So, who was the real William Wallace? What do we truly know about this great Scottish rebel? In History Hit’s new documentary, Rebels: William Wallace, Professor Michael Livingstone travels the length and breadth of the UK on a quest to find out more about the man behind the legend.

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An enigma, a minor nobleman

For a figure so central to Scottish history, William Wallace’s early life is an enigma. He doesn’t appear in the historical record until 1296, when he bursts onto the scene as a rebel leader. This lack of information has allowed myth and legend to rush in and fill the void. Much of the story we think we know comes from a 15th-century poem, The Wallace, written by a poet known as Blind Harry, nearly 200 years after Wallace’s death.

However, as Michael discovers, if you know where to look, clues to the real man do exist. Sources suggest his father was named Alan Wallace, which would mean William was a Lowlander, not a Highlander, indicating he was a minor nobleman – a far cry from the village commoner portrayed in the film ‘Braveheart’.

The spark of rebellion

In the late 13th century, a royal succession crisis gripped Scotland, leaving it on the brink of civil war. When King Edward I of England was invited to settle the matter, he used the opportunity to install a puppet king, John Balliol, and effectively seize control of Scotland. Edward’s invading army forced the Scottish nobles to swear oaths of fealty to him after the Battle of Dunbar, yet William Wallace, as a lesser nobleman, was untouched by these political manoeuvres – a freedom that would prove crucial.

Professor Michael Livingstone with an original Oath of Fealty to Edward I.

Image Credit: National Records Office / History Hit

Believing the problem to be over, Edward left Scotland in September 1296, appointing two Englishmen, John de Warenney and Hugh de Cressingham, as guardian and treasurer of Scotland respectively. Edward removed the Scottish crown jewels to Westminster, and kept leading Scottish nobles in captivity. But Scotland remained a simmering pot of unrest and when Edward allowed his men to exploit the common people, it was the final straw for Wallace.

To find out more about the first steps of Wallace’s rebellion, Michael heads to Edinburgh, and talks to Dr Fiona Watson. They discuss how in May 1297, Wallace made his first move: a small, but powerful act of defiance at Lanark, where he and his men attacked and killed the English Sheriff. This seemingly minor incident was the first ripple in a wave of rebellion. Wallace wasn’t alone in his fight; pockets of revolt were flaring up across the country, most notably in the north under another rebel leader, Andrew Moray.

Stirling Bridge: The battle that changed everything

As the flames of rebellion burned brighter, Edward sailed to France to continue his wars on the continent, yet the English army marched north, determined to crush the Scots once and for all at Stirling, a strategic town often deemed the “key to Scotland.” Here, at a narrow bridge over the River Forth, the two forces would meet.

As Michael explains, “A battle is its ground. You can’t understand how a clash unfolds without understanding its terrain”. He explores the battlefield terrain with conflict archaeologist Professor Tony Pollard, discussing the various advantages and disadvantages each side had, and the importance of the Scottish spear.

On 11 September 1297, the English army, confident in their superior numbers and equipment, made a catastrophic mistake. Led by a non-military commander, they poured onto the narrow bridge, failing to see the deadly trap set by the Scots. Wallace and Moray’s spearmen waited patiently, then, with astonishing speed, pushed the English toward the river, unleashing carnage.

The Battle of Stirling Bridge was a stunning success for the Scots. Whilst Moray died from his battle wounds, the Scots’ victory propelled Wallace to fame, and he was soon knighted and appointed Guardian of Scotland – the rebel was now a ruler.

Site of the Battle of Stirling Bridge, showing the meandering River Forth which played a crucial role in the Scots’ victory. (The Wallace Monument can be seen in the background, atop the hill where the Scottish forces had gathered.

Image Credit: History Hit

The fall and a lasting legacy

However, Wallace’s triumph was short-lived. For King Edward, this was no longer a campaign for Scotland; it was a campaign against one man. Less than a year later, at the Battle of Falkirk, Wallace’s forces were crushed in a devastating defeat, a loss some historians attribute to him misapplying the very tactics that won at Stirling Bridge.

Though Wallace escaped the field alive, his spirit was broken. He resigned as Guardian and disappeared, likely to the Continent to seek aid from England’s enemies, until returning to Scotland in the early 1300s. In 1305, after relentless campaigning, Edward I declared he would pardon all Scottish lords who had opposed him – except for William Wallace. Soon after, on 5 August 1305 Wallace was captured near Glasgow and taken to Westminster for a show trial.

Wallace was accused of treason, a charge he denied, stating that he owed no allegiance to a foreign king. He was also accused of murdering monks and women, a charge which today would be classed as war crimes. Wallace vehemently denied this too, but was found guilty and, on 23 August 1305, sentenced to a horrific death, being hung, drawn and quartered.

Later in the programme, Michael heads to the National Archives to examine a document from the time, an exchequer roll detailing the cost of Wallace’s brutal execution. The document gives us a unique glimpse into the English perception of Wallace, who they believed wanted to make himself King of Scots.

Professor Michael Livingstone and Dr Jessica Nelson, Head of Collections at the National Archives, view an exchequer roll which describes details about William Wallace’s death.

Image Credit: National Archives / History Hit

While Wallace lost his fight and his life, his legacy did not die with him. His rebellion is now seen as the mid-point of the First War of Scottish Independence, and the seeds he planted inspired others, most notably Robert the Bruce, who learned from Wallace’s mistakes at Falkirk to achieve a decisive victory at Bannockburn.

Centuries later, Wallace’s memory lives on in statues, stories and in poetry from figures such as Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott. As Michael Livingstone notes, in his afterlife, Wallace “became a symbol for Scots’ pride, a figurehead around which people can organise even today”.

Join Michael Livingstone on a journey to find the real man behind the legend in Rebels: William Wallace.

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In History Hit’s new documentary, Power House: The Medieval Tower of London, Dan Snow goes beyond the well-known history to explore a time of immense change for the Tower in the 13th century. He uncovers how this Norman citadel was transformed into a magnificent, medieval ‘super fortress’ and a royal residence fit for kings.

Join Dan as he pulls back the curtain on this iconic fortress to reveal its hidden history as a medieval powerhouse.

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Not just a prison

The Tower’s full name – His Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of The Tower of London – offers a powerful clue to its dual purpose. It wasn’t just a military stronghold; it was a bustling royal court and residence, teeming with a diverse community of soldiers, servants, and monarchs. Dan delves into this hidden world, revealing how the Tower was, in every inch, a luxurious medieval palace.

Focusing on the 13th and 14th centuries, the programme explores the royal apartments built under Henry III and Edward I. These have been refurbished to reflect their original grandeur. Dan meets with Dr Charles Farris, the Public Historian for the History of the Monarchy, and the curator of a new palace exhibition containing several original items typical of palace life lent by the London Museum. Inside the restored Royal Apartments in St Thomas’s Tower, Dan is struck by their comfort and elegance, a contrast to the stark, cold image we tend to have of medieval castles.

Dr Farris explains how these rooms would have been lavishly decorated with intricate wall paintings, luxurious hangings, and fine furniture. The new exhibition, which uses original design notes from King Henry III to recreate the vibrant wall paintings that once adorned the queen’s chambers, brings this lost opulence to life. 

Dan Snow talks to Dr Charles Farris, Public Historian for the History of the Monarchy, in the refurbished Royal Apartments, St Thomas’s Tower, Tower of London.

Image Credit: History Hit

An expensive yet essential statement of power

The kings who invested so much in the Tower were not doing so on a whim. In an age of unrest, with the throne itself nearly lost during the reigns of Henry III and his son Edward I, the Tower’s fortifications were essential for security. But the palace served an equally important political purpose: projecting power

Kings like Edward I, often short on money, spent a fortune building such lavish palaces across their kingdom. As Dan learns, the lavish construction and opulent interiors were a deliberate message to visiting foreign dignitaries that England was a formidable, top-tier nation, and as Dr Farris says, “not a country that you mess with”.

Despite this massive investment, the Tower’s royal residents were rarely home. For instance, King Edward I spent a mere 53 days there over his entire 35-year reign, as a king’s rule depended on constant travel to command his vast territories and keep his nobles in check.

The rise of a medieval super fortress

The 13th century was a golden age of building for the Tower. It was constantly upgraded, transforming from a simple Norman stronghold into a multi-layered defensive masterpiece. Under King Henry III and particularly his son Edward I, the Tower was almost a permanent building site.

The documentary explores how Edward I, inspired by the massive castles he saw on crusade, initiated a monumental building project at the Tower. The military upgrade included a new layer of defensive outer walls, a state-of-the-art entrance featuring the Byward and St. Thomas’s Towers, and a permanent wet moat. Dan, guided by the Tower’s Curator of Historic Buildings, Alfred Hawkins, gets a close-up look at these engineering marvels. 

Alfred also shows Dan one of the most incredible surviving relics of this period: the original portcullis of the Byward Tower. Carbon-dated to the 13th century, it is believed to be the oldest working portcullis in England. 

Dan Snow talks to the Tower’s Curator of Historic Buildings, Alfred Hawkins and sees the original portcullis for the Byward Tower.

Image Credit: History Hit

The business of kings

The Tower’s newfound security also had a crucial economic purpose: housing the Royal Mint. Bringing the mint inside the fortress walls was a strategic move to consolidate royal power and control. Dan discovers how the Tower literally became a place for making money, and the relevance of the ‘Byward Angel’ painting in displaying the king’s ‘divine power’.

Ultimately, the Tower of London is a microcosm of medieval kingship, encapsulating within its ancient walls the monarch’s many roles: magnificent ruler, fierce warrior, pious leader, and family man.

Watch Power House: The Medieval Tower of London and see the Tower in a whole new light.

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The Road to Magna Carta

In History Hit’s new documentary series, Magna Carta, Dan Snow and Professor Michael Livingstone explore the seismic shifts in medieval power that culminated in one of history’s most pivotal moments.

The first episode sees Professor Michael Livingston heads to France to explore the continental side of the Magna Carta story – why did Magna Carta get written in the first place? 

Following the first part of this series, in which Michael Livingston investigated the devastating loss of King John’s lands in France and defeat at the Battle of Bouvines, Dan Snow picks up the story in one of the most turbulent years in English history: 1215.

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Why was there a 1225 version?

Originally issued by King John in 1215, Magna Carta was a charter that guaranteed the liberties and rights of his subjects, critically placing the Crown under the authority of the law. Whilst the 1215 Magna Carta is rightly celebrated as the original ‘Great Charter’, the initial document ultimately failed. Within weeks of its agreement, King John swiftly reneged on his granting of the Magna Carta, asking Pope Innocent III for permission to reject it on the grounds that he had been forced to sign it. The pontiff agreed and annulled the document, sparking the outbreak of the First Barons’ War.

However, following King John’s death in October 1216, his young son Henry became king and modified versions of Magna Carta were reissued shortly after in his name, laying the groundwork for a legal document that could truly influence contemporary events and help restore peace.

It was the 1225 reissue of Magna Carta that was pivotal – for the first time, King Henry III was considered old enough to make a personal commitment to rule in accordance with the rules set out in Magna Carta. Issued in his own name on 11 February 1225, it was this version that became the definitive and lasting Magna Carta, shaping English law for centuries to come.

Magna Carta’s enduring legacy

This groundbreaking document is considered a pivotal step in the evolution of human rights, influencing the framing of constitutions worldwide. Outlining basic rights, Magna Carta established the principle that no one, not even the king, was above the law, and notably outlined the fundamental right to a fair trial.

Since 1225, Magna Carta has proven to be a remarkably resilient and inspirational document, forming the bedrock of the rule of law for future generations. Its influence is evident in foundational legal milestones, including:

• The Petition of Right (1628) and the Habeas Corpus Act (1679)
• The fundamental concept of due process in Anglo-American law
• The Constitution of the USA (1789) and its Bill of Rights (1791)

Read our collection of articles about Magna Carta

In History Hit’s new documentary, The Road to Magna Carta, Dan Snow and Professor Michael Livingstone explore the seismic shifts in medieval power that culminated in one of history’s most pivotal moments.

In this gripping first episode, Professor Michael Livingston heads to France to explore the continental side of the Magna Carta story. His exploration begins in 1214, a year before Magna Carta’s sealing, with the pivotal Battle of Bouvines. This wasn’t merely a clash of armies; it was the decisive moment that shattered English power in Europe and, crucially, brought King John to his knees at home.

What led to the Battle of Bouvines, and why was it so crucial to Magna Carta’s origin?

King John: A reign on the brink

King John ascended the throne in 1199, inheriting the vast Angevin Empire – a sprawling dominion across England, parts of Ireland and Wales, and over half of France. This formidable inheritance, built by his father Henry II and fortified by a strategic marriage to Eleanor of Aquitaine, made England’s king one of Europe’s most powerful figures. Land was wealth, and the empire’s extensive territories fuelled royal coffers and enriched England’s barons, who held lucrative interests across France.

However, this power stirred bitter resentment, particularly from the shrewd and ambitious King Philippe II of France. As medieval historian Dan Jones explains, Philippe was systematically transforming the French monarchy into a dominant force. Alarmed by the English king’s growing influence, Philippe resolved to dismantle the Angevin Empire.

The loss of Normandy

Henry II’s death in 1189 seemed a golden opportunity for Philippe, but Henry’s heir, Richard the Lionheart, was a formidable military leader. Philippe waited. His chance came in 1199 when Richard was killed while on military campaign, paving the way for his less astute brother, John, to become king. Though John initially secured peace through the Treaty of Le Goulet, he effectively conceded that most of his French lands were merely held from the French Crown, ceding vital strategic control.  

Normandy, with the River Seine linking Paris to the sea, was crucial to Philippe’s ambitions. He soon accused John of violating their agreements, setting his sights on the gateway to Normandy: the formidable Chateau Gaillard. Built by Richard the Lionheart, this cutting-edge fortress, perched 90 metres above the Seine, was a symbol of English power. 

But John gravely underestimated Philippe’s resolve. After a gruelling nine-month siege, John’s desperate attempt to relieve the castle failed. In March 1204, Chateau Gaillard fell. Dr Caroline Burt emphasises, this was a “total disaster” for John’s reputation, eroding confidence and signalling the irretrievable loss of Normandy. By 1205, the once-mighty Angevin Empire was a mere shadow of its former self. 

Chateau Gaillard

Image Credit: History Hit

The cost of ambition: John’s war chest

John vowed to reclaim his lost lands. His decade-long obsession with regaining his continental possessions fundamentally reshaped his governance of England. As Professor David Carpenter highlights, John spent ten years meticulously raising a “great war chest,” tripling his revenues to finance a new campaign and secure crucial allies.

“If you want to know why there’s Magna Carta,” Carpenter states, “it’s because the tax bill has tripled in 10 years.”

This unprecedented financial burden, combined with the barons’ own losses of French lands, pushed England’s nobility to breaking point. Their frustration mounted with a king who had lost them prestige and income, and who seemed incapable of reversing his fortunes. John knew diplomacy wouldn’t suffice; he needed a decisive military victory.

The fateful alliance and the Battle of Bouvines

By 1214, John had meticulously assembled a grand alliance of European powers hostile to Philippe, including the Holy Roman Emperor Otto IV. This was John’s last, desperate gamble, a monumental investment that strained his relations with his barons to their absolute limit. Only victory could save him.

The strategic plan was to encircle Philippe and trap him in Paris. While John’s initial advance into Angers went well, a confrontation with Philippe’s son, Louis, forced John into a disastrous retreat. This left him stranded on the west coast, notably absent from the decisive battle that would define his reign.

That battle unfolded in Bouvines, a small town in north-east France. Philippe’s forces clashed with the coalition army in a brutal, bloody affair. Despite their size and funding, the allied forces were fractured, lacking common language and unified leadership. Philippe exploited these divisions, systematically fending off uncoordinated attacks. Soon, alliance leaders began to surrender. Philippe had secured a resounding victory, solidifying his status as “Philippe Augustus” and establishing France as the dominant power in Europe.

The Battle of Bouvines, by Horace Vernet

Image Credit: Museum of the History of France / Public Domain

The unavoidable road to Magna Carta

For John, defeat at Bouvines, even in absentia, was catastrophic. As Dan Jones powerfully explains, “to lose a battle like Bouvines… is a direct expression of God’s opinion about King John, and God’s opinion is that King John does not deserve to prosper.”

Dr Caroline Burt emphasises that Bouvines was the critical catalyst: “You can’t really envisage Magna Carta happening without something like Bouvines. It opens up the political space for opposition to gain traction.” The barons, bled dry and utterly disillusioned, recognised that John’s unchecked authority, particularly regarding taxation, could not continue. They had to draw “some red lines.”

John had lost everything – his lands, his money, and crucially, the trust of his people. Less than a year later, with nowhere left to turn, King John was forced by his barons to seal the Magna Carta.

The Road to Magna Carta, Episode 1 is available to watch now:

Join acclaimed Medieval Historian Dr Helen Carr as she delves deep into Edward II’s extraordinary and chaotic reign in History Hit’s documentary, Edward II: Worst King of England?

Helen starts by revealing myth-busting depictions of Edward II which portray a king serious about his role, even leading armies into battle – far from the effeminate figure later popularised by Victorian artists. So, where did it all go wrong, and why has Edward II’s image been so skewed over time?

Born in 1284 and heir to the formidable Edward I, Edward II inherited a vast kingdom. After his father’s death, 23 year old Edward looked for help from his closest friends, including Piers Gaveston, a man with whom Edward shared an intense close connection with, possibly sexual. Helen explores this bond, and how Edward’s giving of titles, attention and money to Gaveston after recalling him from exile in France alienated many of his traditional supporters amongst the nobility who saw this behaviour as inappropriate.

“All of these things were things that the old noble families of England were expecting to come to them… If the job of king of England in the 14th century is in part a management position, Edward is an absolutely terrible manager.” says historian Dr Kit Heyam.

Edward’s actions had ignited aristocratic fury, setting him on a collision course with England’s powerful aristocracy almost from the very moment of his ascension in 1307.

Dr Helen Carr with Dr Paul Dryburgh, principal record specialist at The National Archives, during filming. They are looking at a Charter drawn up by Edward II (less than a month after he became king), bestowing on Piers Gaveston the Earldom of Cornwall.

Image Credit: History Hit

Through rare illuminated charters, historical records, and expert analysis, Helen also delves into the dramatic power struggles that defined Edward’s reign: the imposing of the ‘Ordinances’ to curb his power, the ruthless machinations of figures like Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, and the infamous Battle of Bannockburn against Robert the Bruce, a devastating defeat that shattered English authority in Scotland.

Dr Helen Carr also uncovers the complexities of Edward’s other relationships, including that of his sometimes successful, sometimes deadly, marriage in 1308 to the 12-year-old Isabella of France and the birth of the future Edward III.

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As Edward’s reign progressed and with Gavetson gone, a new set of favourites emerged – the Despensers. Helen speaks to writer and historian Kathryn Warner who explains how subsequently “We see this real break in Edward’s character. Earlier on with Gaveston he had been a much nicer and perhaps kinder and gentler individual… but then later he falls for Hugh Despenser in whatever way, who was a coercive manipulative type and Edward’s personality just changes completely.”

The Despensers’ influence, particularly that of Hugh Despenser the Younger, pushed Edward towards tyranny and ultimately, alienation from all who cared for him, including his formidable queen, Isabella. Helen goes on to chart Isabella’s transformation from loyal wife to “She-Wolf of France,” as she, allied with the exiled Roger Mortimer, orchestrated a dramatic coup against the Despensers that would lead to Edward’s downfall.

Dr Helen Carr at Edward II’s tomb at Gloucester Cathedral

Image Credit: History Hit

And then, the mystery of Edward II’s death – was it the infamous, horrific fate of the red-hot poker, or something far more ambiguous? Helen dissects the origins of this enduring gruesome myth of Edward’s probable murder, revealing how later chronicles and plays sensationalised his demise.

Edward II: Worst King of England? is an exploration of power, loyalty, betrayal, and reputation. Was Edward truly England’s worst king, or simply a complex monarch caught between tradition and his own progressive (and often disastrous) instincts? Watch and decide for yourself.

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However experts using modern technologies have now “recreated” King Richard III’s voice, complete with Yorkshire accent and medieval pronunciation, which features in the History Hit documentary, A Voice for Richard III, available 21 November.

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After first being exhibited at York Theatre Royal, the digital avatar developed by Face Lab at Liverpool John Moores University and the new voice feature in an original documentary presented by historian Matt Lewis, who explores its creation and significance.

“The voice for Richard project has set out to give Richard back his own voice,” says Matt Lewis, co-host of the Gone Medieval podcast. “This is a project that brings together history with technology, art, science, language and one of my favourite historical personalities, King Richard III.”

Matt Lewis speaks with Yvonne Morley-Chisolm

Image Credit: History Hit / A Voice for King Richard III

“This is as close as we can get to being in the room in the fifteenth century when a king speaks. I can’t wait for the world to see the culmination of ten years of hard work and innovation.”

Expert voice teacher and vocal coach Yvonne Morley-Chisolm embarked on the research project with the aim of creating a literal voice for the long-dead historical figure. 10 years of work contributed to the final reconstruction, which involved research in the field of Historical Human Reconstruction and experts from the UK and abroad.

“We are bringing a long dead king back to a kind of ‘life’, says Morley-Chisolm. “We are learning more about the real man in doing so.”

“Since we produced the facial reconstruction of Richard III in 2012, we have dreamt about bringing him alive, to see him move and speak his own words,” says Professor Carolin Wilkinson, a leading cranio-facial identification expert.

“The result has exceeded our expectations and represents the most authentic and realistic portrait of this great king, based on all evidence available.”

Find out more about the remarkable project to give King Richard III a voice by signing up to History Hit.

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In the latest History Hit documentary, Dan Snow journeys to the so-called ‘Weeping Glen’ to examine an astonishing new archaeological discovery: a hoard of coins likely hidden during one of the most shocking events in British history.

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In the first-ever film to delve into the discovery, The Scottish Massacre: Unearthing the Secrets of Glencoe, Dan meets archaeologists from the University of Glasgow and National Trust for Scotland, who are currently excavating the village of Glencoe. He explores what life was like here for the MacDonalds and why the Massacre of Glencoe took place.

Dan Snow and Lucy Ankers in The Scottish Massacre: Unearthing the Secrets of Glencoe

Image Credit: History Hit

Was it a revenge attack instigated by clan rivalry? Or, with a new monarch on the throne of England and Scotland in the person of King William III, were there greater forces at play?

The hoard was found hidden beneath the hearthstone in the summer house belonging to the clan chieftain of the MacDonalds of Glencoe, Alasdair Maclain. The 36 coins were located inside a small pot identified by student archaeologist Lucy Ankers, and may have been hidden by the MacDonald clan in the days leading up to the massacre—or even as they fled from government troops.

New light on a key moment in Scottish history

Each coin holds clues to the personal history and connections of MacIain, with several originating from regions he travelled to, such as France. One coin, depicting Stuart King Charles II and pierced with a hole, may even signify Jacobite allegiance, as it was likely worn as a necklace during a time of intense political division in the Scottish Highlands.

“It’s so exciting when a new archaeological discovery ties in with famous historic events,” says Dan Snow. “Contemporary accounts tell us some details about the Glencoe Massacre, but many questions remain. So, to hold something tangible from those terrible events, a pot of treasured coins tucked away for safekeeping and then forgotten for centuries, is extraordinary and brings you so much closer to this notorious and important story.”

“This remarkable find sheds new light on a key moment in Scottish history.”

The documentary showcases the ongoing research that the discovery has inspired. History Hit filmed on-site with the archaeology team and historic coin expert Jesper Ericsson, revealing how analysis of the hoard provides new insights into the massacre and life in 17th-century Glencoe.

“This discovery offers an amazing insight into the lives of Scottish Highland clan chiefs in the 17th century and their connections and negotiation of status,” explains Dr. Eddie Stewart, who co-led the dig.

The Glencoe Hoard

Image Credit: Featured in The Scottish Massacre: Unearthing the Secrets of Glencoe by History Hit

“For the first time, this documentary explores what these coins mean to the story not only of Glencoe and the 1692 massacre but also the personal travels and mobility of the Highland nobility,” says Stewart. “Our team of experts has brought to life a moment in time with the burial of this hoard and over a century of collecting practice!”

Glencoe lives revealed

The pot of coins hidden under the fireplaces suggests a story of panic, death and loss, adds Professor Michael Given. “What’s extraordinary about Glencoe is how a single dramatic moment in history can be captured in these everyday objects,” he says.

“The archaeological evidence is also revealing a deep connection between the people of Glencoe and their land. When you understand this relationship you can better comprehend the true magnitude of the trauma they endured when their world was so violently upended in 1692 and their homes abandoned.”

Beyond the hoard, the film explores new findings from excavations in the settlement of Achnacon, including a beautifully recreated turf-walled house designed by the National Trust for Scotland to resemble 17th-century Highland homes. They vividly reveal the lives of Glencoe’s residents at the time of the massacre.

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In Agincourt: The Real Story, historical conflict analyst Dr Mike Livingston journeys through northern France in the footsteps of Henry V and his army, from Harfleur to Agincourt.

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Livingston argues that the traditionally recognised site of the battle incorrectly locates the English position in the French position. Additionally, he wonders if Henry’s strategy alone won him the battle – or whether forces beyond his control proved pivotal.

In the battle, Henry arranged his archers into low long wings either side of his centre, where his dismounted men-at-arms stood between further groups of archers.

“As the French approached, they would be shot at from both sides while the surrounding woods and stakes would prevent his archers from being overrun,” Livingston explains.

Livingston reconstructs the battle with Dr Marina Viallon, medieval arms and armour expert. Ultimately, it saw Henry win a total victory against the French, losing just hundreds of men compared with the thousands of French losses.

Although the French men-at-arms facing them would have been eager and fully protected, wearing a combination of mail and plate armour, and the distinctive pointed helmet known as the pig’s nose bascinet, they had a problem.

“The Dauphin had not yet arrived on the battlefield,” explains Viallon. “Instead the French were being led by various dukes of the realm, and they didn’t always get along. So a lot of other factions were actually fighting for power around the king and so you have four or five different leaders in this army.”

This was their biggest problem, says Viallon. “The English had a clear and strong leader. And the French basically had too many cooks in the kitchen, but no chef.”

Dr Mike Livingston meets with master arrowsmith and fletcher Will Sherman in Agincourt: The Real Story

Image Credit: History Hit

The result was confused command, and commitment to a foiled plan even as conditions on the battlefield turned muddy and difficult.

In this light, victory at Agincourt was not a foregone conclusion for the English, but almost a fluke. “Henry did not even want a fight,” says Livingston. “He tried his best to avoid it but the French caught up to him.”

In Agincourt: The Real Story, Livingston explores the vital role of Henry’s archers, and works with master arrowsmith and fletcher Will Sherman to explore the finely honed technology that helped win the day.

He also investigates whether Henry was seeking battle or running away, exploring whether illness among his troops motivated a return home.

Livingston considers how Agincourt permeated as a tale of bravery and triumph against all the odds, inspiring Shakespeare and thereafter everyone from Churchill to Kenneth Branagh.

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In the 12th century Chillingham was home to a monastery. By the 13th century, due to incursions from Scottish forces, the castle was built and Edward I, ‘Hammer of the Scots’, led his Scottish campaigns from this location. Over the years it’s been host to several noble families, but nowadays it’s best known as the home to dozens of ghosts.

Historian Eleanor Janega braves Chillingham Castle and its gathering of ghosts in the film Exploring the Medieval Afterlife on History Hit.

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Unlike other medieval ghost stories, the first recorded accounts of Chillingham’s ghost tales are much more recent. They were penned by Lady Leonora Tankerville, who moved there from the United States after marrying the Earl of Tankerville in 1895.

This was “something of a golden age for ghost stories,” says Janega. “The Victorian and Edwardian eras were a time of great modernization and secularism with major shifts away from religious explanations of the natural world.”

“But the flip side of all this worldly rationalism was that it actually increased interest in the occult and spiritualism,” explains Janega. “Ghost stories were a hugely popular part of fiction as people became increasingly interested in the paranormal, seances, and finding different ways of interacting with the dead. Places like Chillingham found themselves in the middle of the spiritualist revival.”

Lady Tankerville’s reports of Chillingham’s ghosts were even commended by author and fellow supernatural enthusiast Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Given the battles on the Scottish borders, perhaps it’s no wonder that there are so many reports of ghosts.

The ghosts she wrote about would seem to continue to trouble today’s residents. “In the 18th century there was a figure who spent his time wailing and moaning and shimmering in blue,” explains its current owner, English baronet Sir Humphry Wakefield, who says excavations between the castle walls revealed the bones of a child, and this “solved that problem”.

“But when I restored that room,” he continues, “my guests kept saying, ‘You must have an electric fault which is a flash of blue on the edge of the door.’ Well, there’s no electric there at all. We must have left a toe bone.”

The great hall of Chillingham Castle, a medieval castle in the village of Chillingham in the northern part of Northumberland, England. It dates from 1344.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Sir Humphry avows that a priest, an expert in banishing ghosts, arrived at Chillingham only to report that they were so numerous he could not deal with them.

Chillingham’s resident ghost hunter Richard Craig reports 50 ghosts on the premises. One, Lady Mary Berkeley, is supposed to haunt the Great Hall, manifesting with a smell of roses and a wafting chill.

“Whether you believe in ghosts or not,” explains Janega, “ it’s clear that a natural fear of the supernatural has haunted us through the ages.” And lurking beneath these tales often lies a window into society’s changing norms and values. To figure out what makes a society tick, it often helps to look at what makes them frightened.

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Relaunched in 2021, the trail commemorates East Sussex‘s association with the Norman conquest. The path is waymarked by 10 sculptures created by local artist Keith Pettit, each inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry.

If split into two days of 15 or so miles, the first day sees the walker set off from Pevensey, where William’s Norman army landed on 27 September 1066, and head to Battle, where the Battle of Hastings took place on 14 October 1066.

The Normans occupied the castle at Pevensey in 1066, which was once a Roman fortress and whose surviving, impressively robust curtain wall is originally Roman. The 1066 Country Walk picks up across the road where a shady corridor opens onto the Pevensey Levels. This Site of Special Scientific Interest is traversed with a steady plod over flat paths intersecting wetland meadows. The path ascends into the woody and gently rolling hills of the High Weald and soon passes directly in view of the 15th century, brick-built Herstmonceux Castle.

A few hours after setting off, I set myself down on a bench atop Tent Hill, a rise in the former medieval deer park of Ashburnham Estate. The Ashburnham family established themselves on this land a few decades after the Norman conquest, and the grounds of the grand Ashburnham Place were designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown in 1767. More tantalising is the suggestion that the English or Norman armies may have pitched up here, with views stretching to the South Downs, on the eve of the Battle of Hastings.

A few more miles took me alongside Senlac Hill, the generally accepted site of the Battle of Hastings. Battle Abbey was built on its summit on the orders of King William to mark the battle and perhaps compensate, spiritually-speaking, for all the killing it involved. Battle offers plenty of rooms in hotels, inns and private apartments if prepared in advance. In warmer months, there are also campsites a taxi journey away.

Battle Great Wood; Farbanks Henge

Image Credit: Kyle Hoekstra

On the other hand, perhaps a more authentic means of bedding down on the route is to pitch surreptitiously beneath the conifers of Battle Great Wood, an old woodland criss-crossed by wide, muddy tracks. The early medieval English made use of the woods for charcoal and the iron industry. As the last light was split by pines, I claimed a well-drained patch between their roots onto which I unfurled a pocket-sized tent, stretched out and lit my stove.

The following morning I wriggled from my sleeping bag to a quiet dawn chorus. Overnight rain had made gummy bog of the morning’s tracks which headed south and east towards Rye. At one moment, I had to remove my bag to crawl beneath a tree that had been wrenched over a walkway. When I was far from woods and marshland, I made coffee and porridge in a field beside a big oak.

A regular sight along the 1066 Country Walk are converted oast houses, elsewhere called hop kilns. These singular, cowled buildings, where hops were dried and stored for brewing, allude to the centuries of rural hop-growing which preceded 20th century industrialisation.

The walk soon broke onto open pasture and delivered me to a sculpture known as Farbanks Henge, a circle of oak monoliths inspired by trees on the Bayeux Tapestry. Here I met Peter, a local of Battle, and walked with him on the subsequent miles of country lanes and meadows through Icklesham to Winchelsea.

As we approached Winchelsea, he pointed out the isolated ruins of a gatehouse. I was already attuned to the town’s intriguing past. Over the past day I’d listened to Alex Prestons’ 2022 novel Winchelsea, which depicts the smuggling operations which ran rife in the area in the 18th century. The town was an important node in cross-Channel trade and became affiliated with the confederation of ‘Cinque Ports’. The present town was assembled on a grid in 1288, after ‘Old’ Winchelsea was abandoned to the sea – its name plausibly deriving from language for the marshland (‘qwent’) and the beach (‘chesil’).

Rye, East Sussex, England

Image Credit: Shutterstock

I watched Peter walk eastwards for Rye, which sits on a ridge above the intervening marshland. Rye is a substantially larger town with impressive historic remains. Its photogenic streets climb from venerable inns towards the Citadel, which contains St Mary’s Church, whose origins are Norman, and Ypres Tower, built to protect Rye and its harbour from later French raiders.

I chose to wait in Winchelsea a little longer. I ate lunch while looking over its striking, half-ruined church and contemplating the extensive wine cellars which run under the town. The sun was still high, and on Winchelsea’s Beacon Hill I dropped my bag by the remains of a mill destroyed by the Great Storm of 1987, which was once also the site of a Saxon church. I looked over the way I had come, at how the Weald comes to kneel at the sea. Then I lay with my back on the old mill stone, my mind alive to the tales I had gathered over the past two days.