Author Archives: readinghistory

By Dr Natalie Thomlinson “More than owt else here that symbolises pride, it’s this bloody band!” [Image credit: bpcraddock from Pixabay.] To give you a flavour of the music from Brassed Off watch the William Tell Overture from the film here. … Continue reading →

By Dr Elizabeth Matthew On a summer’s day in 1189 a group of men rode swiftly to the quayside at Dieppe after a long journey from the Loire valley, two hundred and forty miles to the south. Keen to cross … Continue reading →

By Professor Emily West The festive season provides a time and space for dancing (badly or otherwise), along with socializing, eating, drinking and celebrating. As befits a Christian celebration it also grants time for religious worship and quiet reflection. One … Continue reading →

Tales of Turning Milk into Wine and Festive Phlegm! By Amie Bolissian McRae [Image credit: The Milkmaid, Lucas van Leyden (Netherlandish, Leiden, ca. 1493-1533 Leiden), 1510. Image from metmuseum.org.] What would 17th century festivities have been without milk, cream, cheese, … Continue reading →

By Professor Kate Williams Seven swans a swimming – well, with giving this, our ‘true love’ was really buying us something rather expensive. Swans have always been luxury goods, a medieval Gucci handbag, if you will. In the medieval period, … Continue reading →