The BBC is known around the world for its vast collection of audio and visual material that dates back to the corporation's earliest days. Drawing on these vast resources, the BBC has established this Web site (in conjunction with a living history television show) to place some of these materials online, available for the general public. The site itself is divided into five broad themes, including...

English Heritage is a British charity organization dedicated to preserving historic sites in Great Britain, including relics from the prehistoric, Roman, and medieval eras. For those who want to do a bit of British exploring from afar, English Heritage also offers Story of England, an illustrated tour of Great Britain from the prehistoric era to the present. Visitors are invited to explore the...

Created and maintained by Michael Duffy, this site amasses an impressive amount of valuable cultural, historical, and social documentation of "the Great War." The site begins with some highlighted collections, such as Peace and Truce on the Western Front, Photo Reconnaissance, and Keeping 'em on The Farm. While the Web site is a work-in-progress, visitors will enjoy browsing through different...

Compiled by Dr. Samantha Letters and hosted by the Institute for Historical Research (IHR), this site contains the first comprehensive national survey of markets and fairs in medieval England and Wales. At present, full information is available for eleven counties, with new additions planned throughout the year. The entries may be browsed by country or place name, and a glossary, list of...

Hadrian's Wall is an historical monument built by the Romans in Britain and spans more than 2,000 years of history. Standing as a "reminder of past glories of one of the world's greatest civilisations," the Wall is equipped with museums, forts, and events that bring Roman history to life. Designed by the World Heritage Site, this Web site offers tourist information (such as travel and hotel...

Part social history, part public documentary, Peter Higginbotham has created a Web site devoted to the workhouse, a feature of the English landscape for over two hundred years that provided employment for the destitute in return for board and lodging. Through a series of primary documents, including the Poor Laws of the 19th century, Mr. Higginbotham offers a descriptive and nuanced perspective on...

For some, becoming more interested in history may be somewhat of an uphill battle. Sometimes it may be due to preconceived notions about the way the subject was presented when they were young, and others may find the material a bit dry. This website offered by the BBC presents a variety of historical perspectives that are both engaging and informative, and as such, the site is well worth a look....

Founded in 1856, the National Portrait Gallery in London was established to collect the likenesses of famous British men and women. For persons with a penchant for portraiture, this website will be a welcome addition, and one with enough material to merit a number of extensive visits. Besides information about visiting the Gallery (which is available in several languages, including German and...

The National Archives has created this virtual museum to showcase artifacts from its permanent collection that documents 1,000 years of British history. Although the site has some minor design flaws, such as light text that horizontally scrolls across dark, busy backgrounds, and .pdf files that are not clearly identified as such, its structure supports those who want to use historical objects to...

Browsing through three hundred years of history via one website is quite a treat, and this lovely website from the Society of Antiquaries of London delivers the goods. The site was created to celebrate the Society's 300th anniversary, and to complement a physical exhibit that's been making the rounds of galleries throughout the United Kingdom. Visitors can click on The Discovery of Britain area to...