Yorkshire holds a wealth of untold stories that shape not just its identity but also the very fabric of England's history. We dive deep into the lesser-known moments that reveal how this region has influenced the country, from pivotal battles to the communities built on belief and superstition. Rather than sticking to the usual timelines and dry history lessons, we peel back the layers of these narratives, revealing the human experiences that often get overlooked. Expect tales that might surprise you, unsettle you, or even make you see Yorkshire in a completely different light. This podcast isn’t about polishing Yorkshire’s image; it’s about understanding it, and we invite you to explore with us.

Takeaways:

• Yorkshire is portrayed not merely as a location, but as a complex state of mind that influences identity.
• This podcast delves into the lesser-known, often uncomfortable historical truths about Yorkshire's impact on England.
• Rather than just a list of dates, each episode focuses on the human stories behind Yorkshire's rich history.
• The podcast aims to uncover and understand the deeper narratives of Yorkshire, rather than just polishing its image.
• Expect episodes that span various themes, from eerie tales to quietly tragic moments, all connected to Yorkshire.
• Listeners are invited to engage with the content thoughtfully, acknowledging the complexities of history.

Foreign.

There's a line people use all the time.

Yorkshire isn't just a place, it's a state of mind.

Now, most of the time when people say it's a joke, a bit of chest beating, a punchline about accents or stubbornness.

But the longer I've spent digging into Yorkshire's past, the more I've realized something quite uncomfortable.

For a county that's supposed to be so familiar, we don't really know it at all.

We know the surface version, the stereotypes and the postcards.

What we don't talk about enough are the moments where Yorkshire quietly and sometimes violently shape the direction of the country.

Battles that decided who sat on the throne.

Towns built on belief, fear and superstition.

Industries that powered Britain then collapsed and left scars that still haven't healed.

Communities that produced legends and paid the price for it.

That's what this podcast is about.

Not a timeline, not a list of dates, not a history lesson you'd recognize from school.

This is a storytelling podcast.

Each main episode takes one place, one moment or one story rooted in Yorkshire and peels it back layer by layer.

The obvious version first, then the human version, and finally the uncomfortable bits that tend to get smoothed over or ignored because history isn't neat.

And Yorkshire?

Certainly not.

Between those longer episodes, I'll occasionally release shorter pieces.

Small stories, strange footnotes, moments that don't need an hour, but they're too good to leave buried.

Now, they might be eerie, funny, unsettling, or just quietly revealing.

The kind of stories you walk past without realizing they're there.

And some episodes will be violent.

Some will be strange, some will be quietly tragic.

Others will be funny, surprising, or unsettling in ways you just don't expect.

You'll hear about the snow choked battlefield that decided the fate of England.

A woman who convinced half of Leeds that she had supernatural powers, a seaside town that inspired one of the most famous Gothic stories ever written, or a sporting institution that nearly disappeared through arrogance and neglect.

The stories will always agree with each other.

And I won't tell you what to think.

That's deliberate.

This podcast isn't here to polish Yorkshire's image.

It's here to understand it.

And one last thing.

History is rarely settled.

Sources disagree, records are incomplete, and sometimes the story we inherit turns out to be wrong.

So if you listen to an episode and think something's missing, or you've come across a source that tells a different version, or you simply want to say, I liked that, I want to hear from you.

This podcast isn't about claiming the final word on Yorkshire's past, it's about getting closer to it.

You'll find ways to get in touch in the episode notes and come with curiosity, not certainty.

Now, a quick word about how this show works.

These episodes take time.

They're researched, they're written, they're rewritten, and they're recorded carefully.

So this isn't a weekly podcast.

It's probably not even a monthly one.

The main episodes will be released when they're ready, sometimes with months between them, with short stories appearing from time to time in between.

That's not a lack of commitment, it's the point.

If you're looking for something fast, disposable or endlessly chatty, this probably isn't for you.

But if you like your stories that sit with you, stories that leave you thinking about a place differently, stories where the past feels uncomfortably close to the present, then you're in the right place.

Yorkshire isn't just fields and mills and moors.

It's ambition, fear, loyalty, cruelty, pride and defiance.

Often all at once.

And some of England's biggest stories didn't happen in London.

They happened right here.

Welcome, Yorkshire.

Stories from England's most interesting county.