What Was Life Really Like In A Victorian Workhouse? | Secrets From The Workhouse

In Victorian England the Workhouse formed the basis of society. The poor and destitute entered Workhouses to receive free health care and food. But in a society that viewed poverty as a crime, these workhouses were never meant to comfort. It was a means to punish the destitute and encourage future independence. In this two-part documentary, several UK celebrities explore how their ancestors survived the difficult environment of the Workhouse and discover some unexpected family secrets which shock and inspire them in turn.

Secrets from the Clink follows Len Goodman, Johnny Vegas, Michelle Collins, Mariella Frostrup, and Daisy McAndrew as they find out about the crimes their ancestors committed dating back to the Victorian Era and the punishments they received for the crimes.

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

Over a century ago, a tomb ship bound for China was shipwrecked and sank. The SS Ventnor had a ghostly cargo, the remains of 499 Chinese gold miners were all packed in coffins that never made it home. The ship still lies off the coast of Northern New Zealand. Can the descendant retrieve their ancestors from their watery graves?

He lived in ancient Israel, was called the "Good Shepherd". He was killed by the Romans and he rose in 3 days. But he's not Jesus. Shockingly, an ancient stone tablet that has emerged from the Jordanian antiquities market seems to suggest there was a dying and rising Messiah before Jesus.

The Secrets of Ham House | And What's so Strange about the Bath!' About 10 miles from the centre of London is one of the most magnificent houses of Stuart England, Ham House. This lavish mansion is a treasure trove of 17th century art and architecture, a dazzling red-brick jewel on the muddy banks of the River Thames. But Ham House also has a remarkable history of espionage and secrets. During the tumultuous years of the English Civil War, the Commonwealth and the Restoration, Ham House lay at the heart of political conflict. In this documentary, Alice Loxton discovers how the Murray family - friends of Charles I and led by a remarkable mother-daughter team of Catherine and Elizabeth Murray - survived this troublesome period. Despite being fiercely loyal to the crown - even ferrying secret letters to the exiled Charles II - the Murray’s also maintained a friendship with the Cromwell family. It was an audacious act of bravery, resilience and espionage.