Books published by University of Hertfordshire Press

This book focuses on the period from the seventh to eleventh centuries that witnessed the rise and fall of Mercia, the great Midland kingdom, and, later, the formation of England. Specifically, it explores the relationship between the bishops of Lichfield and the multiple communities of their diocese. Andrew Sargent tackles the challenge posed by the evidential 'hole' at the heart of Mercia by synthesising different kinds of evidence - archaeological, textual, topographical and toponymical - to reconstruct the landscapes inhabited by these communities, which intersected at cathedrals and minsters and other less formal meeting-places. Most such communities were engaged in the construction of hierarchies, and Sargent assigns spiritual lordship a dominant role in this. Tracing the interconnections of these communities, he focuses on the development of the Church of Lichfield, an extensive episcopal community situated within a dynamic mesh of institutions and groups within and beyond the diocese, from the royal court to the smallest township. The regional elite combined spiritual and secular forms of lordship to advance and entrench their mutual interests, and the entanglement of royal and episcopal governance is one of the key focuses of Andrew Sargent's outstanding new research. How the bishops shaped and promoted spiritual discourse to establish their own authority within society is key. This is traced through the meagre textual sources, which hint at the bishops' involvement in the wider flow of ecclesiastical politics in Britain, and through the archaeological and landscape evidence for churches and minsters held not only by bishops, but also by kings and aristocrats within the diocese. Saints' cults offer a particularly effective medium through which to study these developments: St Chad, the Mercian bishop who established the see at Lichfield, became an influential spiritual patron for subsequent bishops of the diocese, but other lesser known saints also focused c

The essays in this Festschrift are offered as a token of esteem and affection by colleagues, friends and students of David Dymond. They consist of new research on aspects of local history from the medieval period to the twentieth century, with a particular focus on Eastern England.

Letchworth Settlement, an independent adult education centre, is one of the treasures of the world's first garden city. In this lively history, former Hertfordshire County Archivist Kate Thompson looks at the wider context in which the organisation flourished, as well as notable members of staff and key events in its century of sharing knowledge.

In spite of being named the first 'Garden City', Letchworth was conceived as a model industrial town built on enterprise and employment. This richly illustrated account looks at the town's foundation in the early 1900s and the energetic organisation and administration that enabled it to flourish quickly and successfully.

A catalogue of the work of contemporary sculptor Jill Townsley

The essays in this Festschrift are offered as a token of esteem and affection by colleagues, friends and students of David Dymond. They consist of new research on aspects of local history from the medieval period to the twentieth century, with a particular focus on Eastern England.

Dr Thomas Plume, born in Maldon in Essex in 1630, is remembered today for the many bequests he left which established important scientific, religious and cultural charities. This volume provides the first comprehensive account of the life, work and philanthropy of Plume.

Together, the eastern counties of Hertfordshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, Bedfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk have a tradition of fruit cultivation comparable in scale to that of the better-known west of England. For the first time the fascinating history of orchards in the east is revealed.

David Hey was one of the leading local historians of our age and the author of a number of highly regarded books on the practice of local history. In this collection of essays in David's memory, the contributors celebrate his commitment to the landscape, economy and society of south Yorkshire and Derbyshire, which together make up 'Hey country'.

David Hey was one of the leading local historians of our age and the author of a number of highly regarded books on the practice of local history. In this collection of essays in David's memory, the contributors celebrate his commitment to the landscape, economy and society of south Yorkshire and Derbyshire, which together make up 'Hey country'.

Kathe Buchler (1876-1930) was a pioneering woman photographer whose exceptional photographs offer very personal insights into Germany during World War One, with a particular focus on the home front and the lives of women and children. This catalogue, marking the exhibition Beyond the Battlefields, contains a wide selection of Buchler's work.

This book is the first attempt to write a history of the workhouse and the ancillary welfare provision for Birmingham, frequently referred to as the `Old Poor Law'. It reveals some surprising facts which fly in the face of the scholarly consensus that the old system was incompetently administered and inadequately organised.

This book investigates what a case study of a northern market town and its rural hinterland can tell us about village differentiation, exploring how and why rural communities developed in what was chiefly an industrial region and, notably, how the relationship between town and country influenced rural communities.

At the cutting edge of 'the new social and demographic history', this book provides a detailed picture of the most comprehensive system of poor relief operated by any Elizabethan town.

This is a history of the University of Hertfordshire, relating the challenges and achievements of sixty years in further and higher education. At the same time, through its focus on a single institution, the book illustrates the importance of the post-1992 higher education sector in advancing the knowledge economy and cultural life of the country.

An in-depth study of the changing patterns and fortunes of the provisioning of Norwich Cathedral Priory, c.1260 to 1536. The study of the food supply of late-medieval conventual households sheds much light on the wider process of decline and eventual collapse of direct demesne management and feudalism in the post-Black Death era.

Drawing on contemporary reports and illustrations, Eileen Wallace focuses on the lives of working children in nineteenth-century Hertfordshire employed in agriculture, straw-plaiting, silk-throwing, paper and brickmaking and as chimney sweeps.

This book seeks to explore the changing nature of English society through a case study of countryside and town in southern England during the period from c.1380 to c.1520.

Tells the story of the Oxford Playhouse. This work traces the history of this theater back to its earliest roots in a production of Agamemnon in 1880 which led to the founding of the Oxford University Dramatic Society, the rebuilding of Oxford's New Theater and, eventually, the launch of the Playhouse itself.

Explores the gap between an individual's perception of their identity and the perceptions of others. This monograph uses video, painting and photography, and places stereotypes alongside the subject of those stereotypes, to examine issues of identity, racism and belonging. It presents a multi-faceted view of the individuals concerned.

Presents a comparative study of regional theatre in Britain and Germany during the period of 1918 to 1945. Taking Yorkshire and Westphalia as his two representative regions, this book details the history of theatre in York, Hull, Sheffield, Bradford and Leeds as well as in Munster, Dortmund, Hagen, Bielefeld and Bochum.

An Exhibition catalogue for "The Wishing Ceremony" by Sally Sheinman at the Art and Design Gallery, University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, September 2005.

Presents a re-working of Shakespeare's "Hamlet" set in the Middle East. The setting of this version of the "Hamlet" story is a modern Middle-Eastern state whose old king has just died, to be replaced by his brother, a ruthless, westernised dictator who has married the old king's wife to legitimise his rule, and calls his regime a "new democracy".

Aims to help mentors in schools support trainee teachers more effectively. This book presents 34 scenarios based on real-life teacher-trainee issues. It is linked to the Mentor Levels of the Training and Development Agency, the General Teaching Council Core Dimensions, and the Qualified Teacher Status Standards.

This practical and comprehensive guide provides an introduction for family historians to trace their ancestors in Hertfordshire. It is thematic in approach, the chapters incorporating related material on subjects as broad as military ancestors and the poor and the sick.