Exploring Medieval Place and Society through Local History

Join Dr Simon Townley for the next talk in the new seminar series on 'Medival Society and Landscape', convened by Professor Elizabeth Gemmill and Dr Stephen Mileson.

Event details:

You can choose to join us in Oxford or watch the session online. If you are joining us in person, refreshments will be made available in the common room after the talk.

This talk will take place in the Tawney Room at Rewley House.

About the talk:

In this paper Simon, Townley reflects on what a local history approach can offer to the study of medieval society. Over many years Simon has researched, written and edited dozens of parish histories for the Oxfordshire VCH, a county-based research programme which is attached to the nationally organised Victoria County History project, famous for its 'big red books'. The VCH method involves detailed archival and landscape research into all facets of local history, including landownership and local government organization as well as economic, social and religious history. Such investigation 'on all fronts' often reveals connections and trends which are less apparent from more prescribed research focusing on particular topics or periods. When looked at with an eye to larger patterns and contexts the VCH-type approach can add a valuable dimension to understanding changing medieval societies in particular places.

About the seminar series:

This series will be a showcase for the intellectual excitement of the history and archaeology of the medieval period, with a focus on societies, economies and landscapes. It is intended as a venue for friendly and collaborative discussion of research in progress, of sources and methodologies, and of the interface between academic research and local and community history and archaeology. The Middle Ages has sometimes been unfairly dismissed as arcane and unapproachable, yet its sources speak to scholars across academic disciplines who are interested in our rich heritage of documents, material culture, and the landscape.

These talks are open to staff, students, and anyone interested in medieval history and archaeology — locally and globally. Sessions will include a mix of papers by established scholars and practitioners, and shorter presentations and discussions by undergraduate and postgraduate students.

To view the full series of talks, please visit our website.

Also check out other Workshops in Oxford.