The National Archives Podcast Series

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Latest Episodes:

Introduction to wills Apr 01, 2020

Show notes

Matt Norman talks to Nigel Taylor about wills – the document used for centuries to control what happens to property when somebody dies. Who would have left a will? What information can you find in them? Are they all at The National Archives? Find out the answers from Nigel in this short podcast.

You can also use the research guides on our website to find out about wills or administrations before 1858, death duties 1796-1903, and wills or administrations after 1858.

Please note that at the moment The National Archives is closed to visitors until further notice. Advice in the podcast about visiting us and using the facilities in our reading rooms will apply once we re-open.

Introduction to birth, marriages and death registers in England and Wales Apr 01, 2020

Show notes

Matt Norman talks to Keith Mitchell about civil registration – the system for recording births, marriages and deaths in the UK. How and when did the system start? Where can you find the records? What can you see online? Find out the answers from Keith in this short podcast.

You can also use the research guides on our website to find out about birth, marriage and death records in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, as well as at sea and abroad and in the armed forces.

Introduction to the census Apr 01, 2020

Show notes

The census documents information about the population taken every ten years. How and when did the system start? Where can you find the records? What can you see online? Find out the answers from Audrey in this short podcast.

You can also use the research guides on our website to find out about census records and the 1939 Register.

Introduction to Discovery – The National Archives catalogue Apr 01, 2020

Show notes

Matt Norman talks to Chrissy Peters about Discovery – the online catalogue for The National Archives and 2500 other archives. What is in Discovery? How can you find what you want in it? Are the records in Discovery digitised? Find out the answers from Chrissy in this short podcast.

You can use the Help with your research pages on our website to find out more about The National Archives’ collection before you use Discovery. There are also helpful blogs; Where do I start my research?, Why can’t I find what I’m looking for? and Your catalogue’s rubbish! Discovery also has its own help pages.

The three curses of Tutankhamun Mar 20, 2020

Show notes

Tutankhamun lay in his tomb undisturbed until 1922, when British archaeologist Howard Carter and his wealthy patron, Lord Carnarvon, revealed him to the world. But the discovery of the century came with a price. Or rather three prices – the three curses of Tutankhamun: overwhelming popularity, damaging political blunders, and lingering ancient dark magic.

This talk was presented by Juliette Desplat, Head of Overseas, Intelligence and Security Records at The National Archives in January 2020.

Dependence, intolerance and expulsion: The story of England’s medieval Jewish communities Mar 13, 2020

Show notes

Despite having clear liberties and the protection of the Crown in the mid-12th century, the thriving Jewish communities of medieval England were soon targeted for their perceived wealth and religious practices. As Christian-Jewish relationships declined, violence, heavy taxation and restrictions forced many Jews to leave England even before Edward I’s fateful decision to expel the entire community from the kingdom in 1290.

In this talk, Sean Cunningham, Head of Medieval Records at The National Archives, explores the story of England’s medieval Jewish communities to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day 2020 (27 January).

George Orwell, the CIA and Cold War film Jan 03, 2020

Show notes

The National Archives’ Cold War season drew to a close in November with a series of events intended to whisk you back to the night of the fall of the Berlin Wall. There was dancing, videogames, exhibition tours, and a series of expert talks including this one given by Dr Tony Shaw. He discussed the connection between author George Orwell, the CIA and the representation of the Cold War in contemporary cinema.

Voices of the Windrush Generation Dec 30, 2019

Show notes

Voices of the Windrush Generation: The real story told by the people themselves by David Matthews is a powerful collection of stories from the men, women and children of the Windrush generation – West Indians who emigrated to Britain between 1948 and 1971 in response to labour shortages, and in search of a better life.

Documentary enlightenment: The death of Edward II and the principles of historical methodology Dec 27, 2019

Show notes

How do we know what we think we know about the past, and why do even the best historians occasionally get it wrong? In this talk Dr Ian Mortimer explores the use of historical methodology and the importance of avoiding complacency when researching and writing history

Ian is a writer, novelist and broadcaster, and a Fellow of both the Society of Antiquaries and the Royal Historical Society. He was awarded the Alexander Prize by the Royal Historical Society in 2004 for his work on the social history of medicine.

This talk is associated with Reimagining Records, an academic conference held at The National Archives in June 2018.

The Fall of Wolsey Nov 20, 2019

Show notes

490 years ago Thomas Wolsey – King Henry VIII’s former favourite – fell from grace following his failure to secure the king a divorce.

This talk by Daniel Gosling examines the records held at The National Archives which detail this fall – from records relating to Wolsey’s failure to grant Henry an annulment, to the legal processes which sealed his fate.

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