{"id":18166,"date":"2025-06-25T17:50:46","date_gmt":"2025-06-25T16:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/kenthistory\/?p=18166"},"modified":"2025-06-25T17:51:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T16:51:09","slug":"exciting-news-for-kent-history-and-heritage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/kenthistory\/exciting-news-for-kent-history-and-heritage\/","title":{"rendered":"Exciting news – for Kent history and heritage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

To a large extent this has been a week of meetings and preparations for events next week in Canterbury, not least because for much of the Middle Ages and under the early Tudor monarchs, the eve (6th<\/sup> July) and the feast day (7th<\/sup> July) of the Translation of Becket\u2019s relics were the high points of the city\u2019s and cathedral\u2019s year. To which, in 1535, was added the execution of Thomas More, and while he remains a controversial figure for some, as a saint recognised by both the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches, his commemoration is an important date in the liturgical calendar of St Dunstan\u2019s church near Canterbury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Consequently, these are the upcoming events in which the CKHH is involved. Firstly, and coinciding with the start of the Gender and Medieval Studies<\/strong> conference, Lizzie Burton<\/strong> will be giving a presentation on Wednesday 2 July<\/strong> to the Kent History Postgraduates<\/strong> group, in large part as a practice for her paper at the Social History Society<\/strong> conference the following week which will be taking place at the Black Country Living Museum<\/strong> in Dudley: https:\/\/socialhistory.org.uk\/events\/conference\/<\/a> . Also speaking at the conference will be another Kent History Postgraduate, Abi Kingsnorth<\/strong> and Lizzie\u2019s and Abi\u2019s supervisor Dr David Hitchcock<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Thomas More commemoration on 6th July<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We are at the beginning of the academic conference season and another of the Kent History Postgraduates who will be giving a paper next week is Kieron Hoyle<\/strong>. She will be speaking at the University of Bristol<\/strong> at the Society of Renaissance Studies<\/strong> conference on her research into the people involved in the improvements to Dover harbour in Elizabeth\u2019s reign. Also speaking at the conference, but I\u2019m not sure if in person or online is Dr Claire Bartram<\/strong>, while two more academics with Canterbury connections speaking at Bristol are Professor Catherine Richardson<\/strong> (now at UEA) and Anna-Nadine Pike<\/strong> from Kent MEMS: for more details, please see: https:\/\/www.rensoc.org.uk\/srs-biennial-conference\/11programme\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

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Returning to the GMS conference <\/strong>from 2nd<\/sup> to 5th<\/sup> July<\/strong> at CCCU, which is themed \u2018Gender: Charity and Care\u2019<\/em>, among this year\u2019s papers, I\u2019ll be exploring some of the things we know about hospital sisters in medieval Kent, including what criteria the authorities seemingly used to select them, as well as what their daily life was like in the various hospitals. For further details, see https:\/\/medievalgender.co.uk\/<\/a> and for bookings, please see: https:\/\/shop.canterbury.ac.uk\/product-catalogue\/faculty-of-arts-humanities\/school-of-humanities  <\/p>\n\n\n

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A couple of the banners at St Mildred’s church<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

This year the conference is followed on the Saturday<\/strong> by the \u2018Canterbury Medieval Pageant\u2019<\/em>. I believe the CKHH team will be based in St Mildred\u2019s church<\/strong> for \u2018family-friendly activities\u2019 after the parade, but I\u2019m waiting for confirmation of this from Claire Bartram. I am hoping the information pop-up banners produced in 2020 by a CCCU MEMS MA student will be on display in the church, too. If you haven\u2019t visited the church, this is an ideal opportunity not least because it is a fabulous building. Then on Sunday 6th<\/sup> July<\/strong> it will be the annual commemoration service for Sir\/St Thomas More<\/strong> at St Dunstan\u2019s church<\/strong>. The service begins at 7.30pm<\/strong> and this year the address will be given by Professor Robert Bartlett<\/strong> (Professor Emeritus at the University of St Andrew\u2019s). There will be refreshments after the service and all are welcome to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moving to Monday the 7th<\/strong> for the feast day of the Translation <\/strong>of Becket\u2019s relics, the Canterbury Cathedral Dean & Chapter<\/strong> have as usual given permission for a sung Mass<\/strong> to be celebrated and, according to the website, this year the papal Nuncio Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendia <\/strong>will be the principal celebrant at the liturgy, which will be attended by the Vatican cricket team. Furthermore, the Tenebrae choir, directed by Nigel Short, will sing at the Mass. Please note, the Mass will begin at 7.30pm<\/strong> and include the blessing of the relics. As reported, a certificate will be issued for pilgrims, who may attend a subsequent reception with sparkling Kentish wine and chocolates in the Cathedral chapter house and cloisters after the liturgy. If you want more information or to apply for a place, please contact: info@canterburyjubilee2025.com<\/a> \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

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At work on the conservation of a manuscript (photo: Victoria Stevens)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

From my perspective, next week will be my last blog for CCCU, so I thought it would be useful this week to provide notice of three events in the early autumn that may be of interest, and please save the dates if they are. Firstly, the Michael Nightingale Memorial Lecture<\/strong> with Brook Rural Museum<\/strong> will be taking place at 7pm<\/strong> on Tuesday 23 September<\/strong> at the University of Kent, to be confirmed but hopefully in the Templeman Library Lecture Theatre<\/strong>, where we\u2019ll be working with Kent MEMS<\/strong> and CAMEMS<\/strong>, with the hope that Karen Brayshaw<\/strong>, in Special Collections, will provide a small display. Please note, there will be a wine reception from 6.30pm <\/strong>and this is an open free public lecture, all welcome. The speaker this year is Victoria Stevens<\/strong> who has worked in heritage collections for over 25 years, mainly as a written heritage conservator and collections care adviser but latterly as a learning and engagement lead, a perfect complement to her overall collections work. As well as being the current Subject Lead for Books and Library Materials at West Dean College of Arts, Design, Crafts and Conservation, she is a sessional tutor on the Archives and Records Management course at University College London. Developing the potential of students and providing them with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in their chosen direction is a huge privilege.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She is very proud to be a strong advocate for the heritage profession. This means she currently serves not only as a Trustee of the National Manuscripts Conservation Trust but also as an Arts Council Museum accreditation mentor and an Institute of Conservation accreditation assessor. Additionally, she is a committee member and assessor for the Archive and Records Association\u2019s Archives Training Scheme and sits on the Fabric Advisory Committee of Hereford Cathedral as their conservation advisor.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Victoria Stevens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The title of Victoria\u2019s lecture is \u2018Conserving Intangibility: the significance of change in heritage collections\u2019 <\/em>which is a highly pertinent topic today as museums and other heritage establishments seek to make their exhibits understandable, relevant and approachable for 21st<\/sup>-century audiences, whether they are Victorian or older farm tools or manuscripts and books from the same era. For as Victoria says \u201cThis talk will seek to identify where significance in heritage lies and demonstrate the opportunities for this to be explored and maintained through conservation and preservation interventions. Using a series of case studies, based specifically on the speaker\u2019s specialist area of written heritage, this presentation will demonstrate that meaning can lie beyond the overt or apparent object and be held in evidence of human interaction, including what we have previously seen as damage. It will investigate the way that the changes an object has undergone in production, use or subsequent storage can impact the way heritage objects are interpreted and understood, and the added value and holistic view this can provide. Finally, it will seek to highlight some of the analytical techniques that are available to conservators to gain this information without invasive treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These Nightingale Lectures<\/strong> provide an excellent opportunity to bring together people from a range of areas, those working in universities, those working in heritage organisations, those who enjoying visiting museums such as Brook, and those with a working knowledge of agriculture past and present. Consequently, we shall look forward to seeing you at Victoria\u2019s presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Medway History Showcase, 18th and 19th October<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Keeping with the twin ideas of history and heritage and moving into October, Peter and Jane Joyce<\/strong>, with the Royal Engineers Museum, Gillingham,<\/strong> have again organised the Medway History Showcase. <\/strong>This year it will be even bigger because it will be over two days: the 18th<\/sup> and 19th<\/sup> October<\/strong>, at the RE Museum<\/strong>, thereby making it the largest heritage show in Kent. There will be free entry for pre-booked tickets, see: https:\/\/www.re-museum.co.uk\/whats-on<\/a> and the CKHH has been a major supporter, having had a stall each year, as well as members giving talks on a range of Medway History topics, from medieval hospitals to oyster disputes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, this year the first day clashes with the Southern History Society\u2019s<\/strong> 1-day conference at Winchester<\/strong> in the Milner Hall on 18 October<\/strong> between 10am and 5pm. The theme is \u2018Poverty and Parish in Southern England, Medieval to Modern\u2019<\/em>, with such topics as: \u2018The making of the Elizabethan poor laws\u2019, \u2018Poverty and the domestic sphere\u2019, \u2018The writings and things of the poor: pauper letters and pauper inventories\u2019 and \u2018Gender, poverty and poor relief\u2019. If this looks of interest, please submit a 250-word abstract to cindy.wood@winchester.ac.uk<\/a> and similarly if you want more information.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Broad range of topics for the Southern History conference<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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