PODCAST · society
Past Matters
by Ploy Radford
Museums, galleries and historic houses are treasure troves of items from the past. But how easy is it at these sites to unknowingly just walk straight past an object with an incredible story to tell? In this podcast series host Ploy Radford talks to the experts at different museums, galleries and historic houses about the most underrated objects in their collection, and unveils some fantastic facts.
Episodes
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Spring Special 2026: Snuffboxes and Micromosaics at the V&A
In this second Spring Special episode, we focus on two objects on the smaller end of the scale at the V&A. On display in the newly revamped Gilbert Collection galleries, the objects are the earliest example of a snuffbox used for international diplomacy and a beautifully detailed micromosaic...
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Spring Special 2026: Echoes of Ash - Life in Herculaneum
In the first of these Spring Specials 2026, historian Adrian Murdoch talks about what makes Herculaneum such a unique historic site, and focuses in on the stories of two citizens whose lives are preserved in the ashes there: Marcus Nonius Balbus and Petronia Iusta.
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Fulvia - interview with Dr Jane Draycott
Hear historian Dr Jane Draycott reveal the fascinating life of Fulvia - the woman who defied all the rules in Ancient Rome.
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Three military tombstones - Roman Britain
In this episode Dr Jo Ball shares the stories behind three military tombstones from Roman Britain, touching on themes of life and death in the Roman empire, what it means to be a Roman and more.
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A carved limewood cravat - Chatsworth House
In the second of a two part episode focused on Chatsworth House, Assistant Curator Katherine Hardwick-Kulpa shares the mysteries around a carved limewood cravat .
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Chatsworth House - William Kent Pier Table
In the first of a two-part episode focused on the English stately home Chatsworth House, Assistant Curator Katherine Hardwick-Kulpa explains to host Ploy Radford-Taylor why a small table tucked away in the West Sketch Gallery is actually one of the most significant pieces of furniture in the...
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The women of Homer - interview with Emily Hauser
In this episode of Past Matters, academic and author Emily Hauser shines a light on the women who inspired the female characters of Homer's great epics.
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HMS Queen Charlotte Figurehead - The National Museum of the Royal Navy
Season 5 opens with an interview with Hannah Bradbury-Crowther, Curator of Diverse Histories at the National Museum of the Royal Navy sharing the tales the figurehead of the HMS Queen Charlotte has seen...
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New Year Special - interview with author Amber Chen
In this New Year special to round off season 4, author Amber Chen reveals the historical influences behind her silkpunk fantasy novel ‘Of Jade and Dragons’.
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The Sword of Ommerschans - Dutch National Museum of Antiquities
Luc Amkreutz, curator of the prehistory collections at the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, reveals the story behind the Sword of Ommerschans, currently on display as part of the 'Bronze Age: Fires of Change' exhibition. The giant ceremonial Bronze Age sword provides a fascinating...
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The Book of the Queen - The British Library
This episode shines a light on Christine de Pizan, one of the overlooked women from history featured in the British Library's exhibition 'Medieval Women: In their own Words'. Curator Eleanor Jackson tells host Ploy Radford-Taylor about this extraordinary woman who was Europe's first professional...
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Lord Leighton's landscape paintings - Leighton House
Leighton House's new exhibition 'Leighton and Landscape: Impressions from Nature shines a new light on its famous former occupant. In this episode, senior curator Daniel Robbins shares the story behind Frederic, Lord Leighton's landscapes and what went into putting together this first of a kind...
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Assortment of Japanese souvenirs - the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum
Host Ploy Radford-Taylor returns to the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum where a chat with curator Duncan Walker about some innocuous Japanese souvenirs leads to a much wider discussion about changing Japanese society, the rise of tourism and the lives of Sir Merton and Lady Russell-Cotes.
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Blandford Fashion Museum - a Regency spencer
While you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, you can’t deny that clothes can reveal a lot about a person, or the past, as host Ploy Radford-Taylor finds when she visits Blandford Fashion Museum.
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The 'Queen of the Bluestockings' - Elizabeth Montagu
In this episode, historian Dr Lizzie Rogers tells the story of Elizabeth Montagu, famed salon hostess and founder of the Blue Stockings Society, literary critic and successful businesswoman.
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Costanza Piccolomini - interview with author Rachel Blackmore
In this first episode of season 4, host Ploy Radford-Taylor interviews author Rachel Blackmore about her debut novel 'Costanza', which tells the story of Costanza Piccolomini, whose affair with celebrated superstar sculptor Gianlorenzo Bernini takes a dark turn...
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Easter 2023 special - Cleopatra Selene
For this second Easter 2023 special episode, host Ploy Radford interviews Dr Jane Draycott on the life and times of Cleopatra Selene, daughter of the famous Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Roman general Mark Antony. While Cleopatra Selene has slipped under the radar in history compared to her mother,...
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Easter 2023 special - Equestrian artist Lucy Kemp-Welch
For this Easter 2023 special episode of Past Matters, host Ploy Radford interviews Dr David Haycock, curator of a new exhibition about the equestrian artist Lucy Kemp-Welch (1869-1958) at the Russell Cotes Art Gallery & Museum. The episode explores Kemp-Welch's life, extraordinary art, and how…
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New Year special - Sophia Dorothea, the British queen who never was
In a new year special, historian and author Catherine Curzon tells podcast host Ploy Radford about the story of the British queen who never was - Sophia Dorothea, the much maligned wife of King George I.
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Animal bones - Fishbourne Roman Palace
In this final episode of season 3, podcast host Ploy Radford and zooarchaeologists Dr Rob Symmons and Professor Naomi Sykes discuss the importance of animal bones to unveiling the past, and how the ones discovered at Fishbourne Roman Palace suggest there was once an exotic zoo there.
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Circles of Stone exhibition - Stonehenge
Stonehenge is without doubt one of the most iconic historic monuments in Britain. It turns out though it wasn't just people in prehistoric Britain building stone circles of cultural significance though - it was also happening on the other side of the world in prehistoric Japan. To delve into this...
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Sword and helmet - William Morris Gallery
Find out more about the founder of the Arts and Crafts movement in England, William Morris, from the story of a sword and helmet he had made for one of his first artistic projects. On display at the William Morris Gallery, these items reveal lots about Morris' early life, his influences and are...
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'The Lost King' - The Wallace Collection
This is an episode for arms and armour enthusiasts, Ricardians, and those interested in the magic of movie-making. Host Ploy Radford interviews Dr Toby Capwell from the Wallace Collection about their temporary exhibition linked to 'The Lost King' movie about Richard III. Learn about the art of...
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'Without hands' - the Sarah Biffin exhibition at Philip Mould & Company
This podcast is about celebrating the underrated, so in this episode, host Ploy Radford talks to art historian and miniatures expert Emma Rutherford about an utterly remarkable artist whose work is being exhibited for the first time in 100 years at the Philip Mould & Company Gallery in London.…
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'Tiny Traces' - The Foundling Museum
Past Matters podcast host Ploy Radford interviews Hannah Dennett, Curator of the 'Tiny Traces: African & Asian Children at London's Foundling Hospital', about the stories of these children, uncovered for the first time for this vital and interesting exhibition at the Foundling Museum. Listen to...
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Christmas 2021 special episode - interview with Lucy Jago
Lucy Jago, author of 'A Net for Small Fishes', explains how a painting of Frances Howard, Countess of Somerset, resonated particularly with her as she was writing her novel, which follows Frances' involvement in the Overbury murder scandal that rocked the Stuart court.
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Christmas 2021 special episode - interview with Annie Garthwaite
In one of three Christmas 2021 special episodes, host Ploy Radford talks to author Annie Garthwaite, about an illustration in the Neville Book of Hours that helped her capture the personality of Cecily of York, the titular character in her debut novel 'Cecily', and an influential figure in the…
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Christmas 2021 special episode - interview with Jennifer Saint
In one of three Christmas 2021 special episodes, Past Matters host Ploy Radford talks to author Jennifer Saint about an ancient Minoan object that helped inspire her debut novel Ariadne, which retells the famous Ancient Greek myths of Theseus and the Minotaur and Phaedra and Hippolytus from…
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2021 special - interview with Dr Valerie Schutte
In this bonus special episode, host Ploy Radford talks to Tudor queenship expert Dr Valerie Schutte about that most underrated of Henry VIII's wives - Anne of Cleves and a book of hours she gifted Henry VIII in 1533 (now in the Folger Shakespeare Library). Listen in to hear more about how Anne...
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2021 special - interview with Dr Ian Mortimer
In one of three special episodes, host Ploy Radford talks to Dr Ian Mortimer, historian and author of the hugely popular 'Time Traveller's Guide...' series about the rediscovery of the mirror in medieval Europe. This most basic of objects led to a revolution in the sense of self and can even be...
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2021 special - interview with Dr Ellie Woodacre
In one of three special episodes, host Ploy Radford talks to royal studies specialist Dr Ellie Woodacre about a collection of books that belonged to Joan of Navarre, wife of Henry IV and stepmother to Henry V, of Battle of Agincourt fame. The books provide a fantastic starting part for a wider...
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2021 special - interview with Kelcey Wilson-Lee
In one of three special episodes, host Ploy Radford talks to Kelcey Wilson-Lee, historian and author of 'Daughters of Chivalry', a biography of the five daughters of Edward I (aka the king in 'Braveheart'). Kelcey picks the Alphonso Psalter as her underrated historic object and reveals what it...
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The prisons - Colchester Castle
Season 2 of Past Matters ends on a gruesome note with Ben Paites, Collections and Learning Curator at Colchester & Ipswich Museums, discussing the history of the prisons at Colchester Castle. Not for the squeamish this episode covers prison conditions, witch burnings and the over zealous pursuit…
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A pair of huia birds - The Horniman Museum & Gardens
In this episode, host Ploy Radford talks to Jo Hatton, Keeper of the Natural History Collection at the Horniman Museum & Gardens in South London. She picked a pair of taxidermied huia birds from the collection as her underrated objects. What makes these sadly now extinct birds particularly...
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Two swords - Ipswich Museum
For this episode, host Ploy Radford revisits a museum featured in season 1 – Ipswich Museum. This time, Tim Rousham from the visitor services team at the museum discusses two pattern-welded swords from the 9th century AD. Tune in to this episode to learn more about designing beautiful and…
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1960s clock - Museum of the Home
Vanessa Meade, Curator of Exhibitions and Interpretations at the Museum of the Home, talks to Ploy Radford about a humble yet special 1960s clock for this episode of Past Matters. You can view a picture of the clock on www.ployradford.com or by following Past Matters on Instagram, Twitter or...
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'Schooner approaching the harbour' - Compton Verney
Compton Verney in Warwickshire has one of the finest collections of folk art in the UK. In this episode Director Julie Finch tells Ploy Radford why 'Schooner approaching the harbour' by Alfred Wallis, which is painted on a tea tray, is a piece of folk art that particularly resonates with her…
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Two smocks - The MERL
When you're asked to imagine an iconic item of clothing the humble smock probably doesn't come to mind. However, in this episode, Dr Ollie Douglas, Curator at The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL), convinces podcast host Ploy Radford as to the importance of the smock to English identity.…
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A patera - The Roman Baths, Bath
In this episode, Zofia Matyjaszkiewicz, who is the Collections Assistant at the Roman Baths in Bath, tells Ploy Radford why a patera - a shallow libation bowl - is her underrated object at this world-famous site. This one object sets off a whole discussion about Roman lives and passions, how…
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Three ceilings - Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery
While the previous episode reminded listeners to look down when visiting historic houses, in a pleasing symmetry, this episode reminds them to look up. Podcast host Ploy Radford talks to Clare Gough, Director at Pitzhanger Museum & Gallery, about three beautiful ceilings in the building, touching...
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Axminster carpet - Harewood House
This episode of Past Matters should encourage visitors to England's finest stately homes to look down as well as up for future visits, as Assistant Curator and Archivist at Harewood House, Beckie Burton, describes the significance of a grand Axminster carpet for social standing. You can find a...
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'Colt hunting in the New Forest' - Palace House
To kick off season 2 of Past Matters, podcast host Ploy Radford talks to Dr Steven Parissien, CEO of Palace House, Newmarket, about a painting by Lucy Kemp-Welch - 'Colt hunting in the New Forest'. Kemp-Welch was a highly successful artist and illustrator - which was rare achievement for women in...
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Christmas 2019 special: Margaret Beaufort's tomb - chosen by historian Nicola Tallis
As a special Christmas treat for you, my listeners, I have done something a bit different for this episode of Past Matters. Instead of asking a museum, gallery or historic house what their most underrated item is, I have instead asked historian Nicola Tallis, what historical object she thinks is...
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Christmas 2019 special: Torcheres - Apsley House (with added bonus audio)
Apsley House (also known as No.1 London) is the home of the Dukes of Wellington and for the first time has extended its opening times to the 22nd December 2019 and decorated the house in 1840s style Christmas decorations. Visitors can therefore experience this already beautiful building as it may...
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Christmas 2019 special: Two clocks - The Charles Dickens Museum
'A Christmas Carol' has got to be one of the most famous Christmas books out there, so it seemed fitting to interview Dr Cindy Sughrue, Director of the Charles Dickens Museum in London, for one of the three 2019 Christmas specials of Past Matters. With Christmas as a key marker in time, that...
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THREE GORILLAS – IPSWICH MUSEUM
It’s not all about the mammoth! Visitors to Ipswich Museum should also take note of three frightening looking taxidermied gorillas in the corner of the Victorian Natural History Gallery there. This group were the first gorillas the British public would have ever seen and the story of their...
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Madame de Pompadour snuffbox - Waddesdon Manor
Art, dogs, and a famous royal mistress... what more could you want from a podcast episode? To round off Season 1 of Past Matters, journalist Ploy Radford talks to Dr Mia Jackson, Curator of Decorative Arts at Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, about a beautiful snuffbox depicting the beloved…
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Three tapestries - Hever Castle
This episode of Past Matters if for fans of the Tudors, Anne Boleyn and anyone who has ever wanted to learn more about tapestries, royal signifiers of power and historical fashion. Or those who enjoy looking for the comic scenes hidden in art. Download to hear Alison Palmer, Conservation and...
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Regency fan - The Holburne Museum
This episode takes us to the Holburne Museum in Bath, which runs an excellent programme called Pathways to Wellbeing whereby they offer art classes focusing on the objects in the museum to people with mental health issues referred by the local NHS trust. Listen on to hear Louise Campion…
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Roman jewellery - Colchester Castle
It can be very easy to walk by jewellery in an exhibition because these items tend to be very small. Don't skip by this episode of Past Matters though - in it journalist Ploy Radford talks to Colchester Museums' Senior Collections and Learning Curator Glynn Davis about some exquisite pieces of...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Museums, galleries and historic houses are treasure troves of items from the past. But how easy is it at these sites to unknowingly just walk straight past an object with an incredible story to tell? In this podcast series host Ploy Radford talks to the experts at different museums, galleries and historic houses about the most underrated objects in their collection, and unveils some fantastic facts.
HOSTED BY
Ploy Radford
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Past Matters have?
Past Matters currently has 54 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Past Matters about?
Museums, galleries and historic houses are treasure troves of items from the past. But how easy is it at these sites to unknowingly just walk straight past an object with an incredible story to tell? In this podcast series host Ploy Radford talks to the experts at different museums, galleries and...
How often does Past Matters release new episodes?
Past Matters has 54 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Past Matters?
You can listen to Past Matters on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Past Matters?
Past Matters is created and hosted by Ploy Radford.
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