Headline History is a website created by Derby-based Northcliffe Electronic Publishing (now known as Associated Northcliffe Digital) in 2002. It features English history from the Roman, Tudor, Victorian and World War Two eras.

The website is a classroom teaching tool that allows youngsters to write and edit newspaper-style stories about real historical events. But people of any age can find it interesting and informative.

In the Victorian section of the website you can find information about Florence Nightingale. She features in a front page story about her return from the Crimean War in August 1856.

In some video footage which plays on the site, Florence Nightingale - played by an actress - gives this information about her life:

(Question 1: Who are you?) Hello there. I'm Florence Nightingale. You may know me as the Lady with the Lamp - that's what the wounded called me when I was out in Turkey.

(Question 2: Tell us about your life)...It's been an interesting one and, compared to many, a very fortunate one. I was born in 1820 in Florence in Italy. I was brought up by my parents at two homes, one in Derbyshire and the other in Hampshire. I was taught at home by my father, along with my sister Parthenope. Then when I was 17 something quite extraordinary happened. I heard the voice of God calling me to do His work. But I wasn't quite sure what that should be. I was very annoyed at the lack of opportunities for women. I visited hospitals. But nursing wasn't deemed a fit occupation for ladies. But I was soon to change that! My parents were quite against me becoming a nurse. I visited Egypt and along the way I met two sisters who took me to their convent. The nuns made such wonderful nurses. I returned and took my first job at the Hospital for Invalid Gentlewomen. Then that terrible, terrible, war broke out and that was to change the course of my life forever...

(Question 3: What happened in Turkey?) It was the first time the Government had sent women abroad in this way. When my nurses and I arrived in Scutari it was in complete chaos. It was filthy and there were sick and injured soldiers everywhere we looked. There was no order. It was hell on earth, to be quite frank, and there was a lot of work to be done. But to be honest we weren't needed at first but then fresh casualties started to arrive and we were very much in demand. Our work was made so much harder by the terrible filthy conditions. And there was hardly anything decent to eat. We hardly saw a drop of milk, the butter was filthy, the bread sour and the meat more like leather. But as hard as it was, I just knew I would be able to cope as well as any man. In 1855 there were a lot of cases of cholera and typhus amongst my patients. We lost seven army doctors and three nurses as well. And to my dismay I too became poorly, but I just hadn't got time to be sick so I made myself better as soon as I could. Finally, finally, the war ended. But I didn't return straight away, as there was still a lot to be done. But then a few weeks ago I did decide to come home. I can't tell you how pleased I am to be back.

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• Florence Nightingale on Headline History

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