Category: Lockdown Lectures

With the onset of Britain’s third covid-19 lockdown within a year, Triskele Heritage will be stepping up to try and provide some (hopefully) entertaining and informative free public talks. The weekly lockdown lectures will feature the fruits of our research so you can be sure that the content will all be bang up to date!

Each week we will host a lockdown lecture freely accessible to anyone with a web connection via Zoom. 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.

Our next event will take place at 18:00 BST on Thursday 15 April 2021 and will focus on the British Field Archaeology – Meet the Commercial Archaeologists.

PLEASE NOTE the slightly later-than-usual start time of 18.00 BST.

Booking is now available via Eventbrite.

Due to our licensing agreement with Zoom tickets for each event will be limited to 495 places. If you cannot make it after booking, please do return your ticket so that someone else can enjoy the talk instead.

Please note that this is a live event only and there will not be a recording of the talk available 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.

More information on the talk

The vast majority of archaeological fieldwork and research in Britain takes place behind the hoardings of commercial development or infrastructure sites and in private offices. It is rare for the public to get a glimpse of the work of the commercial field archaeologists. In this one-off panel session, three professional archaeologists will explain how archaeology works in Britain, what the processes of archaeological excavation are and what happens to the finds once they are taken off for analysis. We will hear from Senior Archaeologists Jessica Bryan (MOLA) and Natasha Billson (Pre-Construct Archaeology) alongside osteoarchaeologist Dr Lauren McIntyre (Oxford Archaeology).

The event will be hosted by James Wright (Triskele Heritage) who 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.

With the onset of Britain’s third covid-19 lockdown within a year, Triskele Heritage will be stepping up to try and provide some (hopefully) entertaining and informative free public talks. The weekly lockdown lectures will feature the fruits of our research so you can be sure that the content will all be bang up to date!

Each week we will host a lockdown lecture freely accessible to anyone with a web connection via Zoom. 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.

Our next event will take place at 17:00GMT on Thursday 8 April 2021 and will focus on Mediaeval Landscapes – Beyond the Castle Gate: Parks & Gardens.

Booking is now available via Eventbrite.

Due to our licensing agreement with Zoom tickets for each event will be limited to 495 places. If you cannot make it after booking, please do return your ticket so that someone else can enjoy the talk instead.

Please note that this is a live event only and there will not be a recording of the talk available 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.

More information on the talk

Using contemporary art and poetry alongside documentary sources and archaeology this lecture unpicks the world of high status parks and gardens in the Mediaeval & Early Modern periods. Whilst ostensibly providing food for the tables of castles and great houses, parks and gardens also had a highly symbolic and ritual element to play in Mediaeval life. This related to a careful stage-management of the natural world to establish landscapes of lordship projecting status and power over the kingdom.

The speaker, James Wright 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.

With the onset of Britain’s third covid-19 lockdown within a year, Triskele Heritage will be stepping up to try and provide some (hopefully) entertaining and informative free public talks. The weekly lockdown lectures will feature the fruits of our research so you can be sure that the content will all be bang up to date!

Each week we will host a lockdown lecture freely accessible to anyone with a web connection via Zoom. 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.

Our next event will take place at 17:00GMT on Thursday1 April 2021 and will focus on Mediaeval Buildings: Myths & Mistakes.

Booking is now available via Eventbrite.

Due to our licensing agreement with Zoom tickets for each event will be limited to 495 places. If you cannot make it after booking, please do return your ticket so that someone else can enjoy the talk instead.

Please note that this is a live event only and there will not be a recording of the talk available 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.

More information on the talk

Historic buildings specialists often meet folk who are eager to talk about their properties and their enthusiasm is genuinely infectious. We can learn so much of value about a society by what it builds.

However, romanticised and elaborated stories often grow up around certain mysterious features in mediaeval buildings – houses built of ship timbers, crusader graffiti, swordsmen fighting on spiral staircases, leper squints and secret passages – it is surprising how often these get repeated all across the country in so many different structures.

This panel discussion will look at some of the most common misconceptions surrounding historic buildings. The legends will be outlined, the origins of the myths explained and the underlying truth behind each story will be revealed. We hope that the event 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.

Dr Jonathan Foyle is quite obsessed by historic buildings. From an immersive career in conservation, research and curating, he is fortunate to have found ways to share many discoveries and insights into our ancestors’ experiences. He is an award-winning BBC broadcaster, Visiting Professor in Conservation at the University of Lincoln and author of well-received monographs on cathedrals – including Canterbury and Lincoln – he also draws a bit.

Dr Emma Wells defines herself as an academic, author, and broadcaster. She is an ecclesiastical and architectural historian as well as public historian, specialising in the late medieval/early modern English parish church/cathedral, pilgrimage, the cult of saints, and the ‘senses’, as well as built heritage more generally.

Dr Rachel Swallow is focused on interdisciplinary and cross-period research into British fortifications and their landscapes. She has a particular interest in the form and siting of castles of the Irish Sea Region.

James Wright FSA 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.

With the onset of Britain’s third covid-19 lockdown within a year, Triskele Heritage will be stepping up to try and provide some (hopefully) entertaining and informative free public talks. The weekly lockdown lectures will feature the fruits of our research so you can be sure that the content will all be bang up to date!

Each week we will host a lockdown lecture freely accessible to anyone with a web connection via Zoom. 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.

Our next event will take place at 17:00GMT on Thursday 25 March 2021 and will focus on Mediaeval Servants – Archaeology of the Mediaeval Household.

Booking is now available via Eventbrite.

Due to our licensing agreement with Zoom tickets for each event will be limited to 495 places. If you cannot make it after booking, please do return your ticket so that someone else can enjoy the talk instead.

Please note that this is a live event only and there will not be a recording of the talk available 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.

More information on the talk

This lecture offers a little-regarded alternative viewpoint of life in English mediaeval castles: that of the ordinary folk. Using archaeological evidence gleaned from historic building survey, contemporary literature, artistic representations, and architectural history this talk presents the story of the cooks, clerks, servants, stable-hands and lower status visitors to great castles. Instead of studying towers, gatehouses and great halls here we delve into the kitchens, stables, staircases, cellars and garderobes to uncover evidence of the mediaeval household.

James Wright is an award winning buildings archaeologist who runs the weekly Triskele Heritage Lockdown Lectures. 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.

With the onset of Britain’s third covid-19 lockdown within a year, Triskele Heritage will be stepping up to try and provide some (hopefully) entertaining and informative free public talks. The weekly lockdown lectures will feature the fruits of our research so you can be sure that the content will all be bang up to date!

Each week we will host a lockdown lecture freely accessible to anyone with a web connection via Zoom. 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.

Our next event will take place at 17:30GMT on Thursday 18 March 2021 and will focus on the Public & Community Archaeology.

PLEASE NOTE the slightly later-than-usual start time of 17.30GMT.

Booking is now available via Eventbrite.

Due to our licensing agreement with Zoom tickets for each event will be limited to 495 places. If you cannot make it after booking, please do return your ticket so that someone else can enjoy the talk instead.

Please note that this is a live event only and there will not be a recording of the talk available 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.

More information on the talk

A panel discussion session as part of the Triskele Heritage Lockdown Lecture series. This week James Wright will speak with three professional archaeologists with a strong involvement in bringing the discipline to the general public.

Community archaeology takes many forms – it can be the presentation of a talk, teaching a workshop or a course, providing media content, designing an interpretation panel, running a project with volunteers… there are so very many options.

Nathalie Cohen was formerly the project coordinator of citizen science project the Thames Discovery Project and is now heavily involved in promoting archaeology to public audiences through her work with both the National Trust and Canterbury Cathedral.

David Connolly runs the British Archaeological Jobs & Resources which provides a vital role in offering advice and direction to all those interested in the subject from absolute novices to hardened veterans. He is responsible for the foundation of the Archaeological Skills Passport and the RESPECT project.

Chloe Duckworth is an academic currently working at Newcastle University. She will be familiar to many through her amazing ArcheoDuck Youtube channel in which she interviews archaeologists and gets them to explain their role to the public. She is also a presenter on More4’s The Great British Dig.

James Wright 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.

With the onset of Britain’s third covid-19 lockdown within a year, Triskele Heritage will be stepping up to try and provide some (hopefully) entertaining and informative free public talks. The weekly lockdown lectures will feature the fruits of our research so you can be sure that the content will all be bang up to date!

Each week we will host a lockdown lecture freely accessible to anyone with a web connection via Zoom. 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.

Our next event will take place at 17:00GMT on Thursday 11 March 2021 and will focus on the Architecture of Richard III.

Booking is now available via Eventbrite.

Due to our licensing agreement with Zoom tickets for each event will be limited to 495 places. If you cannot make it after booking, please do return your ticket so that someone else can enjoy the talk instead.

Please note that this is a live event only and there will not be a recording of the talk available 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.

More information on the talk

Considered by many to be a problematic and divisive character, Richard III has certainly been the focus of much historical debate. Whilst this lecture does not attempt to answer questions regarding the morality or legitimacy of his reign, it does offer an overlooked perspective of Richard’s life – his achievements as an architectural patron. By considering his building projects at sites including Middleham, Warwick and Sudeley this study looks at the context of his sacred and secular architecture in late mediaeval England.

The speaker, James Wright 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.

With the onset of Britain’s third covid-19 lockdown within a year, Triskele Heritage will be stepping up to try and provide some (hopefully) entertaining and informative free public talks. The weekly lockdown lectures will feature the fruits of our research so you can be sure that the content will all be bang up to date!

Each week we will host a lockdown lecture freely accessible to anyone with a web connection via Zoom. 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.

Our next event will take place at 17:00GMT on Thursday 4 March 2021 and will focus on Tracing Your House History (Part 2) – Meet the House Historians.

Booking is now available via Eventbrite.

Due to our licensing agreement with Zoom tickets for each event will be limited to 495 places. If you cannot make it after booking, please do return your ticket so that someone else can enjoy the talk instead.

Please note that this is a live event only and there will not be a recording of the talk available 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.

More information on the talk

An opportunity to see three professional house historians – Melanie Backe-Hansen (A House Through Time), Karen Averby (Archangel Heritage) & Gill Blanchard (Past Search) in conversation with buildings archaeologist James Wright (Triskele Heritage).

Ever wondered how researchers approach the subject of constructing social histories of historic buildings? Ever been curious about the lives of the former occupants of your home? Ever considered how it might be possible to trace the owners of a house over time? Then this is the session for you!

This panel session is part of the Triskele Heritage Lockdown Lectures series. Although it is entitled “Tracing Your House History: Part 2” it is an entirely separate and self-contained event. There is no need to have attended Part 1.

With the onset of Britain’s third covid-19 lockdown within a year, Triskele Heritage will be stepping up to try and provide some (hopefully) entertaining and informative free public talks. The weekly lockdown lectures will feature the fruits of our research so you can be sure that the content will all be bang up to date!

Each week we will host a lockdown lecture freely accessible to anyone with a web connection via Zoom. 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.

Our next event will take place at 17:00GMT on Thursday 25 February 2021 and will focus on Tracing Your House History (Part 1) – Uncovering Your Local Heritage

Booking is now available via Eventbrite.

Due to our licensing agreement with Zoom tickets for each event will be limited to 495 places. If you cannot make it after booking, please do return your ticket so that someone else can enjoy the talk instead.

Please note that this is a live event only and there will not be a recording of the talk available 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.

More information on the talk

The first of two sessions offering help and advice on researching local history and heritage. It will not matter if you missed the first session – the second event will be entirely self-contained.

History is literally on our doorsteps. There is not a single corner of the land which has not witnessed the remarkable passage of time and left physical evidence of those changes. Many of us would like to find out more about the history of the buildings that we inhabit and the area that we live in. This talk is a beginner’s guide to the techniques of online local history and archaeology research.

With the onset of Britain’s third covid-19 lockdown within a year, Triskele Heritage will be stepping up to try and provide some (hopefully) entertaining and informative free public talks. The weekly lockdown lectures will feature the fruits of our research so you can be sure that the content will all be bang up to date!

Each week we will host a lockdown lecture freely accessible to anyone with a web connection via Zoom. 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.

Our next event will take place at 17:00GMT on Wednesday 17 February 2021 and will focus on Ritual Protection in Historic Houses – How to Deflect Your Demons.

Booking is now available via Eventbrite.

Due to our licensing agreement with Zoom tickets for each event will be limited to 495 places. If you cannot make it after booking, please do return your ticket so that someone else can enjoy the talk instead.

Please note that this is a live event only and there will not be a recording of the talk available 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.

More information on the talk

The perceived threat of evil was a genuine fear that was faced by late mediaeval and early modern populations of Europe. Witches, evil spirits and demons were considered to be real entities who posed a danger to buildings and their occupants. During archaeological survey, researchers commonly find evidence for the practice of ritual protection – methods designed to ward away evil and bring good luck to buildings.

James Wright 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 by researching mediaeval and early modern architecture.

With the onset of Britain’s third covid-19 lockdown within a year, Triskele Heritage will be stepping up to try and provide some (hopefully) entertaining and informative free public talks. The weekly lockdown lectures will feature the fruits of our research so you can be sure that the content will all be bang up to date!

Each week we will host a lockdown lecture freely accessible to anyone with a web connection via Zoom. 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.

Our next event will take place at 17:00GMT on Thursday 11 February 2021 and will focus on Mediaeval Great Houses – Architecture During the 15th Century.

Booking is now available via Eventbrite.

Due to our licensing agreement with Zoom tickets for each event will be limited to 495 places. If you cannot make it after booking, please do return your ticket so that someone else can enjoy the talk instead.

Please note that this is a live event only and there will not be a recording of the talk available 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.

More information on the talk

Architecture During the Fifteenth Century

During August 1453, Henry VI suffered a debilitating setback in his mental health which left him in a catatonic stupor. As he languished in the rambling rural palace of Clarendon in Wiltshire, England slid inexorably towards civil war.

Henry left few lasting achievements, however, he did lavish great expense on his building projects at Eton College and King’s College, Cambridge. Whilst the king concentrated on educational institutions, his courtiers began  work on buildings which fundamentally altered the face of English architecture for over a century.

The new fashions often demanded brick construction, residential great towers or gatehouses and regular courtyard plans. Whilst touching on a number of sites, this lecture examines the contrasts between Lord Cromwell’s work at Tattershall, Archbishop Bourchier’s construction at Knole and Henry’s own building at Eton.