HISTORY COURSES
Welcome to our History section! We offer a wide range of classes for you to explore and learn from. Take a look at our selection and find the perfect fit for your interests and schedule.
We can't wait to see you in class!
FOUR BATTLES THAT SHAPED BRITAIN.
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Join Dr.Mark Barnard when we discover Four battles that shaped Britan
Most people have heard of Hastings. But there are a number of other battles that are equally deserving of our attention. What is sometimes forgotten is that not only did they often shape Britain, but they also often left lasting legacies whose events and key characters deserve re-appraisal. The battle of Neville’s Cross in 1346 was a more significant moment in British and European history than its low historical profile would suggest. How did it for instance affect the Hundred Years’ War & Anglo-Scots relations?
On the 22nd of August 1513, Henry VIII’s brother-in-law, James IV of Scotland, crossed the Tweed with the largest army ever to invade England. But why was Scotland’s beloved ‘Renaissance King’, James IV, not taken captive and what are the other controversies of the ‘Battle of Flodden Field?’
Just outside Nottingham Castle in 1642, King Charles I of England raised the Royal Standard, signifying the start of the English Civil war. What happened at the first battle of this conflict, Edgehill?
In 1745, Charles Edward Stuart – AKA The Young Pretender – came close to taking the throne during the most successful Jacobite rebellion to date. But why did he lose the last major battle on British soil, Culloden?
Join Dr Barnard to see how these conflicts determined the course of history…
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Nottinghamshire has a rich heritage of historic villages and diverse landscapes. Arthur Mee, in his book on Nottinghamshire in the King’s England series, wrote that “scores of villages must be seen by those who know how captivating the county can be.”
This course offers an introduction to local village landscapes, using maps, documents, photographs and evidence from the landscape itself to piece together how villages evolved — and how their character has been shaped by agriculture, industry, religion, architectural styles and the country gentry.
Along the way, you’ll uncover surprising stories, including links between Ralph Cromwell, Lord Treasurer of England, and the village of Lambley; how children were transported from London in the 18th century to work in a worsted mill in Norton Cuckney; and how coal mining transformed
once-rural communities.
The Motion Picture Production Code was Hollywood’s system of
self-censorship, enforced from 1934 to curb violence, sexual imagery and “indecent” dialogue.
This course explores its origins in early American cinema, when growing public pressure led studios to adopt a national set of rules.
Real power arrived in 1934 with the creation of an approval office led by Joseph Breen, overseen by Will Hays.
We’ll look at the boundary-pushing “pre-code” era, the changes that followed enforcement, and amusing examples of scenes the censors tried to ban — from revealing musical numbers to increasingly graphic violence.
Finally, we’ll ask whether the Code was a restriction… or a surprising force for creativity during one of Hollywood’s greatest periods.
Carmen is today one of the most popular operas in the repertoire but when it was first performed it was panned by the critics and hated by the audience who watched it at the Opera Comique theatre in 1875. Bizet thought he had written something that people would love - and indeed he had, but he died not long after that first performance and the critics then hypocritically “changed their minds” and decided to praise his work to the rafters. The main reason the opera was not accepted by the public was that they thought the story was immoral - the upper middle-class Parisians who regularly attended the opera expected something suitable for a family audience, and as far as they were concerned Carmen just wasn’t it. It had a heroine who apparently completely lacked morality and the final Act descended into bloody violence, when most people expected a tuneful and colourful chorus to bring the opera to satisfying conclusions. We’ll look at the bourgeoisie as a class in Paris and how their tastes became paramount after the French Revolution, when Napoleon encouraged them to take the place of the aristocracy, which had traditionally dominated opera audiences. We will also look at the bloodshed that brought Paris Commune to an end and how that affected the mood in Paris when Carmen was first performed just four years later. It will also have musical extracts in the course.
The Olympic, Britannic & Titanic – and the White Star Line
Discover the fascinating story of the three great sister ships
RMS Olympic, RMS Titanic and HMHS Britannic
and the company that built them, the White Star Line.
From Edwardian luxury and cutting-edge engineering to tragedy and wartime service, this illustrated talk looks beyond Titanic’s famous sinking to explore Olympic’s long career and Britannic’s lesser-known fate. We’ll also examine life on board, rivalry between shipping lines, and how global events shaped these remarkable vessels.
A compelling journey through ambition, innovation and loss an absorbing glimpse into one of Britain’s most iconic maritime stories.
From Nuremberg to Nemesis
This course explores the aftermath of the Second World War and the pursuit of justice for Nazi war crimes. Beginning with the Nuremberg Trials, we examine how leading figures of the Third Reich were brought to account and how these landmark proceedings helped establish modern principles of international law.
We then follow the story through to Operation Nemesis, the covert campaign to track down and punish those who escaped justice. Along the way, we’ll consider questions of morality, revenge and accountability, and reflect on how societies seek closure after unimaginable atrocities.
Forever overshadowed by his heroic brother, Richard the Lionheart, the so-called “diabolical” King John of England has gone down in history as England’s worst monarch — weak, cruel, and ultimately responsible for the humiliation of Magna Carta.
But was John truly a villain… or has he been unfairly condemned by centuries of hostile propaganda?
In this compelling reassessment, Mark Barnard explores King John’s turbulent reign, uncovering his often-overlooked connections to Nottingham and Newark-on-Trent. From political intrigue and rebellion to power struggles and personal failings, this talk digs beneath the legend to reveal a far more complex ruler.
Join Dr Mark as he challenges the traditional narrative and asks whether King John deserves his dark reputation — or whether history has been too harsh.
Day Talks and Courses
William Herbert Higginbottom – Nottingham’s Unknown Architect of Public Buildings
Discover the overlooked story of William Herbert Higginbottom, a little-known Nottingham architect whose work helped shape the city’s public landscape in the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. Although rarely credited today, Higginbottom played a significant role in designing and influencing buildings used for civic, social and community life.
This illustrated talk explores his career, surviving buildings, and the wider architectural context of a rapidly changing Nottingham. Through photographs, plans and local history, we uncover how his quiet legacy still forms part of the city we walk through every day.
A fascinating insight into Nottingham’s built heritage
and one of its forgotten designers.
Castles of the Midlands
Across years of war and struggles, castles have been built, defended and destroyed. Some have been lost, discernible only by ridges left on the land. But many remain and are full of stories. Perhaps some of us for instance have visited Nottingham or Newark Castles? But why exactly were they built and who played a formative role in their stories? What truth lies behind the myths and legends? How did Nottingham - a favourite of King John’s and Dudley castles feature in national events? From Nottingham to Peveril
Join Dr Mark Barnard to hear their role in this fascinating part of our history...
Most of us have heard of the Vikings — raiders who swept across Britain in longships, striking fear into monasteries and kingdoms alike. But did they really wear horned helmets, and were they truly “savage beyond reason”? What exactly was the infamous Blood Eagle? And beyond the legends, what did these warriors, traders and settlers actually look like — and how did they change the communities they encountered?
In this fascinating reassessment, Mark Barnard separates myth from reality, exploring how the Vikings have been portrayed over the centuries and why their reputation became so fearsome. We’ll examine the evidence behind their raids, their beliefs and culture, and their lasting impact on England — from language and law to place names and power structures.
Far from being one-dimensional barbarians, the Vikings were complex and adaptable people whose legacy still shapes the world around us. Join Mark to uncover the truth behind the legend and discover the real story of these remarkable seafarers.
18th Century Nottingham
Part Two: Weather, Battles & Rebellions
The 18th century was a time of upheaval for Nottingham, shaped not only by national conflict but also by the forces of nature and local unrest. Periods of extreme weather brought hardship, affecting harvests, trade and everyday life, while wars and political tensions created uncertainty both at home and abroad.
This session explores how these pressures sparked protest and rebellion, revealing how ordinary people responded to rising prices, economic strain and shifting political loyalties. By examining local events alongside the wider national picture, we’ll see how climate, conflict and popular resistance combined to leave a lasting mark on Nottingham’s development.
Pygmalion (1914) is perhaps Bernard Shaw’s best known play. This is largely because the great musical My Fair Lady, with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Lowe (1956) is based on the original play and the screenplay Shaw wrote for the 1938 film which starred Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller. Interestingly, the musical transforms the meaning of the original play into something which subverts Shaw’s radical vision. ( This is not to diminish the genius of the musical which is a masterpiece.) But it does beg the question why and how this is the case.
We will be looking at the play and it’s original production (a story in itself!), the pre war film and how Lerner and Lowe came to write a musical which, given the nature of Shaw’s play, many thought was impossible.
This story is fascinating and very entertaining. Whether you like musicals ( or indeed Bernard Shaw) or not this is a course for you.
Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it.” — Albert Einstein