On the Record at The National Archives – Details, episodes & analysis

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 looks at how people have challenged authority and fought to have their voices heard in Britain. Our guests are Paul Dryburgh and Jessica Nelson, historians at The National Archives.

Coming soon...In the gripping first episode to our People and Power mini‑series, we explore two medieval documents that reshaped ideas about power in society, Magna Carta and the 1265 summons list for Simon de Montfort's parliament.

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, from the soldiers and medics who'd been at the frontline, to the folks at home who wanted peace — and for butter to be easily available again in British towns and cities.

Download the full episode transcript here.

In our next episode, we explore what Victory in Europe Day (or VE Day) was like, from the soldiers and medics who'd been at the frontline, to the folks at home who wanted peace — and for butter to be easily available again in British towns and cities.

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 secret files and spy gadgets, this episode delves into the real world of espionage – one perhaps more intriguing than fiction. 

Our guests include Gill Bennett, a historian specialising in secret intelligence and former Chief Historian at the Foreign Office, and Mark Dunton, Principal Records Specialist at The National Archives. 

Download the full episode transcript here.

In our next episode of On the Record, we uncover the fascinating stories behind the UK's security service, MI5. To celebrate our new exhibition featuring formerly secret files and spy gadgets, we delve into the real world of espionage – one perhaps more intriguing than fiction. 

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, their struggles, and their resilience.

Download the full episode transcript here.

Join us for Women's History Month as we explore the lives, struggles, and resilience of working women through the centuries.  

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 trade. With insights from experts Lucas Haasis and Annika Raapke-Öberg, we explore the intricate and often surprising history of the high seas.

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/PrizP3

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 without opening them and the discovery of a well-preserved centuries-old knitted jumper.

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/PrizP2