North by North-East

If many an old tale is to be believed, the north-east of England is a favourite haunt of one of Albion’s most infamous monstrosities: the worm. No, we do not speak of the humble, soil-dwelling invertebrate, but rather its lamb-eating, knight-constricting, milk-guzzling (distant) cousin. Take a trip downstream with Ben and Glen, but be sure to keep a safe distance from insatiable serpents, invading longships, and pointy (but not particularly sharp) nobles. From the Lambton Worm to princesses that squirm, the North by North-East Podcast is getting wonderfully wriggly! 

We hope you have your swashes buckled (or buckles swashed?) in preparation for this terrifically Tudor instalment of North by North-East. Indeed, Ben and Glen are riding full pelt into the 1569 Rising of the North, an event that reshaped both our region and the Kingdom. This Northern Rebellion, as it is also known, formed one of the most serious challenges to Elizabeth I's rule, a challenge she was determined to put down both swiftly and brutally. Lend us your ears, as we recount how the northern pot was fiercely stirred by religious dissidents and unready nobles. Earls shall scheme, castles shall fall, and harmonicas shall be blown!

After a slight hiatus (partly due to Ben feeling like he was full of boiler smoke over winter), the North by North-East podcast is finally back on track.  Our latest stop on the North by North-East mainline is the Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR), the railway that 'got the world on track'.  We’re ready to propel ourselves full steam ahead into the story of this 200-year-old North East institution. So, hop on board, grab yourself a comfy seat (or a free spot on the coal wagon), and enjoy this express service through history.

In this edition of North by North-East, Ben and Glen uncover the remarkable tale of how two Tyneside sisters-in-law, Ellen and Anna Richardson, helped one of the most famous Americans of their age secure his freedom. We trace a story that spans both sides of the Atlantic, uncovering more about the life of Frederick Douglass, the fight for the abolition of slavery, and the role of Quakerism in shaping the Richardsons’ lives. Join us on a journey that reveals the very worst and the very best of humanity, all connecting to Newcastle and its place in this extraordinary history.

In this special episode, we head on over to Hartlepool's Headland to speak with the staff and volunteers of the Heugh Battery Museum, the site of the UK's only First World War battlefield. We chat about some of the topics covered in our earlier episode on the Bombardment of the Hartlepools, as well as the museum's role in preserving that history along with its place in the local community. Big thanks (in order of appearance) to Gordon, Joshua, Ian, Diane, and Lynn, and to rest of the staff and volunteers at the museum.  If you're interested in learning more about the battery's place in history, do check out Ep 2: The Bombardment of the Hartlepools. For more information on the Heugh Battery Museum (we certainly recommend a visit), you can find their website at www.heughbattery.co.uk  

In this episode, Ben and Glen dive into the remarkable story of how a painter and decorator from South Tyneside fulfilled his impossible dream by bringing the world’s most famous sportsman, Muhammad Ali, to the North East of England. We've entered the ring, donned our metaphorical gloves, and hammered every lead to uncover exactly how 'The Greatest' stole the Queen's thunder and made a lasting impression on the region.  Prepare for a miraculous tale packed with transatlantic escapades, pugilistic salesmen, and, of course, SEVENTEEN youth jazz bands.   * Includes audio from Tyne Tees Television (accessible via the North East Film Archive) and from recordings by Russell Routledge. Used for informational and commentary purposes. North by North-East does not claim copyright over this material.

Award-winning playwright and screenwriter Ishy Din joins us to talk about his latest play, Champion, inspired by Muhammad Ali’s 1977 visit to South Shields. Ishy also shares some insights into his wider career, and reflects on the cultural significance of North East England. For more on Muhammad Ali's visit to the North East, keep your eyes and ears peeled for the next instalment of North by North East!

We're turning back the clock to December 1914, examining a moment when the Great War quite literally hit home for Britain. Indeed, the bombardment of the Hartlepools was not just significant for the people of the area, but also a pivotal event in the long and tragic course of the First World War. Why did the Imperial German Navy target the North East coast? How did Hartlepool’s defenders respond on land and at sea? What was the civilian cost? As always, Ben and Glen will do their utmost to answer these questions and more, hopefully without getting lost at sea in the process.

In our first (official) episode, we travel back to 1926, a year dominated by industrial unrest and political discord. Like the Flying Scotsman, our destination is Cramlington. Unlike the Flying Scotsman, we're here by choice, not by sabotage (though we can get 'off track' every now and then). How was the country's most famous train derailed at a Northumberland mining town? Were the perpetrators terrorists or working class heroes? What repercussions did the accused face?  For the answers to the above, hit play, and join Ben and Glen as they uncover the dramatic tale of a derailment that shook not just Northumberland, but the Nation.

We have the pleasure of chatting with both Ed Waugh, the writer of 'The Cramlington Train Wreckers', and Russell Floyd, the play's director. Focused on the 1926 derailment of the Flying Scotsman by striking miners, the play tours North East England in November. Ed and Russell share some of their thoughts regarding that fateful day and discuss their reasons for bringing this story to the stage. This special instalment serves as a companion to our upcoming episode, which will cover the Cramlington derailment and the General Strike of 1926.

Well, this it it, we've reached the end of our ethnonymic/demonymic/whatevernymic journey. In this sixth and final part of our series, we identify some of the common trends that link the topics discussed, and consider their potential significance for the future of North East England. So what does this all mean for our region? How does being labelled a Geordie, Mackem, Smoggie, etc. shape one's perspective? Does it matter? Listen here and find out. 

In this fifth part of the North East Ethnonyms series, Glen and Ben scour the British Newspaper Archive in search of pertinent materials. In a segment that has been christened 'Cold off the Press' (wordplay is up for criticism) we journey through the printed pages of history, analysing a variety of newspaper articles that relate to the topics discussed in previous episodes. Listeners will be treated to poetic accounts of Tyne-Wear derbies, polemics on 'phoney Geordies', and questionable attempts at a Danish accent.

We head on down the A1 (or the A19?) as we turn our attention to our final ethnonym of focus: Smoggie. In their quest to define Smoggie, Glen and Ben scrutinise English counties, consult Hansard, and take to the streets of Ironopolis. Like a Teesider leaving Manjaros (other parmo providers are available), we hope this episode will leave you satiated and satisfied. Just don't ask us about béchamel sauce!  

In Part 3 of our exploration of the numerous nicknames for native northeasterners, we head on over to Wearside to meet the Mackems. As Glen and Ben take a saunter through the saga of this Sunderland-centred term, they speak to locals, revisit an FA Cup Final, and trawl one of the internet's most opinionated message boards. But who, exactly, is a Mackem? What is the meaning of Mackem? Where does Mackem come from? If you wish to know, join us on our quest to obtain a mastery of everything Mackem, and take a listen to this episode of North by North-East!  

In the second part of our series, we take on North East England's 'ethnonym-in-chief': Geordie. Many denizens of our region would lay claim to this noted nickname, citing various reasons of various repute. Through close analysis of countless tomes, along with a few interviews with the fine folk of Northumbria, Glen and Ben drill to the core of this titan of a term. So, who exactly is a Geordie? Are they a loyalist Hanoverian? Are they a long-suffering Newcastle United supporter? Might they be neither? Lend us your ears and all will be revealed in this episode of North by North-East.

Join Glen and Ben as they take a close look at the many 'ethnonyms' of North East England, i.e. the words and terms used to refer to peoples across the region. In this opening episode, we introduce the overall ethnonymic landscape of the North East, before taking to the streets and seeing what the people of the region have to say on the matter. Through our chats with our fellow Northeasterners, we not only shed light on the 'big three' (Geordie, Mackem, and Smoggy), but also become acquainted with some of the region's more curious nicknames. Do you know where you would find the 'Doggies' of County Durham? What exactly is a 'Skuetender'? Were the people of Hartlepool really responsible for a simian's demise? Listen up, and find out. Indeed, whether you're seasoned with Sand-Dancers, or perplexed by Pit-Yackers, you're sure to learn a thing or two about the people, places, and history of the North East.

From a humble wooden bench in their local park, Glen and Ben take some time to introduce 'North by North-East', a podcast that explores the history, culture, and people of North East England.