29/05/2012

Available for over a year

Helen Castor presents Radio 4's popular history programme in which listener's questions and research help offer new insights into the past. Oak Apple Day: Professor Mark Stoyle from the University of Southampton explains the origins of Oak Apple Day, the day that marks the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660. In Fowey in Cornwall listener David Ruffer wants to find out more about the regicide Hugh Peter. Meanwhile in Sweden, listener Peter Henriksson wants to know what happened to foreign treaties during the Long Parliament and the Restoration that followed. Helen speaks to Dr Toby Osborne at the University of Durham. Much Wenlock: In the week that the Olympic flame is carried through the Shropshire town of Much Wenlock, the BBC School Report team help local youngsters research the local man who was a huge influence on the modern games. The Fall of Constantinople: Tom Holland marks the anniversary of the Fall of Constantinople in May 1453 by talking to Professor Jonathan Harris at Royal Holloway University of London to discover whether it was indeed a clash of two religious empires. Producer: Nick Patrick A Pier Production for BBC Radio 4.