history

Reckless, Rash and Repentant: Convicts Petitions for Mercy 1819-1858

A look at the pardoning process of the early 19th century, and some stories behind the petitions for mercy written on behalf of convicted criminals, found at The National Archives. Briony Paxman has worked at The National Archives for five ...
Sedition, transportation and treason: the case of the London Corresponding Society

How did a small group of men discussing democracy in the coffee houses of London of 1792 lead to one of the most sensational treason trials of the eighteenth century? Using newly catalogued Home Office correspondence this talk will explore ...
Titanic: Emigrant ship or luxury liner?

This talk was originally scheduled to be given by Aidan Lawes at the Titanic 2012 conference held at The National Archives in April 2012. Sadly, Aidan passed away in early 2012. His paper, read by Roger Kershaw, is published here ...
Digitised newspapers as sources for family history

This talk aims to give listeners a demonstration of the recently launched British Newspapers Archive (BNA). This database has over 200 UK newspapers, published from 1700-1950, and over 3 million pages – growing daily. Newspapers are frequently the only place ...
Henry III Fine Rolls

The fine rolls record sums of money offered to the king in return for concessions and favours, providing a fascinating record of what people wanted from royal government, and what they were willing to give for it. In the past, ...
‘A low artful wicked man’: poverty riots and bread, the response of government to the crises of the 1790s

The 1790s was a watershed decade in British history with the continuation of population increase and industrialisation, series of poor harvests and war with France. These factors led to a ‘crisis’ in the matching of food production and import of ...
Catch-up history and the Cold War

Professor Peter Hennessy, Attlee Professor of Contemporary British History, Queen Mary, London University, and author of The Secret State, examines the ‘particles and patterns of the past’ to peer into the part of the post-war British state kept under wraps ...
Living the Poor Life – Power Relations

Paul Carter talks about some of the medical records uncovered, and how these illustrate power relations in the nineteenth century.
Treaties in The National Archives

James Cronan introduces some of the most richly decorated and important documents held at The National Archives.
Women, darts and the pub in the interwar period

Dart historian Patrick Chaplin offers a surprising insight into the role of women in the social history of darts. He challenges the commonly held belief that women in the interwar period rarely participated in darts, or other pub games, because ...
Lost London pubs

‘Lost London pubs’ looks back at the changing nature and purpose of pubs over the past 250 years, illustrated through speaker Jack Adams’ own collection of books about pubs published during this period. This podcast was recorded live as part ...
An introduction to sources for Anglican clergymen

Have you found a parson, a rector or a curate amongst your ancestors? This talk will introduce you to the main sources for the history and education of Anglican clergy, at home and abroad, using sources held by The National ...
Carve Her Name With Pride

This videocast is part of the War on Film series, created by The National Archives to mark the 70th anniversary of the Second World War. The series recounts the events that went on to inspire popular war films, using extracts ...
The Longest Day

This videocast is part of the War on Film series, created by The National Archives to mark the 70th anniversary of the Second World War. The series recounts the events that went on to inspire popular war films, using extracts ...
The Great Escape

This videocast is part of the War on Film series, created by The National Archives to mark the 70th anniversary of the Second World War. The series recounts the events that went on to inspire popular war films, using extracts ...