From an Orkney village engulfed in sand 5,000 years ago to a medieval city swept off a cliff and languishing in the depths of the North Sea, Britain is scarred with the haunting remains of places lost to memory. And yet, though we cannot see them, many of these places have had formative influences on its history, and their disappearances begin to explain why Britain looks the way it does today.
Join Dr Matthew Green, as he guides you through key turning points in Britain’s history - the Black Death, Reformation, Enlightenment and more - and draws on four years of his original research to paint a vivid and detailed picture of a Britain that no longer exists.
He will guide you through the sights, sounds and tribulations of vanished places, from the buried city of Trellech to the abandoned sea-mountain of St Kilda. Experience former settlements across the breadth of Britain and discover how these places came to meet their tragic fate.
With the aid of striking maps, prints and photographs, Matthew will resurrect these lost towns and settlements, evoking their unique layouts and describing in dramatic detail the experiences of their former dwellers - many of whom tried, but failed, to resist the tides of change. This class will also explore how and why places are disappearing from Britain’s landscape today and what the past might reveal about the future.
Course content
The Neolithic period: how the coming of agriculture ended 2.5m years of nomadic hunter-gathering existence, producing settled communities like Skara Brae on Orkney, preserved in sand for over 5,000 years
The Norman conquest: how some towns and cities born during the medieval urban boom failed, such as the ghost town of Trellech in the Welsh Marches, uncovered by moles in 2002
Medieval climate change: how the ravages of extreme weather, as the Medieval Warm Period gave way to Little Ice Age, laid waste to the cities of Old Winchelsea and Dunwich
The Black Death: how the ghost streets of Wharram Percy in the Yorkshire Wolds were scorched into the grass following its abandonment after the Black Death
Reformation and Renaissance: how places like the half-drowned city of Dunwich, with its ruined monasteries, captured enquiring minds
Enlightenment: how self-sufficient societies, such as St Kilda in the Outer Hebrides, were doomed by philosophical voyagers in pursuit of ‘natural man’
War: how the demands of international war hollowed out some 20% of Britain’s landmass, including villages in Norfolk and Suffolk Brecklands
This course is for …
Anyone curious to learn more about Britain’s history
Artists inspired by the haunting beauty of ruins and lost settlements
Tutor profile
Dr Matthew Green is a historian, writer and broadcaster with a doctorate from Oxford University. He has appeared in documentaries on the BBC, ITV and Channel 4, and has written historical features for the Guardian and Financial Times. He is the founder of Unreal City Audio, which produces immersive tours of London as live events, podcasts and apps. His first book was London: A Travel Guide Through Time. Follow him on Twitter.
Matthew’s new book Shadowlands: A journey through lost Britain is released on 17 March 2022. If you live in the UK, you can purchase a book and ticket for the combined price of £64 including P&P.
Details
Dates: Monday 28 March 2022
Times: 6.30pm-9pm (BST)
Price: £49 (plus £2.66 booking fee) or £64 for book + ticket (plus £3.30 booking fee)
This masterclass is available globally. If you are joining us from outside the United Kingdom, please use this time zone converter to check your local live streaming time.
6.30pm BST | 7.30pm CEST | 10.30am PDT | 1.30pm EDT
You will be sent a link to the webinar 2hr before the start time of 6.30pm (BST).
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Once a purchase is complete we will not be able to refund you where you do not attend or if you cancel your event booking. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.
