{"id":321,"date":"2015-09-12T15:01:20","date_gmt":"2015-09-12T14:01:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kenthistoryandarchaeology.wordpress.com\/?p=321"},"modified":"2015-12-15T11:45:47","modified_gmt":"2015-12-15T11:45:47","slug":"canterburys-medieval-history-and-archaeology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.canterbury.ac.uk\/kenthistory\/canterburys-medieval-history-and-archaeology\/","title":{"rendered":"Canterbury’s Medieval History and Archaeology"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week has been busy, what with trying to finish off editing \u2018Early Medieval Kent\u2019 and attending the Fifteenth Century conference that this year took place at the University of Kent, which means I\u2019m intending to write a short blog this week. Concerning the conference, although primarily organised by Kent people, there was some input from those from Canterbury Christ Church, and Dr David Grummitt, the head of the School of Humanities here was one of the co-organisers. There were a number of interesting papers, although the use of parallel sessions \u2013 inevitable but still a pity \u2013 meant that I missed a couple of speakers I would like to have heard. It was a varied programme ranging from peasant dairying (Jordan Claridge) to the wayward activities of apprentices in the guilds of Ghent (Laura Crombie), but as is often the case there was a fairly heavy emphasis on royalty and politics, as well as war which is not surprising considering the century witnessed conflict abroad and at home in England. The two plenary lectures were examples from these two strands of high politics and economics, the former from Paul Cavill of Cambridge on sermons at Paul\u2019s Cross in London where preachers, as far as we know, focused on topical, political concerns; and Philip Slavin of Kent who looked at the agrarian crisis of the late 1430s, which very interestingly did not include cattle plague, as it had in the early fourteenth century.<\/p>\n

\"TuftonTombSouth2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Sir John Tufton of Hothfield<\/p>\n

A fascinating gentry tomb – well worth a visit<\/p>\n

For me the highlight of the conference was hearing Jonathan Hughes exposition of the cultural outlook of Duke Humphrey of Gloucester, one of Henry V\u2019s younger brothers and a man of commanding intellect. It is Duke Humphrey\u2019s library that is at the core of the Bodleian collection at Oxford and his wide-ranging scholastic interests ranged far wider than his contemporaries. Alchemy was one of his interests, as well as associated medical texts. Such ideas informed much of his reading and thinking regarding classical texts, which included Greek philosophers as well as the more usual Roman writers. Jonathan\u2019s particular focus was on Plato\u2019s \u2018Republic\u2019 and how Plato\u2019s ideas on rulers and governance, and the structure of society seems to have informed the duke\u2019s perception. For as he pointed out, the evidence strongly suggests that he was extremely familiar with this text. This was very interesting, and so were his observations of the translation that Duke Humphrey commissioned that has come down to us as the Middle English \u2018Book of Husbandry\u2019. This treatise on the management of a gentleman\u2019s estate month by month over twelve months and how is explores the relationship between man and the land, again using ideas associated with humour theory \u2013 the \u2018wet, cold\u2019 land of England (probably in actuality but also from the perspective of the humours) that needed to be dried through care to achieve balance \u2013 was fascinating for an ex-agriculturalist.<\/p>\n

So that was the week just gone and turning to things to come, several from the Centre will be meeting on Monday to discuss Martin Watts\u2019 idea about a possible study day or something similar on the fascinating history of Richborough, probably from its great Roman fort to its extraordinary use as a port during the Great War \u2013 Martin\u2019s particular interest. So there is that to come and it is also worth mentioning here that the Medieval Canterbury Weekend in April 2016 will coincide with Canterbury Archaeological Trust\u2019s celebration of its forty-year history \u2013 remembering what has happened and looking forward to what is to come. Amongst other events this will involve a grand exhibition of Trust finds, discoveries and interpretations from the work of past and present members, which will be held at the Beaney before it goes \u2018on tour\u2019 around Canterbury and its environs. And there will be more on all of these projects in the coming week, so watch this space!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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