Could You Survive as an Anglo-Saxon Warrior in England?

As new technologies emerged throughout the 19th century, and the use of water and steam power became commonplace, millions of rural workers, including thousands of children, descended on the growing industrial towns to work in mills and factories. Northern cities such as Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield became industrial powerhouses, exporting textiles such as cotton, wool, silk and linen worldwide to Britain's expanding empire. As well as producing textiles, these establishments would generate enormous profits for a new class of industrialists and entrepreneurs. In the first episode of this two-part series, History Hit presenters Luke Tomes and Louee Dessent discovered what a working day was like at Quarry Bank Mill in Cheshire in the 1800s, for both a wealthy Victorian industrialist and a poor Victorian labourer respectively. But what was life like for a Victorian factory worker and mill owner outside of the cotton mill? What conditions did they have to live in? What did they eat? How did they spend their leisure time? And how did their lives compare to ours today? In this second episode, Louee Dessent travels to

Join host, Alice Loxton, as she delves deep into the mysterious and haunting story of the Pendle Witch Trials that took place in 17th-century England. Alice speaks to local historian Simon Entwistle and Lancaster Castle's Museum Manager, Dr. Colin Penny to shed light on the secrets and significance of this chilling trial. Alice steps back in time to explore the landscapes of Pendle Hill, the ordinary town which became the heart of witchcraft allegations in Lancashire. She finds out how fear, superstition, and religious tensions conspired to ignite one of the most infamous witch trials in English history. She spends time learning the real stories of Alice Nutter, Elizabeth Device, and other women who were entangled in the web of accusations and examines the evidence against the accused, exploring potential motivations behind their persecution. Film directed by Mark Bowsher.

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

Could You Survive in the Duke of Wellington's Army?' During the Napoleonic Wars the British Army experienced a time of rapid change. At the beginning of the French Revolutionary Wars in 1793, the army was a small, awkwardly administered force of barely 40,000 men. By the end of the period, the numbers had vastly increased to over a quarter of a million soldiers by 1813. Whilst the battlefields of the early 1800s looked similar to those of centuries gone by, with columns of infantry advancing slowly toward the enemy musket volleys, the British army was starting to diversify, adding specialised and elite units to its forces. In this video, History Hit presenters Luke Tomes (@histluketomes) and Louee Dessent (@loueedj) join the Coldstream Guards 1815 and 95th Rifles - reenactment groups representing real units that served in the Peninsular War and helped to defeat Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo… You can find out more about the groups here: Together, they'll find out how your regiment in the Duke of Wellington’s army would shape your experience on the battlefield and determine

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

The deadly three pronged surprise German attack that started Operation Barbarossa in June 1941 was executed perfectly. A huge chunk of the dated Soviet air force was destroyed before it could get off the ground. This gave Germany huge air superiority in the early days of the campaign which would almost prove fatal for Russia. War Stories is your one stop shop for all things military history. From Waterloo to Verdun, we'll be bringing you only the best documentaries and stories from history's most engaging and dramatic conflicts. You can find more from us on