The World of Oliver Cromwell
The World of Oliver Cromwell
Mondays 4, 11, 18, 25 February, 11.00 – 13.00
This course examines the rule of Oliver Cromwell, when he became Lord Protector in the 1650s, considering not just the personality and actions of Cromwell himself, but also the wider experience of English life during the Protectorate. This course is a repeat from Autumn 2017.
4 week course
£60 Tonbridge
The Spanish Civil War, 1936-39
The Spanish Civil War, 1936-39
Wednesdays 27 February; 6, 13 March, 10.30 – 12.30
Between 1936 and 1939 Spain was gripped by civil war. We trace the instability of early Twentieth Century Spain to the coup d’etat led by Franco in 1936 and discuss the internationalisation of the Spanish War. We consider why the Nationalists won and the authoritarian regime that lasted until 1975.
3 week course
£50
Tonbridge
Manipulating Monarchs: Tudor & Elizabethan Propaganda
Manipulating Monarchs: Tudor & Elizabethan Propaganda
Thursdays 7, 14, 21, 28 March, 10.30 – 12.30
Were these monarchs shrewd and cunning manipulators of their own identities and ultimately the most skilled propagandists of their eras? Debate and re-consider the iconic images of the Tudor monarchs - Henry VII, VIII, Elizabeth I - by exploring the portraiture, architecture, drama and language drawing on a variety of sources. This course is a repeat from 2016.
4 week course
£60
Tonbridge
Van Dyck and the Court of Charles I
Van Dyck and the Court of Charles I
Wednesday 3 April, 10.30 – 12.30
Anthony Van Dyck replaced Daniel Mytens as official royal painter from 1632 until his death in 1641. At a time when Charles I was ruling without Parliament, discover how Van Dyck played an important role in royal propaganda with his portraits of the king, his queen Henrietta Maria and his growing family.
Lecture
£17.50
Tonbridge
‘Black Cats and Broomsticks’: Understanding Witchcraft in C17 England
‘Black cats and Broomsticks’: Understanding Witchcraft in C17 England
Saturday 11 May, 10.00 – 16.00
The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries witnessed an explosion in witchcraft trials in England. Why was this? What was behind this disturbing phenomenon? Using contemporary documents, this study-day will explore the origins and practices of witchcraft and delve into the real-life experiences of ‘witches’, ‘victims’ and their accusers. This subject has previously been included in a 4 week course (Autumn 2018) as a single seminar, and will therefore will explored in more depth as a study day.
Study day
£42
Tonbridge
Crusades and The Knight Templars
Crusades and The Knight Templars
Wednesday 5 June, 10.30 – 16.30
An exploration of the first three Crusades & the role of the Knights Templar gives fascinating insights into the medieval mind and attitude to the new concept of ‘holy war’, and also to older established ideas of the importance of pilgrimage & veneration of holy sites & relics.
Study day
£42
Tonbridge
An Introduction to Oral History
An Introduction to Oral History
Friday 7 June, 10.00 – 16.00
Oral history interviews are widely used to portray the lived experience of community, family, work, leisure and wartime history. This study day will focus on oral history practice including preparation, designing questions, interviewing and recording technique, ethics, copyright, transcription and how to publish and archive interviews for history and writing projects. This course may also be useful to Creative Writers.
Study day
£42
Tonbridge
A Harsh, Hard Existence? Medieval Life Revealed
A Harsh, Hard Existence? Medieval Life Revealed
Thursdays 13, 20, 27 June, 10.30 – 12.30
Ever wondered about the day-to-day existence of our medieval predecessors, of the builders and occupants of medieval houses, castles, or churches? What did they eat? Or wear? What inspired them? Was life harsh and hard? Explore their lifestyle and culture through a variety of sources. This course is a condensed and revised repeat of our 6 week course from 2017 ‘Medieval Life viewed through the C21 Lens’.
3 week course
£50
Tonbridge
Hopping Down in Kent
Hopping Down in Kent
Thursday 20 June, 10.30 – 16.30
Celebrate the rich hop-picking culture of Kent through literary accounts, descriptions by hop-farmers and hop-pickers, songs and photos. In particular we’ll explore the role of the migratory Londoner & Traveller hop-pickers who came each Autumn for ‘a holiday with pay’ and developed a distinctive and colourful lifestyle.
Study day
£42
Tonbridge