History Girls

Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard

We’re heading to the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard to explore centuries of naval history - from the Tudor-era Mary Rose to iconic ships like HMS Victory and HMS Warrior. Join us as we take you through our visit - what stood out, what surprised us, and what it’s actually like to spend a day stepping aboard some of Britain’s most famous ships. ⚓

The Five Victims of Jack the Ripper

We all think we know the story of Jack the Ripper. Five women. Victorian London. A faceless killer in the dark. But what if one of the most repeated parts of that story isn’t true at all? In this episode, we look beyond the headlines and into the real lives of the five women killed in Whitechapel in 1888. Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly. Because they were more than victims, and far more than the labels history gave them. We explore the reality of life in Victorian London, from overcrowded lodging houses and casual wards to the stigma surrounding homelessness, addiction and poverty. We unpack how and why these women were so quickly defined as sex workers, and what the historical record actually tells us. Drawing on research from The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold, this episode centres their stories, their circumstances and who they really were. Their lives, not their deaths. Sources: The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold

Mary Queen of Scots

She was crowned at six days old and executed at 44. In this episode, we tell the story of Mary, Queen of Scots. Three marriages, endless scandal, and a rivalry with Elizabeth I that did not end well. We follow her from the French court to a divided Scotland, through betrayal, imprisonment, and the choices that shaped her fate. We also look at her newly decoded secret letters, which show a woman still plotting, thinking, and refusing to fade quietly. Plus, a round of Rumour Has It where we separate the myths from the truth. Sources: * Horrible Histories: Mardy Mary Queen of Scots Special (BBC iPlayer) * 10 Facts About Mary, Queen of Scots (History Hit) * The Secret Letters of Mary, Queen of Scots (BBC iPlayer)

International Women’s Day: History’s Forgotten Women

Join us as we celebrate International Women’s Day and shine a light on the brilliant and often forgotten women who helped change history. We begin at Bletchley Park, Britain’s secret codebreaking headquarters during the Second World War. Most people know the name Alan Turing, but thousands of women were also working there behind the scenes. They intercepted messages, ran the machines and helped crack the codes that shaped the outcome of the war. We share the stories of two remarkable women from Bletchley Park whose intelligence and determination played an important role in the Allied victory, even though their work remained secret for decades. Later in the episode, we also introduces another fascinating woman from history. A fearless journalist whose daring investigation shocked America. We also play a round of Rumour Has It, tackling a few common myths about women in history. From medieval work to suffragette protests, we separate fact from fiction. Resources: * The Bletchley Girls by Dr Tessa Dunlop * Misread Signals: How History Overlooked Women by Dermot Turing * Emily Anderson: The Forgotten Irish Woman of Bletchley Park, Irish History Podcast * Research historians from the Bletchley Park Trust

Jackie Kennedy Onassis: More Than a First Lady

In this episode, Ellen explores the life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, looking beyond the image to the woman behind one of the most famous names in history. From her early life and rise to becoming First Lady at just 31, to her cultural influence, private grief, and the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Ellen explains how Jackie shaped both a presidency and a legacy. Sources: * First Ladies: Jackie Kennedy (Amazon Prime) * America’s Queen: The Life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis by Sarah Bradford * Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis