15/08/2016 - Permalink

Free University Centre Shrewsbury event to explore Shropshire’s military heritage

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Shropshire’s unique military heritage will be in the spotlight when a range of historians and archaeologists join forces for a free event at University Centre Shrewsbury (UCS).

People are invited to the Fortress Salopia Symposium at Guildhall, UCS’s learning and research base, on Saturday October 15, 2016.

A series of talks will be presented between 9.45am and 5pm, exploring the military history of Shropshire from the prehistoric period to the 20th century, with close examination of the historic environment and landscape.

The programme includes a keynote address by Professor Peter Gaunt from the University of Chester (UoC), and lectures by:

  • Dr Roger White from the University of Birmingham on ‘Shock and Awe: The Roman Army in Shropshire in the First Century AD’
  • Independent Historian, Dr Jonathan Worton on ‘The Garrisons of Shropshire in the Civil War, 1642-1646’
  • Dr Michael Fradley from the University of Oxford on ‘Survey and Re-evaluation at Caus Castle’
  • Dr Andy Wigley from Shropshire Council’s Historic Environment Team on ‘Later Prehistoric Hillforts in Shropshire’
  • Hugh Hannaford, Senior Archaeologist at Shropshire Council on ‘Motte and Bailey Castles in the Shropshire Marches’
  • Dr Rachael Abbiss from UCS and the UoC on ‘The Impact of War: Shropshire during the Georgian Period, 1714-1830’
  • Professor Tim Jenkins from UCS and the UoC on ‘Leave Your Home Behind You, Lad – 20th Century Military Presence in Shropshire’
  • Kay Smith and Ruth Brown from Shrewsbury Museum on ‘Arms and Armour in Shropshire Museums’
  • Dr James Pardoe from UCS and the UoC on ‘Representing Military Histories and Warfare within the Shropshire Regimental Museum’

Prof Jenkins said:

“Shropshire has a unique military legacy. The county contains more prehistoric hillforts and motte and bailey castles than any other in England – a far cry from the rural landscape we know today.

“But its association with warfare does not stop there and the Symposium will examine Shropshire’s links with conflict right up to the 20th century when the county was covered with airfields and military installations. We look forward to welcoming you to UCS for what promises to be a fascinating event.”

Helion & Company, in partnership with UCS, will publish an edited edition of the Symposium papers after the event.

To book places, email communications@ucshrewsbury.ac.uk or call 01743 297185.

Alternatively, people can visit the information point at Guildhall in Frankwell Quay (SY3 8HQ) which is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and from 9am to 4pm on Fridays.

The Symposium is part of a series of events at UCS covering a selection of subjects. Many of the events are free, they are open to everyone and the programme is growing all the time. For further details on UCS events go to: www.ucshrewsbury.ac.uk/public-events.