Sue Cook presents the series that examines listeners' historical queries, exploring avenues of research and uncovering mysteries.
Series 10
Programme 8
Programme 8Ìý-Ìý7ÌýDecember 2004
Listeners' queries
The Husker Pit disaster, 1838 - why 26 children died
"I saw a monument in Silkstone churchyard near Barnsley to the people who died in the Husker mining disaster. They were all children. Why was this? What happened?" Find out more about the Husker Pit disaster
City of Truro or Flying ScotsmanÌý - which was the first to reach 100mph?
"When I was young we had a book about steam trains. In it was a photograph of a steam train - 'City of Truro', of the Great Western Railway - which it was claimed reached 102mph during the first decade of the last century. Recently, there have been radio and television programmes referring to the 'Flying Scotsman' as being the first train to exceed 100mph. Which is right?" Find out more about the 100mph rail speed record
Jersey - what's so significant about 1204?
"I was on holiday in Jersey in August. Jersey had been celebrating 800 years of allegiance to the English crown. Can you explain it for me, because I could not quite get my head round what it was all about. Surely 1066 was when the English Crown got involved? William the Conqueror was Duke of Normandy and at the Norman Conquest the Channel Islands - which were already his - became allied to England. The events of 1204 - when, apparently, King John lost Normandy - seem minor in comparison. Can you sort it out for me? What's so special about 1204?" Find out more about Jersey 1204
Flintlock guns - how they worked
"Could a flintlock pistol backfiring cause serious injury to the man attempting to fire it?" Find out more aboutÌýflintlock guns
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