History Hit

A new Matt Lewis series about the Peasants’ Revolt….

May 30, 2024

anniversaries, battles, buildings, religion

History Hit, John Ball, London, Matt Lewis, Peasants’ Revolt, rebellions, Richard II, Simon of Sudbury, videos, Wat Tyler

The Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 was undoubtedly a huge milestone in English history, and it has been written about many, many times. But now there is a new three-video series from historyhit.com, featuring Matt Lewis. You can view the first video here, as well as read all about the background to the great uprising.…
Ten things you should know about the Battle of Shrewsbury….

Feb 3, 2024

anniversaries, battles

Battle of Shrewsbury, Dan Jones, Edmund Mortimer, errors, Henry IV Part One, History Hit, michael livingstone, Richard II, Shakespeare

My introduction to the Battle of Shrewsbury was at school, when Shakespeare’s Henry IV Part I had to be studied for ‘O’ levels. I didn’t like Henry IV then, and I don’t like him now. He was a usurper who murdered his cousin Richard II in order to plant his Lancastrian backside on the…
Battling to save a great old house….

Sep 3, 2023

buildings, television reviews

buildings at risk, Chapel Cleeve Manor, Country House Rescue, History Hit, Jeannie Wilkins, Marten Street, Real Royalty, restorations, Somerset

The Country House Rescue series (all of them) are hit and miss for those who love all things medieval. But Season 4 Episode 2 is about Chapel Cleeve Manor, near Minehead in Somerset. It is a great 15th-century house with much history and is now in grave need of rescuing. The unbelievably stoic efforts of…
Gone Medieval Podcast

Aug 5, 2021

anniversaries, archaeology, genealogy, Science, travel

Africa, Apple podcasts, barfleur, building, Cat Jarman, Charles Earl Spencer, diving, Gone Mediaeval, Henry I, History Hit, Indian Ocean, John of Gaunt, Lindisfarne, Matilda, Matthew Lewis, Normandy, Plantagenets, podcasts, The Anarchy, The White Ship, trade, Vikings, William Adelin, wreckage

I’ve Gone Mediaeval. That may not be a surprise to most, but now you can come with me. I am co-hosting a new podcast from History Hit called Gone Mediaeval. I present an episode every Saturday, mostly covering the high and late medieval period. The other host is Dr Cat Jarman, a bioarchaeologist, who specialises…
10 Facts About Simon de Montfort

Jan 8, 2021

anniversaries, battles, Book Reviews, religion

anti-Semitism, Barons’ Crusade, Battle of Evesham, Battle of Lewes, de Montfort University, Earls of Leicester, Edward I, Eleanor Plantagenet, Gascony, Henry III, History Hit, Matthew Lewis, Parliament, rebellions, secret marriage, Simon de Montfort, Wigmore Abbey

Following his successful Henry III biography, here is Matthew Lewis’ contribution to History Hit about Simon de Montfort, the rebel who secretly married Henry’s sister before capturing him and Prince Edward, then being killed in battle at Evesham.

History Hit

A new Matt Lewis series about the Peasants’ Revolt….

Ten things you should know about the Battle of Shrewsbury….

Battling to save a great old house….

Gone Medieval Podcast

10 Facts About Simon de Montfort