Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

During a peaceful walk through the Gloucestershire countryside, I stumbled upon a village church with a powerful story — one that changed the course of English history. Little Sodbury is one of only a handful of Thankful Villages in England, where all soldiers returned from both World Wars. But this place is also where William Tyndale, the brilliant scholar and Bible translator, heard his call to make Scripture accessible to every...

In today’s podcast, I’m diving into a thought-provoking—and often heartbreaking—topic: mental illness in Tudor England.

From moon-induced madness and “uterine vapours” to melancholy queens and frenzied courtiers, the Tudor understanding of mental health was a complex mix of medicine, superstition, religion, and fear.

Did you know Jane Boleyn’s breakdown led Henry VIII to change the law so she could be executed? Or that people paid ...

Why were Henry VIII and Elizabeth I part of a dynasty called “Tudor”?  In this podcast, historian and author Claire Ridgway explores the fascinating Welsh origins of the name Tudor—from its Brythonic meaning to how a noble family from Anglesey became one of the most famous royal houses in English history. Discover how: - The name “Tudor” evolved from patronymic Welsh naming traditions - Owain ap Maredudd ap Tudur rose from Welsh ...

Sir Walter Ralegh may get the credit, but tobacco’s story in England started long before he lit up — and it’s far more surprising than you might think.

In this video, we explore how tobacco travelled from sacred Native American ceremonies to Tudor England’s courtly circles. From its use in healing rituals to its rise as a fashionable trend—and finally to King James I’s fiery condemnation in A Counterblaste to Tobacco—this is the f...

On this day in Tudor-Stuart history, 19th June 1566, King James VI of Scotland and I of England was born at Edinburgh Castle—an infant who would one day unite two crowns and leave a lasting legacy on British history.

The only son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Lord Darnley, James became King of Scotland at just 13 months old following his father’s murder and his mother’s forced abdication. Raised as a Protestant in a volatile Scotla...

On this day in history, Anne Boleyn reached the pinnacle of her triumph. After six years of struggle, scandal, and seismic political and religious change, Anne Boleyn was crowned Queen of England in a glittering ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Dressed in purple velvet, barefoot and crowned with the Crown of St Edward—a crown usually reserved for monarchs—Anne processed through a sea of blue cloth, surrounded by nobles, clergy, and ...

On 24th May 1612, one of the most powerful men of the Elizabethan and early Stuart courts—Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury—died on his way home from taking the waters at Bath. He was just 48, but his political career was nothing short of extraordinary. The son of William Cecil, Lord Burghley, Robert Cecil overcame physical disability, courtly mockery, and fierce political rivalries to become Secretary of State, Lord High Treasu...

Why did people like Anne Boleyn, George Boleyn, and Lady Jane Grey use their final words to praise the monarch who condemned them to die? Were they afraid? Following orders? Or was there something deeper at work?

In this podvast, I explore the rituals, beliefs, and expectations behind execution speeches in the Tudor period. From religious symbolism to social pressure and political theatre, the scaffold was more than a place of deat...