In my last posting, I stated that coastal history already has some characteristic themes, concerns, and subject matter, and promised to offer examples. This may seem an odd claim for a subfield that is so new. The overall thesis behind this blog, though, is that plenty of people are doing coastal history already and don’t […]
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CFP: National Museum of the Royal Navy Research Seminar Programme 2014-2015
The National Museum of the Royal Navy runs a research seminar programme from October to June each academic year. This seminar programme gives new and established scholars the opportunity to present their latest research to a research active and supportive audience. All areas and aspects of naval history, British or foreign, strategic, technological, social or […]
CFP: British Waters and Beyond: The cultural significance of the sea since 1800
The Royal West of England Academy, Bristol, in partnership with Oxford Brookes University and Leeds Metropolitan University are holding a one-day, interdisciplinary symposium on Monday 12th May 2014. They are inviting abstract proposals of 250 words in length for 20 minute papers. Deadline: By December 31st 2013 For more information please see http://www.rwa.org.uk/whats-on/events/2013/10/symposium/
The End of Shipbuilding in Portsmouth
In recent days the news that shipbuilding is to end in Portsmouth has caused a sensation in both the local and national press. Port Towns and Urban Cultures’ Dr Brad Beaven, Reader in History at the University of Portsmouth, was interviewed by ITN’s Rageh Omaar to comment on the historical and cultural significance of shipbuilding […]
The Coastal History Blog 2: “What Makes Coastal History Distinct?” (part 1 of 2)
I’ve been asked for my thoughts on this one: Is coastal history an offshoot of maritime approaches, or a distinct approach in its own right? I’m a little reluctant to answer. It’s early days yet for coastal history, so I’m not sure we know whether it passes muster as “a distinct approach.” A popular […]
‘Painting for Empire’: sailors and ship-board banalities
It is an interesting question whether or not the men who joined the Royal Navy in the late nineteenth century knew of or imagined the time-consuming and monotonous aspects the job entailed. Consideration of sailor diaries reveals that one of the most common, and indeed, disliked tasks aboard ship, was painting the vessel, inside and […]
