Whether you've a mystery of your own or hit a dead end after years of your own local historical investigating, History Mysteries may provide the answer you've been looking for.
Each programme follows the story of a historical mystery, revealing our national past buried in the local present, the small detail shown in the wider context, fastidiously sorting local fact from fiction.
Our experienced team of sleuths - Jonathan Foyle, historian of architecture, art and culture; Miranda Krestovnikoff, a specialist in natural history; and Nick Barratt, a historian and archivist - investigate when, where and why an event occured.
The series also shows you what you need to equip yourself to begin your own investigations. With the tools to navigate your way through archives and teach you the language needed to interpret architectural buildings and landscapes, 'History Mysteries' is DIY history, giving you the tools and tricks of the trade to piece together your own local history.
History Mysteries in more depth:
OU on the BBC: History Mysteries - Programme summaries
Production team
Throughout the series an array of historical mysteries are unearthed and our team of sleuths provide the evidence, to prove or disprove theories and legends.... Read more : OU on the BBC: History Mysteries - Programme summaries
OU on the BBC: History Mysteries - Meet the presenters
Production team
Our team of sleuths, Miranda Krestovnikoff, Nick Barratt and Jonathan Foyle have the skills and knowledge you need to uncover the past around you. Find... Read more : OU on the BBC: History Mysteries - Meet the presenters
![Polling Station signage [Image: kagey b under CC-BY-NC-ND licence]](/openlearn/files/ole/ole_images/places/general-urban-scenes/polling-station-sign/polling station sign_0_0.jpg)
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New programme - History Mysteries
I know that it is heavily trailed elsewhere but I would like to put in a plug for a new series that has started on Monday on BBC2, and continues every week day afternoon this week and next week. It's called History Mysteries and goes out at 3 p.m. Each day it takes a historical problem from all over Britain, ranging over all periods of time. Yesterday, for example, they were investigating whether the postmistress in Highworth, Wiltshire, had any connections with training recruits for guerrilla fighting if the Germans had invaded. Just outside Highworth was the main training base. Incredible stuff! I have to declare an interest here - I helped out in the series and my blue shirt appears in one of the programmes but worn by somebody else! A kind of fame anyway? The series is produced by the BBC and the OU. Best wishes, John
Re: New programme - History Mysteries
> To John,
I have also watched and enjoyed the programmes. Because my interest was aroused when you featured Mabel Stranks I looked her up on the internet. Whoever placed the information on that site, completely contradicted the findings by Jonathon Foy and his colleagues. I have already written on this to you but received no reply. I shoul;d like to hear your responses to the above.
Regards
Roy McWhannell
Re: New programme - History Mysteries
Sorry Roy for not answering, how did you try to contact me - was it by letter or this conference or what? Historians disagreeing is not unknown! Anybody can put anything on the internet. I think that the version on the programme was right (as much as anything in history is right). What points did your research dig up? Best wishes, John Kirkaldy
Re: New programme - History Mysteries
I've been watching these programmes all week and have really enjoyed them. Each one is different and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
Re: New programme - History Mysteries
I don't know about repeating but I very much hope that we can do another series. I was involved in a very small way in producing them (checking if the History was accurate!). They were great fun to be part of and I hope that comes through in the programmes. Best wishes, John
Re: New programme - History Mysteries
I've missed most of these so far this week. I intend to watch the rest of the series, but do you know if there are any plans to repeat them?
Cheers