Postgraduate researchers' conference

The Society’s first day conference, “LINCOLN: New research on the city, county and ancient diocese, a postgraduate and early-career researchers’ day conference” was held at the University of Lincoln on Saturday, 17th May, 2008, with 10 speakers and 28 delegates in attendance.

The aim of the conference was to bring together researchers working on the many aspects of the history of Lincoln, of Lincolnshire and of the ancient diocese of Lincoln. The day was introduced by Professor Krista Cowman, Professor of History at the University of Lincoln, who spoke briefly on the importance of local history as fundamental to the discipline of History as a whole, and welcomed the delegates.

The papers ranged chronologically from the Anglo-Saxon period to the late twentieth century and included ecclesiastical, social, political and agrarian history. Many of the papers were related to research degrees in progress or recently completed, others to publication projects for the Society, or to other long-standing research projects. The papers, grouped into three sessions roughly by period, were each followed by lively question and answer sessions. The sessions were chaired by Council members Dr Andrew Walker of the University of Lincoln and Dr Julian Haseldine of the University of Hull.

The day was a great success – one delegate said “the conference was really excellent. I was too nervous to bring forward a paper myself, but having now attended my first conference, where I was made to feel very welcome, I would be happy to speak at a future event. The range of topics and periods made the day very interesting and I found the networking opportunities very useful.”

We hope to be able to continue to hold similar conferences and meetings in the future.

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME

9.15 registration, tea and coffee 9.45 introduction: Professor Krista Cowman, Professor of History, University of Lincoln

10 – 12.00 session 1: Medieval Lincolnshire Chair: Julian Haseldine

• Michael Hammond, ‘Origins of the Diocesan Landscape.’
• Janice Musson, ‘The assize of novel disseisin in thirteenth-century Lincolnshire.’
• Jill Redford, ‘The community of Alvingham Priory: evidence from its charters.’

12.45 – 2.45 session 2: Early-modern Lincolnshire Chair: Julian Haseldine

• Brian Hodgkinson, ‘Matthew Mackarell: Pious prelate or cunning opportunist.’
• Mike Stephenson, ‘The fate of the Lincolnshire Gilbertine nuns after the Dissolution.’
• Sheila Stevens, ‘The Brownlows of Belton, 1536-1750.’
• Wendy Atkin, ‘The role of the attorney-at-law in public improvement projects in Lincolnshire, 1750-1830.’

3.15 – 5.15 session 3: Lincolnshire in the modern age Chair: Andrew Walker

• Maryse Tennant, ‘The Young Bill: A study of early policing in a small market town in Lincolnshire, 1838-1856.’
• Shirley Brook, ‘Land improvement loan records for Lincolnshire estates, 1840-1910.’
• Abi Hunt, ’ Women as Producers and Consumers in Lincolnshire: Changing Agricultural Practice and its Effects on Rural Culture during the 1960s and 70s.’