On the Record at The National Archives
1000 years of history, 1000 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.
Follow us on Twitter @UkNatArchives
- Update frequency
- every 22 days
- Average duration
- 25 minutes
- Episodes
- 84
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
People of the railways
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 …
Trailer: People of the railways
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…
Coronations
From Richard III’s lavish wardrobe to Queen Victoria’s chaotic ceremony, coronations have a rich and fascinating history. For some, a coronation is a once-in-a-lifetime public event; for the new king…
700 Years of the Thames
From frozen festivals to royal polar bears, from wartime recovery to medieval merchants.The River Thames has been the stage for some of Britain’s most extraordinary moments.
In this episode, Sarah Ca…
Trailer: 700 years of the Thames
In our next episode of On the Record, we explore three very different stories—each revealing how central the River Thames has been to London’s history.
LGBTQ+ Histories
In this episode, we bring you four stories that span two hundred years of British history. Two women leave their families to make a new life together in Wales in 1780, a Manchester drag ball in 1880,…
Victory in Europe Day (VE Day)
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…
Trailer: Victory in Europe Day (VE Day)
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…
MI5: Official Secrets
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, w…
Trailer: MI5 Official Secrets
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 del…
Working Women in History
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 worki…
Trailer: Working Women in History
Join us for Women’s History Month as we explore the lives, struggles, and resilience of working women through the centuries.
Secrets of the Prize Papers: Echoes of Empire
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 d…
Secrets of the Prize Papers: The Science of History
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 Pa…
Secrets of the Prize Papers: Trade, Loot and Letters
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 episod…
Trailer: Secrets of the Prize Papers
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.
Second World War - Legacies, Language and Diaspora
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 …
Trailer: Second World War - Legacies, Language and Diaspora
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.
Untold Stories of D-Day
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 li…
Trailer: Untold Stories of D-Day
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.