I attended the Advance HE (formerly Higher Education Academy) teaching and learning conference, in Birmingham, for the first time this year Advance HE TL Conference 2018. Previous to this my experience of conferences was of academic history ones. Academics sometimes get a little bit too immersed in their own institutions. It seemed like a good idea... Continue Reading →
Top Tips for New University Students: From a Soon to be Second Year History Student
University is hard, and it’s hard to know how to prepare for it. To help, here are my top tips for new students. I made these tips from lessons I learnt from my first-year experience. 1. Know how much money you have. I know this sounds simple but it is very important. Before coming to... Continue Reading →
History Dissertations: Top Tips for Students
We’ve finished our most recent dissertation cycle here at Northampton. The marking is done and the results have been released. It seems a useful time to reflect as I prepare meetings to discuss projects with students for next year. We've had some great results, some fascinating dissertations, some of them first class. As the convenor... Continue Reading →
Exploring the Archives
There are many skills a historian acquires: distilling information, debates and arguments; finding, reading and analyzing primary sources; writing and publishing research; dressing smart but casual; finding obscure conference venues; looking marginally interested in endless administrative meetings (with full knowledge that each second saps a small piece of our zest for life - See here for... Continue Reading →
Kelmarsh Hall and the Heritage of Country Houses
I recently made a visit, with my colleague, Dr Caroline Nielsen, to Kelmarsh Hall in Northamptonshire. Kelmarsh was built in the 1730s to a Palladian design by Francis Smith with the architect James Gibbs for the Hanbury family. The Hall retains many of its original features and 1000 acres of the original estate, including working... Continue Reading →