University of Winchester History Department

26/05/2022

Our modern historian and Russia specialist Dr Natalya Chernyshova brings her expertise to bear in the three-part documentary series The Chernobyl Disaster, airing now on Channel 5. Catch up on the first two episodes and watch the third tonight at 21.00!

https://www.channel5.com/show/the-chernobyl-disaster/season-1/the-chernobyl-disaster-meltdown

21/04/2022

Here in History @ Wi******er we encourage students to take advantage of the many further-study opportunities available to UK undergraduates during the summer months. So it is great to see that Robyn Hendricks, one of our second-year Classical Studies students, was awarded a place on the 2022 Summer School at the British School at Athens - with a scholarship. Robyn follows in the footsteps of Abbie Meyers, who was awarded a place at the BSA's Summer School in 2020.

The BSA is an international institute promoting research of international excellence. Competition for places on its three-week residential course is fierce, with only 30 undergraduate places offered annually to applicants from all UK universities. So we are very proud of Robyn and Abbie, and we wish Robyn all the best this summer!

Founded in 1886, the BSA is a UK-registered charity and is one of seven British International Research Institutes that receive annual funding from the British Academy.

28/01/2022

Never heard of Licoricia? Find out more about this remarkable woman in our Medieval Jewish Wi******er brochure, downloadable from winchester.ac.uk/mjw.

Did you know? Prince Charles is set to visit Wi******er next month to unveil a statue commemorating Licoricia!

But who was she? The most notable English Jewish woman, she lived in Wi******er during the 13th century. Licoricia regularly had dealings with royalty and was a successful businesswoman in her own right, becoming one of the foremost Jewish moneylenders in Wi******er - despite considerable adversity and persecution. A woman far ahead of her time, if she had lived today she would surely have been considered a modern feminist.

Yet little has been known about Licoricia and her life in Wi******er, even though the city has an important Jewish past. One need look no further than Jewry Street and other Jewish landmarks around the city, which you can spot by following the medieval Jewish Trail here - https://bit.ly/3IMzx2E

The statue of 'Licoricia of Wi******er' will be unveiled on 10 February outside the former Discovery Centre on Jewry Street in Wi******er, close to the medieval Jewish quarter.

27/01/2022

It's Holocaust Memorial Day. Modern historian Dr Emily Stiles has been working with the Imperial War Museum's Holocaust exhibition, and we are delighted to announce that her book Holocaust Memory and National Museums in Britain is now out.

This book explores the Holocaust exhibition within the Imperial War Museum and reflects an international rise in Holocaust consciousness in the 1990s.

31/12/2021

The names of Britain’s favourite seasonal birds tell us a lot about how historical speakers of English perceived our feathered friends. Historical linguist Dr Eric Lacey offers an insight in a new blog. Tweet all about it!

The names of Britain’s favourite Christmastime birds tell us a lot about how historical speakers of English perceived and thought about these birds. Dr Eric Lacey, Senior Lecturer in English Language, offers an insight into why they got their names in an article for The Conversation.

23/12/2021

Rotting corpses anyone? To celebrate the launch of the major new documentary 'Medieval Death: Exploring Cadaver Tombs' on 3 January 2022, Dr Christina Welch lifts the coffin lid on her extensive research into medieval carved cadaver monuments, in a fascinating blog for the Churches Conservation Trust.

Learn more about one of the medieval world's most bizarre, yet incredible funerary monuments; the carved cadaver...

01/09/2021

Not long now! From 10 to 19 Sept, University of Wi******er staff and students are once again offering a cornucopia of exciting events at this year's Wi******er Heritage Open Days. Ever wondered how the Romans spun those stylish togas? Intrigued by Wunderkammers? Fancy trying out a new recipe? Check out our programme for all that and much more, and book now to avoid disappointment!

University of Wi******er staff and students are regular contributors to the annual Wi******er Heritage Open Days. Discover our exciting programme of events.

10/06/2021

Missed Dr Gordon McKelvie's recent webinar on the Wars of the Roses? Never fear, the podcast is here!

The series of conflicts known as the Wars of the Roses tore through fifteenth-century England: the houses of Lancaster and York and their supporters fought over notions of good governance and the right to wear the crown, while vast swathes of the population took up arms in rebellion or on the battle...

10/06/2021

Like the first innovative edition last year, MAMG21 was a great success, with many fascinating papers delivered in a series of tweets. Tweet all about it!

“1/7 The 2021 Middle Ages in Modern Games Twitter conference took place 25-28 May. We'll be releasing conference proceedings soon, but for now you can find all of our papers in this compilation thread. ”

05/05/2021

The Wars of the Roses. It doesn't get any more English than that, right? Think again. On the 550th anniversary of the Battle of Tewkesbury, a key event in the wars, Medieval historian Dr Gordon McKelvie shines a light on the important role played by the French.

The French meddled in the civil war between the Yorks and Lancasters, hoping for an outcome that would favour them.

15/04/2021

For this Throwback Thursday, as President Macron visits Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris to admire the progress made in rebuilding the iconic church, let's remind ourselves of two years ago, when medieval buildings specialist Dr Katherine Weikert watched Notre Dame going up in flames and was moved to write this heartfelt blog.

Medieval buildings expert Dr Katherine Weikert shares her thoughts and emotions at the sight of the burning of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. Read her heartfelt blog.