Here for the History
Episodes
Who Invented the “Whodunit”?
This episode investigates the origins of the whodunit genre, tracing its evolution from Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle to Agatha Christie.
Where Do Manners Come From?
Hosts Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson explore the evolution of British manners, tracing their development from medieval deference to the Renaissance "civilizing process.
Why Do Scots Wear Tartan?
Hosts Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson explore the history of Scottish tartan, tracing its evolution from regional wool cloth to a global symbol of identity.
Why Do We Love Pubs?
Hosts Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson trace the evolution of the British pub from medieval alehouses run by women to the modern public house.
Why Does the Union Jack Look Like That?
This episode explores the vexillology and history behind the Union Jack, tracing its origins to the patron saints of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Why Do We Have ‘Ugly’ Buildings?
Hosts Alice Loxton and Ben Henderson explore the history of modernist architecture, tracing its origins from Adolf Loos’s rejection of ornament to Le Corbusier’s functionalist ideals.
Who Invented the Weekend?
Hosts Ben Henderson and Alice Loxton trace the weekend’s origins from Emperor Constantine’s 4th-century Sunday rest edict to medieval holy days and the Industrial Revolution.