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Students get hands on with Lincoln’s rich history at annual archaeological dig
Archaeology students at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) have been joined by international colleagues to explore Lincoln’s historical past at the annual BGU Archaeological Field School. Taking place in the grounds of the Lincolnshire Open Research and Innovation Centre, on Newport, the focus of the dig is to find and explore the remains of the medieval marketplace ‘Newport Green’. Some evidence of the site was discovered in the previous year’s dig and Dr Duncan Wright, Programme Leader for Archaeology and Heritage at BGU, explained why they had returned to uncover it further: “This dig is giving us the opportunity to celebrate and explore the historic development of Newport as suburb. In this sense Newport is very unusual and not as well developed as other medieval suburbs however, it has a potentially unique enclosure surrounding the entire community which we’re excited to find more evidence of and hopefully contribute to the growing discipline of suburban archaeology” The team are also hoping to discover more evidence of a collection of Roman buildings on the same site. Over the course of the four week dig around 60 students and volunteers from around the world will come to the site to support the exploration. Two of the BGU students taking part in their first dig are Saskia and Chloe, who discussed their excitement at being able to put their skills to the test: “It’s incredible to be given such an in depth and hands on opportunity in the first year of our course especially on a site that turning up finds from so many different eras, we’re already uncovering Victorian and some medieval archaeology and might only be a few more feet away from Roman finds” Fellow students Sam and Phoebe, on their second and third digs respectively, praised the annual digs for bringing people together: “These digs are a gift, we’re working with students and archaeologists from all over the world, it’s an experience you just wouldn’t be offered anywhere else. We’re not only honing highly employable skills, everything from digging through to processing and curation, we’re making real connections with fellow archaeologists.” One of those international colleagues is Ellie Roach, who has travelled over from America for her third dig with BGU: “I love coming back for the annual field schools at BGU, the supervisors are incredibly knowledgeable and supportive and the sites themselves allow you to explore regions of history that just aren’t accessible in the states. As a classicist, being able to get hands on with Roman and Medieval archaeology has been brilliant” You too can get a first-hand experience of our Archaeological Field School at the annual open day on Saturday 29 June. The site will be open to the public from 10am-4pm and our students and lecturers will be on hand to discuss the site and their finds. To find out how you can get hands on with history at BGU, visit our website, contact our Enquiries Team or join us on one of our Open Days. -
BGU Military History Course Gifted Resources Worth Over £14,000 by Osprey Books
Staff and students on the new BA (Hons) Military History degree at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) are enjoying an exciting range of new resources thanks to a generous donation from Osprey Books. Part of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, Osprey, an Oxford-based company specialising in illustrated military history books, commands an impressive catalogue of published works ranging from ancient warfare to the latest military technology. In total they have donated 1,191 volumes, with the full cost running to £14,500, covering military and aviation history subjects. With titles including Air Campaign Series ‘Battle of Britain 1940’, Command Series ‘Napoleon Bonaparte’ and Elite Series ‘The Persian Army 560-330 BC’ the donation will form an amazingly valuable collection of reference material for Military History students at BGU for years to come. Dr Claire Hubbard-Hall, Programme Leader for Military History at BGU, discussed what students on the course could expect to explore thanks to the donation: “This sizeable and generous donation from Osprey books will provide an invaluable reference resource for students studying Military History at the university. The books provide a global history of warfare focusing on the nature and conduct of war, the role of battle and reform at sea, on land and in the air, as well as the strategic impact of airpower, and major war and battle narratives.” The Military History degree course at BGU explores the county’s rich aviation and military heritage alongside a global coverage of the history of war and its broader impact. If you are interested in joining these discussions, our new BA (Hons) in Military History, which reviews conflict and its relationship with society from the medieval period through to the present day, is the perfect place to start. Visit our website or contact our Enquiries Team for more information. -
How our current circumstances offer a window into Lincoln's history
Dr Andrew Jackson, Head of Research at BGU, has written a series of articles exploring how the current circumstances in which we find ourselves offer a window into the history of both Lincoln and the wider United Kingdom. In the first of these he examines how the introduction of product restrictions by supermarkets harks back to the First World War and the city of Lincoln’s earlier experiences of rationing*. -
Remembrance Day 2020 – Military History students remember the Beechey Brothers
As Armistice Day approaches, we find ourselves in uncharted territory in terms of how we observe and commemorate those who sacrificed their lives during periods of conflict. The Military History team at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) decided to observe this year’s Remembrance Sunday and Day – 11 November – as a collective group and together with their students produced a short video to form part of the commemoration of the First World War. Military History students Matthew Richardson and William Cragg volunteered to read extracts from the letters of the brothers of the Beechey family. All eight of the young men of the Beechey family went off to fight in the 1914-18 conflict. The family lived in Avondale Street, Lincoln. Only three brothers would return, the loss of the Beechey Family, five brothers all told, was one of the gravest a single family suffered in Britain during the Great War. Amy Beechey, their mother, is buried in Newport Cemetery -- a short walk from the BGU campus. The members of the Beechey family who paid the ultimate sacrifice included: Sgt. Barnard Reeve Beechey, killed in action – 25 September 1915, aged 382nd/Lt. Frank Collett Reeve Beechey died of wounds – 14 November 1916, aged 30L/Cpl. Harold Reeve Beechey was killed in action – 10 April 1917, aged 26. Pte. Charles Reeve Beechey died of wounds – 20 October 1917, aged 39Rf/m. Leonard Reeve Beechey died of wounds – 29 December 1917, aged 36 While the current COVID-19 pandemic has meant that our commemorative services and traditions will be altered this year, remembrance and commemoration of the sacrifices made during conflict can take a variety of forms. Whatever form it does take, the importance of continuing to respect and commemorate the fallen was emphasised by the youngest Beechey Brother during the war itself, in 1917. One of the letters you can hear being read in the commemorative short film was written by the youngest Beechey brother, Eric – fortunately he survived the war, and was serving as an army dentist in Malta at the time he penned the letter. Having learned of the death of his brother Harold, the third to have fallen during the war, he wrote to his mother Amy emphasising the importance of ensuring their sacrifice was never forgotten. ‘I really cannot write much as I cannot realise that when I do get home, I shall not find any of the three of us who have paid the last tribute possible to the old country, have sacrificed their lives. We can only pay them the honour due to them, and reverence them forever in our memories’. The commemorative short film will be played just before the two minutes silence on 11 November on the University's social media channels. It will also be available to watch after the silence here. If you are interested in studying Military History at Bishop Grosseteste University please click here. You can also find out about the course at one of the forthcoming open days. For those interested in a taster session, please book onto the Military History masterclass on 17 November 2020. You can follow the activities of the Military History team on Twitter @BGUMilitaryHist -
‘Ideal Candidate’ Academic Appointed as Trustee for Medmenham Collection
Dr Claire Hubbard-Hall, Programme Leader for Military History and the MA in Social and Cultural History at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), has been appointed as a Medmenham Collection Trustee by the Medmenham Association. The Medmenham Association was formed in 1946 from those that worked at RAF Medmenham, the allied photographic intelligence unit, during the Second World War (you can find an overview of activities at RAF Medmenham during the war by clicking here). The Association members formed a museum and archive of photographic intelligence, which was then transferred into a charity, the Medmenham Collection.Women made up half of the workforce at Medmenham, and included Winston Churchill's daughter. Unusual for the time, they were treated as equals, and appointed to roles based on their ability. The majority of trustees for the Medmenham Collection are drawn from serving and retired military intelligence officers. However, the board of trustees felt that the board needed additional expertise outside the military and that an academic with a background in intelligence research would enhance the Board’s expertise. Gp Capt Paul Stewart MBE, PhD, RAF (Retd), speaking on behalf of the collection, explained why they had been keen to appoint Dr Hubbard-Hall to the position: “Dr Claire Hubbard-Hall, who has supervised a PhD on RAF Medmenham and has extensive knowledge of Second World War intelligence studies was considered to be an ideal candidate for a trustee position." For Dr Hubbard-Hall, who specialises in Second World War Intelligence History, the appointment is timely to her endeavours to shine a brighter light on the role and contribution of women in intelligence: “As an intelligence historian specialising in the Second World War period, with a particular focus on women, it has been an honour to be asked.” If you’d like to find out more about uncovering new adventures on a History or Military History course at BGU, visit our website, book onto one of our Open Days or speak to a member of our Enquiries Team. Image credits: Header image - A photographic Interpreter at Danesfield House studies plans and photographs of a BMW factory with the use of a stereoscope. © Medmenham Collection -
War injuries and Skinheads take the stage as BGU students share their prize winning research at history conference
Connie Wragg and Lewis Bird, third year History students at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), presented their research and engaged in discussions at the regional Undergraduate Dissertation Showcase. Run by the East Midlands Centre for History Learning and Teaching (EMC), the Showcase drew speakers from across the East Midlands and encouraged discussions on a very diverse range of historical topics, including the cultural history of milk, female poisoners, and the Black Panther Movement. Both Lewis’ and Connie’s presentations focused on their dissertation specialisms. Lewis examined the politicisation of the Skinhead movement, explaining the group’s multicultural origins before discussing the reasons for their later far right associations, with a particular focus on the role of the media. Connie meanwhile provided an overview of her research on perceptions of maxillofacial injury during the First World War, and the impact that losing their face had on these soldiers’ self-identity. Both presentations were well received, with Connie’s sharing the prize for best presentation of the day with Anya Maude (University of Nottingham) and Kieran Blake (University of Lincoln). Dr Hazel Kent, BGU’s steering group representative for the EMC, accompanied Lewis and Connie to the event and praised the pair for their hard work: “This was a truly inspiring event which demonstrated the depth and range of historical research being done at undergraduate level. Lewis and Connie were superb ambassadors for History at BGU and I am so pleased they took this opportunity to communicate their original and intriguing research to a wider audience. The standard of the presentations was extremely high and I am delighted that Connie’s was judged to be one of the best”. If you would be interested in joining these discussions visit our website or contact our Enquiries Team for more information on our wide range courses including a selection of joint honours BA History degrees, our MA in Social & Cultural History and our new BA (Hons) in Military History. -
History of German PoWs in Britain explored in new book by BGU Historian
Alan Malpass, recently appointed Lecturer in Military History at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU), has had his book 'British Character and the Treatment of German Prisoners of War, 1939-48' published by Palgrave Macmillan. The book examines attitudes towards German prisoners of war held captive in Britain, drawing on original archival material including newspaper and newsreel content, diaries, sociological surveys and opinion polls, as well as official documentation and the archives of pressure groups and protest movements. Moving beyond conventional assessments of POW treatment which have focused on the development of policy, diplomatic relations, and the experience of the POWs themselves, this study refocuses the debate onto the attitude of the British public towards the standard of treatment of German POWs. In so doing, it reveals that the issue of POW treatment intersected with discussions of state power, human rights, gender relations, civility, and national character. Speaking following publication, Alan discussed what drew him to the study and how it feeds back into the Military History course at BGU: “Having been brought up watching films of British POWs in Germany and the Far East, the captivity of hundreds of thousands of German POWs in Britain instantly interested me when I was told of them having worked on the land collecting in the harvest. If asked about the fate of POWs during WWII, I think most people would immediately think of Steve McQueen attempting to jump the barbed-wire fence on his Triumph motorcycle in The Great Escape and Alex Guinness collapsing on the plunger at the end of The Bridge on the River Kwai. Certainly, I was very surprised when I first learned of the German military cemetery in Cannock Chase and that German POWs were held at a camp just down the road from my parents’ house in Staffordshire during the war. Hopefully the book will help shed further light on this marginalised episode in British memory of the conflict. Given the prominence of Colditz Castle and the Great Escapers in our popular understanding of the Second World War, I wanted to investigate the debates, concerns, and memories the British had concerning the enemy prisoners who were held across the UK in wartime and post-war Britain”. “Prisoners of war might be ‘out of the fight’ when captured, nevertheless their experiences and roles, especially as workers for their captors, are important to consider when studying war and warfare. The history of POWs is as long as that of warfare itself and the codification of international laws to help protect them from abuse is intricately bound up with the development of ethical thought towards conflict. While combat and the ‘face of battle’ are central elements in the study of warfare, our BA (Hons) Military History Course also emphasises the wider social, ethical, and cultural impacts of war and its aftermath”. The BA (Hons) Military History degree course at BGU explores the county’s rich aviation and military heritage, from the medieval period through to the present day, alongside a global coverage of the history of war and its broader impact. If you are interested in joining these discussions, visit our website or contact our Enquiries Team for more information. You can also connect directly with our Military History team on Twitter -
Over £420k invested in local archaeological research
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) has received a grant of more than £427,000 from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) to invest in the university’s archaeology department. The award was confirmed in a ministerial announcement by Science and Technology Secretary Chloe Smith. The grant is awarded to institutions that seek to upgrade facilities and enhance their capacity to contribute to the UK’s creative and cultural research economy. BGU has used the grant to refurbish teaching rooms and the archaeology laboratory on campus. The university’s Old School House will now host the new open access Lincolnshire Culture Heritage Research (LCHR) Hub. The funding has also enabled the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment to enhance the research capabilities of the department, including a 3D laser scanner and a drone fitted with a LIDAR sensor, which can produce high-resolution maps and 3D models of landscapes and historical buildings. Other new equipment such as a magnetometer and a ground penetrating radar allow archaeologists to “see” into the ground and identify what lies beneath without having to excavate. The equipment will be used at the university's upcoming archaeology field school, which will see excavation of the Haw Hill area of Swanpool in Lincoln, where significant archaeological findings are expected. Dr Derwin Gregory, Archaeology Programme Leader at BGU said: "The AHRC grant has allowed us to significantly enhance our facilities and research capabilities, enabling us to provide our students with a first-class learning experience. “The equipment purchased through this funding will also benefit the wider community of archaeology and history groups, who are encouraged to contact the department and arrange use of this sophisticated equipment for their own projects." The AHRC is the UK's largest funder of research and postgraduate training in the arts and humanities. As part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), it provides funding and support to institutions in the UK. The funding programmes are designed to support research across the full range of arts and humanities subjects. UKRI is investing £103 million to expand and upgrade the UK’s world class research infrastructure, including digital infrastructure. The investments will support the sector and ensure UK researchers have access to the best labs and equipment they need to keep producing world-class science. UKRI International Champion, Professor Christopher Smith, said: “The investments, made across the UK, will provide UK researchers with advanced equipment, facilities and technology, and help maintain the UK’s position as a leader in research and innovation. “This support will ensure the UK is an attractive place for scientists, researchers and entrepreneurs to live, work and innovate.” A full catalogue of equipment available to use can be found here. Dr Derwin Gregory with the Trimble R12 -
Programme Leader of Archaeology and Military History explores the impact of the countryside on armed forces personnel during WW2
In December 2024, Derwin Gregory, had his article accepted into the journal entitled Landscapes. -
Bishop Grosseteste University to Lincoln Bishop University: An exciting new chapter in our proud history
We are pleased to announce that our proposal to change our name to Lincoln Bishop University has been formally approved by the Office for Studies (OfS).
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