell this story. Edited by Tomos Delargy. Produced by Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long. Please vote for us for Listeners' Choice at the B…

1
Victorian Love Triangle Murder 48:01

3d ago48:01

48:01

Through the industrial fog of Victorian London, in one of the city's most notorious slums, a murder took place that shocked a nation. The Bermondsey Horror, as it was called at the time, centred around a young woman and her older partner, and a wealthy man who was lured to their home one night. How did the gruesome events unfold? What did Charles D…

1
History's Greatest Scandals Returns! 0:57

1d ago0:57

0:57

Join us for series two of History’s Greatest Scandals, where Ellie Cawthorne and Professor Hannah Greig are uncovering the secrets of the Georgian era. They’ll be following on the trail of forgers, exposing illicit liaisons, meeting cross-dressing celebrity spies and getting involved in some high-stakes gambling, as they search out some of the most…

1
The Body In The Trunk: France's Shocking 19th Century Murder Case 48:22

6d ago48:22

48:22

It was a murder mystery that gripped 19th century France and changed crime investigation forever. Who was the body in the trunk? What were the groundbreaking techniques used in the forensics investigation? And how did the murder case unfold from there? Taking Anthony and Maddy back to France in 1889 and through this story is historian and author Dr…

1
Bloodiest Mutiny & Shipwreck in History: Batavia 48:39

10d ago48:39

48:39

What happens when you're left on a desert island with a psychopath? This is a story so horrendous it would be hard to believe were it not for the skeletons left behind. Maddy Pelling takes Anthony Delaney through the shipwreck of the Batavia. Edited by Tim Arstall. Research by Phoebe Joyce. Produced by Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlotte Lon…

1
Britain’s Most Prolific Executioner 37:42

13d ago37:42

37:42

For Albert Pierrepoint, execution was a family affair. His father and uncle were hangmen and from the 1940s until the late 1950s Albert was Britain's "Number One" executioner. Which meant he was the one sent to hang the Nazis who ran the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp at the end of the war. Who was Albert Pierrepoint? What does it take to be able…

1
Day In The Life Of A Plague Doctor 38:00

20d ago38:00

38:00

If you think your job is bad, have you tried being a plague doctor in 17th century Venice? Join Anthony and Maddy as they wake up on a quarantine island and take you through a day in the life of a plague doctor, including the sights, smells and horrors of what you would have seen as you explored plague-riddled Venice in 1631. Find out what they wou…

1
Final Days of Napoleon 43:52

24d ago43:52

43:52

Conspiracy theories swirl about the final days of Napoleon. Was he poisoned by a friend? By the British? By his wallpaper? Did he cologne himself to death? Was his penis taken away by a vengeful priest!? Anthony and Maddy sweep aside the myths to find the truth of the final days of Napoleon Bonaparte. Edited by Tim Arstall. Research by Phoebe Joyce…

1
The Great Plague of London 32:10

27d ago32:10

32:10

What was it like living in London, 1665, when the plague first crept in? Within weeks, the gruesome symptoms were being spotted around London, crosses were marked on the doors of the damned, and King Charles II had fled the city. To take us back to this time and find out how the city reacted, Anthony and Maddy are joined by historian and author Reb…

1
Dark History of the Luddites 43:43

1M ago43:43

43:43

Would you have joined the OG Luddites? In 1811 and 1812 across the midlands and north of England which were the Silicon Valley of the day, Luddites smashed machines. They would not stop, not even at murder, in order to fight technology that was tearing down their way of life. Maddy tells Anthony the story this week. Edited by Tomos Delargy, produce…

1
The Plague That Shook The Roman Empire 48:10

1M ago48:10

48:10

In the 6th century, the Roman Empire was split and its future hung in the balance. Emperor Justinian dreamed of restoring it to its former glory. That was until the first great plague devastated Constantinople. Thousands died, bodies were piled in the streets - even the Emperor fell ill. How did this effect ambitions to restore the Empire to its fo…

1
The Truth About Frankenstein 48:13

1M ago48:13

48:13

Against a time of radical change, a gothic masterpiece was written by the teenage Mary Shelley. Published in 1818, Frankenstein takes us into a dark world where man and monster meet in mutual torment. A world of raw, animalistic fear. How was this story influenced by the tragedies in Mary Shelley's own life, and the early 19th century obsessions wi…

1
D.I.S.C.OOOOOOOO ....Vinyl Mix 1:53:07

1M ago1:53:07

1:53:07

D.I.S.C.OOOOOOOO ....Vinyl Mix by The WorkHOUSE SessionsBy The WorkHOUSE Sessions

1
How Bloody Was 'Bloody Mary'? 39:59

1M ago39:59

39:59

Last week we heard about Mary's formative years. Today we get to her reign, the infamous burnings and ask ourselves if Bloody Mary was as bad as people think. Edited by Tomos Delargy. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long. Please vote for us for Listeners' Choice at the British Podcast Awards! Follow this link, and don’t fo…

1
The Final Days of Anastasia Romanov 51:11

2M ago51:11

51:11

In the aftermath of the bloody Russian revolution, the Romanovs went from being a glittering royal family, to vulnerable everyday citizens who were soon murdered. In the wake of their deaths, the that one family member survived, began to gain traction. How do the claims of Princess Anastasia's survival begin? Why did people want her to survive? And…

1
Bloody Mary: The Real Woman in the Mirror 42:59

2M ago42:59

42:59

Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary. Mary I is known as a brutal tyrant. But what was the reality? In the next two episodes Anthony and Maddy will explore Mary's story. Today they explore the traumatic early years that shaped her. Edited by Tomos Delargy. Produced by Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long. You can now watch After Dark on…

1
Poison in the Tower of London 43:45

2M ago43:45

43:45

Today’s story is one that takes us to a very familiar setting - the Tower of London - but shows it in a new light. Edward Francis was an enslaved man who lived in the Lion Tower. In 1691 he decided to poison his enslavers. Maddy and Anthony are joined by (friend of the pod) Dr Misha Ewen who helped bring this history to light. Misha is the author o…

1
Stonehenge: 10 Strangest Facts 35:59

2M ago35:59

35:59

It wasn't made by Druids (or Aliens or Merlin the wizard). But it was a garden centre. Get ready for the 10 strangest facts (mostly) about Stonehenge! Maddy Pelling takes Anthony Delaney back among the stones. Edited by Amy Haddow. Produced by Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long. You can now watch After Dark on Youtube: www.youtube.com/…

1
Could You Survive Victorian Surgery? 40:56

2M ago40:56

40:56

You're laid out on the surgeon's table. Wide awake. He stands over you knife in hand and behind him, in the stands, is a noisy crowd all joking, smoking and scoffing oysters, waiting for the show to start. Welcome to Victorian surgery! Could you survive? Joining Maddy Pelling and Anthony Delaney this week is Sara Yorath, from the Old Operating Thea…

1
Murder at Stonehenge 41:29

2M ago41:29

41:29

A body is found at Stonehenge. It's the skeleton of a man - an archer - who lived at the time when it was built. How did he die? What secrets does his skeleton reveal about his life and the purpose of Stonehenge? In today's episode, Anthony and Maddy investigate a 4,000 year-old murder mystery, as well as exploring the big questions that surround S…

1
Dark Side of Ancient Mesopotamia 47:08

2M ago47:08

47:08

A four thousand(ish) year old murder trial. A procession of the dead. Kings who believed they could escape the gods by dressing gardeners in royal clothes...then killing them. Welcome to the Dark Side of Ancient Mesopotamia! Guiding Maddy and Anthony through this most ancient and most fascinating civilisation is the incredible Professor Amanda Poda…

1
Final Days of Sir Walter Raleigh 30:06

2M ago30:06

30:06

'Strike, man, strike!' were the last words of Sir Walter Raleigh as his neck lay on the block. After thirteen years in the Tower of London, (multiple) expeditions to find a city of gold, and a plot to kill the king, Walter Raleigh finally met his end. Maddy Pelling tells Anthony Delaney the story of how it all played out. Edited by Tomos Delargy. R…

1
Inside the Paris Catacombs 38:37

2M ago38:37

38:37

Beneath the streets of the French capitol lurks a city of the dead: the Paris Catacombs. Why they were piled up there is a dark and fascinating story, that includes everything from the bloody days of the French Revolution, to the making of 'corpse candles' and a mystery man found amongst its passageways. Joining Anthony and Maddy for today's episod…

1
Victorian England's Most Gruesome Murder 39:42

3M ago39:42

39:42

It was one of the most gruesome crimes of the Victorian era... and it ended up in David Attenborough's garden! Kate Webster, a servant, killed and dismembered her mistress, Julia Martha Thomas in 1879. It's a story that show us the everyday life of Victorian Londoners, and how that world can be turned upside down. Edited by Tomos Delargy, Produced …

1
The Ghost of Mary Queen of Scots 41:09

3M ago41:09

41:09

*TW: This episode contains references to sexual violence.* Mary Queen of Scots' life was defined by violence, heartbreak and ultimately, betrayal. Since her bloody death at the hands of her cousin, Elizabeth I, many have claimed to have seen chilling sightings of her ghost. What are these sightings like? And what do they say about the tragic events…

1
The Truth About the Knights Templar 38:02

3M ago38:02

38:02

Why are the Knights Templar surrounded by myths and legends? Is there any truth to the tales of the Holy Grail or that the Knights survived? Why does this medieval order, which disappeared in the 14th century, continue to enthral us today? To uncover the real history of the Knights Templar we are joined by Dan Jones - historian, author, podcaster a…

1
Final Days of Abraham Lincoln 43:58

3M ago43:58

43:58

One split second - and one individual - can upturn an entire nation. This was definitely the case when John Wilkes Booth shot President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre on the night of 14th April 1865. What were the final days leading up to this huge moment like? How did the nation, and the future of enslaved African Americans, hang in the balance…

1
Lost Colony of Roanoke: the Untold Story 29:25

3M ago29:25

29:25

The lost colonists left behind one clue, the word "Croatoan" carved into a tree. Who were the Croatans? What were their lives like? How can we see this whole story differently if we examine it from their perspective? Maddy Pelling and Anthony Delaney are joined today by Professor Robbie Richardson, author of The Savage and Modern Self: North Americ…

1
The Dark Side of Ancient Egypt 41:41

3M ago41:41

41:41

When people talk about Ancient Egypt, they often focus on the amazing pyramids, mummies, and the advanced civilisation. At After Dark, we love to explore the grim reality of all of this: what was life like for the people who built those pyramids? What happened if you stole from the Valley of the Kings? And how common were dark arts and sorcery? Tod…

1
Lost Colony of Roanoke: Mystery of Virginia Dare 37:21

3M ago37:21

37:21

WTF happened to Virginia Dare, America's first English child? How did her and her mother's legend grow over time? Did mysterious carvings found on stones hold the answers? Anthony and Maddy explore the mysterious after life of Virginia Dare with Dr Misha Ewen, author of The Virginia Venture: American Colonization and English Society, 1580-1660 You …

1
The Murder That Shocked Edwardian Britain 59:31

3M ago59:31

59:31

It was a murder that shook Edwardian Britain, and became a media sensation around the world. Joining Maddy and Anthony today is the best-selling historian and author, Hallie Rubehold, to explore one of the most infamous murders of the 20th century, and the rapidly changing world it took place in. You can now watch After Dark on Youtube: www.youtube…

1
The Dark Side of Ancient Rome 37:32

3M ago37:32

37:32

As a lot of new listeners have joined us, and it's a bank holiday in the UK, we thought we'd re-run one of our earliest, goriest episodes. Trust us, this episode is a bloody delight: from flesh-eating fish and humiliating deaths inside sacks, to a deadly re-enactment of the Icarus myth. For a culture that is seen as an emblem of civilisation (whate…

1
Spring-Heeled Jack: Terror of Victorian London 35:42

4M ago35:42

35:42

The grimy streets of Victorian London were stalked by a shadowy menace: Spring-Heeled Jack! He had glowing eyes and blue flames came out his mouth. He had claws, wings. He had a tail. He had smart boots. He had literal springs in his heels. Confusing...who was Spring-Heeled Jack? Maddy Pelling and Anthony Delaney are joined by Ceri Houlbrook, whose…

1
England's Darkest Folklore 38:42

4M ago38:42

38:42

A spectral Black Dog with hellish eyes; a homicidal water spirit who drowns children; a mermaid who takes revenge on a vile cad. Maddy Pelling takes Anthony Delaney on a tour through the dark side of English folklore. The episode also features thoughts from artist, author and filmmaker, Ben Edge. Find out more about Ben's work here: https://www.ben…

1
Final Days of 'Mad' George III 55:25

4M ago55:25

55:25

How did George III die? Was it raving in a straightjacket? Who stayed with him at the end of his long illness? Today we uncover the truth about George III, the man unfairly remembered as the mad King who lost America. Produced by Freddy Chick. Edited by Tomos Delargy. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long. Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours o…

1
Hammersmith Ghost: How to Murder a Poltergeist 31:28

4M ago31:28

31:28

Can it be murder if you think you're killing a ghost? In 1804 the London suburb of Hammersmith was being terrorised by a ghost. One man set out to hunt down whoever, or whatever, this was. He almost swung from the end of a rope for his troubles. Join Anthony and Maddy for this ghostly Halloween episode. Written by Maddy Pelling. Edited by Tom Delar…

1
Wales' Darkest Folklore 37:34

4M ago37:34

37:34

Wales is set apart from a lot of countries, with one of its folk tales - the Red Dragon - featuring in its flag. What are the mythical origins of Wales, and other dark folk tales and traditions, such as the Cŵn Annwn; the hounds of the otherworld? Why does the skull of a dead horse, the Mari Lwyd, visit people at Christmas? And how did Fleetwood Ma…

1
Ireland's Darkest Folklore 34:29

4M ago34:29

34:29

*TW: This episode contains discussions and themes of infertility.* Fairies have long been part of Irish folkloric history, with its landscape dotted with thousands of 'fairy forts'. But there's a dark side to these beliefs. Changelings are thought to be evil fairies who steal humans from families, taking them to the fairy world and replacing them w…

1
Tudor England's Dumbest Murder 39:42

4M ago39:42

39:42

Alice Arden wanted her husband Thomas dead. So did the rest of the village of Faversham. What followed was a twisted dance of passion, poison, insane plots and dastardly assassins. A tale so macabre that it became a true crime sensation in its own day. Returning to help tell the story is Dr Blessin Adams whose new book Thou Savage Woman: Female Kil…

1
Scotland's Darkest Folklore 32:21

4M ago32:21

32:21

From misty mountains to deep-sea caves, we explore the dark side of Scottish folklore. Tales of Selkies - seal folk caught between sea and shore - Kelpies - murderous water-horses -and the ancient figure of the Cailleach. Maddy and Anthony's guest today is Donald Smith, founding director of the Scottish Storytelling Centre, and a storyteller who ha…

1
Easter Rising: First World War In Dublin 1:03:14

5M ago1:03:14

1:03:14

(Part 2/2) On Easter Monday in 1916, Irish rebels read a proclamation of independence that sparked a week-long battle with the British army. Over the next six days, this new bloody frontier of the First World War unfolded and became known as the Easter Rising. How did the Irish rebels plan to take on the might of the British army? How did this pave…

1
Black Death: Scapegoats & Persecution 39:46

5M ago39:46

39:46

***This episode contains a description of mass murder*** As the Black Death moved across Europe, something darker and more insidious spread ahead of it. An antisemitic conspiracy theory that blamed European Jews for the plague. Across Europe, Jews were persecuted and often executed en masse. Maddy and Anthony are joined by Joshua Teplitsky, Profess…

1
Easter Rising: Build-Up To Irish Rebellion 52:27

5M ago52:27

52:27

(Part 1/2) With Britain engaged in the First World War in Europe, Irish rebels sensed an opportunity. Irish revolutions had fought for independence from Britain in the past, would the Easter Rising be any different? In this first of two-parts, Anthony and Maddy talk to Dr. Conor Mulvagh, lecturer in Irish History at University College Dublin, about…

1
Black Death: 5 Strangest Cures 42:29

5M ago42:29

42:29

It was a plague like no other. It provoked strange cures like no other. Anthony Delaney takes Maddy Pelling in search of the oddest cures concocted in the face of the Black Death, busting a few myth along the way (sorry Plague Doctor, but you're in the wrong century). Edited by Max Carrey. Produced by Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long…

1
Final Days of Joan of Arc: Trial & Execution 34:45

5M ago34:45

34:45

(Part 2/2) Joan of Arc, mystic leader of a French army, was captured and sold to the English who tried her as a witch. What do the final days of this iconic figure tell us? With so much myth swirling around her, how can we get at the real Joan d'Arc? Produced by Stuart Beckwith. Edited by Tomos Delargy. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long. Sign up to…

1
Black Death: Inside Medieval Lockdown 46:00

5M ago46:00

46:00

Around 50% of everyone in Europe died during the Black Death. It's very hard to make sense of that. What did it look and feel like to live through this calamity? Today Maddy Pelling and Anthony Delaney are joined by historian Helen Carr whose new book Sceptred Isle: A New History of the Fourteenth Century is out in May. Produced by Freddy Chick. Ed…

1
Final Days of Joan of Arc: Rise to Fame 36:15

5M ago36:15

36:15

(Part 1/2) So many things make Joan of Arc iconic. The fearless, crossdressing warrior saint who dies a martyr's death. Today Maddy begins a two-part exploration by telling Anthony the story of who Joan of Arc was and how she rose to fame. Produced by Stuart Beckwith. Edited by Tomos Delargy. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long. Sign up to History Hi…

1
Black Death: The Origin Story 40:31

5M ago40:31

40:31

The myth goes thus: the Black Death reached Christendom at the Siege of Caffa when Mongols catapulted diseased bodies over the walls. Where did we get this story? What actually happened at Caffa? And how did the Black Death really enter Europe? Maddy Pelling and Anthony Delaney are joined by Professor Hannah Barker, medieval historian from Arizona …

1
Death at the Savoy Mansions: Post-War London's Drug Underworld 39:02

5M ago39:02

39:02

During the victory celebrations of World War One, a rising star is found dead in her bed after a suspected overdose. 22-year-old Billie Carlton’s death caused shockwaves across the nation, adding fuel to a growing moral panic about sex, scandal and drugs. Anthony and Maddy are joined by Virginia Berridge, Professor of History and Health Policy at t…

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