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

Across more than 4,000 boxes in The National Archives sits a significant collection of letters, papers and artifacts from ships captured by the British between 1652 and 1815.

In this first episode of a three-part series, Chloe Lee meets Oliver Finnegan, a specialist in what is known as the Prize Papers collection. Oliver tells Chloe about some of the most fascinating items in the collection, providing insights into global trade, warfare, and the everyday lives of the people who lived during the Age of Sail.

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/PrizP1

Join us for our upcoming podcast mini-series, where we delve into a remarkable collection of letters, papers, and artefacts from ships captured by the British between 1652 and 1815.

Love letters might not be what you'd expect to find in a government archive, yet The National Archives holds an extraordinary collection spanning over 500 years of devotion, longing, sacrifice and passion. From heartfelt declarations to calculated proposals, intimate notes and secret exchanges, these records reveal the deeply human emotions captured in the nation's documents. 

As we open Love Letters, a free exhibition at our Kew site, running until 12 April 2026, showcasing correspondence from royalty, parliamentarians, relating to literary icons and to everyday people, this episode shares some of the stories behind these captivating records. 

Featuring specialists Sean Cunningham, Vicky Iglikowski-Broad and Mollie Clarke, we explore how these letters survived, what they reveal about relationships shaped by power, distance and circumstance. 

Read the full episode transcript here.

With recruits from across its empire, Britain's troops in the Second World War were a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic force. Among those involved were more than a quarter of a million soldiers from East Africa and 2.5 million from South Asia, whose contributions to the Allied forces were absolutely essential to the outcome of the war.

In this episode of On the Record, host Chloe Lee speaks with Iqbal Singh and Liz Haines, specialists at The National Archives, and writer Sharmila Chauhan about a collection of records relating to the recruitment of soldiers from across Britain's colonies. Focusing on the languages mobilised in these documents, they discuss records that range from the speeches of British commanders in (romanised) Hindustani, to recruitment posters featuring Swahili and Nyanja.

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

In this episode of On the Record, we take focus on the lesser-told history of the colonial troops, from East Africa and India, that fought for Britain during the Second World War.  

Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, June 6, 1944, 24,000 soldiers landed on the beaches of Normandy in Northern France. What followed was the largest seaborne invasion in history. Their mission: to liberate Europe and defeat Germany. Who were these soldiers? And who worked secretly to plan the operation and ensure its success? 

In this episode, Chloe Lee speaks to colleagues Sophie Stewart and Alice Bell about the people who contributed to this operation, whose stories we may not be familiar with: a tank driver on the frontline, one of the first black women in the Royal Air Force, and a femme fatale whose coded telegram saved many lives on D-Day. 

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/D-Day1

In this episode, we uncover the untold stories of a tank driver on the frontline, one of the first black women in the Royal Air Force, and a femme fatale whose coded telegram saved lives on D-Day. 

Since the 13th century the legend of Robin Hood has featured in folk songs, tavern stories, pageants, and royal festivals — even Henry VIII once dressed up as him. But what lies behind the legend? And what do our stories of robbing from the rich tell us about life in medieval England?

In this episode Chloe Lee speaks to Kathryn Maude, a medieval specialist, and Sean Cunningham, head of medieval records, both at The National Archives. Join them on a journey through a forest of medieval historical records, and perhaps even discover the 'real' Robin Hood.

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/Robin1Hood

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. But an extraordinary collection containing thousands of letters written by people in poverty between 1834 and 1900 provides an insight into their lives.  

In this episode, Chloe Lee speaks to specialist Paul Carter about letters held by The National Archives which were addressed to the Poor Law Board, the British central poor law authority. Together they use these accounts to glimpse into the factories, the workhouses and slums in which so many vulnerable people lived out their lives.

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

This podcast is based on the research In Their Own Write, a major AHRC-funded project, running from 2018 to 2021, which uses letters from paupers and other poor people, and associated manuscript material such as petitions, sworn statements and advocate letters (those written on behalf of paupers) to investigate the lives of the poor between 1834 and 1900. The Project was led by Professor Steve King (Nottingham Trent University) and Dr Paul Carter, (The National Archives).

In this episode, we examine a rare collection which contains thousands of letters written by people living in poverty between 1834 and 1900.  

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

In this episode, historians Will Butler, Ela Kaczmarska, and Roger Kershaw explore documents – some of them previously unseen by the public – that describe the experiences of prisoners of war and civilian internees held captive during the conflict.

The episode accompanies our exhibition, Great Escapes: Remarkable Second World War Captives, which is open at The National Archives in Kew until July 21, 2024.

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

In this episode, we explore unique documents held at The National Archives that tell the stories of prisoners of war and civilian internees held captive during the Second World War.

In our next episode of On the Record, we explore 500 years of devotion, longing and forbidden love from our new Love Letters exhibition at The National Archives in Kew running until 12 April 2026, uncovering the intimate stories preserved in the nation's archives. 

In December 1773, 340 tea chests were hurled into Boston Harbour by a protesting crowd. It was a rebellion that came to be known as the Boston Tea Party. A protest that ignited the flames of revolution and forever changed the course of American history.

Now, 250 years later, we reveal some fascinating documents held by The National Archives. Join us as we explore the context of the Boston Tea Party and what documents from the British side reveal. Guests include Daniel Gosling and Ralph Thompson from The National Archives.

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/BostonT1

In this episode, we examine the British response to the Boston Tea Party. A protest that ignited the flames of revolution and forever changed the course of American history. We reveal some fascinating documents held by The National Archives.

A flying machine , a fish-shaped hot air balloon, and a self-ventilating hat. From million dollar ideas to an amateur tinkering in their garden shed, The National Archives is filled with the history of inventions. 

In this episode of On the Record at The National Archives, Olivia Gecseg and Katherine Howells look through some fascinating patents and registered designs. They discuss inventors and their methods and explore the fascinating historical contexts behind these technical creations. 

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/Invention1

A flying machine, a fish-shaped hot air balloon, and a self-ventilating hat. In this episode of On the Record, we explore fascinating invention patents and registered designs found in our collection.

Muck-spreading, rat-gassing, carrot-pulling — all in a day's work for a land girl! You probably know the land girls as plucky young women who rolled up their sleeves and kept Britain's farms running during the Second World War.

In this episode, we're digging deeper into the history of the Women's Land Army using unique collections at The National Archives. Discover fascinating stories of everyday bravery and the no-nonsense women who were enlisted in what the Ministry of Information called the 'Battle for Bread'. Hosting this episode is Vicky Iglikowski-Broad, a Principal Records Specialist in Diverse Histories, and she is joined by specialists Cherish Watton, Chloe Lee and Katherine Howells. 

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/WLA_1

In this episode, we're digging deeper into the history of the Women's Land Army, using The National Archives' unique collections to reveal fascinating stories of no-nonsense women. 

Reporters, cameras, speeches, and even songs publicised the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush when it docked at Tilbury on June 22, 1948. The ship carried 1,027 people on board, including many passengers from the Caribbean, invited to help rebuild Britain after World War II.

In this episode, we're marking the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the Empire Windrush through the lens of several unique records held at The National Archives, including the official passenger list. Hosting this episode is Chloe Lee, a Migration and Citizenship Researcher, and she is joined by specialists Iqbal Singh, Lisa Berry-Waite and Vicky Iglikowski-Broad.

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/WindR75

This episode is part of a season of events and activities to mark the arrival of the HMT Empire
Windrush on its 75th anniversary. To find out more, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/windrush-75/

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

We explore their challenges and successes, and their influence on British society to mark the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush on its 75th anniversary.  

Take a closer look at records of propaganda in our collections. 

In this episode, we have four stories of deliberate attempts by governments to influence the beliefs of leaders and laypeople. Hear about British and Sinn Féin propaganda in the Irish War for Independence; a Jamaican artist rediscovered thanks to his commissioned propaganda work; a Nazi radio broadcast with a dubious account of the famous St. Nazaire raid; and how the UK used novels during the Cold War.

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

Listeners, we need your help to make this podcast better! We need to know a bit more about you and what themes you're interested in. You can share this information with us by visiting smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ontherecord/. 

In this episode, we're looking at propaganda in our collections. 

We share four stories of deliberate attempts by governments to influence the beliefs of leaders and laypeople through newspapers, art, radio, and novels. 

The story of Britain's railways isn't just about steam engines and steel tracks—it's about the people who built them, worked on them, and sometimes fought for their rights along the way.

To mark the 200th anniversary of the first modern passenger railway in 2025, this episode explores the human stories hidden within The National Archives' vast railway collections, focusing on records up to around 1950.

Hosted by family history specialist Jessamy Carlson, with railway historian Mike Esbester and records specialist James Cronan, the episode uncovers tales from accident registers that capture moments of tragedy and resilience, staff magazines that connected workers across vast distances, and annotated timetables that reveal individual journeys from centuries past.

Read the full episode transcript here.

By 1800, there were 300,000 Africans enslaved in the British colony of Jamaica. Despite harsh punishments and low odds of success, communities among the enslaved repeatedly organised and acted throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, starting revolts to overthrow their enslavers. In this episode, we explore how and why enslaved people resisted in the British Caribbean, and then Harvard University Professor Vincent Brown shares the story of Tacky's Revolt, one of the largest uprisings in this period.

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/Treason_3

Listeners, we need your help to make this podcast better! We need to know a bit more about you and what themes you're interested in. You can share this information with us by visiting smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ontherecord/. 

What happens when treasonous plots fail? What happens when innocent people get pulled into dangerous schemes? In this episode, we explore the story of Edward Earl of Warwick, doomed by his father's crimes, and the Cato Street Conspiracy, a failed plot to kill the entire British cabinet that was followed by a sensational trial. 

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/Treason_2

Listeners, we need your help to make this podcast better! We need to know a bit more about you and what themes you're interested in. You can share this information with us by visiting smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ontherecord/. 

The history of English monarchs is a tale brimming with assassination attempts. Queen Elizabeth I thwarted many attempts to replace her with a Catholic monarch, following her excommunication by the Pope. Two hundred years later, King George III acted with compassion after two separate assassination attempts. 

This is the first instalment of a three-part series exploring treason across the centuries. Episode two will examine the ripple effects of treasonous plots. And finally, in our third episode, we'll learn how enslaved Africans in the Caribbean revolted in an attempt to overthrow their oppressors and regain their freedom.  

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/Treason_1

Listeners, we need your help to make this podcast better! We need to know a bit more about you and what themes you're interested in. You can share this information with us by visiting smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ontherecord/. 

Delve into centuries of treason in this three part mini-series.

Join us as we uncover stories from across the globe, from plots to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I to enslaved Africans in the Caribbean fighting for their freedom – all explored through a unique selection of history-defining documents, bringing stories of people, power and plot to life.

1,000 years of history, 1,000 years of stories to uncover.

The National Archives presents On the Record, a podcast that unearths the real life stories found in our vast collections.

Join our experts and special guests as we dig deep into the people behind the paper and bring fascinating stories from more than 11 million records to life. Discover tales of forbidden love, spies, protest and the everyday people of the past.

Subscribe now to stay up to date with new episodes.

The Colonial Office was the government department responsible for Britain's colonies at various points throughout the 18th to 20th centuries. It issued instructions to colonial governors, authorised expenditures, and determined the broad direction of policy for the Empire. 

In this episode, we look at three documents that provide insight into the experiences of people living under British rule: a 1921 letter from black sailors in Wales to the Prime Minister inspired by Garveyism; a 17th-century slave-trading ship's journal; and service records of African soldiers fighting in World War I.  

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/ColRec2

Listeners, we need your help to make this podcast better! We need to know a bit more about you and what themes you're interested in. You can share this information with us by visiting smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ontherecord/. 

In this episode, we're taking a closer look at Britain's Colonial Office records. This was the government department responsible for Britain's colonies at various points throughout the 18th to 20th centuries.  

We'll be exploring three stories found in these records, which provide an insight into the experiences of people living under British Rule.  

In this episode, fashion historian Amber Butchart discusses the fashion movements of the 1920s, from rising hemlines to ready-to-wear fashion. Then we tell the story of Kate Meyrick, the Soho Nightclub Queen. Meyrick's popular clubs were frequently raided, and the records of those raids reveal a lot about what a night out in London was like one hundred years ago.

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/TNA1920s3

To tie in with the release of the 1921 Census of England and Wales in January 2022, our 20sPeople programme explores and shares stories connecting the people of the 1920s with us in the 2020s. This exciting programme includes our new 1920s-themed exhibition in Kew.

Listeners, we need your help to make this podcast better! We need to know a bit more about you and what themes you're interested in. Visit: smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ontherecord/

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

We tell the story of two men trying to make a better life in England. Then, in the aftermath of World War I and a deadly influenza pandemic, we look at efforts to improve public health and morality.

To tie in with the release of the 1921 Census of England and Wales in January 2022, our 20sPeople programme explores and shares stories connecting the people of the 1920s with us in the 2020s. This exciting programme includes our new 1920s-themed exhibition in Kew.

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/TNA1920s2 

Listeners, we need your help to make this podcast better! We need to know a bit more about you and what themes you're interested in. Visit: smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ontherecord/

In this first episode, historian Kate Williams looks at the era's tensions and shifting values, revealing social progress and a spirit of innovation coexisting with immense poverty and unrest; then we look at the political landscape of the 1920s and meet the first women in government. 

To tie in with the release of the 1921 Census of England and Wales in January 2022, our 20sPeople programme explores and shares stories connecting the people of the 1920s with us in the 2020s. This exciting programme includes our new 1920s-themed exhibition in Kew.  

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/TNA1920s1

Listeners, we need your help to make this podcast better! We need to know a bit more about you and what themes you're interested in. Visit: smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ontherecord/

In our next episode of On the Record, we uncover the personal stories behind Britain's railway history—tragedy, resilience, and everyday journeys. Join us as we mark 200 years of rail travel through The National Archives' records.

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

From stories of social and political change to fashion and nightlife, we introduce you to some of the fascinating people and movements from this heady time. 

To tie in with the release of the 1921 Census of England and Wales in January 2022, our 20sPeople programme explores and shares stories connecting the people of the 1920s with us in the 2020s. This exciting programme includes our new 1920s-themed exhibition in Kew.  

There are over 900 years of immigration records available for research here at The National Archives. Over the next three episodes, we're exploring the rich history of migration in the 20th century. 

In 1962, the Commonwealth Immigrants Act limited the freedom of movement for citizens born outside of the UK. In our final episode, we explore the rise of anti-immigrant movements during the 1960s. We then look at anti-racist activism and the formation of the Black Cultural Archives.

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/TNAMigration3

Listeners, we need your help to make this podcast better! We need to know a bit more about you and what themes you're interested in. Visit: smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ontherecord/

There are over 900 years of immigration records available for research here at The National Archives. Over the next three episodes, we're exploring the rich history of migration in the 20th century. 

In this episode, we're looking at two different migration experiences shaped by the British Nationality Act of 1948. For our first story, we explore the challenges faced by those arriving in Britain on board the Empire Windrush. We then follow the story of a young man who leaves Pakistan in search of adventure and opportunity.

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/TNAMigration2

Listeners, we need your help to make this podcast better! We need to know a bit more about you and what themes you're interested in. Visit: smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ontherecord/

There are over 900 years of immigration records available for research here at The National Archives. Over the next three episodes, we're exploring the rich history of migration in the 20th century.

This first episode begins with the story of an English woman who loses her citizenship because of who she chooses to marry, and a British citizen arrested because of his country of birth. Then, we uncover the lesser-told story of people leaving Britain for a better life.

For a transcript and information about the documents used in this episode visit our show notes: https://bit.ly/TNAMigration1

Listeners, we need your help to make this podcast better! We need to know a bit more about you and what themes you're interested in. Visit: smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ontherecord/