History Hit

Join Dr Eleanor Janega in this full length History Hit TV documentary as she gets to the bottom of medieval booze and drinking habits. How much alcohol did people in the Middle Ages really drink? What were they drinking? And where were they drinking it? Alcohol was an essential part of medieval life. In one of London’s oldest pubs, Ye Old Mitre, Eleanor discovers the origins of the humble pub with beer expert Pete Brown, and dispels the many myths surrounding the drinking habits of the people who drank here centuries ago We then stumble over to London’s East End, where Wild Card Brewery’s head brewer Janega Wise has crafted a special tipple using the same ingredients and techniques the average medieval brewer would have had at their disposal. Does it taste as good today as it did 500 years ago? Our ancient pub crawl ends in King Henry VIII’s vast wine cellar with Hampton Court’s Historic Kitchen Manager, Richard Fitch. We learn about the royals' unquenchable drinking habits, fanciful wine fountains and how important booze was for demonstrating wealth

Could You Survive Victorian Surgery?' In this video, History Hit's Alice Loxton dives deep into London’s grisly past. She goes under the knife and takes a forensic look at the horrors of Victorian medicine. And where better to do so than the Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret - one of London’s hidden gems. The museum is housed in the only remaining part of what was once London’s most important centre of medicine, the old site of St Thomas’ Hospital. The tower of St Thomas’ Church, is one of the only surviving part of the original structure. And at the top of its very windy staircase is the original apothecary and herb garret for Old St Thomas’s Hospital. In 1822, part of the herb garret was converted into a purpose-built operating theatre. Instead of operations taking place in the women’s ward in front of all the other patients, they would be performed here by leading experts, where medical students could watch and learn. As Alice discovers, going under the knife for a Victorian amputation was a risky business. There

The Most Fortified Island In The World? | Alderney With Dan Snow' Join Dan Snow as he explores one of the world's most fortified islands, discovering Roman ramparts, Victorian gun emplacements and giant underground bunkers built by the German occupiers during the Second World War. Alderney may be a tiny scrap of land in the English Channel - part of the Channel Islands archipelago - but its size belies its importance. It's played an important strategic part in British and French history. Despite only being ten miles west of La Hague on the Cotentin Peninsular, the island has for roughly a thousand years mostly belonged to the English and British. And for this reason, the island has a wealth of historical sites, quite out of proportion to its small size, from Roman walls to impressive concrete bunkers built by the Wehrmacht during the Second World War. Measuring just three square miles, the island of Alderney remains one of the most heavily fortified places in the world after it was transformed into an impregnable fortress as Hitler looked to strengthen his

Exploring the Most Iconic Estate in England! | Stourhead' Join History Hit presenter Alice Loxton as she discovers the secrets of Stourhead, one of the most fascinating country houses in the world. As well as providing the setting for perhaps the most famous scene in Pride & Prejudice, the Stourhead estate has a storied history of its own. Once upon a time, this house was at the forefront of art, of design, of architecture of interiors. We’re talking big, bold new ideas which had never been done before. This place is a hub of creativity, of experimentation. And once more, it’s had a pretty dramatic past, peppered with outrageous parties, terrible tragedy and even a visit of King Alfred the Great. Hold onto your hats, because there’s a lot of history to take in!

Renowned Egyptologist Professor Joanne Fletcher explores the life of the most famous pharaoh - Tutankhamun. Jo has curated a very special exhibition in her hometown, Barnsley, not only to celebrate the world of Tutankhamun, but also the people from northern England who played an important role in his rediscovery. The film showcases some of the 12,000 Ancient Egyptian objects that are usually kept by Bolton Museum, but are now on special display in Barnsley. Jo has curated a collection that exemplifies the world of Tutankhamun, focusing on the years before his spectacular burial. These objects represent the life he enjoyed growing up in Amarna as the son of Akhenaten, as well as the early years of his own reign. She handles the precious objects that reveal this world, including luxurious wine goblets and ultra-fine linen clothing. And with a display of tiny household figures of multiple deities, Jo shows how the accepted story of Akhenaten sweeping away all the traditional gods of Egypt is far more complex on a domestic level. A tiny figure of Amun is evidence that some

Are These The Rarest Planes of World War Two?' In this History Hit exclusive video, Luke Tomes and Louee Dessent travel to the Battle of Britain Airshow at Imperial War Museums Duxford to find the rarest, whackiest and most unique aircraft that saw active service in the Second World War. Starting their day at the Aircraft Restoration Company hangar, Luke and Louee are shown two incredibly rare British World War Two planes by director and pilot John Romain MBE. First, Luke sees a restored Bristol Blenheim fighter-bomber, used in the early years of the war and during the Battle of Britain, which remains the only aircraft of its kind in the world. John then takes Louee around a Westland Lysander, used to rescue pilots and transport spies in occupied Europe. The Lysander is one of only three planes of its kind that remain airworthy in the world. Louee then makes his way to the Fighter Collection hangar where dozens of unique aircraft spanning both world wars are in the process of reconstruction. There he stumbles upon and half-built Fiat CR.42

Inside An M4 Sherman Tank With Historian James Holland' In this video, military historian James Holland gets inside the most iconic tank of the Second World War - the ubiquitous US M4 Sherman Tank. With over 50,000 having produced between 1942 and 1945, the Sherman was the most widely used medium tank by the United States and Western Allies in World War II. Easily produced, maintained and equipped with a 75mm gun as well as a single hatch-mounted .50 caliber machine gun (plus two lighter .30 cals positioned in the turret and forward hull), the Sherman proved extremely effective against soft targets. It still lacked the range and firepower of the German Panther and Tiger Tank, but its speed, manoeuvrability and fast rate of fire made it ideal wartime workhorse. More recently, the M4 Sherman has risen to stardom with the release of Hollywood blockbuster "Fury" (2014), starring Brad Pitt and Shia LaBeouf.

In this video Matt Lewis, medieval historian and co-host of the Gone Medieval podcast reviews battle scenes in several well-known movies for historical accuracy. First, Matt rates the course of events and weapons used during the siege of Orléans from 'The Messenger' (1999). Next up, he reviews the disappointing lack of bridges in the Battle of Stirling Bridge as shown in 'Braveheart' (1995). The iconic passion project of Mel Gibson which features him as the Scottish knight, William Wallace. The rivalry between Chinggis Khan and Jamukha in ‘Mongol’ (2007) is up next, where the Mongols are praised for both their archery and horse riding skills. Lastly, the final scene of the fictional battle in ‘Robin Hood’ (2010) is reviewed, where Robin Longstride was memorably played by Russel Crowe.

The Secrets Of The Hospital Of St Cross | And Why There Are No Patients!' History Hit's Alice Loxton explores the secrets of the Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty in Winchester, England. St Cross isn't really a hospital at all, at least in the modern sense of the word. Instead, it's the oldest almshouse in England still in use for its original purpose and arguably the oldest charity in the country. Although anyone can visit the site today, since its foundation, the charity has only catered for men. The main activity of the Hospital continues to be the provision of individual, private apartments for a living community of about twenty-five elderly men. Known as ‘Brothers’ they wear black or red gowns and a trencher hat for daily church and other formal occasions. They come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and are usually single, divorced or widowers. Founded around the year 1132, the almshouse was set up by Henry of Blois to support thirteen poor men who were unable to work and to feed some 100

How did we really decipher the Ancient Egyptian language? Was the discovery of the Rosetta Stone crucial to cracking hieroglyphs? And who was the first person to decode it? Join Tristan Hughes as he explores a new exhibition at the British Museum - Hieroglyphs: Unlocking Ancient Egypt. 2022 isn't just 100 years since the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. It's also exactly 200 years since one of history's greatest linguistic puzzles was cracked: when Jean-Francois Champollion made the ultimate breakthrough and deciphered the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic code. To mark this very special anniversary, the British Museum has opened a new exhibition that guides visitors through the story of how hieroglyphs were deciphered. In this special access film, Tristan Hughes is given fascinating insight into the key exhibits by the exhibition’s expert curator, Dr Ilona Regulski. At the heart of the exhibition sits the Rosetta Stone, one of the most famous artefacts in the World. Ilona explains what the Stone actually is and why its discovery was so important in kickstarting the great race to decipher hieroglyphs in the early 19th century.

In this video, we test a trebuchet against a medieval longbow, as History Hit teams up with Tod's Workshop and professional archer Joe Gibbs for a unique shootout. In their latest historic challenge, Luke Tomes and Louee Dessent find out whether a siege weapon can possibly match a longbow for accuracy over 140m. Who will win the battle of medieval missiles? Stick around to find out the result and to see one of the best longbow shots ever caught on camera! For this competition, Tod’s team built us our very own fortification made out of wooden pallets, with a garrison of plywood knights. We assigned a score to each of the defenders, with the ‘king’ in the middle being the most valuable target. But would the trebuchet or the longbow be able to hit the king at long range?

The Real Story of Guido Fawkes | The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 Tensions were high in England in late October 1605, when a Catholic English nobleman, Lord Monteagle, received a mysterious letter telling him to avoid the opening of Parliament in a few days time. The letter would come to foil the plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill the Protestant king, James I and IV: the Gunpowder Plot. Every year we celebrate this defining moment in British history, but the jovial atmosphere is a far cry from the origins of the tradition, which has its heart in deep social unrest and fever pitch religious tension. We may well be warned to remember remember the 5 November, but not many of us know the true story behind Guy Fawkes, the plot’s most famous conspirator and one of British history’s most notorious figures. In today’s world, it can be hard to envisage an England so riven with tension between Catholics and Protestants that 13 men would risk everything to try to kill the king and destroy one of

How did Howard Carter Locate Tutankhamun's Tomb?' On November 4th 1922 a breathless archaeologist, who had spent his life working in Egypt, wrote a hurried diary entry: “First steps of Tomb Found”. This was the very moment that iconic archaeologist Howard Carter found the entrance to the tomb of the Ancient Egyption Pharaoh, Tutankhamun. In this very special film, shot in Egypt and England, Dan Snow commemorates the centenary of the most famous archaeological discovery of them all - walking in the footsteps of Howard Carter as he retraces the story of the discovery, from the beginnings of Carter’s career as a young artist recording reliefs in Hatshepsut’s magnificent temple, to the house he built especially close to the Valley of the Kings thanks to the support of Lord Carnarvon. The History Hit team has gained access to key places associated with this historic story: Highclere Castle, home of Lord Carnarvon; Tutankhamun’s Tomb in the Valley of the Kings, and his famous golden treasures in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo, which we explore with conservator Eid Murtah. And Dan discovers that

In the 2nd century AD, the Roman army in Britain embarked on one of the most ambitious building projects in history. On the orders of the emperor Hadrian, a 73-mile-long wall was constructed, crossing northern Britain from the Irish Sea in the west, to the North Sea in the east, marking the northern limit of the Roman empire. Construction of the wall is now thought to have begun shortly after Hadrian became emperor in 117 AD, with the man himself arriving in Britain in 122 AD to check in on its progress. As for why it was built, that’s still the subject of fierce debate among historians. Was it purely a military fortification, a kind of customs barrier or simply a vanity project? What we do know is that soldiers from three different legions were drafted in to build it, helped no doubt by forced labour from the local population. But for most of its history, the wall wasn’t guarded by highly trained legionaries, it was manned by a garrison of perhaps 9,000 auxiliary troops. This number was mostly made

The Bloody Aftermath of the Battle of Hastings' In the winter of 1069–70 after the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror waged a series of military campaigns to subjugate northern England and consolidate his power, where the presence of the last Wessex claimant, Edgar Atheling, had encouraged Anglo-Danish rebellions. The "Harrying Of The North" as it became known, saw William the Conqueror's knights lay waste to Yorkshire and neighbouring shires. Entire villages were razed and their inhabitants killed, livestock slaughtered and stores of food destroyed. This scorched-earth operation is one of the defining episodes of the Norman Conquest, not just from a military-political perspective but also in terms of how it has shaped modern perceptions of the Normans as a tyrannical and merciless warrior class. But why were such brutal measures considered necessary and why was the north in particular targeted? Watch this video to find out!

Could You Survive as a Spitfire Pilot in World War Two? Arguably the most famous British fighter aircraft in history, the Spitfire, also called Supermarine Spitfire, was the most widely produced and strategically important British single-seat fighter of World War Two. Over 22,000 Supermarine Spitfires were built during the course of the Second World War. The iconic fighter aircraft won immortal fame during the summer months of 1940 by helping to defeat the German air attacks, proving an overwhelming match for the Luftwaffe's Messerschmitt 109's during the Battle of Britain. The original prototype, designed by engineer Reginald Joseph Mitchell CBE, made its first flight four years earlier as Britain’s industry geared up to re-arm against the threat from Nazi Germany. From the beginning pilots recognised it as a thoroughbred combining a perfection of design with superb handling characteristics. In this video, History Hit presenter Luke Tomes visits the Battle of Britain Airshow at Imperial War Museums Duxford to learn about the battle that cemented the Spitfire’s place in history, the pilots who flew in them during the Second World War

The Real Story Of The Tomb Of The Unknown Warrior' Dan Snow explores the story of Westminster Abbey's most poignant memorials. The First World War was a conflict like nothing the World had ever known. More than 700,000 men mobilised in the UK would die during the conflict. Roughly 250,000 of those would have no known grave. The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior became a place where all those people who were denied a grave to visit could come to remember their loved ones. November 2020 marks 100 years since this unknown soldier was laid to rest in Westminster Abbey. For the centenary Dan Snow visits the Abbey and the National Army Museum, to learn more about an untold story behind the Unknown Warrior. Featuring Justin Saddington, curator of the Unknown Warrior exhibition at the National Army Museum.

When she set out on her first voyage to New York in 1845, SS Great Britain was the largest passenger ship ever built, and she would go on to transport over 30,000 people during her 41-year-working life. For most of that period, the ship carried emigrants between Liverpool and Melbourne on the notoriously testing Australia run - a non-stop sea journey that lasted anywhere between two to three months. Great Britain made this journey 32 times between 1852 and 1875, battling through all conditions with a combination of steam and sail power. But who were the passengers that embarked on such a gruelling voyage? What were their reasons for leaving home? And what was it really like to be a passenger on Brunel’s revolutionary ocean liner? Using original diaries from the passengers who sailed aboard SS Great Britain, History Hit presenters Luke Tomes (@histluketomes) and Louee Dessent (@loueedj) show you how a voyage across the world could look very different, depending on who you were and how much money you had… Whilst Louee enjoys a first class experience aboard SS

How To Dress For All Occasions In The 18th Century!' History Hit's Alice Loxton visits the Fashion Museum in Bath to explore the evolution of women's fashion throughout the last few centuries. From Victorian bonnets and corsets to dresses worn by Kendall Jenner on the red carpet, Alice is joined by the Fashion Museum's curator Rosemary Harden who provides all the sartorial advice required - even helping Alice try on some of the clothing!

Who Really Murdered The Princes In The Tower?' Wars of the Roses historian Matt Lewis visits the Tower of London to talk through one of the building’s greatest mysteries: the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower. He talks through the possibility that the two young boys were not murdered on King Richard III's orders, but in fact survived their uncle's reign.

The Massive Logistical Challenges Of The First Crusade (With Crusader Kings III) In this video medieval historian Matt Lewis explores the numerous logistical challenges faced by the leaders of the First Crusade, and how each was overcome. How was such a diverse military force brought together? How was the crusader army supplied? And how did it finally conquer Jerusalem and the Holy Land? Using animated maps from Crusader Kings III, we tell the story of the First Crusade, from the disastrous People's Crusade to the creation of the Crusader States in the Holy Land. This video was made in partnership with Paradox Interactive, the people behind Crusader Kings 3.

Secrets Of The Roman Baths | And Why Swimming Is Banned! In this video, Alice Loxton visits one of the most fascinating Roman sites in Britain, the Roman baths in the glorious city of Bath. But don’t worry, this is not another dreaded Latin lesson. Alice takes you, the subscribers of the History Hit the original video platform channel, through the best bits of the history, the history without the boring bits. She looks at everything from trendy hairstyles to sacrificial altars, we’ll get to grips with ancient curses, beguiling myths and front page news discoveries. She even shows you where our ancestors got it wrong, with typos and botched jobs - which landed them, in, well, a lot of hot water. So gather your rubber ducks and grab a towel, it’s time to dive head first into the remarkable secrets history of the Roman baths.

The Real History Of Florence Nightingale | The Lady With The Lamp' Alice Loxton pays a visit to The Florence Nightingale Museum to unveil the true story of the Lady with the Lamp - the real history of Florence Nightingale. Joined by David Green and Amber Lickerish, she learns how Nightingale broke through the restrictions of Victorian convention, laid the foundations for modern nursing, and tirelessly campaigned for social justice.

The True History Of The Knights Templar With Dan Jones They might be more famous today for their cameos in The Da Vinci Code and Assassin’s Creed, but in real history the Knights Templar were a complex multi-national organisation just as concerned with economics as warfare. The order was initially set up in Jerusalem to protect pilgrims, who would attempt to make dangerous journeys between cities and sites of interest in the Holy Land. But as the brand of the military order developed, these crusaders soon found themselves wielding power and influence across the kingdoms of medieval Europe. In this video Dan Snow speaks to medieval historian and author of 'The Templars: The Rise and Spectacular Fall of God's Holy Warriors' to explore what really made the military order such a powerful and influential force during the Middle Ages. The interview is filmed at Temple Church in London, the headquarters of the Knights Templar in England. Dan Jones is going to be the History Hit Book Club's author for October/November. The readers will be reading his best selling Power and

Queen Victoria At Kensington Palace With Lucy Worsley' BAFTA winning historian and Joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces Lucy Worsley takes Dan Snow on a tour of Kensington Palace, one of the principle royal residences since 1689. It was the childhood home of Queen Victoria, who was born on the 24 May 1819. The rooms of the royal residence were renovated for an exhibition which opened to the public on the 200th anniversary of Victoria's birth. So how did the young Victoria spend her time at Kensington Palace? And where was she at the moment she was declared queen?

Aboard the World's Largest Wooden Sailing Ship! | Götheborg Of Sweden' In the summer of 2022, the Götheborg - a replica of an 18th century Swedish East India Company ship which sank in the port of Gothenburg in 1745 - docked at Canary Wharf in London. It holds the title of the world's largest wooden sailing ship. The replica, constructed in 1995 and launched in 2003, was built on a one-to-one scale to the original trading vessel. It requires numerous crew members to operate on the open seas. Most crew members are volunteers or paying 'deckhands' who join the ship in the various ports she stops at, learning the skills of 18th century sailors. This year she will be sailing through Europe and will continue to Asia in 2023 on a two-year long expedition, following a similar route to East India trading vessels of the 1700s. It will be the Götheborg's second trip to Asia, the first ending in Shanghai, China in 2007. In this video, History Hit presenters Louee Dessent and Luke Tomes were given exclusive access to the

Fashion Curator Reviews Historic Costumes In Famous Movies' Rosemary Harden, a dress curator and manager of the Fashion Museum Bath, a world-class museum of historical fashionable dress, reviews costumes in several well-known movies for historical accuracy. First, Rosemary rates the outfits in court scenes from 'The Favourite' (2018), where Queen Anne was memorably played by Olivia Colman. Next up, she reviews costume in 'The Duchess' (2008), including those worn by Keira Knightley in her role as Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. Both the film and TV version of Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' are up next, with Rosemary commenting on the accuracy of Colin Firth's famous white shirt. She also reviews the mourning dress of Queen Victoria in 'Victoria and Abdul' (2017). The dress worn by Rose DeWitt Bukater in her first appearance in 'Titanic' (1997) is praised next. The tube carriage scene from 'Darkest Hour' (2017) is rated next for its portrayal of Londoners during the Blitz in the 1940s. And then, it's the dress of Margaret Thatcher as worn by Meryl Streep in 'The Iron Lady' (2011). The final

The Secrets of Salisbury Cathedral | The Tallest Spire in Britain' Join Alice Loxton as she explores the secrets of Salisbury Cathedral in Wiltshire. In this video Alice travels up the tallest church spire in the United Kingdom, visits the world's oldest working mechanical clock and sees one of the only four remaining original copies of the Magna Carta. Drone footage captured by Jacques Eloff.

The Secrets Of Spencer House | A Stately Home In Central London In this video History Hit's Alice Loxton delves into the secrets of Spencer House. Tucked away in the heart of St James’s is one of London’s most sumptuous buildings. It’s the London house of the Spencer family - that’s the family of the infamous Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, and the late Princess Diana. Spencer House was the vision of John, the First Earl Spencer, born in 1734. He was the great-grandson of Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, who built Blenheim Palace. He was also the grandson of Third Earl of Sunderland. Young John inherited both these fortunes, becoming one of the wealthiest young men in the land. Not only was John lucky in his birth. He was lucky in love, too. He married his childhood sweetheart, Georgiana Poynz. Unusually for the 18th century, the couple didn’t detest each other. They were genuinely in love. Shortly after their marriage, and equipped with a vast fortune, they built a splendid new London house in St James’s overlooking Green Park, as compliment

Inside Jane Austen's House With Lucy Worsley Who was the real Jane Austen? Lucy Worsley and Dan Snow head inside her former home in Chawton, Hampshire to discuss her extraordinary life and tragic death. Famous the world over for her wit, social observation and insight into the lives of early 19th century women, Jane Austen remains one of the Britain’s most respected and beloved novelists. She famously lived a ‘life without incident’, but in fact new research reveals a passionate woman who fought for her freedom. A woman who, far from being a lonely spinster, in fact had at least five marriage prospects, but who in the end refused to settle for anything less than Mr Darcy. Now we lift back the curtain her life, examining some of the spaces and places that mattered to her. It wasn’t all country houses and ballrooms, but a life that was often a painful struggle. As a member of the pseudo gentry, her situation was often precarious and always pushed her towards marrying for financial security. But as a strong, forward thinking woman

Historian Kate Lister Rates Historic Couples In Movies *This video has been re-uploaded due to an error with a previous version* In this video historian Dr Kate Lister, a lecturer at Leeds Trinity University, and host of Betwixt the Sheets Podcast on History Hit, reviews couples in famous movies for historic accuracy and realism. She rates scenes from the hit film 'The Favourite' (2018), which depicts the relationship between Queen Anne and Sarah Churchill. She comments on the portrayal of Alexander the Great and his love interest, the eunuch Bagoas, in the movie 'Alexander' (2004). Next, she rates how 'The Other Boleyn Girl' (2008) depicts the relationship between Henry VIII and the Boleyn sisters, Anne and Mary. An awkward scene featuring King John, Isabella of France and Eleanor of Aquitaine from 'Robin Hood' (2010) also features. Finally, the iconic affair between Jack and Rose, played by Leonardo di Caprio and Kate Winslet, in 'Titanic' (1997) is rated for accuracy.

The Early Life Of Cleopatra | Ancient Egypt's Last Pharaoh How did Cleopatra became one of the most influential and powerful women of the ancient world? In this film three leading Egyptologists explore how Cleopatra became one of the most influential and powerful women of the ancient world. We trace how Cleopatra's learning and intelligence enabled her to gain control of her own Ptolemaic dynasty in Egypt; skilfully and ruthlessly overcoming her own family and manipulating Egyptian politics and religion to her own advantage. We discover the influence that the magnificent city of Alexandria exerted over the eastern Mediterranean and how Rome's growing power impinged on Egypt. Cleopatra played a difficult and skilful game negotiating relations with Rome, engaging both diplomatically and personally first with Julius Caesar and then Marcus Antonius (Mark Antony). Our experts consider how Cleopatra's remarkable personality enabled her to play such a key role in the first century BCE. The film uses imagery from the worlds of art and motion pictures, as well as key Egyptian artefacts and locations, to investigate the representation and story of

Are These the Rarest Vehicles of World War Two?' In their latest challenge video, Luke Tomes and Louee Dessent attempt to track down the greatest monster vehicle of World War Two at Armour & Embarkation 2022, an immersive historic event which brings together dozens of original vehicles from the Second World War. In June 1944, the sleepy country lanes of Dorset were awakened by the deafening noise of men and machinery as the Allies prepared for their invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. Not only hundreds of thousands of men, but also tens of thousands of vehicles would need to be shipped across the channel to Normandy. In this video, History Hit presenters Luke Tomes and Louee Dessent travel to the south coast of England, where roughly 70 to 80 genuine World War Two vehicles (including jeeps, motorcycles, trucks, halftracks, wreckers, armoured vehicles and even Sherman tanks) would, perhaps for the last time, be heading in convoy from Broadmayne village though the leafy back roads of Dorset, passing by the world famous Bovington Tank Museum for a static display and demonstration runs

The Secrets Of Wells Cathedral | The First Gothic Cathedral In England Join Alice Loxton as she unveils the secrets of Wells Cathedral, getting up close and personal with all aspects of the building's history. Among other things, that means abseiling down the cathedral's facade - not for the faint hearted! Also in this video, we’ll be getting inside the mind of a medieval mason, we’ll be uncovering the mysteries of the magnificent chained library and we’ll be traversing stones which are so weathered by time that they have been compared to a rolling ocean. The cathedral we see today was begun in 1176, and completed over the next couple of centuries. The endeavour paid off, because the result is quite magnificent. The west front of Wells is one of the most glorious examples of medieval architecture in the world. Because cathedrals took so long to build, the fashions often changed whilst they were being built. So, Durham Cathedral, for example, has rounded Romanesque arches at one end and pointed Gothic at another. But at Wells, the fashions stayed the

Incredibly Rare Battle Of Waterloo Skeleton Uncovered' A major breaking story on History Hit. Incredibly rare bones of men and horses have been discovered in July 2022 at the Waterloo Battlefield - and History Hit has been there to record the excavations as they unfold. The veterans support charity 'Waterloo Uncovered' returned to the Waterloo battlefield in Belgium to conduct its first archaeological excavation since 2019, and over the past week have unearthed some fascinating discoveries - including an incredibly rare skeleton. It supports the shocking reports that most of the dead from elsewhere on the battlefield were hastily buried and then dug up and ground into fertiliser. James Rogers is onsite for History Hit at the Mont-Saint-Jean farm excavation, a field hospital, where the skeletons of combatants and horses (as well as amputated limbs) have been found. These are incredibly rare discoveries on a Napoleonic battlefield and bring us closer to the harsh realities of the bitter fighting. James also visits the site of the famous ‘reverse slope’ where metal-detectorists are discovering musket balls and parts of uniforms. It

What was working on SS Great Britain really like? Isambard Kingdom Brunel's SS Great Britain is undoubtedly one of the most important historic ships in the world. When she was launched from Bristol by Prince Albert in 1843, she was called 'the greatest experiment since the creation'. No one else in the Victorian era had designed an iron ship so vast or revolutionary. It was also the world's first great luxury ocean liner, carrying passengers to the United States and Australia throughout her long career. SS Great Britain changed history. As well as being built of iron and steam powered, Brunel rejected using conventional paddle wheels to drive his ship. Instead, his revolutionary screw propeller was the newest invention in maritime technology. But what was it like to work on SS Great Britain? What were the jobs aboard ship? And did the crew get to share the comforts of passengers aboard the world’s first luxury ocean liner? History Hit presenters Louee Dessent and Luke Tomes step aboard to experience the life of the crew in the 19th century, to see

What Was Life Really Like For A Medieval Peasant? In the Medieval period, peasants made up roughly 80% of the European population. But what was life really like for a peasant during the Middle Ages? Under the feudal system, was it all backbreaking toil on the land, working for a local lord? What did it actually mean to be a peasant? And how did it differ from being a serf? In the first episode of Going Medieval, Dr Eleanor Janega visits Denny Abbey, a former Benedictine monastery in Cambridge to explore the lives of those who devoted their lives to working the land.

Top Science Writer Rates Scientific Breakthrough Scenes In Movies' Broadcaster, author and presenter of the 'Patented' podcast Dallas Campbell reviews famous movie scenes which feature scientific breakthroughs and inventions. In this expert movie reviews video, Dallas rates the depiction of Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla in The Current War (2017). Next, he turns his attention to the Apollo rocket launch scene in First Man (2018), which focusses on the life of astronaut Neil Armstrong - played by Ryan Gosling - the first man on the Moon. Dallas comments on the iconic movie Dam Busters (1955), which shows the use of the bouncing bomb during the Second World War. Next, he talks about the life of Marie Curie as portrayed in the film Radioactive (2019). Was she the first person to be killed by their own invention? The Social Network (2010) is rated for accuracy next, with Dallas musing on the significance of Mark Zuckerberg's breakthrough moment in the creation of Facebook. Finally, Eddie Redmayne's depiction of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything (2014) is reviewed.

Digging Up A Real WW2 Easy Company Dog Tag!' In the third and final episode of the Digging Band Of Brothers series, Richard Osgood reveals to Luke a haul of remarkable finds discovered throughout the week at Operation Nightingale, including two dog tags belonging to real members of Easy Company. Later, Luke speaks to two cast members of the hit tv series 'Band Of Brothers', Rick Warden and Tim Matthews, both of whom share their experiences filming on set. Finally, Dan Snow and Giselle Kiraly reveal the news of the dog tag discovery with relatives of an Easy Company veteran across the pond.

What Really Happened At The Battle Of Waterloo In 1815?' How was Napoleon defeated at The Battle of Waterloo? Why was it the bloodiest battle in history up to that point? What was its significance in European history? In this video, historian Dan Snow answers all of these questions about the battle and more... In Spring of 1815 the exiled Napoleon Bonaparte, one of history's most accomplished generals, escaped his jailers and returned to Paris in what is known as the 'Hundred Days'. After receiving the news, the powers of Europe formed the Seventh Coalition to remove Napoleon from the French throne and raised a huge army. Napoleon responded by marching into Belgium with the objective of splitting Allied forces and capturing Brussels. He pushed a Prussian army back at the Battle of Ligny on 15 June 1815, and three days later attacked an Anglo-Allied force led by the Duke of Wellington near the village of Waterloo. The battle that followed would be a watershed moment in European history, finally ending Napoleon's military career and ushering in a new era

The Origins Of Homo Sapiens With Professor Chris Stringer' From where did humans originate? What did the earliest humans look like? Why did homo sapiens survive while other hominin species went extinct? In this filmed episode of The Ancients podcast, we're on location at the Natural History Museum in London as Tristan Hughes delves into a huge topic; the origins of modern humans! Our guest, Professor Chris Stringer, is a leading expert in human evolution. Chris takes us through his research on the origins of our species, from Neanderthals and the strange hobbit-like hominin that lived in Indonesia, fossil evidence from across the planet, and how the 'Out of Africa' theory of early human dispersal has become more complicated in the light of new research.

"Solving The Mystery Of Stonehenge With Dan Snow" Dan Snow explores one of the most recognisable and mysterious historic sites on Earth - Stonehenge in Wiltshire, United Kingdom. Released shortly after the origin mystery of the sarsen stones was solved, this documentary takes an in-depth look at what we know, and what we still have to discover, about this iconic Neolithic monument.

The Secrets Of Blenheim Palace | Home Of The Churchill Family' Blenheim Palace is one of the most remarkable historic houses in Britain. Gifted to John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marloborough, after his victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704, it is in many ways an epic monument rather than a comfortable home. Blenheim has witnessed its fair share of historical shenanigans. From the falling out between Queen Anne and Sarah Churchill - a relationship dramatised in the Hollywood movie, 'The Favourite', to the antics of schoolboys who sheltered at Blenheim during the Second World War. It is also, perhaps most famously, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. In this video, History Hit presenter Alice Loxton takes you on a whistlestop tour through Blenheim's history. These are the secrets of Blenheim Palace.

A Fascinating Look At The Restored HMS Warrior HMS Warrior was Britain's first iron-hulled, armoured battleship and for a short period, the fastest, largest and most powerfully-armed warship in the world. In the late 1850s, Britain and France were involved in an arms race. Both sides were embracing new technologies like armour plating to try and create the ultimate battleship. In 1860 this produced the revolutionary HMS Warrior, a product of Britain's naval mastery in the 19th century and the Industrial Revolution that was changing everything. In this documentary Dan Snow takes a tour of this significant ship, beautifully preserved at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. To help explain the history of HMS Warrior, he is joined by Andrew Baines, Deputy Director of Heritage at the National Museum of the Royal Navy.

Incredible Wars Of The Roses Find Artefact At Bosworth Battlefield!' History Hit's Matt Lewis travels to the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre in Leicestershire to meet Richard Mackinder, an archaeologist who has spent the last two decades scouring the earth around the site where King Richard III and Henry Tudor clashed in one of the most famous battles in English history. In this time, Richard and his team have found a multitude of incredibly well-preserved objects that provide new insight into where the Battle of Bosworth took place, what sort of weapons were used, where Richard III fell and where Henry Tudor was crowned King of England.

The Mystery Of This Roman Treasure Hoard Found in Britain' History Hit's Tristan Hughes has special access to the Ryedale Hoard: A Roman Mystery exhibition at the Yorkshire Museum to speak to the people responsible for its discovery and investigate these incredible Roman artefacts. Featuring the remarkable 1,800 year old bust of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the Ryedale Hoard has been described as Yorkshire’s most significant Roman discovery. Offering a rare insight into Romano British life in Yorkshire, these unique artefacts help shed light on a period shrouded in mystery. But one question still remain: who was responsible for burying them?

Exploring The Incredible Royal Tombs Of Westminster Abbey In this video, historian Dan Snow joins Sir David Cannadine to explore the complex history of religious affiliation at Westminster Abbey, which has evolved from being a Catholic monastery to a Protestant cathedral, with monarchs buried at the site representing a range of beliefs. He also discusses the various tombs, statues, monuments, and effigies in the abbey, highlighting how the process of memorialization has changed over time, with physical burials now rare and reserved for the most notable figures. Cannadine also takes viewers on a tour of the tombs, noting the juxtaposition of Winston Churchill's tomb and the Unknown Warrior's monument, and discussing how modes of commemoration and celebration continue to evolve in the 21st century. This episode was filmed before the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Age of Empires Historian Dan Snow Reviews Famous Movie Scenes' Popular Historian and Television Presenter Dan Snow MBE reviews scenes from famous movies set in the Age of Revolutions. Dan reviews two of the most famous films set during the American Revolution, The Patriot (2000), starring Mel Gibson, and Last of the Mohicans (1992), starring Daniel Day Lewis. He also reviews one of the most iconic naval battle scenes from Master and Commander (2003), starring Russell Crowe, and siege of Port Royal scene from one the biggest movie franchises in history, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), starring Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley. Next, Dan rates the opening scene in Alejandro González Iñárritu's oscar-winning movie The Revenant (2015), starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy, before analysing Napoleon Bonaparte's downfall in Waterloo (1970).