The National Archives - On the Record Podcast

On the Record: The Putney Debates

2026-03-26T09:00:00Z

On this episode of On the Record, we step inside St Mary’s Church, Putney in 1647, where many wrestled with bold, world shaping ideas.

Trailer – On the Record: The Putney Debates

2026-03-24T14:21:00Z

In our next episode of On the Record, we step inside St Mary’s Church, Putney in 1647, where many wrestled with bold, world shaping ideas.

On the Record: Magna Carta

2026-03-05T09:00:00Z

In this first instalment of our miniseries People and Power, we find out more about the document from 1215 that became known as Magna Carta, or ‘great charter'.

Trailer – On the Record: Magna Carta

2026-03-03T10:00:00Z

In our next episode of On the Record, the first in our People and Power miniseries, we explore two medieval documents that reshaped ideas of power in society.

On the Record: Love Letters

2026-01-29T09:00:00Z

This episode looks at the extraordinary collection of love letters, spanning centuries, that you might not expect to find in a government archive.

Trailer – On the Record: Love Letters

2026-01-27T09:00:00Z

In our next episode of On the Record, we explore 500 years of devotion, longing and forbidden love from our new Love Letters exhibition.

On the Record: People of the Railways

2025-09-11T09:00:00Z

In this episode, we uncover the personal stories behind Britain’s railway history—from tragedy and resilience to the everyday journeys that shaped a nation.

Trailer – On the Record: People of the Railways

2025-09-08T10:00:00Z

In our next episode of On the Record, we mark 200 years of rail travel through The National Archives’ records.

On the Record: 700 years of the Thames

2025-07-10T09:00:00Z

From frozen festivals to royal polar bears, from wartime recovery to medieval merchants this episode of our podcast explores extraordinary stories of the river.

Trailer – On the Record: 700 years of the Thames

2025-07-07T09:00:00Z

In our next episode of our podcast, we explore three very different stories – each revealing how central the River Thames has been to London’s history.

On the Record: Victory in Europe Day (VE Day)

2025-05-08T09:00:00Z

In this episode of On the Record we explore what VE Day was like, from the soldiers and medics at the frontline, to the folks at home hoping for peace.

Trailer – On the Record: Victory in Europe Day (VE Day)

2025-05-05T09:00:00Z

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On the Record: MI5: Official Secrets

2025-04-17T09:22:00Z

In celebration of our new exhibition featuring these secret files and spy gadgets, this episode of our podcast delves into the real world of espionage.

Trailer – On the Record: MI5 Official Secrets

2025-04-14T09:00:00Z

In our next episode of our podcast, On the Record, we uncover the fascinating stories behind the UK’s security service, MI5.

On the Record: Working women in history

2025-03-13T09:00:00Z

Including stories from the Middle Ages to the 1960s, this episode examines women’s jobs, their conditions, their struggles, and their resilience through time.

Trailer – On the Record: Working women in history

2025-03-10T09:00:00Z

Coming soon... for Women’s History Month our podcast will be exploring the lives, struggles, and resilience of working women through the centuries.