On the Record at The National Archives

I n this episode of  On the Record , we take focus on the lesser-told history of the colonial troops , from East Africa and Indi a , that fought for Britain during the Second World War.  

Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 24,000 soldiers landed on the beaches of Normandy in Northern France. What followed was the largest seaborne invasion in history. Their mission: to liberate Europe and defeat Germany. Who were these soldiers? And who worked secretly to plan the operation and ensure its success?   In this episode, Chloe Lee speaks to colleagues Sophie Stewart and Ali...

In this episode , we uncover the untold stories of a tank driver on the frontline , one of the first black women in the Royal Air Force , and a femme fatale whose coded telegram saved lives on D-Day.  

Since the 13th century the legend of Robin Hood has featured in folk songs, tavern stories, pageants, and royal festivals — even Henry VIII once dressed up as him. But what lies behind the legend? And what do our stories of robbing from the rich tell us about life in medieval England? In this episode Chloe Lee speaks to Kathryn Maude, a medieval specialist, and Sean Cunningham, head of medieval re...

In this episode, we journey through a forest of historical records to discover the 'real' Robin Hood.

It's often impossible to find direct accounts of poor people in the historical record, especially the further back you look. But an extraordinary collection containing thousands of letters written by people in poverty between 1834 and 1900 provides an insight into their lives.      In this episode, Chloe Lee speaks to specialist Paul Carter about letters held by The National Archives which were ad...

In this episode, we examine a rare collection which contains thousands of letters written by people living in poverty between 1834 and 1900.   

At The National Archives, we hold records that tell fascinating stories of real people who lived through the horrors of the Second World War. In this episode, historians Will Butler, Ela Kaczmarska, and Roger Kershaw explore documents – some of them previously unseen by the public – that describe the experiences of prisoners of war and civilian internees held captive during the conflict. The episo...

In this episode, we explore unique documents held at The National Archives that tell the stories of prisoners of war and civilian internees held captive during the Second World War.

In December 1773, 340 tea chests were hurled into Boston Harbour by a protesting crowd. It was a rebellion that came to be known as the Boston Tea Party. A protest that ignited the flames of revolution and forever changed the course of American history. Now, 250 years later, we reveal some fascinating documents held by The National Archives. Join us as we explore the context of the Boston Tea Part...

In this episode, we examine the British response to the Boston Tea Party. A protest that ignited the flames of revolution and forever changed the course of American history. We reveal some fascinating documents held by The National Archives.

A flying machine , a fish-shaped hot air balloon, and a self-ventilating hat. From million dollar idea s to an amateur tinkering in their garden shed, The National Archives is filled with the history of inventions.  In this episode of On the Record at The National Archives, Olivia Gecseg and Katherine Howells look through some fascinating patents and registered designs. They discuss inventors and...

A flying machine , a fish-shaped hot air balloon, and a self-ventilating hat. In this episode of On the Record, we explore fascinating invention patents and registered  designs found in our collection.

Muck-spreading, rat-gassing, carrot-pulling — all in a day's work for a land girl! You probably know the land girls as plucky young women who rolled up their sleeves and kept Britain's farms running during the Second World War. In this episode,  we're digging deeper into the history of the Women's Land Army using unique collections at The National Archives . Discover  fascinating stories of everyd...

In this episode, we're digging deeper into the history of the Women's Land Army , using The National Archives'  unique collections to reveal fascinating stories of no-nonsense women.  

Reporters, cameras, speeches, and even songs publicised the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush when it docked at Tilbury on June 22, 1948. The ship carried 1,027 people on board, including many passengers from the Caribbean, invited to help rebuild Britain after World War II. In this episode, we're marking the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush through the lens of several uniqu...

In this episode, we highlight the experiences of the Windrush Generation, who travelled to Britain between 1948 and 1971 . We explore their challenges and successes, and their influence on British society to mark the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush on its 75th anniversary.   

Take a closer look at records of propaganda in our collections.  In this episode, we have four stories of deliberate attempts by governments to influence the beliefs of leaders and laypeople. Hear about British and Sinn Féin propaganda in the Irish War for Independence; a Jamaican artist rediscovered thanks to his commissioned propaganda work; a Nazi radio broadcast with a dubious account of the f...

In this episode, we're looking at propaganda in our collections.  We share four stories of deliberate attempts by governments to influence the beliefs of leaders and laypeople through newspapers, art, radio, and novels.  

By 1800, there were 300,000 Africans enslaved in the British colony of Jamaica. Despite harsh punishments and low odds of success, communities among the enslaved repeatedly organised and acted throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, starting revolts to overthrow their enslavers. In this episode, we explore how and why enslaved people resisted in the British Caribbean , and then Harvard University...

What happens when treasonous plots fail? What happens when innocent people get pulled into dangerous schemes? In this episode , we explore the story of Edward Earl of Warwick, doomed by his father's crimes, and the Cato Street Conspiracy, a failed plot to kill the entire British cabinet that was followed by a sensational trial.   For a transcript and information about the documents used in this ep...

The history of English monarchs is a tale brimming with assassination attempts. Queen Elizabeth I thwarted many attempts to replace her with a Catholic monarch, following her excommunication by the Pope. Two hundred years later, King George III acted with compassion after two separate assassination attempts.  This is the first instalment of a three-part series exploring treason across the centurie...

Delve into centuries of treason in this three part mini-series. Join us as we uncover stories from across the globe, from plots to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I to enslaved Africans in the Caribbean fighting for their freedom – all explored through a unique selection of history-defining documents, bringing stories of people, power and plot to life.

1,000 years of history, 1,000 years of stories to uncover. The National Archives presents On the Record, a podcast that unearths the real life stories found in our vast collections. Join our experts and special guests as we dig deep into the people behind the paper and bring fascinating stories from more than 11 million records to life. Discover tales of forbidden love, spies, protest and the ever...

The Colonial Office was the government department responsible for Britain's colonies at various points throughout the 18th to 20th centuries. It issued instructions to colonial governors, authorised expenditures, and determined the broad direction of policy for the Empire.   In this episode, we look at three documents that provide insight into the experiences of people living under British rule: a...