Latest Posts

  • Spotlight on: Dr Jeremy Burchardt

    I grew up in a village on the outskirts of Oxford. I studied History at Oxford and came to Reading as the Marc Fitch Student in Agricultural History. My PhD was on the history of allotments. I was appointed to… Continue reading

  • Securing the succession in England

    by Janet Dickenson In the aftermath of the fall of the Earl of Essex in February 1601, James VI of Scotland was left without a clear route to the English throne. He was profoundly distrustful of Robert Cecil, Elizabeth I’s… Continue reading

  • Departmental Research Seminar Autumn Term 2013

    The research seminars this year will explore the theme of ‘Ceremony’. There will be one research session this term. Wednesday 11th December 2013: 2.30-6pm, HUMSS G25 Dr Heike Schmidt (University of Reading): In and out of Africa: thoughts on ceremonies and… Continue reading

  • The Origins of the Stenton Lecture

    The Stenton Lecture, an annual lecture by an eminent historian, is hosted by the Department every year in late November. It is a prestigious event and the highlight in the Department’s calendar. But who were the Stentons, and why is this… Continue reading

    The Origins of the Stenton Lecture

  • Spotlight on: Professor Joel Felix

    I was born in the north-east of France (Vosges) and grew up in Metz where I did the first two years of a history/history of art degree and moved to the Sorbonne (Paris) to take the licence and a master… Continue reading

  • Spotlight on: Professor Christopher Duggan

    I grew up in south-east London and my education was determined by railway stations between Orpington and Victoria. I travelled a lot in Italy in my teens, and when I went to study history at Oxford I did quite a… Continue reading

  • The Labour party, Europe and the (recent) history of Scottish independence

    by Matt Broad With less than a year now to go before Scots head to the polls to take part in the independence referendum, one can’t help but be reminded of earlier debates surrounding the matter of the country’s place… Continue reading

  • The Stenton Lecture 2013

    The Department is pleased to announce that the annual Stenton Lecture will take place on 21 November 2013. This year’s lecture is entitled ‘From Jacobitism to the SNP: the Crown, the Union and the Scottish Question’, will be given by Professor… Continue reading

  • The British Conference for Undergraduate Research by Rosie Knight

    In April this year, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend the British Conference for Undergraduate Research (BCUR) at Plymouth University, a two day conference where undergraduate students from the UK and beyond exhibit their research. The conference… Continue reading

  • Proving that Medieval Meteorology existed

    Dr Anne Lawrence has been awarded an AHRC Fellowship for 2013-14, to support her research into the reality and practice of meteorology in medieval England.  This work will both provide a history of medieval meteorology and challenge the still-popular idea… Continue reading