With recruits from across its empire, Britain’s troops in the Second World War were a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic force. Among those... more

In this episode of On the Record, we take focus on the lesser-told history of the colonial troops, from East... more

Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 24,000 soldiers landed on the beaches of Normandy in Northern France. What... more

In this episode, we uncover the untold stories of a tank driver on the frontline, one of the first black... more

Since the 13th century the legend of Robin Hood has featured in folk songs, tavern stories, pageants, and royal festivals... more

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.... more

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

At The National Archives, we hold records that tell fascinating stories of real people who lived through the horrors of... more

In this episode, we explore unique documents held at The National Archives that tell the stories of prisoners of war... more

In December 1773, 340 tea chests were hurled into Boston Harbour by a protesting crowd. It was a... more

In this episode, we examine the British response to the Boston Tea Party. A protest that ignited the flames of... more

A flying machine , a fish-shaped hot air balloon, and a self-ventilating hat. From million dollar ideas... more

A flying machine, a fish-shaped hot air balloon, and a self-ventilating hat. In this episode of On the Record,... more

Muck-spreading, rat-gassing, carrot-pulling — all in a day’s work for a land girl! You probably know the land girls as... more

In this episode, we're digging deeper into the history of the Women's Land Army, using The National Archives’ unique collections to... more

Reporters, cameras, speeches, and even songs publicised the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush when it docked at Tilbury on... more

In this episode, we highlight the experiences of the Windrush Generation, who travelled to Britain between 1948 and 1971. We... more

From Richard III’s lavish wardrobe to Queen Victoria’s chaotic ceremony, coronations have a rich and fascinating history. For some, a... more

Take a closer look at records of propaganda in our collections.  In this episode, we have four stories of deliberate... more