{"id":13941,"date":"2023-06-22T23:23:03","date_gmt":"2023-06-22T22:23:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/kenthistory\/?p=13941"},"modified":"2023-06-22T23:23:03","modified_gmt":"2023-06-22T22:23:03","slug":"event-preparations-in-dover-and-canterbury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/kenthistory\/event-preparations-in-dover-and-canterbury\/","title":{"rendered":"Event preparations in Dover and Canterbury"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This week is more about preparations for events rather than the events themselves, although Dr Diane Heath<\/strong> was at Dover Castle<\/strong> today (Thursday) for a ‘Medieval Animals Heritage’ Dungeons and Dragons day with 30 schoolchildren, because we have a very full week next week, the week after similarly, and it doesn\u2019t get much quieter until we are almost through July. I\u2019ll leave August for the time being!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, having joined the University Kent\u2019s MEMS Fest<\/strong> events last Friday 16 June, as well as the panel sessions with some interesting papers by postgraduates, including from the United States, it was great to be able to help out at the St Dunstan\u2019s church<\/strong> visit as a member of the church\u2019s \u2018Big Plan\u2019 team. The project is led by Dr Sarah James<\/strong> and education and the community are very much centre stage as a way of providing an informed engagement with the church\u2019s history in a way to make it relevant to people of all ages today. Students from both Kent and Canterbury Christ Church will be getting involved during the next academic year, the project especially beneficial to those interested in heritage. Moreover, this is not the first time CCCU Humanities students have been involved, Beth Woljung <\/strong>and Miranda Owens<\/strong> each researching and compiling material for exhibition banners \u2013 see examples on either side of Sarah James in this photo.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Sarah James explains ‘the Big Plan’<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Then this week was the second time recently I took part in a discussion about soundscapes. This time it was with Carole Hayman<\/strong> and revolved around the rural landscape of the Rother Levels centring on the medieval Carmelite friary at Lossenham<\/strong>. As well as bringing in the flora and fauna, the rhythm of the farming year, the archaeological excavation and responses to it, we talked about drawing in \u2018lost voices\u2019 from the past, especially through the spoken words found in wills and depositions. Hence the tithe case at Rolvenden may rise again, and I\u2019m also wondering where there might also be a way of bringing in the coroner\u2019s inquests that featured in the blog a couple of months ago. More on this as we move forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before I get to CKHH<\/strong> events in July, I thought I would offer a final reminder concerning Dr Diane Heath\u2019s NHLF-funded Medieval Animals Heritage<\/strong> \u2018Skin and Bone, Wood and Stone\u2019 <\/em>conference that runs from Wednesday 28 June to Saturday 1 July<\/strong>, to be followed by Canterbury\u2019s Medieval Pageant<\/strong> on the Saturday<\/strong> where the theme is \u2018Medieval Animals\u2019. As well as drawing experts on the cultural aspects of medieval and early modern animals to Canterbury, the conference programme offers a \u2018Medieval Animals Heritage\u2019 pop-up exhibition at The Beaney which has been curated by SEND children, a session at Canterbury Cathedral Archives and \u2018Fabulous Animal\u2019 poetry readings.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Dover Castle – ‘Dungeons and Dragons’<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The conference is free<\/strong> to attend but the organisers need to know numbers. Therefore please book the days you would like to attend at: https:\/\/www.canterbury.ac.uk\/arts-and-culture\/event-details.aspx?instance=424806<\/a> or email artsandculture@canterbury.ac.uk<\/a> or call 01227 922994. The lectures will take place at Old Sessions House,<\/strong> Longport on the Canterbury Christ Church University campus, CT1 1PL. Do come and join us for this brilliant conference as the project begins to come to its finale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also next week is the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Education\u2019s<\/strong> annual conference on Thursday 29 July<\/strong> and I think CKHH will be there too where another of the Centre\u2019s funded projects, this time \u2018Kent\u2019s Maritime Communities\u2019 will be represented through a presentation on \u2018A gateway county: migrants and other travellers in 15th-century Kent\u2019.<\/em> This project will come up again shortly when we move into July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As medievalists will know, the first week in July heralds the International Medieval Congress<\/strong> at the University of Leeds<\/strong> and this year I\u2019ll be heading north as a change from Diane who is a regular there to promote her Medieval Animals<\/strong> series with the University of Wales Press<\/strong>, \u2018An Introduction to \u2026\u2019. Indeed, the medieval snail will be appearing shortly to join the dragon, ass, swan and fox.<\/p>\n\n\n

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St Mary’s church, Dover<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Then on the Thursday 6 July<\/strong> it is the St Thomas More service of commemoration<\/strong> at St Dunstan\u2019s church<\/strong>, Canterbury. The commemoration always includes an address by a distinguished speaker and in 2023 this will be Dr David Rundle<\/strong>, who will speak on \u2018From St Dunstan to Thomas More: Canterbury, learning and sanctity\u2019<\/em>. David is a specialist in the Renaissance in England; Senior Lecturer in Latin and Palaeography and Acting Co-Director, Centre for Medieval and Early Modern Studies, University of Kent. The service begins at 7.30pm<\/strong> and is open to all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going back to \u2018Kent\u2019s Maritime Communities\u2019<\/strong> and specifically Dover this time, we are trying out some skills workshops preparatory to engaging in more outreach activities in 2024-25 at several \u2018maritime communities\u2019. As mentioned, we have three \u2018Working with Wills\u2019<\/strong> workshops on Saturday 8 July, Monday 17 July<\/strong> and Tuesday 18 July<\/strong> which will take place in St Mary\u2019s church<\/strong> in Dover from 1pm to 4pm<\/strong>. Each workshop is a stand-alone free<\/strong> event, and no previous experience is necessary. We\u2019ll be using wills because they are a great way to start learning how to read \u2018old handwriting\u2019, as well as finding out about the lives of ordinary medieval people \u2013 their beliefs, what they had in their houses, and many other things in this port town. If this sounds interesting and fun, why not join us by booking your free place at: https:\/\/bit.ly\/WillsDoverJuly<\/a> or email artsandculture@canterbury.ac.uk<\/a> or call 10112 922994.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Lady Chapel, St Mary’s church, Dover<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

I\u2019m very grateful to the Revd Catherine Tucker<\/strong> for agreeing to host these workshops and today (Thursday), I went down to visit her at St Mary\u2019s. It is a fabulous medieval church and thus very fitting for these workshops. We discussed the best place to hold them and decided on the Lady Chapel which is a lovely space. To complement the workshops and to be part of the town\u2019s annual celebration of its maritime heritage, we will be setting up a small temporary exhibition of six pop-up banners in and around the Lady Chapel. The topics of these are: Merchants and Mariners<\/em>; Pilgrims and Passengers<\/em>; Fishing and Fishermen;<\/em> Supporting the Saints<\/em>; Care in the Community<\/em>, and Houses and Households<\/em>. There will also be a free information sheet available that visitors will be most welcome to take away with them. Times when the church will be open have yet to be finalised, but if you are in the town, please do come and explore the exhibition and church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anther CKHH event taking place in July will be a talk at Eastbridge<\/strong>, Canterbury entitled Eastbridge, Pilgrimage and Late Medieval Canterbury<\/em> on Thursday 27 July<\/strong> at 3pm<\/strong>, space is limited so please call 01227 471688. The Lossenham Project wills group<\/strong> will be meeting down at Lossenham<\/strong> on Thursday 20 July<\/strong>, while the Kent History Postgraduates<\/strong> have three more meetings, including Tracey Dessoy\u2019s<\/strong> presentation before breaking for August. Diane, of course, has more Medieval Animals Heritage events lined up \u2013 details to follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, but most importantly, the Becket Lecture<\/strong> is just over a fortnight away.  We are delighted that the acclaimed historian Michael Wood<\/strong> will speak on \u2018\u201cThe Happiest Time\u201d: Theodore and Hadrian and the School of Canterbury\u2019<\/em>. The lecture on Tuesday 11 July<\/strong> at 6pm<\/strong> will take place in Powell Lecture Theatre Pg09 <\/strong>(on the main CCCU Canterbury campus CT1 1NU), with a drinks reception<\/strong> beforehand in the foyer next to the Touchdown caf\u00e9 from 5.30pm<\/strong> due to the generosity of the Vice Chancellor<\/strong>. The CCCU Bookshop<\/strong> will be on hand, and copies of Michael\u2019s new revised and extended In Search of the Dark Ages<\/em> (paperback edition) will be available etc. Further details and how to book can be found at bit.ly\/Becket2023 or email artsandculture@canterbury.ac.uk or call 01227 922994.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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