Authority, authenticity and interpretation at Tintagel

Part of curtain walls of Richard, Earl of Cornwall's castle at Tintagel.

Summary This week my opinion article “Cornwall, Authenticity and the Dark Ages: Controversy at Tintagel Castle” was published by History & Policy. Following my visit to Tintagel on 30 April, it is an attempt to bring perspective to the key issues that have caused considerable upset and concern amongst Cornish communities, medieval historians and English Heritage. The… Continue reading Authority, authenticity and interpretation at Tintagel

The Aftermath of Suffrage – New for Reviews in History

My review of an important volume of essays on the impact of the Suffrage Movement on British politics after 1918 has just come out in the Institute of Historical Research’s Reviews in History. I was delighted that one of the editors Julie Gottlieb had the opportunity to respond. Should we be returning to women’s history and… Continue reading The Aftermath of Suffrage – New for Reviews in History

A Companion to Mediterranean History out now

(credit: Wiley Blackwell)

A Companion to Mediterranean History, part of Wiley Blackwell’s acclaimed Companions to History series has just been published. The book project, led by editors Peregrine Horden and Sharon Kinoshita, is a culmination of at least three years’ work and a coming together of 29 contributors from across the world. Each contributor is a specialist in… Continue reading A Companion to Mediterranean History out now

In defence of history by women

The visibility of the resurgence of women’s voices has launched into the stratosphere these last two weeks, from the triumph of the campaign to get a woman back on a UK banknote, to the rather seedy and distasteful rape and bombing threats aimed at women by anonymous so-called trolls. But what is worse than all… Continue reading In defence of history by women

Cornish heritage is a man’s game

Geevor, near Pendeen, one of Cornwall's last mineral mines.

Cornwall Councillor Bert Biscoe today published a really thought-provoking article on the recommencement of mining in Cornwall: To manicure or mine, Cornwall’s modern dilemma. Amongst other points he raises the issues of the tensions between preservation, environmental sustainability and economic gain; he also makes the point many of us have been thinking about not really… Continue reading Cornish heritage is a man’s game

History 51 and All Our Stories

Part of the Judith Cook archive, Elizabeth Treffry Collection.

In November 2012 the Hypatia Trust was awarded £10,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s All Our Stories programme for a project entitled History 51: Unveiling Women in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. History 51 has been designed as a community-led project  based on the Hypatia Trust’s Elizabeth Treffry Collection to trace the journeys, make things… Continue reading History 51 and All Our Stories

Copper research funding success!

I was delighted to hear on Friday that I had been successful in my application for a small research grant from Glamorgan County History Trust for continued research on my project entitled, Biographies of British copper: The heritage of a global commodity, c.1700-1980. The Trust supports research into any aspect of the history of Glamorgan, south… Continue reading Copper research funding success!

Curating the Elizabeth Treffry Collection on Women in Cornwall and Scilly

My first commission since relocating to Penzance, Cornwall was an audit of the little-known Elizabeth Treffry collection held by the Hypatia Trust that serves to document the lives and works of women in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Meeting Hypatia Having heard much about the Hypatia Trust and its founder, Dr. Melissa Hardie, publisher, author… Continue reading Curating the Elizabeth Treffry Collection on Women in Cornwall and Scilly

When did William the Conqueror burst? Or Back to School History

This afternoon was spent back at my old Primary School. The chairs and tables have shrunk but everything else is pretty much the same. That more or less is what the study of history is like. We look for things that changed and can’t help but notice what hasn’t. The reason I found myself faced… Continue reading When did William the Conqueror burst? Or Back to School History

Reconstructing the historic global copper industry from business archives

On 9 November I will be participating in the Historical Metallurgy Society‘s Research in Progress meeting in Sheffield. The day promises to be extremely varied where experimental archaeologists, historians, scientists and others will be getting together to share various aspects of their work. Subjects will range from the excavation of a medieval smithy in Oxfordshire… Continue reading Reconstructing the historic global copper industry from business archives