On History

News, articles & research from the
Institute of Historical Research

Latest posts

The National vs. The Local, Amenity vs. Employment and Housing: The Case of the ‘Sunderland’ Seaplane Assembly Factory, Calgarth, Windermere, the Lake District

The National vs. The Local, Amenity vs. Employment and Housing: The Case of the ‘Sunderland’ Seaplane Assembly Factory, Calgarth, Windermere, the Lake District

When the decision was taken by the Ministry of Aircraft Production to site a ‘Sunderland’ seaplane assembly factory and accompanying workers’ accommodation on requisitioned farm land at Calgarth on the shores of Lake Windermere in late 1941 in support of Britain’s war...

Spotlight

Features & Articles

A Fanfare for Garden History

A Fanfare for Garden History

This blog post was written by Pippa Potts is a co-convenor of the History of Gardens and Landscapes Seminar. The idea had surfaced occasionally but, as so often, it took a nudge from elsewhere to make it a reality. The idea was that the excellent papers being given to...

Pre-Raphaelite Outsider: James Smetham (1821-1889)

Pre-Raphaelite Outsider: James Smetham (1821-1889)

Since 2019 a team of archivists, creative practitioners, curators, and researchers have been exploring the life and work of the little-known artist and devout Methodist James Smetham. In this blog post, Dr Ruth Slatter (IHR Lecturer in Historic Environment and...

IHR Summer Reading Series

IHR Summer Reading Series

Volume 6 During the month of August we will be sharing summer reading lists, experiences, and suggestions from the IHR community. If you’d like to share your own, please Tweet (X) us @ihr_history. In this blog, we hear from IHR Fellows. Philippa Joseph Although most...

IHR Summer Reading Series

IHR Summer Reading Series

Volume 5 During the month of August we will be sharing summer reading lists, experiences, and suggestions from the IHR community. If you'd like to share your own, please Tweet (X) us @ihr_history. In this blog, we hear from Neil Stewart, Head of the IHR Library. Willa...

Publications News

Becoming a Historian: Further Thoughts

Becoming a Historian: Further Thoughts

This blog post was written by Tim Hitchcock and Penelope J. Corfield, authors of Becoming a Historian: An Informal Guide. In it they respond to questions from IHR students and Early Career Fellows. Recently, we published our ‘informal guide’ to Becoming a...

The Victoria County History at 125: Now and the Future

The Victoria County History at 125: Now and the Future

2024 marks 125 years of the Victoria County History (VCH). In this second VCH at 125 blog post, Ruth Slatter (VCH General Editor – Architecture) sets out our ambitions for the project’s future. If you have not read the first post you can find it here. 2024 marks 125...

The Victoria County History at 125: Now and the Future 

The Victoria County History at 125: Now and the Future 

2024 marks 125 years of the Victoria County History (VCH). In two VCH at 125 blog posts, Ruth Slatter (VCH General Editor – Architecture) takes stock of where the VCH is and reflects on how it can continue to flourish and evolve in the future. In this first blog post,...

Research & Resources News

Bibliography of British and Irish History June 2024 update 

Bibliography of British and Irish History June 2024 update 

What’s new in BBIH?   The June 2024 update to the Bibliography of British and Irish History adds 4,305 new publications. The new update includes books, journal articles, book chapters, and edited collections covering all areas of British and Irish history, from...