The National Archives Podcast Series

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Latest Episodes:

Researching the British Empire and Commonwealth Jun 26, 2009

Show notes

The British Empire existed for four centuries and, at its height, governed one quarter of the world's population. Mandy Banton introduces the records of British government departments responsible for the administration of colonial affairs from about 1801 to 1968, outlining the expansion of the Empire during this period.

Burial clubs - the unfriendly societies Jun 11, 2009

Show notes

Friendly Societies were popular in the 19th Century, and were regulated by law. Surprisingly, burial clubs, which offered a form of life insurance, didn't always fall into this category, and provided many incentives to commit fraud - and even murder!

Titanic Lives: The Crew of RMS Titanic Jun 05, 2009

Show notes

Much has been written about RMS Titanic, but this has tended to concentrate on the ship and its passengers. Using sources such as crew lists, local newspapers, Titanic Fund minute books and the newly released 1911 census, this talk traces the lives of a crewmen and his family and seeks to answer the question: What was life like for families in Southampton in the aftermath of the tragedy?

Charles Darwin and the Beagle May 29, 2009

Show notes

An investigation into the real reasons behind the celebrated voyage of HMS Beagle (1831-1836) and the momentous decision by Captain Robert FitzRoy to choose Charles Darwin to accompany him.

Prison: five hundred years behind bars May 22, 2009

Show notes

A look at the changing nature of imprisonment over the centuries and the experiences of those who endured it, charting the growth of the national prison system in England and Wales from castle dungeons to purpose-built concrete gaols.

The Great Escape: you've seen the film, now hear the truth May 15, 2009

Show notes

During the night of 24 March 1944, 76 airmen escaped from the Prisoner of War camp Stalag Luft III. Only three made it home and, of the remainder, 50 were murdered on Hitler's orders. This talk will explain what actually happened in the so-called Great Escape, one of the Second World War's most infamous incidents.

Catching Victorian and Edwardian criminals on paper May 08, 2009

Show notes

The problem of serious habitual criminals and how to keep track of them greatly exercised the minds of our Victorian and Edwardian forebears. This lecture focuses on the methods utilised by police and government to record and monitor such offenders, and how the surviving records can beused by present-day historians to investigate both historical and contemporary questions concerning serious and persistent crime.

Every journey has two ends: using passenger lists May 01, 2009

Show notes

The National Archives' Chris Watts reveals the benefits of using both arrival and departure records when searching for details of our migrant ancestors, as well as demonstrating how the shortcomings of content, indexing and accessibility can be minimised.

From Mountbatten to Patten: the last proconsuls and the ending of the British Empire Apr 24, 2009

Show notes

After the Second World War, the role of governors in Britain's overseas territories changed. This talk examines the colourful personalities and mixed fortunes of these proconsuls, and argues that, in spite of their declining power and authority, they performed a key role in managing imperial retreat.

Naturalisation and alien registration Apr 16, 2009

Show notes

Using records at The National Archives, this talk examines the various Alien Acts that affected the status of foreigners resident in the UK from the 19th century, and the reasons why so many chose to become naturalised British citizens.

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