Making History

Tom Holland and Iszi Lawrence follow history’s lines and linkages to uncover connections and compelling stories. This week, with the imminent arrival of a new Royal baby, Tom and Iszi examine bloodlines - from some of the Queen’s own surprising ancestors, to the vagaries of dog breeding. Adam Rutherford discusses how DNA testing has informed the study of history and the programme asks if race really is a question of genetics, or a cultural construct. Producer: Alison Vernon-Smith A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

With Donald Trump’s Mexican wall back in the news, Tom Holland and Iszi Lawrence follow history’s lines and linkages to discover how Britain’s borders have been used to separate communities. Tom travels to Offa’s Dyke to find out how the 176-mile-long, 8th century earthwork divided the Anglian kingdom of Mercia from Powys. In Belfast, the so-called peace lines are barriers that often cut across streets separating nationalists from unionists. But now a new scheme is under way to neutralise their effect. Making History examines how Belfast is changing. And, crossing the border - how the development of passports formalised frontier control. Producer: Alison Vernon-Smith A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

Tom Holland and Iszi Lawrence follow history’s lines and linkages to uncover connections and compelling stories. Programme 2: HS2 – Linking Past with Tomorrow. As the new HS2 rail link between London and Birmingham begins its first construction phase, Tom Holland joins the railway archaeologists who’ve been excavating one of London’s ancient graveyards along the new line. And, further down the communications corridor, Making History explores the history of protest in the face of transport progress. Also, with centuries-old woodlands being displaced by new roads and railways, we look at Britain’s ancient sylvan histor Producer: Alison Vernon-Smith A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

Tom Holland and Iszi Lawrence consider fascinating and multi-faceted aspects of history. The new series of this long-running programme focuses on lines - historical and historic lines and routes that may be physical or conceptual and that criss-cross our geographical and cultural landscape. It looks at why and how they came about and discusses what they offer us in our understanding of our past and present. Programme 1. The Prime Meridian - the journey from Stonehenge to Jazz As it's New Year's Day, it seems the perfect opportunity to explore the history of the Prime Meridian at Greenwich and our relationship with Time. We start at Stonehenge and finish at the National Jazz Archive, located on the meridian at Loughton in Essex. Along the way, Tom and Iszi take in the Romans, French-Anglo rivalry and which animals can hear a beat. Tom Holland is a writer and historian who has written a number of popular and successful works including Dynasty and Rubicon. Iszi Lawrence is a comedian and broadcaster who's appeared on Making History as a guest but is now the new co-presenter. Producer: Alison Vernon-Smith A Pier production for BBC Radio 4

Tom Holland is joined by the history podcaster and stand-up comedian Iszi Lawrence. In Britain's recent past, a long hot summer has often coincided with racial unrest on our streets - 1981 is perhaps the most notable example. But while we remember events in Brixton, Toxteth and Tottenham, have we forgotten the tensions in Southall during the 1960s and 70s which, some argue, paved the way for better race relations in the UK? Lovejit Dhaliwal visits a Heritge Lottery project in Southall re-examining the importance of the town's Youth Movement. King Edmund of East Anglia lost his life in a period of our history when the country we now know as England was still being defined. He was our patron saint until the 14th century but now he's largely forgotten - and so his is resting place. Historian Dr Francis Young has a hunch that he's still in Bury St Edmunds, not in a church but under a tennis court. Fifty years ago, a programme that some know as 'dieselisation' reached its climax on Britain's railways and saw the end of steam in public service. Many mourn the passing of steam trains but, as Helen Castor found out on a trip to Swindon, keeping these beasts going was dirty, dangerous and laborious. Producer: Nick Patrick A Pier production for BBC Radio 4.