Bedlam

Bedlam: a scene of uproar and confusion, a noisy situation with no order or, originally, the slang name for a mental hospital in London… which for a while also happened to be a popular tourist attraction.


From chains on the wall to leeching - the history of mental health treatments is a lesson in questionable science and humanity.


Bethlehem hospital, founded around the 11th century in London, is a study of this history.


Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets by Catharine Arnold: journalist, academic, popular historian and author of ‘Bedlam: London and Its Mad’.


*WARNING this episode includes adult themes and conversations about mental health*


Produced by Charlotte Long and Sophie Gee. Mixed by Matt Peaty.


Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society. A podcast by History Hit.


This episode includes music by Epidemic Sound and an archive clip from an American public service announcement from 1952.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episoder(404)

How Filthy Were Medieval People?

How Filthy Were Medieval People?

If there's one sure way to irritate an historian of the Medieval period, it's to ask why the people of the Middle Ages didn't wash.In this episode, we did just that with Dr Eleanor Janega. Kate and El...

16 Jan 41min

Who Was the Victorian Thames Torso Murderer? With Lucy Worsley

Who Was the Victorian Thames Torso Murderer? With Lucy Worsley

For over a century, a series of gruesome murders have gone unsolved. Until now?The Thames Torso Killer terrified Victorian Londoners by dismembering their victims and scattering their body parts along...

13 Jan 39min

How Filthy Were the Egyptians?

How Filthy Were the Egyptians?

Lead in eyes, scented animal fat melting over wigs, teen circumcision - the Ancient Egyptians went to great lengths for beauty and hygiene. So how clean were they, and how has the colonial perspective...

9 Jan 44min

How to Survive as a Medieval Single Woman

How to Survive as a Medieval Single Woman

Being single in 2026 is a major disadvantage, so what was it like as a single woman in the Medieval period?!Joining Kate today is the always-fantastic Eleanor Janega, author and co-host of our sister ...

6 Jan 41min

How Filthy Were The Romans?

How Filthy Were The Romans?

Some of the key remnants of the Roman Empire are their public baths - huge complexes, multiple different rooms, the basis of many of our modern spas. But were the Romans clean?How regularly did they w...

2 Jan 36min

How Sexy Was Shakespeare?

How Sexy Was Shakespeare?

There's a bit of interest around Shakespeare at the minute - can we call this the Paul Mescal effect?The Bard’s work featured many references to sex and sexuality - some more obvious than others. But ...

30 Des 202547min

How Hot Was Lord Byron?

How Hot Was Lord Byron?

How 'mad, bad and dangerous to know' was Lord Byron really?We know the Romantic poet had a bit of a reputation, but how true was it? And how unusual would his behaviour have been?In this episode from ...

26 Des 202542min

How Has Porn Changed Through History?

How Has Porn Changed Through History?

With Christmas around the corner and everything being oh-so wholesome, we thought we would offer an episode from the archives of something not-so wholesome: a history of porn.What did porn look like b...

23 Des 202546min

Populært innen Historie

rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
henrettelsespodden
rss-katastrofe
historier-som-endret-norge
rss-benadet
historier-som-endret-verden
sektledere
aftenposten-historie
rss-nadelose-nordmenn-gestapo
rss-frontkjemperne
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
med-egne-oyne
rss-gamle-greier
historiepodden
vare-historier
liberal-halvtime
rss-politisk-preik
rss-historiepodden-ww2
rss-historiske-romanser-svik-drap-og-kjarlighet
rss-alt-var-bedre-for