Transportation 1787 to 1868 • Water Towers • The Tomb of the Eagles [audio 28min]

Sue Cook and the team answer listeners' historical queries and celebrate the way in which we all 'make' history. 1)"Making History" receives many letters and emails from listeners about ancestors who were 'transported' to Australia. The programme consulted Dr Ian Duffield (formerly of Edinburgh University and a leading researcher in this field) for more information about why people were transported, what conditions were like and whether people were repatriated. 2) Richard Daniel met with writer and enthusiast Nat Bocking to learn more about the history of water towers and the formation of the British Water Tower Appreciation Society. Richard and Nat visited the water tower at Orwell Park School in Ipswich. 3) Listener Steve Campbell contacted the programme to nominate the Tomb of the Eagles as a 'hidden treasure'. Estimated to be some 5,000 years old, this 'stalled chamber' tomb was discovered by farmer Ronald Simison in 1958 and sits high on the cliff tops of the Orkney island of South Ronaldsay. Ronnie still gives people guided tours today and there is also a museum showing some of the artefacts from the tomb. The tomb takes its name from the many eagles' claws found among the human remains.