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Duration 34:51

A system of spies and informers: intelligence gathering in the period 1780-1830

The years 1780 to 1830 were a tumultuous time in British history with parliamentary reform societies, food riots, Luddite disturbances, Captain Swing and Cato Street. Using the records of the Home Office, this podcast focuses on just how the government kept up to date intelligence on the various threats without a recognised police force or centralised government agency.

Chris Barnes has worked at The National Archives for three years and is a Reader Advisor in the Advice and Records Knowledge department. He has an interest in modern domestic records and researches a variety of topics including crime, disease and politics.