The National Archives Podcast Series

Conservator Stephen Harwood looks at the invention and development of photography, describing all the major photographic processes and explaining how anyone can identify different photographic types from the earliest photogenic experiments to today's sophisticated gelatine-silver prints.

Caroline Williams describes how the new Research and Collections Development department is contributing to The National Archives' research, collections and academic agenda, and its benefit internally and beyond The National Archives.

Sean Cunningham tells us how the Inquisitions Post-Mortem (IPMs) or inquests taken after the death of people who were tenants of The Crown reveal a great deal about land use, local customs, and how communal memory had an important social function for our English and Welsh ancestors. This talk looks at how these manuscripts help to paint a picture of local life and land use during the Medieval and Early Modern periods.

Ed Hampshire discusses the Cabinet records digitisation project, explaining how the innermost records of government will soon be made fully available online and what visitors to the site can expect when the project is completed.

Mark Dunton looks at the system for purchasing and selling commissions as it worked from 1800 - 1871. He covers first appointments, promotions, exchanges, retirement, the payment process and the activities of the 'army agents'. He uses document examples to illustrate the talk.

The second part of Sean Cunningham's talk about how and why English sailors and the English Crown turned their attention to the New World of America in the 16th century. This talk explores how piracy, greed, religion and warfare became the foundations of Elizabethan attempts to settle America.

Sean Cunningham talks about how and why English sailors and the English Crown turned their attention to the New World of America in the 16th century. This talk explores how piracy, greed, religion and warfare became the foundations of Elizabethan attempts to settle America.

The second part of this talk in which Dr Jane McDermid puts Joseph Stalin's Russia under the microscope from the first of the Five-Year Plans to the outbreak of the Second World War.

Dr Jane McDermid puts Joseph Stalin's Russia under the microscope from the first of the Five-Year Plans to the outbreak of the Second World War.

The second part of Roger Kershaw's talk looks at key immigration sources at The National Archives such as inwards passenger lists, certificates of arrival and alien registration cards.

Part one of an in-depth look at key immigration sources at The National Archives from inwards passenger lists and certificates of arrival to alien registration cards, records of internment, and citizenship papers.

When you have been researching family history for even a short time, you will realise that the information shown on certificates is not always completely accurate! Sometimes this is the result of an honest mistake, or misinterpretation of the question; sometimes people are being 'economical with the truth'; and sometimes they just tell outright lies. Why? The answer is usually to do with money or sex, and sometimes both.

Whether your ancestors owned large swathes of land in the north of England or came from a more humble background in the West Country, the chances are that somewhere along the line some of them will have left wills. In this talk, Dave Annal looks at how to access wills and how you can use them to get a better understanding of what life was really like for your ancestors.

Professor David Carpenter talks about this unique resource preserved at The National Archives and how the records are being made accessible on the web.

Mark Dunton focuses on the prime sources at The National Archives for documenting First World War army service, covering both the officers and other ranks of the British Army.

Less than a century ago all of Ireland was part of the United Kingdom; six of its northern counties, making up Northern Ireland, still are. Many records relating to our ancestors are to be found in the UK and not in Ireland. In this talk, Audrey Collins explores some of the hidden treasures at The National Archives.

An introduction to the formidable collection of documents that relate to the law and criminals during the medieval period using case studies.  James Ross provides practical tips on how to access the collections, as well as shedding some light on one of the most fascinating areas of medieval society.

James Cronan examines sources for tracing excisemen, including staff lists and joining papers, and will use case studies such as Thomas Paine. He will also consider the role of an excise officer and how the excise service developed.

History has portrayed King John as a tyrannical monarch whose arbitrary conduct forced his barons into rebellion and the eventual restriction of his powers in the iconic charter of liberties, Magna Carta. Using original sources held at The National Archives, Adrian Jobson explores some of the key crises and events of the reign before asking whether King John really deserves his reputation as one of England's worst kings.

An introduction to the documents of Henry VIII's reign through the story of his struggles to secure personal power, to make the right marriage, and to pass the crown to a male heir.