Sue Cook and the team answer listeners' historical queries and celebrate the way in which we all 'make' history.
Series 13
Programme 6
23ÌýMayÌý2006
Transportation 1787 to 1868
Making History receives many letters and emails from listeners about ancestors who were 'transported' to Australia. The programme consulted Dr Ian Duffield (formerly of Edinburgh University and a leading researcher in this field) for more information about why people were transported, what conditions were like and whether people were repatriated.
Useful links
The National Archives at Kew can provide a good deal of help for listeners researching ancestors who may have been transported. See their factsheetÌý.
The web page for Radio 4's This Sceptred Isle: Empire provides good background information. SeeÌýAustralia - Transportation (episode 34).
-Ìýa guide for Australians researching their convict ancestors
The Australian Government'sÌý
Source material index for the University of Leicester's course
Water towers
Making History's Richard Daniel met with writer and enthusiast Nat Bocking to learn more about the history of water towers and the formation ofÌýthe British Water Tower Appreciation Society.
Richard and Nat visited the water tower at Orwell Park School in Ipswich.
The British Water Tower Appreciation Society can be contacted at:
The Water Tower Project
Holton House
Southwold Road
Halesworth
Suffolk IP19 8PW
The Tomb of the Eagles
Making History listener Steve Campbell contacted the programme to nominate the Tomb of the Eagles as a 'hidden treasure'.
Estimated to be some 5,000 years old, this 'stalled chamber' tomb was discovered by farmer Ronald Simison in 1958 and sits high on the cliff tops of the Orkney island of South Ronaldsay. Ronnie still gives people guided tours today and there is also a museum showing some of the artefacts from the tomb. The tomb takes its name from the many eagles' claws found among the human remains.
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