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

In this episode, we’re looking at propaganda in our collections.  We share four stories of deliberate attempts by governments to... more

By 1800, there were 300,000 Africans enslaved in the British colony of Jamaica. Despite harsh punishments and low odds of... more

What happens when treasonous plots fail? What happens when innocent people get pulled into dangerous schemes? In this episode, we... more

The history of English monarchs is a tale brimming with assassination attempts. Queen Elizabeth I thwarted many attempts to replace... more

Delve into centuries of treason in this three part mini-series. Join us as we uncover stories from across the globe,... more

1,000 years of history, 1,000 years of stories to uncover. The National Archives presents On the Record, a podcast that... more

The Colonial Office was the government department responsible for Britain’s colonies at various points throughout the 18th to 20th centuries.... more

In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at Britain’s Colonial Office records. This was the government department responsible for... more

In this episode, fashion historian Amber Butchart discusses the fashion movements of the 1920s, from rising hemlines to ready-to-wear fashion.... more

In this episode, we continue our whirlwind tour through the 1920s by introducing you to some of the fascinating people... more

In this first episode, historian Kate Williams looks at the era's tensions and shifting values, revealing social progress and a... more

In our latest three-part podcast series, we step into the world of 1920s Britain and experience what life was really like,... more

In this episode, we bring you four stories that span two hundred years of British history. Two women leave their families... more

The National Archives’ collections offer a valuable insight into how the government interacted with and viewed LGBTQ+ communities in the... more

There are over 900 years of immigration records available for research here at The National Archives. Over the next three... more

There are over 900 years of immigration records available for research here at The National Archives. Over the next three... more

There are over 900 years of immigration records available for research here at The National Archives. Over the next three... more

There are over 900 years of immigration records available for research here at The National Archives. In our latest... more

In the aftermath of war and pandemic, approximately 8.5 million householders in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the... more

In June 1921, approximately 8.5 million householders in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man completed... more

In the 1940s, the British government discovered the power of film to inform, promote, and persuade the public, and they... more

In the 1940s, the British government discovered the power of film to inform, promote, and persuade the public, and created... more

On 30 June 1922 the Public Record Office of Ireland was destroyed by fire in the opening engagement of the... more

On 30 June 1922 the Public Record Office of Ireland was destroyed by fire in the opening engagement of the... more

In the final episode of this series on our most intriguing and significant trial records, we’re taking a closer... more

In the second episode in our mini-series on trial records, we look at the long and colourful history of trial by... more

In the first installment of a three-part series on our trial records, we’re examining the history of trials by... more

In our latest three-part podcast series, we are exploring stories from our collection which tell the history of trials, from witch trials... more

Over the last 600 years, Britain has faced its fair share of public health crises. In this episode, we are investigating... more

Over the centuries, Britain has faced its fair share of public health crises and recently we have seen an increase... more

Illustrator Louis Wain changed the way we think about cats and dedicated his life to improving their welfare. Richard Whittington... more

A British spy named Pearl jumps from a plane under cover of night. A Thai shopkeeper named Boonpong decides to... more

In 1921, W.E.B. Du Bois (the African American thinker and NAACP co-founder) sent a letter to Winston Churchill with a... more

In this three-part series we’re exploring stories in our collection with the theme of heroic deeds. As our long-time listeners... more

“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” That iconic Churchill... more

To mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain we have joined forces with the Royal Air Force and... more

Refugee Week is an annual event that celebrates the contributions of refugees to Britain. Many refugee stories have found their... more