History Hit

Take a deep dive into the story of one of the most decisive battles in medieval history. In 1314, a massive English army headed into Scotland, led by King Edward II. He was on a mission to crush his arch enemy, the Scottish King, Robert the Bruce. The battle that followed, by the Bannock Burn, was a bloodbath that saw the river run red with English blood. It has been recounted over the centuries, from poems and songs to movies like ‘Braveheart’. Historian Helen Carr investigates the evidence around the battle: walking the ground to see just how it unfolded in the Scottish landscape and looking at 700 year old documents in the archives that reveal the triumph of the Bruce and the cataclysmic consequences for Edward II. Join us in a fascinating in-depth exploration of a battle that shaped frontiers and the fortunes of kings. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented

We explored the ancient sites of Ireland. Tristan Hughes explores the ancient myths that surround Stone Age Ireland and uncovers Ireland’s prehistoric metal revolution, the Bronze Age. In episode 1 Tristan visits the Brú na Bóinne complex, which holds some of the most extraordinary structures of the prehistoric world. Tristan travels to Ireland to delve into the mysteries of Newgrange and its surrounding tombs — exploring the secrets of Stone Age Ireland. Along the way, he gets up close to artefacts uncovered from the tombs, examines the breathtaking rock art carved into their stones, and investigates the myths and beliefs that have echoed through this sacred landscape for over 5,000 years. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Brú na Bóinne sits on the north bank of the River Boyne and is dominated by the world-famous passage tombs of Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth. Older than the Great Pyramids of Giza, these monumental structures date back to the Neolithic Period, which began around 4000 BC. Newgrange has long been a centre of spiritual, astrological, and ceremonial significance — a sacred place where the

History Hit's Dan Snow dives on the incredibly well-preserved remains of the 18th-century warship. Complete with cannons, muskets and coils of rope, it's a discovery that's rewriting our understanding of the evolution of the Royal Navy. The special film sees Dan on a personal mission to restore HMS Northumberland to her rightful place in the story of the Royal Navy, as one of the most iconic and important ships, the missing link between the Mary Rose and HMS Victory. Together with a team of leading experts, he'll be investigating the ship’s construction, her pivotal role in the Royal Navy‘s search for the perfect warship, and the circumstances surrounding her tragic loss. The Great Storm of 1703 was one of the deadliest maritime disasters in history. A night of terror that cost the lives of over 1000 sailors and thirteen of the Royal Navy’s most valuable ships. Tearing across the English Channel, swallowing ships, shattering cities, and claiming thousands of lives. Amongst the storm's casualties was Northumberland, one of the Royal Navy's most formidable warships, sunk with all hands. Lost to

New film Pressure, starring Brendan Fraser, Andrew Scott and Damian Lewis follows the intense 72 hours leading up to D-Day, as Supreme Allied Commander Dwight D. Eisenhower and chief meteorologist James Stagg face the immense pressure of deciding whether the weather will allow the invasion to go ahead. At the centre of this extraordinary story is Group Captain James Stagg, the Scottish meteorologist responsible for advising General Dwight D. Eisenhower on the weather. Luke Tomes speaks to the cast and director of Pressure to discover the true story behind the film, how accurate the movie's portrayal of the D-Day weather crisis is, and what it was really like to make a film about one of the most consequential forecasts in military history. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more. History Hit is part of Little Dot Studios

BIGGEST Iron Age Hoard ever found. Over 900 gleaming gold coins. A mystery over 2,000 years in the making. Unearthed in the village of Great Baddow near Chelmsford, Essex, The Great Baddow Hoard is the largest discovery of Iron Age gold coins ever found in Britain. Buried deep in the earth during the Late Iron Age - around the same time Julius Caesar was launching his first invasions of Britain - this incredible collection of decorated staters is being revealed to the world in a brand new exhibition at the Museum of Chelmsford. The exhibition, Timeless Treasure: The Great Baddow Hoard, is now open at the Museum of Chelmsford. Access the to the exhibition is free with museum entry More information can be found here: You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more. History Hit is part of

How has the sniper rifle evolved over the last 100 years? It's time to find out! Luke Tomes returns to the Royal Armouries to fire some of the most iconic British sniper rifles of the last 100 years. As always, he is joined by Keeper of Firearms & Artillery, Jonathan Ferguson, who talks him through the history, design and development of each rifle, showcasing how British military sniping has evolved from the battlefields of the Second World War to the modern era. First up is the Lee-Enfield No. 4 Mk. I (T), the dedicated sniper variant of the British Lee-Enfield rifle developed during the Second World War. Chambered in .303 British, the No. 4 Mk. I (T) was selected for its accuracy and fitted with a telescopic sight, transforming the already proven Lee-Enfield into a specialist precision weapon. Used extensively by British and Commonwealth forces, it combined the fast, smooth action of the Lee-Enfield with the precision required for long-range shooting. It established a foundation for British military sniping that would influence specialist rifles for decades to come. Second is

Join woodsman and survival expert Ray Mears as he embarks on a unique journey to uncover the truth behind one of Britain’s most enduring legends: Robin Hood. Blending his totally unique knowledge of wilderness skills with a passion for history, Ray explores the landscapes, forests, and historical records that have shaped the myth of the heroic outlaw. From Sherwood’s ancient oak to a document hidden in a medieval castle library, he examines the evidence for the man behind the legend, asking whether Robin was a real figure, a combination of a number of people, or a timeless symbol of justice. To help him on his quest Ray has enlisted the help of a team of experts and some close friends who can help bring to life the harsh realities of medieval life and highlight the real history that is contained within the tale of Robin Hood. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented

What was life like for a soldier during the American War of Independence? For a special 250th anniversary compilation series, join Luke Tomes, Louee Dessent, and Dan Snow as they explore what the battlefield experience was like for soldiers in the American Revolutionary War as the Continental Army, led by George Washington took the fight to British crown forces to take back the colonies! Whilst Luke is recruited into the 33rd Regiment of Foot, a proud military unit commanded by Lord Charles Cornwallis that took part in almost all major campaigns of the war, Louee enlists in George Washington’s Continental Army, joining the 6th Virginia Regiment to face the redcoats on the battlefield. History Hit then follows Dan Snow to South Carolina to uncover the story of the 1780 Battle of Camden, where remarkable archaeological discoveries, including the remains of 14 soldiers, shed new light on the American Revolution as they are honoured in a moving battlefield memorial. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive

Brutal Battles of WW1 & WW2 told by one German Solider. German Soldier’s letters and dairies reveal what life was really like for men fighting in the trenches on the frontline in the First World War. Published for the first time in this feature documentary, Wilhelm's letters and photos have been entrusted to History Hit by his family. Born in central Germany in 1888. Wilhelm studied to become a teacher, but like so many of his generation, was called to serve in the First World War. From 1914 to 1918 he saw action on the western front, where he experienced the horrors of trench warfare and endured the loss of some of his closest friends. Unlike many of his comrades, Wilhelm survived the war but returned to a defeated nation in the grips of political turmoil Wilhelm would play no part in the violent political battles of the early 1920s and instead would return to the classroom - but the coming of the great depression and the rise to power of the Nazis - would alter the course of his

Irving Finkel lectures on Cuneiform, an ancient form of writing, dating all the way back to 5000 years ago. More than five thousand years ago, a revolutionary script emerged in the fertile lands of Mesopotamia that would transform how people counted, governed, worshipped and told stories. This was cuneiform, the world’s earliest known writing system. In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Irving Finkel to uncover how cuneiform actually worked and how you would write it yourself. From humble beginnings as simple pictograms tracking beer and grain, to the wedge-shaped signs that recorded myths, laws and epic tales long before the Bible, this episode explores how cuneiform spread across Sumer, Babylon, Assyria and Persia — and why these clay tablets remain one of archaeology’s richest windows into the ancient world. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary

What does it take to become a royal favourite? Dr Kate Lister uncovers the live of notorious 17th Century royal favourites, Duke of Buckingham, George Villiers and Nell Gwynn, the mistress of Charles II. How did she manage to win not just the heart of the King, but the public, the Queen and even some of the other mistresses? Kate will find out exactly what made this superstar who Samuel Pepys recorded as being ‘pretty, witty Nell’ the shining star of 17th century society and how she used her charm, beauty and comedic talent to get to the top tier and stay there! Along the way Kate will meet back up with some familiar faces from episode one, such as Professor Kate Williams, Dr Jonathan Healey and National Portrait Gallery Curator Catherine MacLeod, as well as meeting theatre historian Professor David Taylor, social historian Katie Wignall and stand-up comedian Angela Barnes. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over

Dan Snow investigates the world-changing events of April 19th 1775. On April 19th 1775, the first muskets were fired in the American War of Independence - the famous "shot heard round the world". In this special History Hit film, Dan Snow explores the key sites where it happened on this day - Battle Green, Lexington; The Old North Bridge, Concord; and the Battle Road that saw the British redcoats fight their way back to Boston under constant attack from provincial militia. Dan meets the archaeologists and military historians who are unearthing fascinating new evidence revealing exactly what happened, uncovering musket balls untouched since they were fired, working out where and how some of the famous firefights occurred, discovering battle damage in historic houses and making comparisons with detailed tests on the firing range. As dusk fell on April 19th an uneasy peace had turned into all-out war - find out how it happened as experts unravel the momentous events of a day that changed world history. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video

Medieval historian Eleanor Janega debates one of history's biggest mysteries of all time. What happened to the Princes in the Tower? In 1483, young Edward V and his brother Richard were awaiting Edward's coronation. But next thing we know, they vanished, and their uncle Richard III has taken the throne. So what happened? Eleanor Janega guides Anthony through this episode, with a special guest appearance by Eleanor's 'Gone Medieval' co-host Matt Lewis! 'Gone Medieval' is History Hit's medieval history podcast. Check it out if you want to find out more! Produced by Stuart Beckwith and McKenna Fernandez. Edited by Anna Brant and Vilde Øksnes. The senior producer was Freddy Chick. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more. History Hit is part of Little Dot Studios, a Certified B Corp™

Victorian expert reviews the beloved Downton Abbey series for its historical accuracy. Matthew Crawley serves in the First World War, Robert Crawley's heir dies on the Titanic, Lady Grantham gets the Spanish flu, Violet Crawley (Maggie Smith) clings to the class system, Lady Mary is sympathetic to the gay footman Thomas Barrow, and Lady Edith learns about the suffragettes. How many historical events did they get right, and what's just good storytelling? Join Dr Tania Shew as she does a deep dive of Downton Abbey. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more. History Hit is part of Little Dot Studios, a Certified B Corp™

Enter the trenches with historian Joshua Levine as he reacts to the WWI epic 1917. Set over one day following two British soldiers on a mission across No Man’s Land and through German trenches - but how much of it is real? Did the Germans do a false retreat? What was life like in the trenches? How dangerous was ‘going over the top’? Watch to see for yourself! You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more. History Hit is part of Little Dot Studios, a Certified B Corp™

It's the most fought over Island in history, but Why? Join historian Dan Snow as he explores Malta’s extraordinary history of siege and survival. From the Ottoman Great Siege of 1565, through Napoleon’s invasion and Nelson's blockade, to the devastating Second World War bombing, discover how this small Mediterranean island became one of history’s greatest fortresses. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more. History Hit is part of Little Dot Studios, a Certified B Corp™

What is the oldest pub in London? Learn about the history of pubs in London and join historian Matt Lewis and drinking buddy Kyle Cairns on a historical pub crawl. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more. History Hit is part of Little Dot Studios, a Certified B Corp™

Viking Expert answers questions about Thor, Loki, Odin, Freya and all other gods from Norse mythology. You can now become a History Hit member right here on the original video platform! Join for access to a new exclusive documentary every week, and access to over 160+ of our documentaries presented by world-renowned historians like Dan Snow, Eleanor Janega, Tristan Hughes, Mary Beard, Matt Lewis and more.