Shows
My Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryQ&A Bonus Episode (Season 5, + Janie's story returning eventually - I promise!)Season 5, bonus episode. Ingrid answers listeners' questions, talks about the future of My Love Letter Time Machine, and introduces her Grandfather Owen's memoirs, (who was a nurse in the Royal Navy during WW2). Ingrid will come back with Janie’s story in the Spring in a new season of the podcast, and then lead into story of her family getting through the first world war, the depression, the second world war and out the other side, as well as taking a look at history through the eyes of a very ordinary working class family in Sheffield. S...2023-12-0928 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian History...till death do us part.Season 5, episode 12. 1893 to 1894. I’m so sorry to break your hearts, but mine is broken too. In 1894, after a protracted chest infection, Fred started coughing up blood + with horror, he + Janie would have realised that they were staring tuberculosis in the face. Support the show2023-12-0225 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryHappily Ever After...Season 5, episode 11. 1890 to 1893. Janie and Fred move to the seaside in Redcar, North Yorkshire, we get to have rather a lovely snapshot of their life together with financial security, social mobility and even some balls and banquets. However back in Sheffield, Tuberculosis rears its ugly head. Support the show2023-11-2528 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryKrakatoa (75th Episode!)Season 5, episode 10. September 1883 to August 1889. We follow Janie and Fred's growing family, catch up with their family and friends back in Sheffield, and the goings on at the North Eastern Steel Company in Middlesbrough, as well as take a look at the impact of the first globally reported disaster. Support the show2023-11-1830 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryMr & Mrs Fred ShepherdSeason 5, episode 9. October 1882 - November 1883. We follow Janie and Fred's first year of as newlyweds as they settle into married life in Middlesbrough, but back in Handsworth, Sheffield, all is not well. 1883 proves a year of highs and lows, of birth, marriage and death. Support the show2023-11-0527 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian History“I Fred Shepherd, take thee Jane Warburton”Season 5, episode 8. 7th - 12th October 1882. It's Fred and Janie's wedding! We have the last of the letters, and Ingrid tries her best to recreate the wedding of her Great Great Grandparents. Grab your tissues. [Wedding March Pipe Organ royalty free music standard license purchased from audio jungle/ Envato]Support the show2023-10-2933 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian History"My darling our letters will soon be closed"Season 5, episode 7. 2nd - 6th October 1882. The last full week of letters before Janie and Fred's wedding! Janie is rushing around organising everything for the wedding attendents, Fred is get the finishing touches made to what will be their new home, and, we have a little look at the tradition of bride-to-be's bottom drawer.Support the show2023-10-2124 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryPhone upgrades in Victorian BritainSeason 5, episode 6. 28th September - 1st October 1882. An industrial accident involving a crane takes place at Fred's works in Middlesbrough, and we take look at the history of the adoption of the telephone in Victorian Britain. Fred and Janie also reflect that their time of writing to each other is coming to an end.Support the show2023-10-1423 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryCollars and cuffs and other stuffSeason 5, episode 5. September 24th - 28th 1882. Janie is industriously sending household items up to Middlesbrough on the luggage train, and Fred is rather irritated - because his laundry keeps going missing, and someone has been taking Janie's letters out of his coat pocket and reading them.Support the show2023-10-0821 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryGout, Guests, and a Grumpy GroomSeason 5, episode 4. September 20th-23rd 1882. Fred gets into a fine old mood over the course of these next letters, as the caliber of wedding guests being invited, by Janie’s Mother, not Janie I hasten to add, is making him fret. We also take a little look at the Derbyshire spa town of Buxton and the history of 'taking the waters'.Support the show2023-10-0123 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryThe Groomsman ConfusionSeason 5, episode 3. 17th - 19th September 1882. Content warning for Victorian alcohol abuse. Confusion arises over a mystery groomsman, Fred is arranging for their banns of marriage to be published, and Janie has to deal with a family quarrel when Emma’s drinking takes a turn for the worse.Support the show2023-09-2423 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryThe Bridesmaid Proliferation Problem Season 5, episode 2. September 12th-16th 1882. Today we have a row about bridesmaids - Fred continues to try and rein in Janie’s wedding plans to absolutely no avail. 1882 was a Royal Wedding year, and while Janie would have been fascinated, she may have been more influenced by accounts of society weddings taking place in Yorkshire. Bridesmaids in hats seem to have been very popular. Support the show2023-09-1720 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian History"There must be no bustles or crinolettes!"Season 5, episode 1. September 9th-11th 1882. We are now properly into the run up to Janie and Fred's wedding in four weeks time, and Fred offers what some might consider unwise opinions into what his bride should or shouldn't be wearing. Fortunately his letter arrives after Janie has already ordered her wedding dress. Support the show2023-09-1023 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryJanie’s Dad's cricket match of 1843 (Bonus episode)Season 4. Bonus mini episode. How a tiny newspaper clipping from 1843 took me on a little adventure on the history of cricket, featuring a brief look at a stadium disaster from 200 years ago, and the possible origins of how Janie's parents got together.Support the show2023-06-2313 min
The Divorce SocialListener: Ingrid Birchell-Hughes"in my darkest time I was not expecting to be thrown a lifeline from my family, from 140years ago"Samantha Baines joins listener Ingrid to talk about her unique divorce experience. Ingrid discovered love letters that had been passed down in her family from 140years ago between Fred and Janie her ancestors. During her own divorce Ingrid began following the story of her great great grandad and grandma, researching and started her own podcast to share this one hundred year old love story with the world. Her research brought up parallels and highlighted the historical differences...2023-05-2453 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryQ&A Bonus Episode (Season 4)Season 4, episode 13. Q&A Bonus episode. In which Ingrid answers questions from listeners and talks about the importance of the letters. We also look forward to the Season 5 featuring the last of Fred and Janie's letters (out in September 2023), and consider the future of the podcast. Support the show2023-05-0726 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryKnives and Forks, and The Cutlers' FeastSeason 4, episode 12. 5th-8th September 1882. The wedding planning is picking up steam, Janie is gifted a wedding present from the elusive Fred Johnson. Our Fred finaly finds their new house, and we take a look at the Cutlers Company of Hallamshire and some unexpected family history therein.Support the show2023-04-3028 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryHandsworth Feast and Flower ShowSeason 4, episode 11. 28th August - 4th September 1882. Janie bless her heart, is swamped, almost literally, working for the Cross Keys supporting the Handsworth Feast and Flower Show in miserable weather. Fred seems to have difficulty understanding why Janie just doesn't have the time to write to him.Support the show2023-04-2323 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryFred almost falls to his death... Season 4, episode 10. August 23rd-27th 1882. Our Fred decides goes on an adventure and climbs Roseberry Topping just south of Middlesbrough, in which he narrowly avoids killing his silly self. Fred and Janie try and firm up who will be their bridesmaids and best man for their wedding, and it’s all hands on deck at the Cross Keys as Janie gets ready for the Handsworth Feast and Flower Show. Support the show2023-04-1626 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryEmma flies into a drunken rageSeason 4, episode 9. August 19th - 23rd 1882. Content Warning: Victorian alcohol abuse and its effects in the family environment. We discover that Janie had been ice skating, and a really upsetting row blows up at the Cross Keys. We take a look at the history of Victorian indoor ice rinks or 'Glaceriums' as they were known. Support the show2023-04-0927 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryA family day at the seaside - Victorian StyleSeason 4, episode 8. 14th-18th August 1882. Janie’s fabulous account of a family day at the seaside at Cleethorpes, and, we take a look at the Married Women's Property Act of 1882 that was passed into English law that very week. A law that came a little too late for some of the women in the family. Support the show2023-03-3127 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryBaskets and WotnotsSeason 4, episode 7. August 11th - 14th 1882. After the drama of cousin Maria's collapse last week, the 'Wellingtons' and the Warburtons rally around her. Also Fred & Janie get back on track with preparing and planning for their future married life. The joy however is tempered with Emma's continuing issues.Support the show2023-03-2623 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryMatrimonial SuperstitionsSeason 4, episode 6. 3rd-10th August 1882. Fred returns to Sheffield for a visit and seems to be being ghosted by his best friend, and Janie gets a bit of a fright when her cousin Maria Staniforth suddenly falls ill. We also take a look at some matrimonial superstitions of the day.Support the show2023-03-1826 minMy Love Letter Time Machine - Victorian HistoryGuns and PosiesSeason 4, episode 5. 30th July - 2nd August 1882. Fred and Janie discuss who is going to be Fred’s best man at their upcoming wedding, Fred goes to see a practice of the North Yorkshire Artillery Volunteers, and we look at the Victorian tradition of the Language of Flowers - a craze where people gave secret meanings to different types of flowers.Support the show2023-03-1226 min