On the Record at The National Archives
On the Record is a history podcast from The National Archives in the United Kingdom that draws on more than 11 million records spanning roughly a thousand years. Each episode features archivists, historians and special guests who trace the real lives behind the documents, from forbidden love and espionage to protest and ordinary people. The show uses letters, court files, government papers and other original sources to bring these personal stories to life. It is aimed at anyone curious about how archival research reveals the past.
Episodes
The People's Charter
In this episode of On the Record, we explore Chartism, Britain's first mass political movement, driven by the working classes.It emerged in response to the failure of the 1832 Reform Act to extend the right to vote beyond those who owned property. The Chartists published newspapers, organised mass rallies, and, in some cases, took up arms, becoming a driving force for reform.To guide us through th
The Putney Debates
In 1647, inside St Mary's Church in Putney, army generals sat alongside ordinary soldiers to debate nothing less than the future of the nation. Should political power remain in the hands of property owners, as it always had? Or could it be a birthright - something every man possessed simply by being born?In this episode, we step into the Putney Debates, where soldiers, radicals, and reformers wres
Magna Carta
When King John sealed Magna Carta in 1215, it was meant to end a civil war. Instead, it sparked an idea that still resonates today.In this episode, we explore two medieval documents that shaped ideas about power in society - Magna Carta and the 1265 summons list for a parliament led by the charismatic baron Simon de Montfort.This is the first instalment of our mini-series People and Power, which l
Love Letters
Love letters might not be what you'd expect to find in a government archive, yet The National Archives holds an extraordinary collection spanning over 500 years of devotion, longing, sacrifice and passion. From heartfelt declarations to calculated proposals, intimate notes and secret exchanges, these records reveal the deeply human emotions captured in the nation's documents.As we open Love Letter
People of the railways
The story of Britain's railways isn't just about steam engines and steel tracks—it's about the people who built them, worked on them, and sometimes fought for their rights along the way.To mark the 200th anniversary of the first modern passenger railway in 2025, this episode explores the human stories hidden within The National Archives' vast railway collections, focusing on records up to around 1
Coronations
From Richard III's lavish wardrobe to Queen Victoria's chaotic ceremony, coronations have a rich and fascinating history. For some, a coronation is a once-in-a-lifetime public event; for the new king or queen, it is a display which can set the tone for their reign.In this episode of On the Record released to mark the coronation of King Charles III, our specialists examine records from previous cor
700 Years of the Thames
From frozen festivals to royal polar bears, from wartime recovery to medieval merchants.The River Thames has been the stage for some of Britain's most extraordinary moments.In this episode, Sarah Castagnetti explores this rich history—from the 13th-century king who kept a polar bear in the river, to a Dutch naval attack that brought war to London's doorstep, and the legendary Thames frost fairs.Th
LGBTQ+ Histories
In this episode, we bring you four stories that span two hundred years of British history. Two women leave their families to make a new life together in Wales in 1780, a Manchester drag ball in 1880, a secret gathering space for gay men in 1920s London, and a community archive collected by Black LGBTQ+ Londoners.For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our sh
Victory in Europe Day (VE Day)
On Tuesday, May 8th, 1945, the Allies who had been fighting the Second World War formally accepted Germany's unconditional surrender. May 8th became known as Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day, and is still marked every year.In this episode, host Chloe Lee is joined by Will Butler, a specialist in British society during the First and Second World Wars, to explore what that first VE Day was like, fro
MI5: Official Secrets
Spy fiction has captivated our imagination for decades, but the truth behind Britain's security service is even more fascinating than the high-stakes capers of the movies. At The National Archives, we hold the real files—declassified documents that reveal the actual operations, successes, and sometimes failures of MI5 since its creation in 1909.In celebration of our new exhibition featuring these
Working Women in History
To mark Women's History Month, we take a long view of working women. Our guest host, Jessamy Carlson invites three historians to explore the lives of working women over the centuries. From the working lives of medieval women, through the story of the first Women Patrols in the Metropolitan Police, to the striking Ford factory workers in 1968, this episode examines women's jobs, their conditions, t
Secrets of the Prize Papers: Echoes of Empire
The National Archives holds over 4,000 boxes of letters, papers, and artefacts from ships captured by the British between 1652 and 1815.Join us for the conclusion of our three-part series diving deep into the fascinating Prize Papers collection. In this episode, Chloe Lee takes a step back from the ship logs and scrawled letters to uncover the grand tapestry of colonialism, empire building, and tr
Secrets of the Prize Papers: The Science of History
The National Archives holds over 4,000 boxes of letters, papers, and artefacts from ships captured by the British between 1652 and 1815.In the second episode of our three-part series on the Prize Papers collection, Oliver Finnegan explores the scientific techniques and conservation skills used to analyse these items. Guests Marc Vermeulen and Marina Casagrande discuss examining and reading letters
Secrets of the Prize Papers: Trade, Loot and Letters
Across more than 4,000 boxes in The National Archives sits a significant collection of letters, papers and artifacts from ships captured by the British between 1652 and 1815.In this first episode of a three-part series, Chloe Lee meets Oliver Finnegan, a specialist in what is known as the Prize Papers collection. Oliver tells Chloe about some of the most fascinating items in the collection, provid
Trailer: Secrets of the Prize Papers
Join us for our upcoming podcast mini-series, where we delve into a remarkable collection of letters, papers, and artefacts from ships captured by the British between 1652 and 1815.
Second World War - Legacies, Language and Diaspora
With recruits from across its empire, Britain's troops in the Second World War were a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic force. Among those involved were more than a quarter of a million soldiers from East Africa and 2.5 million from South Asia, whose contributions to the Allied forces were absolutely essential to the outcome of the war.In this episode of On the Record, host Chloe Lee speaks with Iqbal S
Untold Stories of D-Day
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 Alice
Robin Hood
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 rec
Pauper Voices
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 addresse
Second World War Captives
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 episode
Boston Tea Party
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 Party
Inventions
A flying machine , a fish-shaped hot air balloon, and a self-ventilating hat. From million dollar ideas 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 t
Women's Land Army
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 everyday b
Windrush at 75
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 unique
Propaganda
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 fam
Treason: Rebellion
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 P
Treason: Betrayal and Deception
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 episod
Treason: People, Power and Plot
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 centuries.
Trailer: Treason
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.
Colonial Office Records
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 19
The 1920s: Fashion and Nightlife
In this episode, fashion historian Amber Butchart discusses the fashion movements of the 1920s, from rising hemlines to ready-to-wear fashion. Then we tell the story of Kate Meyrick, the Soho Nightclub Queen. Meyrick's popular clubs were frequently raided, and the records of those raids reveal a lot about what a night out in London was like one hundred years ago.For a transcript and information ab
The 1920s: Migration and Public Health
In this episode, we continue our whirlwind tour through the 1920s by introducing you to some of the fascinating people and movements of the era.We tell the story of two men trying to make a better life in England. Then, in the aftermath of World War I and a deadly influenza pandemic, we look at efforts to improve public health and morality.To tie in with the release of the 1921 Census of England a
The 1920s: Beyond the Roar
In this first episode, historian Kate Williams looks at the era's tensions and shifting values, revealing social progress and a spirit of innovation coexisting with immense poverty and unrest; then we look at the political landscape of the 1920s and meet the first women in government.To tie in with the release of the 1921 Census of England and Wales in January 2022, our 20sPeople programme explore
Trailer: The 1920s
In our latest three-part podcast series, we step into the world of 1920s Britain and experience what life was really like, beyond the 'Roaring Twenties'. From stories of social and political change to fashion and nightlife, we introduce you to some of the fascinating people and movements from this heady time. To tie in with the release of the 1921 Census of England and Wales in January 2022, our
20th Century Migration: 1962 – A Social Revolution?
There are over 900 years of immigration records available for research here at The National Archives. Over the next three episodes, we're exploring the rich history of migration in the 20th century.In 1962, the Commonwealth Immigrants Act limited the freedom of movement for citizens born outside of the UK. In our final episode, we explore the rise of anti-immigrant movements during the 1960s. We t
20th Century Migration: 1948 - Citizenship and Empire
There are over 900 years of immigration records available for research here at The National Archives. Over the next three episodes, we're exploring the rich history of migration in the 20th century.In this episode, we're looking at two different migration experiences shaped by the British Nationality Act of 1948. For our first story, we explore the challenges faced by those arriving in Britain on
20th Century Migration: 1914 – A Nation Divided?
There are over 900 years of immigration records available for research here at The National Archives. Over the next three episodes, we're exploring the rich history of migration in the 20th century.This first episode begins with the story of an English woman who loses her citizenship because of who she chooses to marry, and a British citizen arrested because of his country of birth. Then, we uncov
Trailer: 20th Century Migration
There are over 900 years of immigration records available for research here at The National Archives. In our latest three-part podcast series, we're exploring the rich history of migration in the 20th century. This series focuses on three major Acts that highlight shifts in policy around migration and citizenship over the past 100 years. We feature the profound and lasting impact of migration for
Counting down to the 1921 Census
In the aftermath of war and pandemic, approximately 8.5 million householders in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man completed the 1921 census. In this episode, we're exploring the enormous digitisation project undertaken by Findmypast and asking our family history specialists what to expect when we get to see the census in early 2022.For show notes visit: https://bit.ly/TNA1921
Government goes to the movies
In the 1940s, the British government discovered the power of film to inform, promote, and persuade the public, and they created the Central Office of Information to create strategic media campaigns on all kinds of subjects. In this episode, we're silencing our phones, dimming the lights, and digging into 65 years of informative, odd, sad, scary, and funny COI films. If you think public information
Digitally reconstructing Ireland's lost archive
On 30 June 1922 the Public Record Office of Ireland was destroyed by fire in the opening engagement of the Irish Civil War. Historians have long considered the 700 years of records that the building contained as tragically lost to history.In this special podcast episode we explore how nearly 100 years later five core archival partners are collaborating on the Beyond 2022 project to virtually recon
Trials: Evidence of the Past
In the final episode of this series on our most intriguing and significant trial records, we're taking a closer look at the evidence. First, we examine pieces of courtroom evidence like a red suit seized from a LGBTQ+ space in the 1930s and the calling card that led to Oscar Wilde's downfall. Then, we explore how our trial records preserve evidence of everyday life in the past that would otherwise
Trials: Murder on the High Seas and Trial by Jury
In the second episode in our mini-series on trial records, we look at the long and colourful history of trial by jury. First, we hear about the sensational Victorian case of two sailors who resorted to cannibalism after being stranded on the high seas. Then a barrister and historian explains the origins of trial by jury, how juries have evolved over 600 years, and why it's so important to understa
Trials: Ordeal and Combat
In the first installment of a three-part series on our trial records, we're examining the history of trials by ordeal and combat. This episode has witch trials, defamation lawsuits from accused witches, myth-busting, strong-men for hire, Irish landowners fighting to the death in a castle, and some facts about duels. Tune in to hear stories and historical insights that can only be found in the docu
Trailer: Trials
In our latest three-part podcast series, we are exploring stories from our collection which tell the history of trials, from witch trials and trial by combat to today's legal system. In the series you'll hear about a famous cannibalism case as well as legal evidence preserved in our archives which reveal LGBTQ+ spaces otherwise lost to history. You'll also hear about how archives themselves are ev
Public Health Crises: Exploring Britain's Medical History
Over the last 600 years, Britain has faced its fair share of public health crises. In this episode, we are investigating four deadly pandemics and epidemics that changed life in the UK: the Black Death, cholera, the 1918 influenza, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Hear unique insights and stories from our records and learn about the long history of public health responses in Britain. How did outbreaks f
Victorian Cats, Medieval Hospitals, and Frontline Nurses
Illustrator Louis Wain changed the way we think about cats and dedicated his life to improving their welfare. Richard Whittington is the real man behind the story of Dick Whittington and his Cat, and his 15th century charity helped ensure that St. Bart's hospital in London would survive for another 600 years. Brave young Nellie Spindler lied about her age in order to serve as a frontline nurse in
Smugglers, Spies and Dragon Slayers
A British spy named Pearl jumps from a plane under cover of night. A Thai shopkeeper named Boonpong decides to risk everything for strangers from the other side of the world. A knight named George defies a Roman Emperor and kills a dragon. In this episode, we're sharing three stories of individuals whose bravery and heroic deeds made a big impact on British history during times of war.Documents fr
Civil Rights & Public Health
In 1921, W.E.B. Du Bois (the African American thinker and NAACP co-founder) sent a letter to Winston Churchill with a rather interesting request. A closer look at this letter illuminates the Pan-African and anti-colonial activism of the inter-war period and Du Bois' interest in London as a site for Black leaders from around the world to gather. Then, a design registration record from the Victorian
Trailer: Heroic Deeds
In this three-part series we're exploring stories in our collection with the theme of heroic deeds. As our long-time listeners will know, we like to go off the beaten path when it comes to telling the thousands of stories preserved in our national documents, so in these episodes, you'll hear about spies parachuting into enemy territories and knights slaying dragons, but you'll also hear about heal
Untold Battle of Britain
"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." That iconic Churchill line has framed our remembrance of the Battle of Britain for 80 years. But it's also been said that the few were supported by the many. In this episode, we've joined forces with the Royal Air Force and the Royal Air Force Museum to commemorate the few and the many by telling lesser-known stories fro
Refugee Stories
Refugee Week is an annual event that celebrates the contributions of refugees to Britain. Many refugee stories have found their way onto our repository shelves. In this special episode, we're sharing just a few of them. We're also going beyond the documents, as two of our records specialists interview their own parents about their refugee experiences and connect those stories to the documents we h
Sacrifices for Love
In 1936, Edward VIII abdicated the throne of England to be with the woman he loved. It's widely considered to be one of the greatest love stories of the 20th century. But is it really? A century earlier, an elderly pauper named Daniel Rush and his wife faced a terrible choice: enter the workhouse and be separated after 49 years of marriage or try to survive without any income or family for support
Love Divided
In 1588, Queen Elizabeth received a letter from her friend the Earl of Leicester just a few days before he died. She kept the letter by her bed for the next 15 years. In 1919, a Jamaican sailor named James Gillespie was forced to leave Cardiff after the Race Riots. Faced with the prospect of returning to Jamaica without his wife and child, he wrote to the Home Office, asking for help. These letter
Disappointed and Forbidden Love
A love struck medieval clerk writing out romantic lyrics as he daydreams, a gay man in the 1930s who tears up a letter to his lover to hide it from the police, two women who defy 18th century conventions to marry in secret...these are some of the characters you'll meet in this episode, which features three stories of disappointed and forbidden love. Each story comes from a real love letter in The
Series 3 Trailer: Love
With Love. In our latest mini-series we're re-reading famous love letters preserved in our archives and reading between the lines of less obviously romantic records to discover the love-stories of everyday people from the last 500 years.
Resist: Black Power in the Courtroom
In 1965, Britain passed the Race Relations Act, which made it illegal to refuse service on the basis of race. To some, it looked like progress, while some anti-racist activists were critical. In this episode, we're going to examine two stories of Black people in 1960s and 70s Britain using the legal system to fight racism and discrimination. Lorne Horsford used the protections of the Race Relation
Reform: Violence and the Struggle for Suffrage
The campaign for women's suffrage is often characterised by its militant factions and leaders like Emmeline Pankhurst who used bombs and destruction of property to get their message across. That characterisation is accurate, but it's not the whole story. In fact, militant suffrage actions didn't begin with the Women's Social and Political Union...or women at all. In this episode, we explore how a
Revolt: The Story of England's First Protest
In 1990, a march in protest of the government's poll tax turned violent as police and marchers clashed. The Poll Tax Riots became one of the most infamous protests in recent British history. But this wasn't the first time protesters rioted and set fires in London to show their anger at a poll tax. In fact, 600 years earlier, the first mass uprising in English history was prompted by a very similar
Series 2 Trailer: Protest
What would you do to change the status quo? In our newest three-part series we're sharing stories of protest. Using the records in our archive, we've pieced together stories of people fighting back against inequality and oppression that span 600 years.
Double Agents and Double Standards
The Cambridge Five are perhaps the most infamous spy ring of the 20th century. They worked their way into the upper ranks of British Intelligence in order to spy for the Soviets, betraying their country and causing the deaths of dozens of British agents. So why were none of them ever prosecuted? How did they get away with it? In this episode, we use the intelligence records in our archives to illu
Lawrence and Bell
The exploits of T.E. Lawrence are legendary. Thanks to the famous film Lawrence of Arabia, millions around the world know about his time spying and fighting in the Middle East during the First World War...or at least they think they do. In this episode, we use the records in our collection to debunk the mythology around Lawrence. We also share the lesser known story of Gertrude Bell, another intel
Archetype of a Spy
Right now, as you read this description, a spy is gathering intelligence, reading classified information, and hiding in plain sight. But what do spies actually look like? What do they do? What motivates them to enter such a secretive profession? In this episode, we use the documents in our collection and expert insight to go beyond the popular image of spies, explore the history of intelligence in
S01 Trailer: Spies
History is everywhere in our popular culture. But the truth is harder to find. On the Record is a podcast by The National Archives that takes a closer look at the stories you think you know. At The National Archives, we are the guardians of more than 11 million historical government and public records spanning a thousand years of British history. These original documents hold incredible stories...
