Best known as the writer of some of the finest ghost stories ever published, M.R. James was also the foremost medieval scholar of his day and had a strong academic and personal interest in East Anglia’s landscape and history. This lecture for the Southwold Historical Society examines James’ East Anglian connections, from his childhood in Suffolk to his involvement with excavations at St Edmund’s abbey in Bury, and looks at the influence which the region had on the development of his ghost stories. More details can be found here.

Monasteries were one of the most important and influential features of the medieval landscape. This lecture for the South Elmham Local History Group examines the monastic landscapes of Britain throughout the Anglo-Saxon and medieval periods. Using examples from within East Anglia and from further afield, the history of monasticism in Britain, the development of the monastic cloister and precinct, and the management of monastic estates are explored. More details can be found here.

This lecture for the The Hethersett Society examines the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity, one of the most significant cultural changes in our nation’s history and it changed the Anglo-Saxon landscape forever. This lecture uses documentary sources and artefacts, cemeteries, settlements and early churches from the region’s rich archaeological record to present an overview of the adoption of Christianity in seventh-century East Anglia.

This lecture for the Aldeburgh and District Local History Society examines a series of watercolours Joseph Mallord William Turner made of sites along the East Anglian coast in the 1820s, including views of Orford, Aldeburgh, Dunwich, Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth and Happisburgh. As well as being beautiful paintings in their own right, these images tell us a great deal about the dynamic coastal landscape and illustrate the changing artistic fashions of the early 19th century. More details can be found here.

Best known as the writer of some of the finest ghost stories ever published, M.R. James was also the foremost medieval scholar of his day and had a strong academic and personal interest in East Anglia’s landscape and history. This dayschool for Wuffing Education examines James’ East Anglian connections, from his childhood in Suffolk to his involvement with excavations at St Edmund’s abbey in Bury, and looks at the influence which the region had on the development of his ghost stories. Further details can be found on the Wuffing Education website.

The year 2020 marks the Millenium of the foundation of the Abbey of St Edmund, a place of international pilgrimage and a seat of immense power and wealth throughout the middle ages. This major public event will take place within the ancient precincts of the abbey, in the nave of St Edmundsbury Cathedral. It will reveal the exciting results of recent research into the abbey by Richard Hoggett Heritage and Purcell UK and provide an open forum to consider the future of this treasured yet vulnerable site.

For more information and to book tickets click here.

Best known as the writer of some of the finest ghost stories ever published, M.R. James was also the foremost medieval scholar of his day and had a strong academic and personal interest in East Anglia’s landscape and history. This lecture for the Friends of Orford Museum examines James’ East Anglian connections, from his childhood in Suffolk to his involvement with excavations at St Edmund’s abbey in Bury, and looks at the influence which the region had on the development of his ghost stories.

Best known as the writer of some of the finest ghost stories ever published, M.R. James was also the foremost medieval scholar of his day and had a strong academic and personal interest in East Anglia’s landscape and history. This lecture for the Bury Past and Present Society examines James’ East Anglian connections, from his childhood in Suffolk to his involvement with excavations at St Edmund’s abbey in Bury, and looks at the influence which the region had on the development of his ghost stories. More details can be found here.

Monasteries were one of the most important and influential features of the medieval landscape. This lecture for the North Norfolk U3A Archaeology Group examines the monastic landscapes of Britain throughout the Anglo-Saxon and medieval periods. Using examples from within East Anglia and from further afield, the history of monasticism in Britain, the development of the monastic cloister and precinct, and the management of monastic estates are explored. More details can be found here.

Best known as the writer of some of the finest ghost stories ever published, M.R. James was also the foremost medieval scholar of his day and had a strong academic and personal interest in East Anglia’s landscape and history. This lecture for the Breckland Society examines James’ East Anglian connections, from his childhood in Suffolk to his involvement with excavations at St Edmund’s abbey in Bury, and looks at the influence which the region had on the development of his ghost stories. More details can be found here.