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Students discover early history of BGU
History students from Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) in Lincoln have delved into archives of student magazines to uncover BGU’s roots as a training college. The project, led by lecturer in History Dr W. Jack Rhoden, saw a group of four BGU History students work with BGU archivist Guenever Moyes to digitise and record a run of student magazines from the late 19th and early 20th century. The magazines were written and self-published twice a year by the female students of Lincoln Diocesan Training College (the college was renamed Bishop Grosseteste College in 1962 to mark its centenary) and contain a wealth of insights and information about life at the College. The first edition is from 1895 and there are contributions from former students and discussions of College history going all the way back to its foundation in 1862. We learn from these magazines that there was already an association of past members set up in 1892. The team also discovered that in its first 30 years the College produced nearly 700 students who went on to practice their profession and settle all around the globe, from North America to Australia, India and southern Africa. There is a plan to use these student magazines to inform a temporary exhibition at the British Association of Victorian Studies (BAVS) conference in mid-August 2017, and a more permanent exhibition of College history on campus in the near future. The aim of which will be to inform current and future students of the rich history of BGU as an educational institution with global reach and impact. Dr W. Jack Rhoden said, "Preserving and working on these magnificent magazines is a real privilege. They provide a window into the lives of the many ordinary women who went on to achieve extraordinary things as teachers and missionaries across the world." The project is in its early stages and is just the first of many seeking to digitise and promote the exceptional College records contained in BGU archives. Found out more about History at BGU. -
New research exploring Lincoln’s burial grounds set to launch
The Survey of Lincoln is set to unveil its latest literary endeavour on Saturday 2nd December, with the launch of new book: ‘Lincoln's Burial Grounds: Commemorating the City's Dead.’ The book is edited by local historian Dr Andrew Walker and features contributions from various members of the Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) academic community. Andrew Priestley, a current third-year student pursuing a BA (Hons) in Military History at BGU, contributed a chapter named ‘Memorials to the fallen in Eastgate Cemetery: a survey of the different ways soldiers, sailors, and airmen are commemorated in a small urban cemetery’. Andrew’s research efforts focus on finding military graves in civilian graveyards and identifying the reasons behind their placement. Andrew said: “The research process for my chapter in ‘Lincoln’s Burial Grounds’ was an exciting opportunity to discover some real insights into the memorialisation of war dead within smaller, civilian sites in Lincoln. “I hope my contribution highlights the diverse stories of local soldiers.” Programme Leader for Archaeology and Heritage, Dr. Derwin Gregory’s research ‘Lincoln's Emergency Mortuary During the Second World War’ uses conflict archaeology to examine a crucial aspect of the city's wartime history. The opening chapter ‘Archaeology and Lincoln's Early Cemeteries’ is authored by Dr. Mick Jones, Visiting Reader in Archaeology. Dr. Hazel Kent’s chapter ‘Remembering Lincoln's Civilian War Dead (1939-1945): Memorials and Graves’ focuses on those who lost their lives in Lincoln during World War II, whether as a result of enemy action, military accidents, or civil defense duties. Dr. Kent said: "Participating in this research has been enlightening. It underscores the value of diverse academic perspectives from various backgrounds in bringing our local history to life. “It's great to have so many members of BGU involved in the new research and we’re excited to share our findings with the community.” The official book launch is scheduled for Saturday 2nd December at St Hugh's Church Hall, Monks Road and is open to the public. Doors will open at 9.30 am, with short talks about selected chapters beginning at 10 am. Attendees can enjoy tea, coffee, and biscuits, and copies of the book, as well as previous volumes, will be available for purchase. -
BGU support archaeology project to explore military history
Bishop Grosseteste University together with Wings to the Past, are delivering a project at RAF Cosford from November 2021 to June 2022. The title for this project is ‘RAF Cosford - A Story of Resilience’ and will run over eight months offering serving personnel time to learn something new and spend time with their loved ones. The Cosford project will involve using archaeological techniques to research, survey and record some of the most fragile historical buildings on the site. A second aspect of the project will be to research the lesser-known history and heritage of RAF Cosford. The project will focus on stories of resilience, such as the prisoners of war that were repatriated through Fulton Block. Research the community hospital, and record how some of the wooden huts were at the heart of the community in the 1930s. At the start of the project participants will also be able to join a series of online lectures given by Dr Derwin Gregory from Bishop Grosseteste University. Dr Derwin Gregory, Programme Leader for Archaeology and Heritage at BGU said: “Wings to the Past not only helps to uncover some of the rich history found within RAF sites, but offers the opportunity for military personnel and their dependants to take part in archaeological fieldwork to help discover more about the community they are part of while enjoying family time together." -
BGU Military History student completes work placement with GCHQ Departmental Historian and produces research article
The second-year work placement module is an important component of all the history degrees delivered at Bishop Grosseteste University. Students have the opportunity to experience a work-based placement or undertake a career-focused research project, where they gain hands-on experience and put their skills into practice. A Military History student undertook a work placement with the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) Departmental historian as part of his degree. You can learn more about the skills and experience he gained from the work placement below. “For my work placement, my tutor found me a special project in my area of interest, signals intelligence, working with Dr David Abrutat, historian for GCHQ. The project focused on local history at a former RAF intercept station, Branston Mere in Lincolnshire, but it also included the wider role these Y stations played in the history of signals intelligence. The research drew on several sources, including individuals’ accounts and photographs held by the Branston history group, documents held in the National Archives, and by the RAF and International Bomber Command Centre Digital Archive, as well as the knowledge and research to date held by my tutor, Dr Claire Hubbard-Hall. Piecing together the evidence highlighted the significance of the site and the wider signals intelligence contribution both in detecting the emergence of re-armament in Germany after the First World War, and in supporting the code-breaking work carried out at Bletchley Park during the Second World War. The placement was a great opportunity for me to explore and collate new information that contributes to our understanding of the complexity, inter-dependencies, and importance of signals intelligence operations, from its inception at the start of the twentieth century through to the Cold War era” - BGU Military History Student Speaking about the experience Dr David Abrutat FRHistS FRGS, GCHQ Departmental Historian added: ‘Collaboration projects, like this one with BGU, are important to me and my Department. Our rich history is as broad as it is deep and many of the Second World War collection sites have little in the way of researched history. This piece by a BGU Military History student has brought one of the most significant RAF SIGINT sites in the country to life.’ You can read their published article below. Research Article If you are interested in studying Military History at Bishop Grosseteste University please click here. You can find out more about the range of history courses on offer at one of our forthcoming open days. You can follow the activities of the Military History team on Twitter @BGUMilitaryHist. -
Black History Month 2024 at BGU!
A summary of BGU's Black History Month, hosted across campus this October. -
BGU launches exciting new undergraduate course in Military History
Bishop Grosseteste University is excited to announce the launch of a new BA (Hons) Military History degree. -
New exhibition sheds light on Lincoln life
A new exhibition will see downhill Lincoln's history brought to life at the city’s historical Guildhall building. The project was created by second-year Archaeology and History students from local Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU). The temporary exhibition offers free admission and will be hosted at the Guildhall and Stonebow from Wednesday 29th March to Monday 17th April 2023. Visitors will be taken on a journey through the history of Downhill Lincoln from Prehistory to Present Day. According to one BGU student, it was refreshing to research an aspect of Lincoln’s history that is often overlooked. Milly Jennett said: "A lot of conversations about the history of Lincoln revolve around the cathedral quarter, so it's been fun getting to explore downhill and shedding some light on an area that isn't always talked about." A variety of archival documentary sources, archaeological sites, and artifacts form the basis of the exhibition’s research. The installation showcases the students’ findings, allowing visitors to learn more about Lincoln's fascinating past while visiting one of the city's most interesting historical buildings. Dr Derwin Gregory, Programme Leader for Archaeology and Heritage at BGU said: "The creation of the exhibition has been an exciting opportunity for our students to not only undertake research into downhill Lincoln, but to design and create their own exhibition." Student Shannon O'Neill also found the experience enlightening. She said: “Each student has covered a different period in Lincoln’s history, and it's been interesting coming together and seeing how all the different time periods slot together to form this bigger timeline of events that we're showcasing in the exhibition.” Visitors can find opening times and more information at VisitLincoln. -
BGU Students visit the National Civil War Centre
Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) Archaeology, History, and Military History students recently embarked on a trip to the National Civil War Centre. Located in the heart of Newark, the centre features interactive exhibits, immersive displays, and a vast collection of historical artefacts. Visitors can learn about the causes of the conflict, the key events and battles, and the impact the war had on society and culture. During the trip, the ten students had the opportunity to handle various artefacts and objects from the British Civil War, which provided them with a hands-on learning experience outside of the classroom. The fully-funded trip is part of the subject provision that Foundation Year students receive, and it serves as a highlight for them to celebrate completing Semester one. Dr Erik Grigg led the excursion and - having spent a decade working in heritage - recognises the value of the hands-on learning that museums can provide. He said: "Trips like these are incredibly valuable for students as they provide an opportunity to get out of the classroom and engage with history in a more immersive and tangible way. "The National Civil War Centre is a fantastic resource, and being able to handle artefacts and learn from knowledgeable guides brings the subject to life in a way that traditional study might not." -
Black History Poem – by Dr Sheine Peart
We're delighted to share a poem written by Dr. Sheine Peart, which was recited at the recent Afrocentric Fashion Show in celebration of Black History Month 2024 -
A Raucous Evening of Living History at BGU
Following the success of the sell-out ‘Sex and the Tudors’ event, the world renowned Lesley Smith (curator of Tutbury Castle) returns to The Venue at Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) on Thursday 12 April to bring another of history’s risqué characters to life; the always indomitable and often scandalous Nell Gwynne. For many people all Nell Gwynne is known for is being the mistress of Charles II (as well as a successful orange seller). Lesley’s show aims to shed a new light on the real Nell Gwynne, a courageous victory for English womanhood who prevailed against all the odds to become a star of the London stage and beloved of the King of England. ‘An Evening with Mistress Nell Gwynne’ will not only give you the chance to meet the pretty, witty Nell in fantastic costume but also to laugh and cry with her as she shares her fascinating and titillating life with you. The evening will start at 7.30pm with tickets at £7.50. For further information contact Daisy Wedge on 01522 585635 or email events@bishopg.ac.uk. This event is strictly for over 16’s only as any who know something of Nell Gwynne’s history will understand! To book tickets please click here. All funds raised at this event will go to the BGU Foundation Fund – enhancing the student experience and making a difference to other people’s lives.
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