Sue Cook presents the series that examines listeners' historical queries, exploring avenues of research and uncovering mysteries.
Series 10
Programme 6
Programme 6 -Ìý23 November 2004
Listeners' queries
Francisco de Miranda - the Venezuelan revolutionary with a Yorkshire wife
"The church at Market Weighton in Yorkshire has a plaque to Sarah Andrews, who, it says, was the wife of the South American revolutionary Francisco de Miranda. I would like to know more about him and how he came to have a wife from Market Weighton in Yorkshire." Find out more about Francisco de Miranda
John Taylor, the ancient lead miner - could he really have been 137?
"While on holiday in Scotland I came across an extraordinary gravestone in Leadhills in Lanarkshire. The man buried there was a miner, John Taylor, who was said to be 137 when he died. What do you make of this?" Find out more about John Taylor
William Blyth - the Paglesham smuggler
"We have a family story that back in the eighteenth century there was a well-known smuggler ancestor by the name of Blyth who lived in the village of Paglesham in Essex. Paglesham was said to be rife with the shifting of contraband. I'd like to know if there was such a man. Why, if it is true, did that village become such a focus for smuggling?" Find out more about William Blyth
The Great Redan - the fortress defending Sebastopol in the Crimean War
"In Chilcompton in Somerset there is an inn called The Redan, with a colourful sign of Crimean soldiers. What I want to know is was there a special recorded incident in the Crimean War called the Redan?" Find out more about the Great Redan
Tanks - how they were introduced during World War One
"My wife's grandfather had been one of the first recruits into the Tank Corps during the First World War and had trained at Lulworth Cove. I've always been told that the tank was a very secret weapon in WWI - so how was the training kept secret and what did it consist of? How were the first tank crews selected for this role? Can you tell us any more about the first tank crews?" Find out more about the introduction of tanks
Vanessa has presentedÌýscience and current affairs programmes for ±«Óãtv, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Discovery and has presented for ±«Óãtv Radio 4 & Five Live and a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday, Scotsman and Sunday Herald.Ìý
Contact Making History
Send your comments and questions for future programmes to:
Making History
±«Óãtv Radio 4
PO Box 3096 Brighton
BN1 1PL
Vanessa has presentedÌýscience and current affairs programmes for ±«Óãtv, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Discovery and has presented for ±«Óãtv Radio 4 & Five Live and a regular contributor to the Daily Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday, Scotsman and Sunday Herald.Ìý