In Ep20 pt 1 we continue our journey through Queen Victoria’s childhood. In this 2 part show you will see how Victoria was educated; as a child, but also as a future Queen. She joined an elite group of people who could read and write, but she had a huge weight of expectation to live up to. Ep20 pt1 explores the philosophy of education to see wh ...…

Join your host Chris Fernandez-Packham for the first part of our series on Queen Victoria’s childhood. She was growing up at a time when life was fragile at best for children; between disease, poverty and murder, reaching adulthood was not guaranteed. Victoria had to face, an uncle who wanted to usurp the throne, a power hungry mother, and a co ...…

Join your host Chris Fernandez-Packham and discover how Victoria is dealt the first tragedy in her life. Learn about the perils and power of being a Duchess. Plus we meet the abusive and magnetic John Conroy, a man of ambition and secrets. We also witness the death of a King and Victoria’s slow, unlikely, but inevitable climb towards the throne ...…

Merry Christmas, join your host Chris Fernandez-Packham in learning about Victorian Traditions of the Earthly and Ghostly kind. Let me take you on a trip through history, busting myths about Christmas Trees, explaining how traditions came to be, some great events at Christmas, and of course a fireside story…..if you are brave enough. Love to he ...…

We meet Queen Victoria at last. This episode covers George III, the Prince Regent, the royal family tree, the succession, the death of Princess Charlotte, Victoria’s parents – The Duke & Duchess of Kent, her birth and finally her Christening & the origins of her name. Love to hear from you at ageofvictoriapodcast@gmail.com or at the Facebook pa ...…

This minisode gives a recap of the key themes in the show since launch as we get ready for a major Victorian event. (and no this isn’t like the Simpsons playing clips of old episodes in a ropey season 18 TV special). This show is a great chance to remind yourself of the real building block events that unleashed the Victorian age. Also included ...…

Join your host Chris Fernandez-Packham and explore the Peterloo Massacre 1819; one of the darkest moments of British political & social history. From poverty & hope to anger and death. This episode starts with a outline of the situation in Britain in 1819, and themes of progress. It sets out the difference in mindsets to show how the working wo ...…

The fledgling United States is hit by freezing storms as the fall out from Mt Tambora continues to wreck havoc around the world. Then we turn to Switzerland and see how the darkness gives rise to the great gothic work of Frankenstein. In this episode we cover Climate science in the USA The early colonial economy The oncoming storms Impact and d ...…

Join your host Chris Fernandez-Packham in a detailed investigation of the Princess Alice disaster on the Thames in Sept 1878, the horror of her sinking, and Victorian Londons reaction. This show covers The geography of the River Thames London then and now The ships involved The fatal mistakes Who were the Victims and the Survivors? The rescue a ...…

Mt Tambora has devastated huge area’s in the Pacific. Now its global impact begins to be felt. In this latest monthly narrative show your host, Chris Fernandez-Packham, explores the enormous impact on the British mainland and Ireland in 1816 as the Year Without Summer Begins to bite. Topic outline Volcanoes and climate science. C19th Weather an ...…

Roll up your shirt sleeves, push back your top hat, and throw open your coat tails. It’s time to grab a bottle of gin, and seek riches or ruin as you learn about the history of gin in the Victorian era. Truly the drink of Empire…..or your personal ruin. Intro What is gin? Bombay Sapphire visit Manufacturing, propaganda and the British vs Dutch ...…

No one in 1815 thought the world was about to change, but a cataclysmic volcanic eruption was about to change the course of history. The affairs of men seemed so important, yet in the tranquil Pacific, nature was about to shake the world and civilisations to their foundations. Join me for part 1 of the series on 1816 The Year without Summer as ...…

Summer heat wave is here, so it’s time for Fish & Chips. You love em. I love em. The Victorians invented them. Don’t scoff, instead join me for a gallop through the history of Victorian fish and chips. Learn why Dickens was the key as always, and how fish and chips fuelled the industrial revolution. Listen to one of Queen Victoria’s daily menu’ ...…

As Napoleons downfall and Frances defeat become inevitable, the hard work and hard partying of the great diplomats and statesmen of Europe reached a fever pitch. In a whirl of balls and banquets the shape of Europe for the next 100 years would be decided. So much hung in the balance, but the great men of the time seemed to be more interested in ...…

Join me and decide who, if anyone was the truly scandalous one. The aristocrat? The banker? The Sporting Superstar? This is a minisode that is a stand alone episode on a scandal involving Beatrice Sumner and Charles Hoare in the very late Victorian period, plus why framing a narrative is dangerous when studying history. What would you do to pro ...…

A very short update on upcoming episodes, reviews, thank you’s and a shout out to the excellent Pontifacts podcast. The post MINI008 Announcements & thank you’s. appeared first on AGE OF VICTORIA PODCAST.

Every European school child should have learnt about the Congress of Vienna. Seriously. It is actually possibly the most important series of events in modern history that no one has ever heard of. Honestly, how many of us have heard of it, or know what it was, or what happened? We should and not just because it is important or worthy. It is a f ...…

The podcast is one year old today. Celebrate with listener questions (who should be on the Victorian Mount Rushmore?), poetry, trivia and many thank you’s to all my listeners and podcast buddies. The post 1ST BIRTHDAY SPECIAL appeared first on AGE OF VICTORIA PODCAST.

Here end the Napoleonic Wars. The revolution is over. France is beaten and it seems Britain is set to take over power in Europe, and perhaps the world. Learn how France fell, how the political battles ousted Napoleon & doomed the Marshals, and the final triumph of the great British Napoleonic Army. Email any questions to ageofvictoriapodcast@gm ...…

Easters here! To celebrate the end of winter, learn about the struggles of the worst Victorian job and the people who did it. The Victorian matchstick girls. Exploited, downtrodden, at risk of the terrifying condition “Phossy Jaw” and always on the edge of disaster, these girls would shake the British establishment when they rose up together. L ...…

After the bloody day of Waterloo, many soldiers found themselves in need of a doctor. Learn how the wounded were recovered, treated and operated on in the aftermath of one of the great battles of European history. The pain and near butchery would be horrific, but the lessons learned would lead to ground breaking advances that would save many li ...…

The climax of the Battle of Waterloo. The fate of Napoleon, France and Europe hangs in the balance. The French seem poised for victory. Can a thin line of brave Scotsmen and the dashing British cavalry save the Allies from defeat? This episode covers The heroic Scots The British Heavies and the Charge of the Greys by Lady Butler The arrival of ...…

Happy New Year. A very short special: learn about how the Victorians did New Year, some old superstitions and why Auld Lang Syne was actually a happy song. Don’t forget to leave an iTunes review or drop me and email. The post AOV NEW YEAR SPECIAL 2017 appeared first on AGE OF VICTORIA PODCAST.

Christmas Special 2017! Scrooge, Ghosts, Food, Tiny Tim. A real deep dive into the book that made Christmas……don’t miss it. Enjoy with a mince pie and something festive. Covers Why Dickens wrote it. Finances. Structure. The text as a historical source. Ghosts. Economics. Redemption. Without Dickens, we wouldn’t have a lot of the modern emphasis ...…

This minisode deals with the listener question “How does the Napoleonic Era relate to the Victoria Era?” The idea of a “Napoleonic Era” and a “Victoria Era” Key concept of continuity and why labels can be misleading. A very brief summary of Geo political impact. Military impact Financial & economic impact Social impact Scientific impact Institu ...…

This episode covers the early stages of the battle, including the desperate struggle for Hougoumont which has been immortalised in art, film and British Army legend. It goes on to cover the huge opening roar of the cannons of the Grand Battery. Covers the great strain on the defenders, the preparations for the main French attack of the day, and ...…

The dawn of the day of Waterloo brings only fear, discomfort and suffering. This is the first in the Waterloo episodes series. It covers The feelings of the men and a most important breakfast. Why Napoleon felt he was onto a sure thing. The weather and terrain. The reasons why Waterloo was chosen, and how it compares to some other historical ba ...…

Shades of McGonagall!! Actually a quick update on plans for October/November plus some poetry. Good to be back. The post Minisode 006 Upcoming episodes and poetry appeared first on AGE OF VICTORIA PODCAST.

Europe was at war. The fate of nations and armies hung in the balance. As people made hard choices, Napoleon began his attack. He planned to beat the Prussians, but that meant Marshal Ney had to face the British and their allies. Here was a chance for swift and decisive victory, but was Ney the man to seize it? This episode covers Implications ...…

The story of the most distinctive clock and bell in the world. Learn how a tragic fire, and a brilliant Victorian rotter, gave us the iconic Big Ben. This minisode details the great fire at Westminster, the rebuilding, commission of the clock, the troubles with building, and the great scandal that came afterwards. People were definitely seen in ...…

A quick minisode announcing our new twitter address, musing on topics, and why I’m not covering Sir Arthur Conan Doyle for a “This day in history slot” my discovery of the war in California on this day in history (07/07/1846), and the battle of Monterey. the importance of little things. Enjoy and please visit the website, the Facebook group, em ...…

In the trouble world of 1815, there can be no peace in Europe. Napoleon must go to war. Join me in discovering how the storm clouds of war that had gathered over Europe finally broke. This episode covers An introduction to the position of the forces on 14 June 1815 How the armies began their open moves and the views of the key players. A descri ...…

A heatwave is gripping Britain in June 2017. That can mean only one thing – ICE CREAM TIME! But how did the Victorians make it? Was it really brought to Britain by an European immigrant, or did the Americans invent it first? Also include is news about how to get transcripts of the show. Enjoy – the podcast and the ice cream. The post Minisode 0 ...…

Join me for another mini window into the curiosities of the Victorian age as we see how drinking coffee can help you find an unlikely hero. Adventurer, rogue, gambler, dualist, womaniser and civil servant; no not me……Max Havelaar. The post Minisode 002 The adventures of Max Havelaar appeared first on AGE OF VICTORIA PODCAST.…

This is the first mini-episode “Minisodes” These will be mini releases to give listeners extra content between the main episodes. They will cover various topics that interested me, caught my eye, or don’t fall in the neat chronology of the main show. They will also include community news and announcements. They will very much be a “as and when ...…

This episode covers the British army in 1815, its tactics, weapons and organisation. It also explains how it differs from the other European period. I start with a general explanation of the cost of living and the Royal Navy. I then deal with British Officers, commissions and recruitment. Finally there’s an explanation of how the army worked. O ...…

In this episode I indulge my passion for Napoleonic history, and explore my fascination with Napoleon. I cover the great gamble of his return from exile, his struggles, the options available to him, and that magnificent instrument of war…..the French Army. The transcript for this episode can be found at http://www.ageofvictoriapodcast.com/trans ...…

This is the first full episode. It covers the situation in Europe in 1815, and gives a feel for life in Britain on the eve of the great events of the last campaign of the Napoleonic Wars. I’ve now added the transcript of this episode at http://www.ageofvictoriapodcast.com/transcript-episo…tain-europe-1815/ The post Episode 001 Britain & Europe ...…

A quick explanation about the Age of Victoria Podcast, release schedule, contact details, why I’m podcasting and what is going to be covered. The post Episode 000 Introduction appeared first on AGE OF VICTORIA PODCAST.