The Untitled History Podcast

Episode 37: Milton Keynes: The Future that Could Have Been

The Untitled History Podcast

Show Notes

In post-war Britain, the drive to build new housing and a better world led to a number of plans focused on creating modern towns. The boldest and most visionary of these was to be Milton Keynes, a city from nothing.

Today, Milton Keynes is either famous, or infamous, depending on your perspective on its design. But what’s not in doubt was that the process that led to its creation was unique. A story filled with challenges its architects, planners and landscapers had to overcome.

Guest

John Grindrod is a social historian of modern places. He runs the podcast Monstrosities Mon Amour and has written books including Tales of the Suburbs: LGBTQ+ Lives Behind Net Curtains and Concretopia: A Journey Around the Rebuilding of Postwar Britain.

Cats present

Cecilia and Napoleon

Useful links

https://www.johngrindrod.co.uk

Cliff Richard’s “Wired for Sound” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0lV9h7b9B0Do you like our podcast?

Then please leave us a review, it helps us a lot!

Host: Gareth Edwards More about Gareth Edwards: https://battleguide.co.uk/untitled-history#host

To comment and ask questions, please join our community: https://untitled-history.com/supporters Use our code: Rabbit and get one month free as a Captain, or join as a free member.

Support via Paypal: http://battleguide.co.uk/untitled-paypal Merchandise and Shop: https://untitled-history.com/collections/all

Our WW1 Podcast: @NSQPod Our WW2 Podcast: @BSOWPod Battle Guide YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@BattleGuideVT

If you want to keep your finger on the pulse of what the team at Battle Guide have been getting up to, why not sign up to our monthly newsletter: https://battleguide.co.uk/newsletter

Gareth socials BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/garius.bsky.social Mastodon: https://mastodon.me.uk/@garius

Battle Guide Twitter: https://x.com/BattleguideVT General Enquiries: [email protected]

Credits: - Host: Gareth Edwards - Editing: Linus Klaßen - Production: Linus Klaßen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More from The Untitled History Podcast

Oct 15, 2026

The Roman Army was powered by cheese. It fuelled its soldiers through war and occupation and, as Rome’s armies swept through western Europe, altered how an entire continent produced and consumed cheese.

Oct 8, 2026

In September 1926, art expert Paul Arndt was shown a newly-unearthed Ancient Greek statue by an Italian dealer. It was an extraordinary piece. Its sale for a vast sum of money to an American museum, along with other pieces unearthed, would create excitement across America.

Oct 1, 2026

On the 8th of 1940, a lone British destroyer encountered part of the German invasion force bound for Norway. The heroic last stand of HMS Glowworm against overwhelming odds earned her captain the first Victoria Cross of the war. Incredibly, this award was granted based on the recommendation of the German Admiral he had fought.

Sep 24, 2026

In 1940, Charles de Gaulle saved France. He called for resistance to the Nazi occupation from London. In 1958, with the French republic crumbling, he stepped forward to save France again.

Sep 17, 2026

In 1458, the Kingdom of Cyprus was the last of the Crusader States. Over the next 30 years, two remarkable women would fight to rule it as queen. Their rivalry would see each experience periods of power and exile.

See all episodes →