Heroine City

In this episode, host Lynsey Shaw is joined by Lizzie Broadbent, creator of Women Who Meant Business, and fellow women's history advocate and researcher, to explore the extraordinary life of Lucy Duff Gordon.A trailblazing fashion designer, savvy self-promoter, and Titanic survivor, Lucy revolutionised style in the early 20th century and helped shape the modern fashion industry with her label, Lucile Ltd. Together, Heroine City unpacks the glamour, grit, and controversy surrounding the woman who brought catwalks, supermodels, and storytelling to Edwardian dress and became one of history’s first fashion celebrities.

When Queen Eleanor of Castile died in 1290, King Edward I marked her final journey with twelve towering stone crosses, monuments of love, loss, and legacy. But who was Eleanor really, and what do these extraordinary structures reveal about her life and afterlife?In this episode of Heroine City, host historian, Lynsey Shaw is joined by writer and researcher Decca Warrington, author of The Eleanor Crosses: The Story of King Edward I’s Lost Queen and Her Architectural Legacy. Together, they uncover the story behind the crosses, the queen who inspired them, and why these remarkable medieval monuments still matter today.

In the first part of our two-parter, discover the remarkable life and enduring legacy of Eleanor of Castile, the queen consort who defied medieval expectations. From her political acumen and role in the Ninth Crusade to her deep partnership with Edward I and her influence on English architecture, female land ownership, and royal customs, Eleanor’s story is one of power, resilience, and intrigue.In this podcast, host Lynsey Shaw and special guest Sue Prichard, head curator at Leeds Castle, delve into the personal and political challenges Eleanor faced as a Castilian princess navigating the English court, the love story behind the iconic Eleanor Crosses and her lasting impact on history. Join us as we uncover the fascinating, often overlooked life of a queen whose legacy lives on.

Welcome to Heroine City, the podcast that shines a light on women in history on all their glorious shapes and form, efforts, errors and eras. In this episode, we step into the turbulent world of Harriett Lewis, an 18th-century black woman who defied the odds. Abducted from her homeland of Guinea to Jamaica at the age of seven, she was singled out and educated, became a house mistress, travelled to England and find herself a free woman navigating the perilous streets of London’s underworld as a sex worker. Harriett was a survivor and a business woman who carved out her own space in a society determined to keep her in her place. Join us as host Lynsey Shaw and historian Montaz Marché piece together her remarkable story, exploring the intersections of race, gender, and survival in Georgian Britain.

This episode of Heroine City uncovers the private world of portrait miniatures, focusing on the women who played a role in their creation, exchange, and preservation. These intimate paintings—once worn close to the heart or kept as cherished keepsakes—tell us much more than meets the eye.Join host Lynsey Shaw and guest, curator and art historian, Emma Rutherford, as they uncover how portrait miniatures reveal hidden insights into women’s lives, their expressions of love, memory, and identity, and the artistry that shaped these miniature masterpieces.The Limner Co. https://www.portraitminiature.comThe Reflected Self at Compton Verney https://www.comptonverney.org.uk/whats-on/the-reflected-self/

Ever wondered about the woman behind the iconic image of Elizabeth I? 👑 📚Join us for a deep dive with the #brilliant Dr Elizabeth Norton as she unravels the personal stories and defining relationships of this legendary queen. Don’t miss this enlightening episode! 🕯️📜🪶