A look at the buildings archaeology of early modern timber-framed vernacular buildings
The Tudor period witnessed significant changes in the design, appearance and use of domestic houses in England and Wales. Elements of the house which we take for granted in the modern age first began to appear in significant numbers – chimneys, upper floors, multiple bedrooms, and attics. These changes can be sensed through the writings of contemporaries and also through the study of buildings archaeology.
The talk will begin with a short summary of late mediaeval buildings which will help to articulate the basis for identifying the new architecture of the Tudor period. It will also consider how the changes continued through into the seventeenth century so that the architecture of the early modern period can be appreciated in its wider chronological context.
The speaker, James Wright (Triskele Heritage), is an award winning buildings archaeologist. He has two decades professional experience of ferreting around in people’s cellars, hunting through their attics and digging up their gardens. He hopes to find meaningful truths about how ordinary and extraordinary folk lived their lives in the mediaeval period. He is the author of the popular Mediaeval Mythbusting Blog.
All you need to do is register via Eventbrite and – when the time for the talk rolls around – grab your favourite beverage of choice, get comfy and enjoy.
The event will take place at 19:00 GMT+1 on Tuesday 19 September 2023 via Zoom.
This lecture is crowdfunded through donation. It will be the debut of a new bespoke talk. There is no minimum donation so its possible to contribute as little or as much as you want. Your donation is your ticket and you will be sent a link to access the event by Eventbrite.
Please note that this live event will not be recorded and made available online afterwards.
If you have a question about the event – in the first instance please see our FAQs section. The answer will almost certainly be in there.
*** If you have any problems accessing the events please contact Eventbrite in the first instance ***
The books of the Cheshire author Alan Garner are steeped in foklore, mythology and archaeology. His great skill has been to create a tapestry of tales with a deep connection to the Cheshire landscape. Beginning with The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, published in 1960, most of Garner’s works are set within a few miles of Alderley Edge.
Although Garner’s world of wizards, elves, mara, svarts and morthbrood is fantastical the landscapes which they inhabit is all too real. Much of that landscape has been shaped by man and, as such, there is the firm weight of archaeology behind his books.
This talk will follow Dr James Wright’s attempt to walk the locations from Garner’s Weirdstone Trilogy (The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, The Moon of Gomrath and Boneland) with an especial focus on archaeological sites. It will include prehistoric burial mounds, ancient standing stones, mediaeval houses, Victorian copper mines and the seventeenth century farm which was the inspiration for Highmost Redmanhey. Interwoven within the presentation will be a consideration for Garner’s own published fieldwork and research within the world of archaeology.
The speaker, James Wright (Triskele Heritage), is an award winning buildings archaeologist and a self-confessed Alan Garner fan. He has two decades professional experience of ferreting around in people’s cellars, hunting through their attics and digging up their gardens. He hopes to find meaningful truths about how ordinary and extraordinary folk lived their lives in the mediaeval period. He is the author of the popular Mediaeval Mythbusting Blog. He runs The Weirdstone Walk website which seeks to track down every location mentioned in the Weirdstone Trilogy. Alan Garner himself has described the venture as: “the first to give the subject a proper treatment.”
This lecture is a collaborative event by Triskele Heritage and Chester Heritage Festival. It is crowdfunded through donation. It will be the debut of a new bespoke talk. There is no minimum donation so it is possible to contribute as little or as much as you want. Your donation is your ticket and you will be sent a link to access the event by Eventbrite.
All you need to do is register via Eventbrite and – when the time for the talk rolls around – grab your favourite beverage of choice, get comfy and enjoy.
The event will take place at 19:30 GMT+1 on Wednesday 28 June 2023 .
Architecture played a big part in the English Civil Wars and the legacy of those conflicts can be strongly felt at many mediaeval buildings. Significant numbers of castles were fortified, besieged and slighted. Many Oxford colleges were requisitioned as a temporary court for Charles I. A surprising number of churches were garrisoned and assaulted. The wars left physical scars on the mediaeval built environment.
Equally, there are the more intangible stories associated with buildings – the Royal Standard was first raised at Nottingham Castle, numerous timber-framed inns claim to have hosted the major players in the war and the king surrendered at Kelham Bridge.
Using a combination of archival sources, contemporary illustrations, conflict studies and buildings archaeology, the results of several recent research projects will be analysed for evidence of how mediaeval structures played a significant role in the English Civil Wars. The talk will also address the impact of the conflict on the mediaeval built environment – often crucially shaping our modern impressions of those buildings.
The speaker, James Wright (Triskele Heritage), is an award winning buildings archaeologist. He has two decades professional experience of ferreting around in people’s cellars, hunting through their attics and digging up their gardens. He hopes to find meaningful truths about how ordinary and extraordinary folk lived their lives in the mediaeval period. He is the author of the popular Mediaeval Mythbusting Blog.
All you need to do is register via Eventbrite and – when the time for the talk rolls around – grab your favourite beverage of choice, get comfy and enjoy.
The event will take place at 19:00 GMT on Wednesday 22 March 2023 .
This lecture is crowdfunded through donation. It will be the debut of a new bespoke talk. There is no minimum donation so its possible to contribute as little or as much as you want. Your donation is your ticket and you will be sent a link to access the event by Eventbrite.
Please note that this live event will not be recorded and made available online afterwards.
If you have a question about the event – in the first instance please see our FAQs section. The answer will almost certainly be in there.
*** If you have any problems accessing the events please email with your booking reference to james@triskeleheritage.com ***
This one-day event will see buildings archaeologist Dr James Wright (Triskele Heritage) attempt to deliver six consecutive hour long talks (each followed by questions and answers sessions) on mediaeval architecture in one, somewhat foolhardy, 12 hour session.
All you need to do is register via Eventbrite and – when the time for the talk rolls around – grab your favourite beverage of choice, get comfy and enjoy.
The event will take place between 10.00 GMT and 22.00 GMT on Saturday 18 February 2023 .
This event is crowdfunded through donation. There is no minimum donation so it is possible to contribute as little or as much as you want. Your donation is your ticket and you will be sent a link to access the event by Eventbrite.
The talks will be given via Zoom and attendees are invited to join for as much or as little of the day as this wish. The lectures will be as follows:
10.00-12.00: An Introduction to Buildings Archaeology
The study of buildings archaeology involves the forensic application of techniques to observe, record and analyse the standing remains of historic structures found above-ground. Unpicking the history, functions and phasing of the built environment has been a relatively recent addition to the archaeologist’s toolkit. This talk looks at the practical ways in which the historic built environment can be recorded and analysed by archaeologists.
12.00-14.00: Timber-framed Buildings
The second half of the twentieth century saw a significant rise in the study of ‘ordinary’ mediaeval and early modern buildings constructed by and for peasant, yeoman and urban communities. Typically made from local materials, such buildings might incorporate timber, mud, straw, stone and chalk components – yet their survival rate is surprisingly widespread. This introductory talk looks at pre-modern building materials, construction techniques and historical developments of vernacular architecture relating to domestic occupation and agricultural systems. It will conclude with a case study analysing the development and phasing of an incredible “lost” hall house in the midlands.
14.00-16.00: The Archaeology of Castles
The study of mediaeval castles offers a superb opportunity to utilise the full range of modern archaeological fieldwork techniques. In recent years, many of these incredible buildings have been the subject of widespread research by numerous organisations who have used tactics such as building recording, landscape survey, remote-sensing, fieldwalking, archival research, map regression and excavation to try and understand the archaeology of castles. This lecture will articulate the full range of ways in which castles can be researched using real-world fieldwork case studies.
16.00-18.00: Mediaeval Stonemasons – From Quarry to Cathedral
A talk on historic stonemasonry and the men who shaped not only the material but the architectural appearance of the Mediaeval period. The discussion looks at quarrying, transporting, setting out, cutting and fixing stonework. The place and influence of stonemasons in the history of architecture and how that relates to exciting new discoveries made by the Thames Discovery Programme of stonework from the Mediaeval Palace of Westminster is also covered.
18.00-20.00: Historic Building Mythbusting
A general introduction to some of the most common misconceptions surrounding historic buildings. Stories of secret passages, arrow-sharpening grooves in parish churches and yarns that spiral stairs in castles turn one way to advantage right-handed swordsmen. The legends are outlined, the origins of the myths are explained and the underlying truth behind each story is revealed. Hopefully the talk will help to give a broader and deeper understanding of mediaeval buildings that will bring us just that little bit closer to their former occupants.
20.00-22.00: Ritual Protection of Houses
An overview of just why folk were so terrified of demonic threats to their world in the late mediaeval and early modern periods (c 1350 – c 1700). Given such a widespread and genuine belief that the Devil was stalking the land, this lecture looks at the various ways in which people attempted to protect their buildings from evil. These folk traditions often leave tangible remains in the archaeological record including ritual protection graffiti, concealed artefacts and burn marks on the walls. The discovery and interpretation of such finds allows us to trace the lost belief systems connected to the fear of Satan himself…
The speaker, Dr James Wright (Triskele Heritage), is an award winning buildings archaeologist. He has two decades professional experience of ferreting around in people’s cellars, hunting through their attics and digging up their gardens. He hopes to find meaningful truths about how ordinary and extraordinary folk lived their lives in the mediaeval period. He is the author of the popular Mediaeval Mythbusting Blog.
Please note that this live event will not be recorded and made available online afterwards.
If you have a question about the event – in the first instance please see our FAQs section. The answer will almost certainly be in there.
*** If you have any problems accessing the events please email with your booking reference to james@triskeleheritage.com ***
Mediaeval parish churches are some of the oldest and most loved buildings in the British Isles. However, relatively few of them have been archaeologically surveyed and many unverified stories have grown up around them. This talk will look at some of the commonly repeated tales about the architecture of churches, which are widely assumed to be true, but which ultimately fall into the realm of folklore and myth.
These stories include doorways apparently blocked to keep the Devil out, churches alleged to be aligned to the sunrise on their saint’s day and windows said to allow lepers to watch the mass. These are tales repeated in good faith but are not based in the lived reality of the mediaeval world. Instead, we will look at the how churches were used before the Reformation. By applying contextual archaeological and historical evidence the architectural functions of churches will be investigated and unlocked.
The speaker, James Wright (Triskele Heritage), is an award winning buildings archaeologist. He has two decades professional experience of ferreting around in people’s cellars, hunting through their attics and digging up their gardens. He hopes to find meaningful truths about how ordinary and extraordinary folk lived their lives in the mediaeval period. He is the author of the popular Mediaeval Mythbusting Blog.
All you need to do is register via Eventbrite and – when the time for the talk rolls around – grab your favourite beverage of choice, get comfy and enjoy.
The event will take place at 19:00 GMT on Thursday 23 February 2023 .
This lecture is crowdfunded through donation. It will be the debut of a new bespoke talk. There is no minimum donation so its possible to contribute as little or as much as you want. Your donation is your ticket and you will be sent a link to access the event by Eventbrite.
Please note that this live event will not be recorded and made available online afterwards.
If you have a question about the event – in the first instance please see our FAQs section. The answer will almost certainly be in there.
*** If you have any problems accessing the events please email with your booking reference to james@triskeleheritage.com ***
Opening the attic hatch into the hidden world beneath ancient rafters
Attics are dark and enigmatic places. Yet in ancient buildings they offer the chance of illumination when trying to understand the historic development of a structure. Roofs are often the least altered element of a building and retain more of their original fabric than any other part of a property. For researchers they offer a hugely significant repository of data which can be understood and interpreted.
This online event will open the attic hatch on the lost, hidden and fascinating world of mediaeval roofs. We will look at how roofs are constructed, the changes in design across time and place, the functions of roof spaces in the past, and some of the startling archaeological discoveries that are made up in the rafters.
The speaker, James Wright (Triskele Heritage), is an award winning buildings archaeologist. He has two decades professional experience of ferreting around in people’s cellars, hunting through their attics and digging up their gardens. He hopes to find meaningful truths about how ordinary and extraordinary folk lived their lives in the mediaeval period. He is the author of the popular Mediaeval Mythbusting Blog.
All you need to do is register via Eventbrite and – when the time for the talk rolls around – grab your favourite beverage of choice, get comfy and enjoy.
The event will take place at 19:00 GMT on Wednesday 25 January 2023 .
This lecture is crowdfunded through donation. It will be the debut of a new bespoke talk. There is no minimum donation so its possible to contribute as little or as much as you want. Your donation is your ticket and you will be sent a link to access the event by Eventbrite.
Please note that this live event will not be recorded and made available online afterwards.
If you have a question about the event – in the first instance please see our FAQs section. The answer will almost certainly be in there.
*** If you have any problems accessing the events please email with your booking reference to james@triskeleheritage.com ***
Numerous claims are made to be Britain’s oldest pub from all corners of the isles. Pubs have been the beating heart of communities for centuries and there are firm regional rivalries when it comes to competing for the very oldest boozer. Is it ever possible to come close to identifying which establishment has been serving up the beers for the longest?
Using a combination of archaeological and documentary evidence, this talk will delve deeply into the historical development of British pubs through the mediaeval period. Can we begin to define the physical characteristics and date of pubs from their architecture? The claims of well-known buildings will be put to the test and those of more obscure pubs brought to the fore. KJust where is Britain’s oldest pub?
The speaker, James Wright (Triskele Heritage), is an award winning buildings archaeologist. He has two decades professional experience of ferreting around in people’s cellars, hunting through their attics and digging up their gardens. He hopes to find meaningful truths about how ordinary and extraordinary folk lived their lives in the mediaeval period. He is the author of the popular Mediaeval Mythbusting Blog.
All you need to do is register via Eventbrite and – when the time for the talk rolls around – grab your favourite beverage of choice, get comfy and enjoy.
The event will take place at 19:00 GMT on Thursday 29 December 2022 .
This lecture is crowdfunded through donation. It will be the debut of a new bespoke talk. There is no minimum donation so its possible to contribute as little or as much as you want. Your donation is your ticket and you will be sent a link to access the event by Eventbrite.
Please note that this live event will not be recorded and made available online afterwards.
If you have a question about the event – in the first instance please see our FAQs section. The answer will almost certainly be in there.
*** If you have any problems accessing the events please email with your booking reference to james@triskeleheritage.com ***
The second in the Triskele Heritage 2022-23 Winter Series of Lectures: Understanding Mediaeval Buildings.
The vast majority of historic buildings have never been researched. Many well-known or high-status structures have not been studied in depth. There are literally thousands of mediaeval and early modern timber-framed buildings which are hidden in plain sight.
This talk will use buildings archaeology to open the doors of ordinary-looking houses standing in towns, villages and the countryside to show how there is a fabulous wealth of unknown or unidentified historic buildings standing in virtually every settlement. We will look at why so many ancient buildings have gone unnoticed, the evidence for later facades masking much earlier fabric and how to date historic structures.
The speaker, James Wright (Triskele Heritage), is an award winning buildings archaeologist. He has two decades professional experience of ferreting around in people’s cellars, hunting through their attics and digging up their gardens. He hopes to find meaningful truths about how ordinary and extraordinary folk lived their lives in the mediaeval period. He is the author of the popular Mediaeval Mythbusting Blog.
All you need to do is register via Eventbrite and – when the time for the talk rolls around – grab your favourite beverage of choice, get comfy and enjoy.
The event will take place at 19:00 GMT on Wednesday 23 November 2022 .
Due to our licensing agreement with Zoom tickets for each event will be limited to 495 places. This will be a live event. It will not be recorded and made available online afterwards. If you have a question about the event – in the first instance please see our FAQs section. The answer will almost certainly be in there.
*** If you have any problems accessing this event please email with your booking reference to james@triskeleheritage.com ***
A one-off online talk looking at new research which has revised the functions and dating of the world-famous Lincolnshire castle.
Tattershall Castle (Lincolnshire) is one of the most famous and iconic fifteenth century castles in the world. Owned by the National Trust since 1925, the site was excavated and conserved during the 1910s by Lord Curzon and the architect William Weir. However, much of what was understand then about Tattershall came from a time when English castle studies were in their infancy.
A four-year research project, carried out by buildings archaeologist James Wright, has challenged the interpretation of Tattershall using modern techniques to reassess the site. This fully illustrated talk will look at how fundamental errors were made when describing the functions of spaces including the “Stables”, “Guardhouse”, “Kitchens”, “Parlour” and “Tiltyard”. New evidence offers alternative insights into how these parts of the castle originally functioned during the mediaeval period.
The science of dendrochronology was incorporated into the project and has helped to refine the construction dates for the castle. A shift of just 15 years has revolutionised the place of Tattershall in English architectural history. The building is now thought to be part of the genesis of a style which lasted for two centuries and inspired later work at Eton College, Oxburgh Hall and Hampton Court Palace.
The speaker, Dr James Wright (Triskele Heritage), is an award winning buildings archaeologist. He has two decades professional experience of ferreting around in people’s cellars, hunting through their attics and digging up their gardens. He hopes to find meaningful truths about how ordinary and extraordinary folk lived their lives in the mediaeval period. He is the author of the popular Mediaeval Mythbusting Blog. His doctoral research was on Tattershall Castle.
All you need to do is register via Eventbrite and – when the time for the talk rolls around – grab your favourite beverage of choice, get comfy and enjoy.
The event will take place at 19:00GMT+1 on Thursday 15 September 2022 .
Due to our licensing agreement with Zoom tickets for each event will be limited to 495 places. This will be a live event. It will not be recorded and made available online afterwards. If you have a question about the event – in the first instance please see our FAQs section. The answer will almost certainly be in there.
*** If you have any problems accessing this event please email with your booking reference to james@triskeleheritage.com ***
The first in the Triskele Heritage 2022-23 Winter Series of Lectures: Understanding Mediaeval Buildings.
Mediaeval castles are diverse. No two are identical. Stretching across several centuries of use, their design changed radically from their arrival in Britain during the late Saxon period until they faded away in the mid-sixteenth century. It may be surprising to learn that quite how we define these buildings is hotly contested.
For most people, castles are militarily defensive fortifications that may have also contained the residences of lords within. However, this interpretation masks a huge complexity of functions. This talk will look at the chronological, social, economic, political and construction issues surrounding castles in an attempt to define and explain these incredible structures.
The speaker, James Wright (Triskele Heritage), is an award winning buildings archaeologist. He has two decades professional experience of ferreting around in people’s cellars, hunting through their attics and digging up their gardens. He hopes to find meaningful truths about how ordinary and extraordinary folk lived their lives in the mediaeval period. He is the author of the popular Mediaeval Mythbusting Blog.
All you need to do is register via Eventbrite and – when the time for the talk rolls around – grab your favourite beverage of choice, get comfy and enjoy.
The event will take place at 19:00 GMT+1 on Thursday 13 October 2022 .
Due to our licensing agreement with Zoom tickets for each event will be limited to 495 places. This will be a live event. It will not be recorded and made available online afterwards. If you have a question about the event – in the first instance please see our FAQs section. The answer will almost certainly be in there.
*** If you have any problems accessing this event please email with your booking reference to james@triskeleheritage.com ***
