About this episode

This episode explores the life and work of Thomas Wright, an Enlightenment polymath who integrated poetry, physics, and mathematics into his visionary ideas.

What do deer shelters, cosmic theories and serpentine garden paths have in common? The brilliant (but often overlooked) mind of Thomas Wright of Durham. This week on The English Heritage Podcast, Amy Matthews explores the life and work of an Enlightenment polymath who rose from carpenter’s son to mathematician, stargazer and garden visionary. Biographer Simon Webb and historian Dr Andrew Hann explain how this brilliant and influential mind blended poetry, physics, myth and maths to shape ideas about garden designs, buildings and even the structure of the Milky Way. Don’t forget to follow this podcast and leave a review if you love the show. Join English Heritage: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/join/⁠ Podcast listeners can get 20% off the first year of an annual membership. Use code POD20 at checkout.* Support our work: ⁠https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us/⁠ The English Heritage Trust is a charity, no. 1140351, and a limited company, no. 07447221, registered in England and Wales. *Offer is available through the use of this code and valid for new memberships by annual Direct Debit only. It cannot be used in conjunction with any other promotion, on life memberships…

People in this episode

Host: Amy Matthews

Guests: Simon Webb, Dr Andrew Hann

Topics covered

• Thomas Wright
• Enlightenment
• mathematics
• poetry
• garden design
• cosmic theories

Keywords

• Thomas Wright
• Enlightenment
• mathematics
• poetry
• garden design
• Milky Way
• cosmic theories

Sponsors

English Heritage

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: English Heritage

Books & works: Milky Way

Places: Durham

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