From the 17th-century excavations at Walsingham described in Sir Thomas Browne’s Hydriotaphia to the splendours of the royal ship-burial at Sutton Hoo, this lecture for the North Norfolk U3A Archaeology Group focuses on the contrivances of circumstance and rich cast of historical characters which led to the discovery of the region’s numerous Anglo-Saxon cemeteries.

This lecture for the Southwold Museum & Historical 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.

This lecture for the The Probus Club of Hethersett, Wymondham and District 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 New Buckenham 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.

For many of us the Cold War conjures up a secret world of spies, drop boxes, covert missions and political skulduggery. This lecture for the Beccles U3A explores the archaeological traces of the Cold War which are still to be found in the East Anglian landscape, including airfields, atomic weapons testing plants, listening posts and fall-out shelters. Further details can be found on the Beccles U3A website.

The conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity was one of the most significant cultural changes in our nation’s history and it has shaped our physical and social landscape for the last 1400 years. We have recently seen a number of significant steps forward in our understanding of the origins and development of the early Church in East Anglia and this lecture presents the latest thoughts on the artefacts, sites and documents which shed light on this formative period. Subjects to be covered include the early use of Christian iconography, the high-precision dating of Anglo-Saxon burials, and the recently published Middle Saxon sites at Brandon, Sedgeford and Barber’s Point, as well as the spectacular new discovery of Middle Saxon timber coffins and a possible chapel at Great Ryburgh.

The conversion of the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity was one of the most significant cultural changes in our nation’s history and it has shaped our physical and social landscape for the last 1400 years. We have recently seen a number of significant steps forward in our understanding of the origins and development of the early Church in East Anglia and this lecture presents the latest thoughts on the artefacts, sites and documents which shed light on this formative period. Subjects to be covered include the early use of Christian iconography, the high-precision dating of Anglo-Saxon burials, and the recently published Middle Saxon sites at Brandon, Sedgeford and Barber’s Point, as well as the spectacular new discovery of Middle Saxon timber coffins and a possible chapel at Great Ryburgh.

This lecture for the Suffolk Institute of Archaeology and History 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 can tell us a great deal about the changing landscape and historic buildings which were (and in many cases still are) to be found along this outstanding stretch of coast.

This seminar for the Suffolk Preservation Society explores and explains the relationship between archaeology and the planning process in Suffolk. Suffolk has a rich archaeological heritage, a physical record of our past, with many treasures discovered but much yet to be revealed. Archaeology is a material consideration in the planning process and legislation and policy have evolved to achieve a balance between the rights of the landowner and the potential damage to important historical resources. Therefore it is important for those with an interest in our historic environment to understand the role of archaeology in the planning process.

More details of the morning and how to book your place are available here.

This lecture for the Friends of Thetford Museum 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 can tell us a great deal about the changing landscape and historic buildings which were (and in many cases still are) to be found along this outstanding stretch of coast.