Revisiting New Towns of the Middle Ages

 

A Conference and Field-Seminar in the Ancient Town of Winchelsea in Memory of Professor M.W. Beresford

 

Friday 21 - Sunday 23 May 2010

Convened by Keith D Lilley (Queen’s University Belfast ) and Richard Comotto (Winchelsea Archaeological Society)

 

This conference focuses on the continuing legacy of Professor Maurice Beresford’s ‘New Towns of the Middle Ages’ and draws together both academic and general audiences of his book to reflect on the recent advances in research on the topic of medieval new towns and their planning.

 

Key speakers include:

 

· Professor Chris Dyer ( University of Leicester )

· Professor Jean-Loup Abbé ( University of Toulouse )

· Canon Dr Terry Slater ( University of Birmingham )

· Dr Patrick Ottaway (Archaeological Consultant)

 

The conference will take place over the weekend of May 21-23 2010 in Winchelsea ( East Sussex ), one of the most renowned examples of a medieval ‘new town’. Specialists will give lectures and lead discussions on how historical, geographical and archaeological research has changed our views about ‘New towns of the Middle Ages’, building upon Professor Beresford’s important work yet at the same time challenging some of his ideas and pointing towards new research directions.

 

Conference speakers will explore the societies, landscapes and material cultures of medieval ‘new towns’, placing them in an international comparative context, as well as their own local settings. To this end, Winchelsea itself provides an important case-study, as Professor Beresford had recognized, so the conference programme includes lectures on the town’s medieval archaeology, history and planning, as well as a field-visit around the impressive remains of ‘New Winchelsea’.

 

Further info rmation at: http://www.winchelsea.net/conference.htm or e-mail: was@winchelsea.net

 

The conference registration fee is £25 (cheque payable to ‘Winchelsea Archaeological Society’). To register please send your name and address details plus a cheque by April 30 2010 to: Winchelsea Archaeological Society, c/o Firebrand House, Winchelsea, East Sussex, TN36 4EA, UK