History Hit Podcasts

The Secret Origins of the SAS

In 1974, a pioneer of the SAS and master of military deception, Dudley Clarke, passed away. His death went almost entirely unnoticed by the...

Medieval Writers, Extraordinary Women

**This episode contains some strong language**

Few women had the luxury of writing down their thoughts and feelings during medieval times....

Inside the Witch Trials: Salem | Fear In A New World

We often think of the witch trials as something in the deep and distant past.

But, as we'll hear in today's episode, the attitudes and...

Elections Explained: The Man Who's Lost The Most

What causes a person to lose the Presidential election?

Henry Clay ran for the Presidency 3 times, and for nomination by his party 5 times,...

Titanic: The Doomed Ship (Part 1)

Part 1/2. Come on board the White Star Line's latest marvel, the splendour of the sea, the Titanic. Today we begin the story of the most ill-fated...

Africans in 17th Century England

In the 1640s, Black communities existed in London and in most of England's port cities, communities from which men would fight and die throughout...

Samhain: The First Halloween

Halloween is a tradition that only grows in popularity each year. Yet its origins are mysterious, shrouded by myth and...

2. Wars of the Roses: Rise of the Tudors

In the second episode of our Wars of the Roses series, Edward IV secures the English throne after his victory at the bloody Battle of Towton. But...

Pyrrhus: Warlord of Ancient Greece

It’s 279 BC. On a large plain in Southern Italy near the town of Asculum, a famous Greek warlord likened to Alexander the Great faces down the...

18th Century Dating: From Booty Calls to 'Bundling'

What was life like as a single person in the 18th century? What if you became pregnant out of wedlock?

In today's episode, Kate talks to...

Old Sarum: Stronghold of Norman England

Old Sarum was the earliest settlement of Salisbury in Wlitshire. While there are indications of a prehistoric settlement on the...

1. Wars of the Roses: England Divided

This is the first episode in a two-part series on the brutal, three-decade-long civil war that tore England in two. Today, we explore the complex...

The Doolittle Raid: WW2 Bombing of Japan

If somebody asked you to go on a dangerous mission, no other details, would you volunteer?

Well, in 1942, that's exactly what 120 crewmen of...

Irish Origins of Halloween

Pumpkins, trick or treating and ghost stories are what we associate with Halloween, but what about turnips, fairies and a fortune-telling cake?...

The Tudor World at Hampton Court

The oldest surviving part of Hampton Court Palace is a series of chambers and closets built in the 1520s for Henry VIII's chief advisor and Lord...

Origins of the Inuit

In this instalment of The Ancients we're going north of the Arctic circle to uncover the incredible story of the Thule Inuit. Expanding out from...

The Origins of Halloween

Pumpkins, trick or treating and ghost stories are what we associate with Halloween, but what about turnips, fairies and a fortune-telling cake?...

Inside the Witch Trials: Iceland | The Men Who Burned As Witches

When we think of the witch trials, we often think of women being charged.

Whilst misogyny was at the heart of many of the witch trials, this...

Castles, Kings and Courtly Life

All this month, Matt and Eleanor are ranging across England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland to discover the stories of our greatest...

Execution of Lady Jane Grey

This Tudor's story is intense and tragic. She's known as Lady Jane Grey but we ought to change that to 'Queen Jane'. That's who she was, even...

The Spanish Armada

In July 1588 the Spanish Armada set sail to conquer England. Three weeks later a fierce naval battle foiled the planned invasion. Many myths...