Historical records to go online

English fighting at Crecy in 1346. Pic National Archives of England & Wales

The University of Oxford is leading a project which will see one of the most important records of the Hundred Years War made available to the public.

The Gascon Rolls, which consists of 113 unpublished manuscripts covering from 1317 to 1468, will be put online.

Academics from Oxford are working on the project with the University of Liverpool and King's College London.

Malcolm Vale, of St John's College Oxford, said the archives were kept in the National Archives at Kew, London.

"The history of the old enmity between England and France still arouses interest and, in some quarters, passion," he said.

"One phase of the conflict - now known as the Hundred Years War (1337-1453) - was provoked and fuelled by English claims to hold overseas territories: above all, the duchy of Aquitaine.

"This research project aims to make available the most important unpublished documentary source for that war, its prelude, course and aftermath so we can arrive at a better understanding of how and why relations between the two countries deteriorated, leading to a century-long conflict."

The Arts and Humanities Research Council has provided £750,000 to fund project, which is also being done with assistance from The National Archives and The Ranulf Higden Society.

It is expected to take three years to complete the project.