History Gems

In the latest episode of History Gems, Dr Nicola Tallis is joined by writer, historian and TV producer Rebecca Rideal to explore the story of Colonel Thomas Blood and his audacious attempt to steal the Crown Jewels in 1671.

Rebecca tells Nicola how Blood befriended the newly appointed Master of the Jewel House, 77-year-old Talbot Edwards, to get close to the jewels, and how he even had to flatten St. Edward's Crown to hide it beneath his clerical coat.

Did he get away with it?? You’ll have to tune in to find out!

For images of the jewels discussed in this episode, follow the podcast at @historygemspod on Twitter and Instagram.

What is History Gems?

Welcome to History Gems, the podcast that follows historian and author Dr Nicola Tallis as she seeks to unpick the stories behind some of history's most famous and intriguing jewels.

With a different expert on every episode, Nicola delves into a daring attempt to steal the Crown Jewels, the secrets of a supposedly cursed diamond, the creation of the world's most famous Easter eggs, and plenty more.

Check out @historygemspod on social media to see pictures of each week's gems!

Nicola's books include:
Crown of Blood: The Deadly Inheritance of Lady Jane Grey
Elizabeth's Rival: The Tumultuous Tale of Lettice Knollys, Countess of Leicester
Uncrowned Queen: The Fateful Life of Margaret Beaufort, Tudor Matriarch

Find her on social media:
Twitter: @NicolaTallis
Instagram: @historian_nicola