麻豆社

Historian Justin Champion goes in search of Britain's multicultural past and, with the help of parish archives and royal state papers, pieces together a picture of society during the Elizabethan era.

He examines the life and times of some of Elizabeth I's more unusual subjects, from criminals and migrants to prostitutes and people regarded as mad scientists. Piecing together evidence from dusty archives, diaries, court records and murder pamphlets, Justin paints an intriguing picture of the darker side of Elizabethan life.

Episode 4: Women in the Alehouse.

Justin Champion investigates the lives of Elizabethan women through the stories of the customers, owners and 'working girls' who made up the world of the alehouse.

Reader: Jonathan Keeble

Producer: Sarah Taylor

First broadcast on 麻豆社 Radio 4 in March 2003.