Sue Cook and the team answer listeners' historical queries and celebrate the way in which we all 'make' history.
Series 11
Programme 2
26 April 2005
Benedict Arnold
Making History listener Sophie Peterson told the programme about the reaction of her family in America to the news that she had named her son Benedict. Sophie's sister Emma lives in North Carolina and said that her husband and friends regarded Benedict as a traitor's name! Both Sophie and Emma wanted to find out why.
Sue Cook spoke with Dr Peter Thompson, lecturer in Early American History at Oxford University, who told her that Benedict Arnold was a heroic soldier in the Continental Army during the early years of the War of Independence with Britain, but that he later switched sides.
The Portable Antiquities Scheme is a voluntary scheme by which thousands of archaeological finds are recorded each year. Making History reporter Angela Robson went to Norfolk to find out how it works on the ground, and Sue Cook spoke to Richard Bland who is Head of the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
Liskeard and District Museum
Foresters Hall, Pike Street, Liskeard, Cornwall PL14 3JE
Tel: 01579 346087
Open weekdays 11am-4pm, Saturday 11am-1.30pm
Special opening hours for Fabulous Finds Day, 30 April 2005 only: 10.30am-3.30pm
Hancock Museum
Barras Bridge, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE2 4PT
Tel: 0191 222 6765
Open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 4-5pm
Museum of Lancashire
Stanley Street, Preston, Lancashire PR1 4YP
Tel: 01772 534075
Open Monday-Saturday 10.30am-5pm
Museum of London
London Wall, London EC2Y 5HN
Tel: 0870 444 3852
Open Monday-Saturday 10am-5.50pm, Sunday 12noon-5.50pm
Further information about Fabulous Finds Days at 24 Hour Museum.
Coventry Road Transport Museum
The Gulbenkian Museum of the Year will be announced in May. Making History has asked listeners living close to the four finalists to tell us why their local museum should win.
This week Dilly Barlow heard the claims of three people who regularly visit the Coventry Transport Museum
Vanessa has presented science and current affairs programmes for BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Discovery and has presented for BBC Radio 4 & Five Live and a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday, Scotsman and Sunday Herald.
Contact Making History
Send your comments and questions for future programmes to: Making History BBC Radio 4 PO Box 3096 Brighton BN1 1PL
Vanessa has presented science and current affairs programmes for BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Discovery and has presented for BBC Radio 4 & Five Live and a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday, Scotsman and Sunday Herald. 