History Everywhere

History Everywhere – 20th October

Do you enjoy walking in the countryside? Did you wonder about particular features that you see around you? Is it Saxon or Roman? Or perhaps why a town looks and feels the way it does? If so, this one-day course, led by Nicholas James, is definitely for you.

Course Summary

Britain’s history lies in its familiar geographies. Town and country have been shaped by planning and by accidents, agreements and conflicts, policies and technologies, by work and by play, by worship, and, above all, by changing climate and population. We can identify a series of chapters:

the long era of prehistory, for which archaeology is the sole evidence;
the Roman period, commonly imagined as one of radical change but now seen, by some historians, as a mix of innovation and tradition;
the Saxon period, which witnessed both the collapse and the reinvention of state government and towns;
the later Middle Ages saw growth followed by a catastrophic decline;
the Early Modern period of urban and rural development under new concepts of civilization;
the industrial age of massive growth, technological transformation and radical policies.

The principles for studying landscapes and finding the clues are simple but the analysis of causes can be much more complicated.

How to Attend

If you want to find out more about this intriguing subject come to Tollesbury Saturday 10.00 -3.00 pm 20th October. Information about this day course can be found on the WEA website wea.org.uk. Type in “History Everywhere” in the subject or keyword box. You can book online or phone 0300 303 3464. Alternatively, contact Anne Mossman 07973 479636. The course fee is £18 although discounts & concessions are available depending on your circumstances.

Venue address is Tollesbury Sailing Club. Woodrolfe Rd, CM9 8SE.

18th May 20158th December 2015

Heritage Watch Launched

Influential figures in Essex’s heritage industry came together on 23rd of April at Stow Maries First World War Aerodrome to launch a new police initiative aimed at protecting the past. Heritage Watch is an Essex Police led partnership between agencies that are committed to protecting our heritage, as well as members of the public who want to help preserve our heritage.

The watch scheme looks to maintain and preserve important places of interest, encouraging vigilance and reporting of suspicious activity around sites. This is to prevent any theft or crime that may damage assets beyond recovery, which may lead to the loss of a piece of history for this and future generations. Heritage Watch locations would include ancient earth works and archeological sites, listed buildings, museums, galleries, religious buildings, historic visitor attractions and others.

Dominic Petre of the Historic Houses Association said he was ‘very pleased’ about the initiative, adding:

When heritage is lost, it is lost forever. Crimes against heritage are not just crimes against the owner. They are crimes against future generations and culture in general.

Chief Superintendent Carl O’Malley said:

In Essex we have some really significant sites, from the Roman remains in Colchester to Audley End House in Saffron Walden. The key element for any watch scheme is to involve a broad range of different partners and bring them together. Through expert advice and assistance, we can all help one another. It is about communication, sharing, understanding and reporting.

For further information contact your local Essex Watch Liaison Officer using the Police 101 non–emergency telephone number.

7th March 201327th November 2015

Colchester’s Archaeological Heritage

The Friends of St Mary’s, Peldon will be presenting the first in the 2013 series of Peldon History Lectures on Wednesday 13th March, 7.30pm in the church. Entitled ‘Asset or Liability – Colchester’s Archaeological Heritage’, this talk by Mark Davies promises an interesting insight into Colchester’s Roman history and how this might be preserved in the future.

Following on from the talk, the Colchester Archaeological Society will present their recent findings from excavations at St Mary’s.

Tickets £8.00, including a glass of wine, available from Bill Tamblyn 01206 735770 or on the door. All proceeds to the Friends of St Mary’s Peldon.