Hidden Heritage

Hidden Heritage Formerly known as Duchess the Podcast, Hidden Heritage is a podcast which uncovers the secrets of the past and explores the UK’s greatest destinations

21/05/2026

Do we undervalue heritage? 🏰

For Marcus Yorke-Long, Head of Private Office at Charles Russell Speechlys, the value of a brand is deeply shaped by the heritage it carries. The challenge, however, lies in remaining true to that inherited identity while adapting it for a contemporary world. Heritage cannot rely on history alone. To survive, historic homes and estates must remain agile, evolving in ways that keep them alive and relevant.

Charles Russell Speechlys works within this space as the legal and strategic custodian of historic estates, helping owners and institutions navigate the complex frameworks behind their preservation and use. It provides the structure that allows heritage buildings and landscapes to be protected, adapted and sustained as living assets for future generations.

Tune in to Heritage, Power and the Global Gaze to hear more of Marcus Yorke-Long’s perspective on the future of heritage, alongside Jason Lindsay, Chairman of Historic Houses. If you haven’t listened yet, make sure to so now and to share your thoughts in the review section. 🎧

20/05/2026

The Enduring Value of British Heritage🇬🇧

Should Britain and Britons be investing more in our own brands?

In this week’s episode of Hidden Heritage, Marcus Yorke-Long, Head of the Private Office at Charles Russell Speechlys, asks an important question: if overseas investors consistently recognise the value of British brands, why are we not investing more boldly in them ourselves?

British heritage is more than nostalgia. It is a source of enduring value shaped by craftsmanship, identity, reputation and history. From historic houses to family businesses and heritage brands, Britain possesses assets admired across the world. Yet too often, ownership and investment come from abroad rather than from within.

Marcus highlights the need for a stronger culture of domestic investment, one that gives British brands the support they need to grow while preserving the character and heritage that make them unique in the first place.

Listen to Marcus Yorke-Long alongside Jason Lindsay, Chairman of Historic Houses, on this week’s episode of Hidden Heritage, now available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.🎙️

Follow the podcast to stay up to date with the conversations shaping Britain’s heritage and its future!

19/05/2026

Branding Britain 🇬🇧💂‍♀️🐕

What first comes to mind when you think of Britain?

For many around the world, it is an instantly recognisable image: green rolling hills, muddy wellies, loyal if slightly tubby labradors and frigid country piles.

In this week’s episode of Hidden Heritage, Marcus Yorke-Long, Head of the Private Office at Charles Russell Speechlys, joins Jason Lindsay, Chairman of Historic Houses, to discuss the enduring power of “Britain” as a global brand and why heritage properties must embrace that identity to remain relevant in an increasingly competitive modern landscape.

From tourism and storytelling to preservation and commercial sustainability, the conversation explores an increasingly important reality: heritage today is not only cultural, but commercial.

In partnership with our sponsor Charles Russell Speechlys, ‘Heritage, Power and the Global Gaze’ is now streaming on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Do give us a listen and leave a review if you enjoy the episode.💬

18/05/2026

A Different Type of Investment ⏳

In this week’s episode of Hidden Heritage, Violet is joined by Jason Lindsay, Chairman of Historic Houses, and Marcus Yorke-Long, Head of the Private Office at Charles Russell Speechlys, to explore one question: who owns our heritage now?

Together, they discuss the future of Britain’s historic houses, estates and landscapes - from overseas investment and succession pressures to stewardship, policy and national identity. As international buyers increasingly recognise the value of British heritage, the conversation asks whether Britain itself values these assets enough, and what “ownership” really means in 2026.

A clear-eyed discussion on continuity, custodianship and the future of Britain’s historic landscape.

In this excerpt, Jason, who also serves as custodian of Hedingham Castle in Essex, reflects on how inheriting a historic home changes one’s relationship to it. Unlike a purchased home, where money is the initial investment, an inherited home demands a continuous investment of time, energy and care, inevitably shaping what one expects from it in return. A fascinating perspective, and just one insight from the conversation we were fortunate to have at the Charles Russell Speechlys offices.

If you haven’t yet listened to Heritage, Power and the Global Gaze, head over to Hidden Heritage on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.🎧

We’d love to hear your thoughts; leave us a review and follow the podcast so you never miss an episode!

25/04/2026

The Marble Hall ✨

Undoubtedly one of the most impressive features of Elveden, the Marble Hall is a four-storey room crafted entirely from Carrara marble, designed in a rich blend of Eastern styles. Built as a ballroom for the Guinness family, it is said that over 700 artisans were employed to bring it to life.

We, for one, are rather jealous of those house guests who once had the privilege of swaying beneath its great copper dome, no doubt feeling as though they had been transported to the great courts of India.

Our conversation with Lord Iveagh is available to stream on Hidden Heritage. Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and share your thoughts in the review section 🎧

22/04/2026

Remembering Elveden’s royal resident 👑

The Guinness family have owned Elveden Hall for over 130 years, acquiring it following the death of its previous custodian, Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last Maharaja of the Sikh Empire, who made this grand estate his home in the second half of the 19th century.

In this episode, Edward Guinness, 4th Earl of Iveagh, shares further insight into Duleep Singh’s life and his time at Elveden, including his richly populated menagerie.🐆

Lord Iveagh: Legacy, Land and the Weight of History at Elveden will be released tomorrow on Hidden Heritage. Make sure to tune in, and if you do not already follow us, do so to be notified as soon as the episode goes live.

20/04/2026

Can you guess the guest⁉️

In this week’s Hidden Heritage episode, Violet sits down with the man at the helm of one of Britain’s most impressive and delightfully eccentric stately homes: Eleven Hall.

There are countless reasons to visit historic houses, from the rich stories they tell to the remarkable collections they hold. But one of the most important, Violet and our mystery guest agree, is the sense of calm they offer, the almost therapeutic effect of being immersed in their history and surrounding nature.

To discover who we had the pleasure of speaking with this week, tune in to Hidden Heritage this Wednesday. If you’re not already following us, be sure to do so on Spotify or Apple Podcasts to stay up to date with all our latest episodes.🎙️

17/04/2026

Accomplishing One’s Duty ⚔️

In speaking to aristocrats across Britain for Heirs and Graces, Eleanor Doughty found a recurring theme in their testimonies: reluctance. For many, inheritance does not arrive at a convenient moment, but in the midst of an already established life, with a career, a family, and often far removed from the estate itself.

Taking on an historic house is rarely straightforward. It can mean stepping away from one life to assume another, shaped by responsibility, expectation and the weight of history. What emerges is not entitlement, but a strong sense of duty, to family, to legacy and to the future of the estate.

We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Eleanor. If you haven’t done so yet, make sure to leave the episode a review and purchase your very own copy of Heirs and Graces!📚

15/04/2026

The man behind the peer✨

The lives that inspire stories like Downton Abbey are often imagined at a distance, but in reality, they are shaped by the same emotions, pressures and memories as any other. In this extract, journalist and author Eleanor Doughty reflects on that reality. For Lord Crathorne, it began early. Sent away to school as a young child, as was common for boys of his background, the separation proved deeply traumatic, not only for him, but for his mother, a moment that has stayed with him ever since.

In writing Heirs and Graces, Eleanor conducted hundreds of interviews with aristocrats across Britain, gaining rare and often intimate insight into lives usually glimpsed only from the outside, and, in doing so, revealing the human stories behind the titles.

The episode is now live on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Enjoying our conversation with Eleanor and want to learn more?
Her book Heirs and Graces can be purchased at any major book retailer!📚

Follow Hidden Heritage and leave a review to support the series.

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