Latest Posts

  • Speaking truth to power—Archbishop Richard FitzRalph of Armagh (c.1300-1360)

    Congratulations to our PhD student Bridget Riley on winning our postgraduate student blog competition! Bridget nominated Archbishop Richard FitzRalph of Armagh for our Temple of Worthies. Her blog was the most read with 277 views at the closing of the competition… Continue reading

  • Jonny Wilkinson

    By Howard Clements   There are not many in the United Kingdom that can place themselves in the category of “national sporting hero.” We may think of people such as: Sir Chris Hoy, Bobby Moore, Mo Farah, Sir Steve Redgrave… Continue reading

  • Aung San Suu Kyi

    By Rebecca Riezebos In a world still dominated by violence and war, it would seem prudent that an updated Temple of Worthies should contain at least one of the major political peace advocates of the twentieth century. Of course the… Continue reading

  • What causes eclipses, and what did people think about them in the past?

    By Dr Anne Lawrence The English chronicler, William of Malmesbury, recorded an eclipse in 1140 like this: ‘There was an eclipse throughout England, and the darkness was so great that people at first thought the world was ending. Then they… Continue reading

  • RUSU Excellence Awards

    By Professor David Stack, Head of Department Every year the RUSU Excellence Awards honour those staff who students regard as having “gone above and beyond their expectations, tirelessly working to improve the delivery of their teaching and learning experience”.  It… Continue reading

  • Childhood history or children’s history?

    By Dr Jeremy Burchardt (Director of the Annual Research Theme) Each year the Department of History chooses an Annual Research Theme(ART) to provide a focus for our research-related activities. For 2014-15, the research them is the history of childhood and… Continue reading

  • Deidre Barlow, “Everywoman”

    By Sean Atkinson Deidre Barlow, played by Anne Kirkbride, lit up the television screens of many over her forty-two years on Coronation Street. Everyone could relate to the character of Deidre Barlow.  In 1972, a young Deidre Barlow, walked down… Continue reading

  • Did the Cathars Exist?

    Dr Rebecca Rist   Who were the Cathars? Traditionally they have been seen as dissenters from Catholic doctrine living in the south of France and Northern Italy during the High Middle Ages. Cathar beliefs were supposed to derive from Bogomilism,… Continue reading

    Did the Cathars Exist?

  • Professor Edith Morley: The Struggles of an Educated Victorian Woman

    Congratulations to our second year student Erin Shearer on winning our undergraduate student blog competition! Erin nominated Professor Edith Morley for our Temple of Worthies. Her blog was the most read with 317 views at the closing of the competition… Continue reading

  • Stepping Stone to Hiroshima: Iwo Jima, February 1945

    By Professor Patrick Major   On 23 February 1945 one of the most iconic images of the Second World War was captured: six US Marines were frozen in time by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal, as they raised the stars… Continue reading