Tudor History with Claire Ridgway
Step back into a world of intrigue, passion, and ruthless ambition — welcome to Tudor England. Join historian and bestselling author Claire Ridgway as she uncovers the riveting stories of the Tudor dynasty. From the scandalous love affairs of King Henry VIII to the tragic fall of Anne Boleyn, the fierce reign of Elizabeth I, and the lesser-known secrets of Tudor court life, this podcast brings history to life in vivid detail. Hear dramatic tales of betrayal, execution, forbidden love, and political manoeuvring that shaped England forever. Discover daily Tudor history with fascinating “On This Day” episodes — unique insights you won’t find in typical history books. Get behind-the-scenes stories from Claire’s own research trips to historic sites like the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Hever Castle, and more. Enjoy interviews with top historians and experts in Tudor studies, plus lively Q&A sessions tackling listeners’ burning Tudor questions. 🖋 Who is Claire Ridgway? Claire is the author of the bestselling On This Day in Tudor History series and numerous other Tudor books loved by readers around the world. She founded The Tudor Society, connecting enthusiasts with experts through live online events, and runs the hugely popular history websites The Anne Boleyn Files and www.ClaireRidgway.com. Her mission: to uncover the human stories behind the crown — the hopes, fears, and triumphs of not only kings and queens but also the courtiers, rebels, and ordinary people who lived under the Tudor rose. What can you expect? - Gripping accounts of famous events like the Field of Cloth of Gold, the Dissolution of the Monasteries, or the Babington Plot. - Intimate portraits of Tudor figures: Anne Boleyn’s charm and downfall, Thomas Cromwell’s rise and brutal fall, Elizabeth I’s cunning survival. - Dark mysteries and unsolved deaths — who really killed Amy Robsart? Was Katherine Howard truly guilty? - Special episodes on Tudor fashion, food, medicine, and the day-to-day lives of Tudor men and women. Join thousands of Tudor fans worldwide Never miss an episode — subscribe now and become part of a global community that can’t get enough of Tudor drama. Explore more with Claire’s books, free resources, and live historical events at www.ClaireRidgway.com. Ready to travel back 500 years? Press play and let the adventure begin.
Episodes
Step with me into a palace that no longer stands, yet once witnessed some of the most important Christmases of the Tudor age. In this episode of my Tudor Christmas Advent series, we journey to Richmond Palace, once known as Shene: a beloved winter residence of the Tudor monarchs, rebuilt by Henry VII after a devastating fire and transformed into one of the most elegant palaces of the dynasty. Although Richmond has almost entirely...
Christmas in Tudor England wasn’t just a season of feasting, music and Yule logs… it was also a time when the veil between worlds felt unusually thin. In today’s Tudor Christmas Advent episode, I’m stepping into the atmospheric world of real medieval and Tudor Yuletide superstitions - beliefs recorded in late medieval sermons, Tudor writings, and 16th-century accounts. These weren’t cosy Victorian myths or later folklore. They we...
Did you know the English Reformation didn’t just reshape churches and doctrine… it quietly transformed Christmas itself? In today’s Tudor Christmas Advent episode, I explore how Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I each left their mark on the festive season - sometimes dramatically, sometimes subtly, and sometimes in ways we might not expect. What happened to the old medieval traditions? Why did some customs disappear wh...
What did winter really feel like in Tudor England? Spoiler: nothing like the winter we know today. Hello, I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and in today’s Tudor Christmas Advent episode we’re stepping into a world of bone-deep cold, frozen rivers, and incredible resilience, the world of Tudor winter during the Little Ice Age. Between the 14th and 19th centuries, Europe and North America endured some of the coldest winters ...
Step into the winter stillness of Hever Castle with me, the beloved home of the Boleyn family, and a place that witnessed far more than festive cheer. In today’s Tudor Christmas Advent episode, I’m sharing Hever as you may never have seen it: dressed in its glowing Christmas finery and wrapped in the quiet magic of midwinter. But Hever is more than beautiful… it is the backdrop to a moment Dr Owen Emmerson and I believe changed th...
Yule Logs, Twelfth Night Cakes & the Lord of Misrule. Step into a Tudor Christmas with me!
I’m historian Claire Ridgway, and today’s Advent episode looks at the real Yuletide customs of Tudor England, from the dramatic arrival of the Yule log to the playful misrule of Twelfth Night. Why did Tudor households bring home an enormous log on Christmas Eve? What role did a humble bean play in choosing the “king” of the festivities?...
Welcome to Day 6 of my Tudor Christmas Advent series! Today we’re diving into one of the most enchanting feast days of the Tudor calendar, St Nicholas’s Day, and uncovering how this 4th-century bishop eventually became the Santa Claus we know today. We’ll explore:
- The real St Nicholas of Myra, miracle worker and protector of children
- The extraordinary Boy Bishop tradition, where a child led church services from 6–28 December
- ...
- Why Christmas Day was all...
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