"The Warden" - Honor, scandal, and conscience collide in Trollope’s Barchester drama.

Support the Archive - Buy Me A Coffee ☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/JR_the_Old_R... Preserving classic radio drama, one story at a time. Classic Old Time Radio, vintage radio shows, the Golden Age of radio, BBC Radio, murder, mystery, drama, comedy, sci-fi, westerns. First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 9 September 1993, "The Warden" by Anthony Trollope introduces Reverend Septimus Harding, a gentle and principled clergyman who oversees Hiram’s Hospital, an almshouse for elderly men in the cathedral town of Barchester. When a young reformer, John Bold, questions the legality and morality of Harding’s generous stipend, a public scandal erupts. Harding is forced to confront not only the legal implications of his position but also the ethical weight of his conscience and reputation. As the controversy deepens, Harding’s relationships—with his daughters, his son-in-law Archdeacon Grantly, and Bold himself—are tested. The drama explores themes of integrity, institutional reform, and personal sacrifice with quiet intensity. Martin Wade’s adaptation for BBC Radio captures the emotional nuance and social satire of Trollope’s novel, brought to life by a distinguished cast and Cherry Cookson’s direction.