Tudor History with Claire Ridgway cover art

Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

Tudor History with Claire Ridgway

Written by: Claire Ridgway
Listen for free

About this listen

 Step back into a world of intrigue, passion, and ruthless ambition — welcome to Tudor England. Join historian and bestselling author Claire Ridgway as she uncovers the riveting stories of the Tudor dynasty. From the scandalous love affairs of King Henry VIII to the tragic fall of Anne Boleyn, the fierce reign of Elizabeth I, and the lesser-known secrets of Tudor court life, this podcast brings history to life in vivid detail. Hear dramatic tales of betrayal, execution, forbidden love, and political manoeuvring that shaped England forever. Discover daily Tudor history with fascinating “On This Day” episodes — unique insights you won’t find in typical history books. Get behind-the-scenes stories from Claire’s own research trips to historic sites like the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Hever Castle, and more. Enjoy interviews with top historians and experts in Tudor studies, plus lively Q&A sessions tackling listeners’ burning Tudor questions. 🖋 Who is Claire Ridgway? Claire is the author of the bestselling On This Day in Tudor History series and numerous other Tudor books loved by readers around the world. She founded The Tudor Society, connecting enthusiasts with experts through live online events, and runs the hugely popular history websites The Anne Boleyn Files and www.ClaireRidgway.com. Her mission: to uncover the human stories behind the crown — the hopes, fears, and triumphs of not only kings and queens but also the courtiers, rebels, and ordinary people who lived under the Tudor rose. What can you expect? - Gripping accounts of famous events like the Field of Cloth of Gold, the Dissolution of the Monasteries, or the Babington Plot. - Intimate portraits of Tudor figures: Anne Boleyn’s charm and downfall, Thomas Cromwell’s rise and brutal fall, Elizabeth I’s cunning survival. - Dark mysteries and unsolved deaths — who really killed Amy Robsart? Was Katherine Howard truly guilty? - Special episodes on Tudor fashion, food, medicine, and the day-to-day lives of Tudor men and women. Join thousands of Tudor fans worldwide Never miss an episode — subscribe now and become part of a global community that can’t get enough of Tudor drama. Explore more with Claire’s books, free resources, and live historical events at www.ClaireRidgway.com. Ready to travel back 500 years? Press play and let the adventure begin.Copyright © All rights reserved. Education Self-Help Success World
Episodes
  • The Homes That Shaped Anne Boleyn

    The Homes That Shaped Anne Boleyn
    Jan 10 2026
    Before Anne Boleyn left England for the European courts, before Henry VIII, before scandal, drama, queenship, and tragedy... there were two places that shaped her earliest world, places that were home to her. Those two places were the Boleyn seats of Blickling Hall in Norfolk and Hever Castle in Kent. In this episode, we explore:
    • Blickling Hall as the heart of the family’s Norfolk roots, and the probable birthplace of Anne Boleyn
    • The medieval origins of Hever Castle and its transformation into a refined Tudor home
    • How Thomas Boleyn reshaped Hever to reflect his growing power at court
    • Why these estates mattered to Anne’s sense of self and future
    This video forms part of my ongoing series on Anne Boleyn. In the next episode, we follow Anne beyond these family estates, as she leaves England for the courts of Margaret of Austria and France. #AnneBoleyn #TudorHistory #BoleynFamily #HeverCastle #BlicklingHall #TheMakingOfAnneBoleyn #TudorEngland #HenryVIII #HistoryDocumentary #BritishHistory #WomenInHistory #TudorCourt #HistoricalPlaces #MedievalCastles #EnglishHeritage #HiddenHistory
    Show More Show Less
    9 mins
  • When was Anne Boleyn born? 1501 vs 1507 and Why It Matters

    When was Anne Boleyn born? 1501 vs 1507 and Why It Matters
    Jan 8 2026
    Was Anne Boleyn thirty-five when she died… or just twenty-eight? Because the answer completely changes how we read her downfall in 1536. I’m historian and author Claire Ridgway, and in this companion episode to my Anne Boleyn documentary series I’m diving into one of the most contested questions in her biography: when was Anne Boleyn actually born – 1501, 1507, or somewhere in between? In this video we’ll look at: • Thomas Boleyn’s comments about his children being born “every year” • Anne’s early service with Margaret of Austria and what her letter tells us about her age • the traditional 1501 date and why many historians still favour it • the rival 1507 date, based on William Camden and Jane Dormer • new thinking from court household records about the normal age for maids of honour • why a mid-range date around 1504–1505 now looks increasingly persuasive Drawing on the work of historians including Eric Ives, Retha Warnicke, Sophie Bacchus Waterman, and Gareth Russell, I explore how each possible birthdate affects our understanding of: • Anne’s education in Europe • her status and suitability as queen • and, crucially, Henry VIII’s motives in 1536 What do you think? Do you lean towards 1501, 1507, or the 1504–1505 middle ground? Let me know your view in the comments. For channel members: Members can access companion resources for this video and my wider Anne Boleyn series, including transcripts, timelines, reading lists and extra notes that don’t always make it into the main episodes. If you’d like to support the channel and unlock those extras, you’ll find the Join button beneath this video or go to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCioSUqeGrdFq6DEVK3-DXGQ/join, and if you’re already a member, thank you so much, your support genuinely helps me keep producing in-depth Tudor content. #AnneBoleyn #TudorHistory #HenryVIII #TudorCourt #BritishHistory #HistoryYouTube #AnneBoleynSeries #TudorQueens
    Show More Show Less
    18 mins
  • The Making of Anne Boleyn: Her Family, Upbringing and Early Life

    The Making of Anne Boleyn: Her Family, Upbringing and Early Life
    Jan 6 2026
    Anne Boleyn is so often remembered at the height of drama, standing at the centre of Henry VIII’s court, caught in politics, passion, and tragedy. But Anne did not appear from nowhere. Before the scandals, the Reformation, and the dramatic fall, there was a child, shaped by powerful families, privilege, education, and expectation. In this episode, I explore the world that formed Anne Boleyn - her lineage, identity, upbringing, and early surroundings at Blickling and Hever. Far from the myth of a “low-born girl who rose too high”, Anne belonged to three great dynasties: • the Boleyns - wealthy, ambitious, rising through land and service • the Butlers of Ormond - one of the greatest Anglo-Irish noble houses • the Howards - ancient English aristocracy with royal blood Through these families we uncover: • how Anne’s status and upbringing shaped her confidence and outlook • what her childhood world looked like in elite Tudor households • the roles of Blickling and Hever in her early life • how her education prepared her for courts across Europe • why understanding her origins changes how we see her later story This episode traces Anne’s background up to her departure to the Continent, setting the stage for the next chapter of her life, and the making of the woman who would one day change English history. Let me know in the comments what surprised you most about Anne’s early life, and whether you think her upbringing has been misunderstood in popular history. This is part of my new deep-dive Anne Boleyn series, designed to tell her story with context, nuance, and humanity, so please make sure you're subscribed to my channel and have hit the notification bell so you don't miss my other episodes. Want more behind-the-scenes research and companion resources? Channel members receive (depending on level) extra resources like: • transcripts • reading lists • timelines and family-tree resources • Monthly YouTube livestreams • Monthly zoom call discussions to get deeper into these topics You can join via the Join button under this video, or by going to https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCioSUqeGrdFq6DEVK3-DXGQ/join — and thank you so much to everyone who already supports the channel
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
No reviews yet