Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Stamford Bridge had been a nightmare. Thousands of dead… untold numbers of wounded. And the fallout was just beginning. All over Britain, all over Europe, families would slowly be learning the fate of their loved ones. Word was spreading across England and up to Orkney. Out to Flanders, and Norway.
Out. Of. The. Park.
Excellent podcast, one of your best.
Just heard the end…
Holy shit, dude.
If the last episode was impressive, this was immense. Truly excellent work, thank you!
What do I say! Three hours of words taking me step by step as Harold and his army march to Hastings knowing what happens in the end but so wishing for a different ending. Jamie you astonished me time after time mile after mile and I know why I’ve stuck with you all these years as the podcasts stretched out time wise. This was a masterpiece
Wow! Jamiè, that was epic.
Hello darkness…..
You wonder what British society would have been like had ‘the Bastard’ been killed instead.
Wow! Jamie, that episode was epic.
“Hello darkness…..” Quite an epitaph.
You wonder what England would have been like had ‘the Bastard’ been killed instead.
What a story! Jamie, this was done amazingly well. And what an ending – talk about ending on a cliffhanger? Arghhhhh… Can’t wait for the next episode…..
Wow! It took me several installments to listen to this episode and I repeated several parts, then I read the transcripts. I had no idea how closely fought this was. Any number of “small” events could have changed the entire course. Amazing. What an incredible episode. Thank you!
Oh wow that was fantastic, if you didn’t know history you could have been convinced the English were going to win. Can’t wait for the next one!
How does one get transcripts?
If you’re a member, and are logged in, the transcripts will appear automatically on the episode pages (like this one).
Great episode. Captivating throughout, although I already new the outcome, you almost had me thinking the English were going to take the field.
I’ve listened spell bound through the entire series over the last few weeks. This episode is amazing. I’m thrilled that finally there’s someone speaking into Williams atrocities. Thank you. I’ve referred a friend to the podcast too.
This was truly masterful story-telling. I was absolutely swept up in the narrative. And despite knowing the end of this battle since before I have any memories of real life, I suspended disbelief and, for a moment, I actually thought we might win. We’re going to beat the Bastard and retain our freedom and independence and then…
The end came as brutal shock and, as I tramped through woodland paths in the northern reaches of of the Five Boroughs listening to this extraordinary tale, the sounds of silence penetrated my ears… and I wept for my dead King…
Thank you Jamie for bringing this date and this battle to life. It was magnificent and horrific in equal measure…
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Gary!
Your podcast has become my go-to for listening during my 37 mile drive every day to and from work. This particular episode, though, actually hit me so hard I had to pull off by the side of the interstate for a few minutes. The dramatic nature of the narrative slammed into me like a ton of bricks.
If you don’t mind my asking, what is the string music motif that plays fairly frequently through this episode? It is exquisite!
I appreciate I am a little late to the party here but my GOD that was a brilliant narration of Hastings! I remember learning about this in school (in much less detail) and seeing re-enactments at Battle Abbey and very much cheering for the Normans, and you have absolutely turned that narrative on its head – thank you for all you do, this podcast is utterly fantastic and I hope that I will eventually catch up with the latest episodes!
This episode will not show up on Spotify no matter what I do.
I fancy the Bretons would have fought with a burning ferocity.