Exploring the Most Iconic Estate in England! | Stourhead

The real guns of the Old West are some of the most recognisable and iconic firearms from history. From the Colt Single Action Army to the Winchester 1873 rifle, the weapons that were once the choice of Wild West outlaws like Jesse James are familiar to a new generation of history fans through games like Red Dead Redemption. History Hit presenters Louee Dessent and Luke Tomes head to the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds for a Wild West shootout. Joined by curator and firearms historian Jonathan Ferguson, they test their accuracy with three iconic Wild West guns: the Colt revolver, Winchester rifle and shotgun. First up, they fire the Colt Navy 1861 and Colt SAA revolvers, six-shooters favoured by notorious outlaws like Jesse James as well as lawmen. Next, it's the iconic Winchester 1873 repeating rifle, made famous by its rapid fire lever-action mechanism. Finally, the competition is decided by the shotgun. Jonathan uses a sawn-off while Luke and Louee use a modern over-and-under.

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

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.

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

Historian Dan Snow answers the most asked questions about the Napoleonic Wars. Did Napoleon start the wars? How many Napoleonic Wars were there? How passionate is Dan about this history? Watch to find out. 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.