Episodes

  • Oliver Cromwell’s western design

    Oliver Cromwell’s western design
    Jul 11 2025
    In 1654, the Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell and a small circle of his closest supporters, secretly conceived a bold – but some would say, foolhardy – plan to conquer Spain’s colonies in the Caribbean. This became known as ‘the Western Design’. To achieve this goal a large force combining the army and the navy, set ... Read more
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    40 mins
  • Britain’s astonishing revolutionary decade

    Britain’s astonishing revolutionary decade
    Jul 7 2025
    The tumultuous revolutionary decade between 1649 and 1660 is often portrayed through discussions of battles, political and religious conflicts and consequent death and disease. But in her recent book, which is now available in paperback, Republic, Professor Alice Hunt of the University of Southampton, shows that it was also a decade of exciting new ideas and innovations ... Read more
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    33 mins
  • Bastion of Royalism – Cornwall in the civil wars

    Bastion of Royalism – Cornwall in the civil wars
    Jun 27 2025
    During the First Civil War, Cornwall remained a key royalist stronghold until a series of defeats culminated in the surrender of Cornish forces to Fairfax’s New Model Army in the spring and summer of 1646. But why was Cornwall so staunch in its support of the monarchy, even after much of the rest of England ... Read more
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    37 mins
  • The Battle of Langport, Somerset July 1645

    The Battle of Langport, Somerset July 1645
    Jun 24 2025
    In this ongoing series of specially commissioned programmes for the World Turned Upside Down, Peter Gaunt, Professor of History at the University of Chester and author of the acclaimed The English Civil War: A Military History, discusses some of the pivotal battles fought during the conflict. As Professor Gaunt says in this programme the south-west of England ... Read more
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    29 mins
  • 1645-1646 Parliamentary victories and the end of the war

    1645-1646 Parliamentary victories and the end of the war
    Jun 20 2025
    In 1645, the military history of the civil wars was transformed by reorganisation of the Parliamentarian forces to form the New Model Army. The impact of this army on the course of the wars became apparent with their growing dominance in the field during the second half of that year. This well-trained and effectively-led force ... Read more
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    39 mins
  • The second Battle of Newbury – 27th October 1644

    The second Battle of Newbury – 27th October 1644
    Jun 17 2025
    In this ongoing series of specially commissioned programmes for the World Turned Upside Down, Peter Gaunt, Professor of History at the University of Chester and author of the acclaimed The English Civil War: A Military History, discusses some of the pivotal battles fought during the conflict. In this programme he explores the second battle of Newbury fought ... Read more
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    32 mins
  • 1644 – The pivotal year

    1644 – The pivotal year
    Jun 12 2025
    1644 proved to be a pivotal year in the military history of the civil wars. While at the end of 1643 Royalist forces were predominant over much of England and Wales. the situation was about to change dramatically. Intervention by a Scottish army shifted the balance of power in favour of Parliament and in the ... Read more
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    52 mins
  • The battle of Edgehill – 23rd October 1642

    The battle of Edgehill – 23rd October 1642
    Jun 11 2025
    A bonus programme by Professor Peter Gaunt, Professor of History at the University of Chester describes the first pitched battle of the British and Irish civil wars fought by the two field armies. Both sides were left shocked by the extent of the casualties in a battle that only lasted for about 2 1/2 hours ... Read more
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    33 mins