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Catherine Warr

@cathwarr.bsky.social

1.8K followers 105 following 314 posts

Historian, filmmaker, author. Leeds. youtube.com/@CatherineWarr

Posts Replies Media

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Before there was Silverstone, there was Donington. On this day in 1935 the first Donington GP took place. The world's greatest drivers competed for glory on a British track. This is a story about glory, speed, and sports-washing - how countries use sports to launder their image. youtu.be/TLpp3gFxA34

Racing Hitler: The Donington Grand Prix

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

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Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

On 4th October 1930, the R101 airship crashed, killing 46 and ending the British airship program. Airships promised a new era of luxury air travel, but ended in disaster. This video from 2024 is the story of Britain's doomed airship programme - and what went so terribly wrong. youtu.be/C9XWcCsMxIg

Gasbags: A Great British History of Airships

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

🚨NEW VIDEO!🚨 What was the frontier of the Roman Empire like? Was Northern Britannia really an untamed wasteland? I head to Piercebridge Roman Fort to explore what these ruins tell us about the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire. youtu.be/x0LLUcs-VWA

What This Fort Reveals About Roman Britain

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

🚨NEW VIDEO!🚨 The 1381 Peasant's Revolt saw the greatest threat to Medieval state power (although they weren't really peasants). Never before had such fury been unleashed on the authorities, and this lengthy video tells the whole bloody story. youtu.be/rGJbnN4YPEw

How The Peasant's Revolt Changed English History

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

There's lots of talk about Robin Hood in the upcoming Peasant's Revolt film, so I did all the hardwork of exploring the historical development of the character youtu.be/Ir-4f9lqKpc

Who Was the REAL Robin Hood? (and does it even matter?)

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

🚨NEW VIDEO🚨 Who was the REAL Robin Hood? Did he really exist? I trace the historical development of the character and argue that it doesn't really matter whether 'Robin Hood' was real or not. youtu.be/Ir-4f9lqKpc

Who Was the REAL Robin Hood? (and does it even matter?)

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Back in June I was part of Tedx at the University of Leeds and my talk is now live on YouTube! I talk about why viewing your life and career as a "David vs Goliath" battle is unhelpful - and the better analogies we can use. youtu.be/VYM_8GHF2tE?...

Bringing British history to a digital generation | Catherine Warr | TEDxUniversity of Leeds

YouTube video by TEDx Talks

Reposted by Catherine Warr

Mickey Numbers @mickeynumberz.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

I've mentioned Catherine Warr's YouTube channel before. I would heartily recommend visiting and watching this series of videos that display Catherine's commitment to silly characters and home-made practical effects!

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

And finally, Part 4 covers the modern era of flight - from the first British woman to fly a jet to the breaking of the sound barrier and the first British woman in space. youtu.be/W4m27ygXVe8

Women Who Made Britain Fly, Part 4: Breaking Barriers, 1945 - Present Day

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Part 3 covers the record-breaking inter-war years, when British women flew further - literally - than ever before. Beryl Markham crossed the Atlantic, Mary Bailey flew to South Africa, Amy Johnson flew to Australia - and many more! youtu.be/bA0fJmRevC0

Women Who Made Britain Fly, Part 3: Record Breakers, 1919 - 1945

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Part 2 covers the birth of powered flight. These women were the first to earn a pilot's license, fly airships, build their own aircraft from scratch, and take to the air at a time when no one thought it was possible. youtu.be/zRlsg0OMI8c

Women Who Made Britain Fly, Part 2: The Aeroplane Age, 1900 - 1919

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Last year I made a four-part series covering the 200-year history of British women in the air. I'm really proud of what we did on this and it could do with some more love. Part 1 covers the early years - the first British women to fly in balloons! youtu.be/Rd0ILLtjk84

Women Who Made Britain Fly, Part 1: Getting Off the Ground, 1785 - 1900

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

YouTube selecting the perfect thumbnail there

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Guns! Tanks! Aeroplanes! It's all here at Eden Camp! Here's what I got up to in my adventure at one of the most immersive WW2 museums ⬇️ youtube.com/shorts/648S7...

Exploring WW2 history at Eden Camp! #ww2 #history #museum

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Reposted by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

🚨NEW VIDEO!🚨 The Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish is the earliest known work of science fiction written by a woman. Published in 1666, 150 years before Frankenstein, it's been ignored for centuries. But not anymore. Link below ⬇️ youtu.be/OxJkiIL9UGw

The Woman Who Invented Science Fiction

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

🚨NEW VIDEO!🚨 The Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish is the earliest known work of science fiction written by a woman. Published in 1666, 150 years before Frankenstein, it's been ignored for centuries. But not anymore. Link below ⬇️ youtu.be/OxJkiIL9UGw

The Woman Who Invented Science Fiction

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

And finally, the very first video I made was on the Battle of Leeds in 1643. It's not great; I really didn't know what I was doing, but I had an Iphone 4 and a dream. Look how far I've come, since I started in 2018! youtu.be/7WZVXrKYoJU

The Battle of Leeds

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

A couple of years ago my home church in Leeds thought that it was rather useful to have a young historian in their ranks, and asked me to produce a video on the history of the church. Check out the companion video on bellringing if you're interested! youtu.be/CYHAhjrG4PY

Stillness in the City: Leeds Minster

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

One of the oldest topics I've done is the Celts and Romans, and Leeds has its own hillfort at Barwick-in-Elmet. youtu.be/Zg8tsLHAvY0

The Barwick-in-Elmet Hillfort: A History

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Going back even further now - to when I had long hair! - and the story of Betty Beecroft, the pioneering Leeds business woman who transformed Kirkstall Forge from a ruin to an industrial powerhouse in the 19th century. youtu.be/8Uv2J35aZMM

Betty Beecroft: The Woman Who Built Kirkstall Forge

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Speaking of monuments - did you know that the only British monument to celebrate the American Revolution is in Leeds? This is the story of Parlington Arch. youtu.be/6ueduyFtwiI

This British Monument CELEBRATES the AMERICAN REVOLUTION

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Why is there an Egyptian Temple in Leeds? Temple Works, one of the largest flax mills in the world at the time, was modelled on ancient Egyptian temples. Currently under redevelopment, we painted our own Temple Works. Be sure to check out Mummy For Nothing! youtu.be/KeM4R-lhk_M

The Egyptian Temple in the Centre of Leeds

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Speaking of battles, I also covered the Battle of Winwaed - was King Penda of Mercia REALLY killed in battle at East Leeds? youtu.be/8Zhn9YuRQDo

The Battle of Winwaed: The Definitive Story

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Onto battles now, and being from Seacroft, I thought it about time that someone do a proper story of the Battle of Seacroft Moor in the Civil War. youtu.be/k3lTM3clIgA

The Battle of Seacroft Moor: The Definitive Story

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Leeds was built on textiles, so I took a 400-year journey through the history of Leeds textiles at the Industrial Museum at Armley Mills. From sheep to Burton's, this is how Leeds textiles changed the world. youtu.be/cEAYsJqS5y8

How Leeds Textiles Changed the World

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

My BLUE PLAQUE DASH found 10 of the most interesting blue plaques in Leeds within an hour of the train station! youtu.be/yJPzr-YFb0c

The Blue Plaque Dash: Leeds

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Leeds is celebrating 400 years since the first charter! Being from Leeds, I've covered its history a lot in the past few years. You'll find many Leeds videos on my channel, but here's some of my favourites to start you off. Links below ⬇️

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

🚨NEW VIDEO!🚨 Marston Moor was the biggest battle of the British Civil Wars and changed the course of history. This story has been told many times, but it was time to put my own spin on it. youtu.be/jlLCiPJdCXI

The Battle of Marston Moor: The Definitive Story

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

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Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

🚨NEW VIDEO🚨 For four centuries the Border Reivers terrorised the Anglo-Scottish border. Vicious, violent, and very clannish, they were romanticised as daring outlaws in Britain's wild frontier. But who were they really? This is the real story of the Border Reivers. youtu.be/u60oKc9YAjA

Gangs and Clans: The REAL Border Reivers

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

Delighted to have spoken at the University of Leeds Tedx Conference today!

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Delighted to be speaking at TedX University of Leeds in the coming weeks! I'm part of a lineup of speakers exploring the concept of CONVERGENCE in modern business, tech, and society!

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

🚨NEW VIDEO!🚨 I'm on a mission to find 10 of the most interesting blue plaques within an hour of the train station - and this time it's Newcastle. Ay pet, my Blue Plaque dash takes me to the home of Cheryl, Greggs, and the birth of the electric lightbulb! youtu.be/8EcThprdIMY

The Blue Plaque Dash: Newcastle

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

🚨NEW VIDEO🚨 Parlington Arch in Leeds is the only British monument to celebrate the American Revolution. Why was it built? What does it tell us about the complex attitudes of Britons towards the emerging United States? youtu.be/6ueduyFtwiI

This British Monument CELEBRATES the AMERICAN REVOLUTION

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

My video 77 Squadron: A Raid Too Far has been added to the BFI National Archive! Preserved alongside 400 other online moving image works, the acquisition was enabled by the BFI Screen Heritage Fund, awarding National Lottery funding. Check it out⬇️ replay.bfi.org.uk/collection/458

Reposted by Catherine Warr

Mickey Numbers @mickeynumberz.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Hey #Cricket BlueSky! If you don’t know Catherine Warr what are you even doing here? She’s a historian who has videos on a wide range of subjects made with great humour and a commitment to practical effects. If you like this video, get over to her YouTube channel to watch her back catalogue.

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

We don't think of the United States as a cricketing nation, but there's a surprising 400 year history of the sport. From stool-ball in Plymouth Colony to Civil War ball games, this is the story of the rise and fall of American cricket. youtu.be/3oTqQraIjmA

The Forgotten Story of American Cricket

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

What a surprise to see you here! I actually read Troublesome Things when putting this one together and really enjoyed it! It's included in my list of sources at end.

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

🚨NEW VIDEO 🚨 There's a surprising number of similarities between traditional fairy folklore and contemporary alien abduction narratives. Are fairies actually aliens? What does this tell us about how we interpret the past and the world around us? youtu.be/0PcOpYHbWDQ

Fairies and Aliens: The Missing Link

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

🚨NEW VIDEO🚨 The Green Man is one of the most famous figures in British folklore. But he's a bit of a modern invention. So what's the real story? And what does he tell us about how we interpret the past? Link ⬇️ youtu.be/41mrBYpMZlg

Inventing the Green Man

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

🚨NEW VIDEO🚨 I love small, local museums filled with weird and wonderful objects, and I take a look at Cawthorne Museum, near Barnsley, to explore some of its unique objects - and what they tell us about the past... youtu.be/gA1eY48ZY4o

Exploring Hidden Treasures at Cawthorne Museum

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

🚨NEW VIDEO!🚨 In 1643, the Parliamentarians suffered a stunning loss at Seacroft Moor. But where is Seacroft Moor? It's not on any map. Being from Seacroft myself, I thought it was about time that someone does a proper investigation of the battle. youtu.be/k3lTM3clIgA

The Battle of Seacroft Moor: The Definitive Story

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

This representation matters because Seacroft is a council estate in Leeds (knock yourself out with the ONS data; 15% of adults are long-term unemployed, 32% have no qualifications). For someone from Seacroft to be a public historian really matters in showing who can 'do' history.

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

The next video comes out Friday and is about the Battle of Seacroft Moor in 1643. One of the reasons why this video is important is bc I'm from Seacroft, and historians don't come from Seacroft. I'm probably the only historian to talk about this who is actually from Seacroft.

Reposted by Catherine Warr

Simon Craven @simoncraven.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

New video up with @cathwarr.bsky.social - GINTRIFICATION: how gin was transformed from gutter drink to boutique spirit. It's a 300-year romp through one of the most fascinating periods of history. youtu.be/fX54hrJW6VM

Gintrification: How Gin Became Cool

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

Me with any of the 28 Years films. Great work but I never want to experience it again, thank you

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

🚨NEW VIDEO 🚨 Our latest video explores GINTRIFICATION: how gin was transformed from gutter drink to boutique spirit. It's a 300-year romp through one of the most fascinating periods of history. youtu.be/fX54hrJW6VM

Gintrification: How Gin Became Cool

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Reposted by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

🚨NEW VIDEO! 🚨 I'm on a mad dash across Leeds to find 10 of the most interesting blue plaques in the city centre - but I only have an hour! youtu.be/yJPzr-YFb0c

The Blue Plaque Dash: Leeds

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Reposted by Catherine Warr

Simon Craven @simoncraven.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

which reminds me, it is near enough two years ago that @cathwarr.bsky.social and I made a little video on the pre-WW2 Donington Grand Prix, featuring tales of Mr Seaman among other luminaries, and Catherine driving a giant cardboard racing car www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLpp...

Racing Hitler: The Donington Grand Prix

YouTube video by Catherine Warr

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

whoo!!

Catherine Warr @cathwarr.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

🚨NEW VIDEO! 🚨 I'm on a mad dash across Leeds to find 10 of the most interesting blue plaques in the city centre - but I only have an hour! youtu.be/yJPzr-YFb0c

The Blue Plaque Dash: Leeds

YouTube video by Catherine Warr