Henry VIII on Tour: Landscape, Communities and Performance
Lead Research Organisation:
Historic Royal Palaces
Department Name: Curators
Abstract
The Tudor period captivates modern audiences. Henry VIII's reign (1509-47) fascinates as much for its architectural magnificence and courtly splendour, its music, masques, tournaments and hunting parties as it does for its political machinations and religious controversies. 2022 marks the quincentenary of Henry's spectacular progress around southern England with Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor. It is also the platinum jubilee of HM Queen Elizabeth II, who in 2019 (in accord with her royal duties) carried out a staggering 295 public engagements around the country. It is an opportune moment not only to assess Tudor royal progresses, but to reflect on what monarchy and its visibility means in the 21st century.
In a personal monarchy, a fundamental questions was the location of the king at any one time, which surprisingly we do not always know for Henry VIII. Building on a one-year AHRC Research Network, Henry VIII on Tour brings together a cross-disciplinary team of scholars and technical specialists from both academic and heritage sectors, who will use close study of archival sources, architecture, archaeology, music and material culture to inform a reconceptualisation of Henry VIII's progresses. We will focus on four key themes: logistics, kingship/queenship, performance, and legacy. By mapping all known progress venues and charting changes in duration, regional location and accommodation through successive phases of the reign, our project establishes a full itinerary for Henry VIII for the first time, significantly enhancing historians' understanding of the purpose of royal progresses and their impact on 16th century political and religious culture. Examining specific progresses from each decade (1511, 1522, 1535 and 1541) we will determine how they can be understood and reinterpreted within the context of the ideals and challenges of statecraft in the early modern period. Wherever possible we consider queenship in parallel with kingship, highlighting Henry's queens as independent actors in the performance of progresses, religious devotions and hunting expeditions. We will also explore how the logistics of 'performing' progresses can reveal hidden histories of understudied groups and communities and how progresses themselves fostered dialogue and circulation of ideas, news, skills, architectural styles and musical repertoire in the localities.
This project comes at a time when heritage organisations, museums and galleries are facing financial difficulties and a crisis of identity following prolonged closure and uncertainty as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. We will therefore use Henry VIII's progresses as a means of connecting heritage sites and exploring with our partners, stakeholders and local history focus groups both the challenges for heritage organisations and the ways they can assist in uniting communities. We will engage with modern-day residents of places once visited by Henry VIII in an effort to assess the legacy of royal progresses and provide opportunities for translational impact through co-creation with our heritage partners using local history networks. We will also engage and inspire the interested public through opportunities for participation in community archaeology at Tudor sites and performances of Tudor music in their original settings.
The digital legacy of the project (from visualisations of 'lost' sites to mobile-enabled progress trails) makes available a remarkable resource for study of Tudor history for all audiences. Henry VIII on Tour will re-engage and inspire educators in schools and museums to use the Tudors across the curriculum through new ways of approaching and discovering the past. We will use digital creativity to bring both landscapes and buildings to life, demonstrating how a coming together of digital heritage and archival research can tell new stories, pose and answer innovative research questions, and inspire greater curiosity about local places.
In a personal monarchy, a fundamental questions was the location of the king at any one time, which surprisingly we do not always know for Henry VIII. Building on a one-year AHRC Research Network, Henry VIII on Tour brings together a cross-disciplinary team of scholars and technical specialists from both academic and heritage sectors, who will use close study of archival sources, architecture, archaeology, music and material culture to inform a reconceptualisation of Henry VIII's progresses. We will focus on four key themes: logistics, kingship/queenship, performance, and legacy. By mapping all known progress venues and charting changes in duration, regional location and accommodation through successive phases of the reign, our project establishes a full itinerary for Henry VIII for the first time, significantly enhancing historians' understanding of the purpose of royal progresses and their impact on 16th century political and religious culture. Examining specific progresses from each decade (1511, 1522, 1535 and 1541) we will determine how they can be understood and reinterpreted within the context of the ideals and challenges of statecraft in the early modern period. Wherever possible we consider queenship in parallel with kingship, highlighting Henry's queens as independent actors in the performance of progresses, religious devotions and hunting expeditions. We will also explore how the logistics of 'performing' progresses can reveal hidden histories of understudied groups and communities and how progresses themselves fostered dialogue and circulation of ideas, news, skills, architectural styles and musical repertoire in the localities.
This project comes at a time when heritage organisations, museums and galleries are facing financial difficulties and a crisis of identity following prolonged closure and uncertainty as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. We will therefore use Henry VIII's progresses as a means of connecting heritage sites and exploring with our partners, stakeholders and local history focus groups both the challenges for heritage organisations and the ways they can assist in uniting communities. We will engage with modern-day residents of places once visited by Henry VIII in an effort to assess the legacy of royal progresses and provide opportunities for translational impact through co-creation with our heritage partners using local history networks. We will also engage and inspire the interested public through opportunities for participation in community archaeology at Tudor sites and performances of Tudor music in their original settings.
The digital legacy of the project (from visualisations of 'lost' sites to mobile-enabled progress trails) makes available a remarkable resource for study of Tudor history for all audiences. Henry VIII on Tour will re-engage and inspire educators in schools and museums to use the Tudors across the curriculum through new ways of approaching and discovering the past. We will use digital creativity to bring both landscapes and buildings to life, demonstrating how a coming together of digital heritage and archival research can tell new stories, pose and answer innovative research questions, and inspire greater curiosity about local places.
Organisations
- Historic Royal Palaces (Lead Research Organisation)
- Historical Association (Collaboration)
- Society of Antiquaries of London (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- NATIONAL TRUST (Collaboration)
- English Heritage (Collaboration)
- York Museums Trust (Collaboration)
- National Trust (Project Partner)
- The Historical Association (Project Partner)
- ENGLISH HERITAGE LIMITED (Project Partner)
- Historic Houses Association (Project Partner)
- DigVentures (Project Partner)
| Description | University of Exeter Open Innovation Platform Collaboration Fund Award |
| Amount | £15,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 123810-G-00-2087-1026 |
| Organisation | University of Exeter |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2023 |
| End | 07/2024 |
| Description | Henry VIII on Tour |
| Organisation | English Heritage |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | I and my research team at Historic Royal Palaces have provided the intellectual leadership for the collaboration and both chaired meetings with project partners and hosted the initial workshop at Hampton Court Palace. We also organised the international conference on the theme of the project. Since the new funding award we have held further Workshops both online and in-person including one at the King's Manor (University of York) which brought together all the collaborating partners to discuss the research and assisting with its impact. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Two of the partners have provided the venue for a meeting (Burlington House, London) and one of the workshops (Grey's Court, Oxfordshire) and input from curators, archivists and policy makers to the meetings/workshops held as part of the project. They have also assisted in the formulation of the larger funding bid by providing recommendations and discussing ideas and priorities for future research and heritage-focussed collaboration. We are working closely with a number of the properties within our partners' portfolio (as progress venues) and undertaking geophysical surveys, archaeological digs and musical residencies there. |
| Impact | This multidisciplinary collaboration (political cultural and social history, art, architecture and archaeology) has resulted in the submission of a significant larger research grant to the AHRC. This has now been successful and awarded funding under the title: Henry VIII on Tour: Landscapes, Communitis and Performance. We have held some initial 'town-hall' meetings for local historians, archaeologists and interested residents at Collyweston, Lyddington and Ampthill where we have explained the project and revealed some of our research findings to date. Our discussions with these community groups have been to ascertain what they would like to gain from our research and how we can benefit them most in making it available. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Henry VIII on Tour |
| Organisation | Historical Association |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | I and my research team at Historic Royal Palaces have provided the intellectual leadership for the collaboration and both chaired meetings with project partners and hosted the initial workshop at Hampton Court Palace. We also organised the international conference on the theme of the project. Since the new funding award we have held further Workshops both online and in-person including one at the King's Manor (University of York) which brought together all the collaborating partners to discuss the research and assisting with its impact. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Two of the partners have provided the venue for a meeting (Burlington House, London) and one of the workshops (Grey's Court, Oxfordshire) and input from curators, archivists and policy makers to the meetings/workshops held as part of the project. They have also assisted in the formulation of the larger funding bid by providing recommendations and discussing ideas and priorities for future research and heritage-focussed collaboration. We are working closely with a number of the properties within our partners' portfolio (as progress venues) and undertaking geophysical surveys, archaeological digs and musical residencies there. |
| Impact | This multidisciplinary collaboration (political cultural and social history, art, architecture and archaeology) has resulted in the submission of a significant larger research grant to the AHRC. This has now been successful and awarded funding under the title: Henry VIII on Tour: Landscapes, Communitis and Performance. We have held some initial 'town-hall' meetings for local historians, archaeologists and interested residents at Collyweston, Lyddington and Ampthill where we have explained the project and revealed some of our research findings to date. Our discussions with these community groups have been to ascertain what they would like to gain from our research and how we can benefit them most in making it available. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Henry VIII on Tour |
| Organisation | National Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | I and my research team at Historic Royal Palaces have provided the intellectual leadership for the collaboration and both chaired meetings with project partners and hosted the initial workshop at Hampton Court Palace. We also organised the international conference on the theme of the project. Since the new funding award we have held further Workshops both online and in-person including one at the King's Manor (University of York) which brought together all the collaborating partners to discuss the research and assisting with its impact. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Two of the partners have provided the venue for a meeting (Burlington House, London) and one of the workshops (Grey's Court, Oxfordshire) and input from curators, archivists and policy makers to the meetings/workshops held as part of the project. They have also assisted in the formulation of the larger funding bid by providing recommendations and discussing ideas and priorities for future research and heritage-focussed collaboration. We are working closely with a number of the properties within our partners' portfolio (as progress venues) and undertaking geophysical surveys, archaeological digs and musical residencies there. |
| Impact | This multidisciplinary collaboration (political cultural and social history, art, architecture and archaeology) has resulted in the submission of a significant larger research grant to the AHRC. This has now been successful and awarded funding under the title: Henry VIII on Tour: Landscapes, Communitis and Performance. We have held some initial 'town-hall' meetings for local historians, archaeologists and interested residents at Collyweston, Lyddington and Ampthill where we have explained the project and revealed some of our research findings to date. Our discussions with these community groups have been to ascertain what they would like to gain from our research and how we can benefit them most in making it available. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Henry VIII on Tour |
| Organisation | Society of Antiquaries of London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | I and my research team at Historic Royal Palaces have provided the intellectual leadership for the collaboration and both chaired meetings with project partners and hosted the initial workshop at Hampton Court Palace. We also organised the international conference on the theme of the project. Since the new funding award we have held further Workshops both online and in-person including one at the King's Manor (University of York) which brought together all the collaborating partners to discuss the research and assisting with its impact. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Two of the partners have provided the venue for a meeting (Burlington House, London) and one of the workshops (Grey's Court, Oxfordshire) and input from curators, archivists and policy makers to the meetings/workshops held as part of the project. They have also assisted in the formulation of the larger funding bid by providing recommendations and discussing ideas and priorities for future research and heritage-focussed collaboration. We are working closely with a number of the properties within our partners' portfolio (as progress venues) and undertaking geophysical surveys, archaeological digs and musical residencies there. |
| Impact | This multidisciplinary collaboration (political cultural and social history, art, architecture and archaeology) has resulted in the submission of a significant larger research grant to the AHRC. This has now been successful and awarded funding under the title: Henry VIII on Tour: Landscapes, Communitis and Performance. We have held some initial 'town-hall' meetings for local historians, archaeologists and interested residents at Collyweston, Lyddington and Ampthill where we have explained the project and revealed some of our research findings to date. Our discussions with these community groups have been to ascertain what they would like to gain from our research and how we can benefit them most in making it available. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Henry VIII on Tour |
| Organisation | York Museums Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | I and my research team at Historic Royal Palaces have provided the intellectual leadership for the collaboration and both chaired meetings with project partners and hosted the initial workshop at Hampton Court Palace. We also organised the international conference on the theme of the project. Since the new funding award we have held further Workshops both online and in-person including one at the King's Manor (University of York) which brought together all the collaborating partners to discuss the research and assisting with its impact. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Two of the partners have provided the venue for a meeting (Burlington House, London) and one of the workshops (Grey's Court, Oxfordshire) and input from curators, archivists and policy makers to the meetings/workshops held as part of the project. They have also assisted in the formulation of the larger funding bid by providing recommendations and discussing ideas and priorities for future research and heritage-focussed collaboration. We are working closely with a number of the properties within our partners' portfolio (as progress venues) and undertaking geophysical surveys, archaeological digs and musical residencies there. |
| Impact | This multidisciplinary collaboration (political cultural and social history, art, architecture and archaeology) has resulted in the submission of a significant larger research grant to the AHRC. This has now been successful and awarded funding under the title: Henry VIII on Tour: Landscapes, Communitis and Performance. We have held some initial 'town-hall' meetings for local historians, archaeologists and interested residents at Collyweston, Lyddington and Ampthill where we have explained the project and revealed some of our research findings to date. Our discussions with these community groups have been to ascertain what they would like to gain from our research and how we can benefit them most in making it available. |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Acton Court (site visit) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Initial site visit to Acton Court to discuss activity planning and a 360-degree imaging visualisation offer from Heritage 360. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Ampthill (Site Visit) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Initial site visit to Ampthill Local History Society to discuss activity planning, how we could best feed into their research, and scoping for an archaeological survey with project partner, Digventures. Sparked questions about archival sources and request for documents. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Beaulieu (Newhall) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Initial site visit to Newhall School (Chelmsford, Essex), site of the former Beaulieu Palace owned by Henry VIII, to discuss activity planning, how we could best feed into their curricula, and scoping for an archaeological survey with Digventures. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Civic Welcome (Exeter) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Enactment of Civic Welcome at Exeter for Henry VIII as part of Hosting Henry celebrations at Exeter Guildhall and Exeter Cathedral involving the mayor, aldermen, sheriff of Devon, earl of Devon, Exeter Cathedral Clergy and Choir, University Chapel Choir, His Majesties Sackbutts and Cornets and representatives from civic bodies and heritage trusts. This was a large scale live event which sparked a great deal of interest in Tudor history and heritage, especially following coverage on the ITV news. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.exeter-cathedral.org.uk/events/henry-viii-on-tour/ |
| Description | Collyweston (Foyle) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk given by Dr Johnathan Foyle, hosted by the Collyweston Historical and Preservation Society on Tudor Collyweston. Included brief presentation on the HoT project and on the community engagement by Kate Giles, Louise Hampson and Keely Hayes-Davies. Impact benchmarking surveys distributed and completed with 63 responses from members of the public and CHaPS members. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Collyweston (site visit) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Initial site visit with the Collyweston Historical and Preservation Society to understand the individual wants and needs of their society. Series of 8 follow-up meetings in 2023 and 2 in Jan 2024 to discuss our comms and engagement strategy and planned activities for the site. Agreed strategy for partnership working and scoping for local history partnership working. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Council Meeting (Christchurch) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The mayor of Christchurch (Dorset) and members of the Town Council together with members of the local history society met for a presentation by the project team to make them aware of Henry VIII's visits in 1511 and 1516 and the cultural significance of our performance activities in Christchurch Priory. They had previously not had evidential confirmation of the historical events and were keen to celebrate this on their website. We discussed possible future collaborations as a result of this. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.christchurch-tc.gov.uk/council_events/ |
| Description | Dissolution Workshop (IHR) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Kate Giles attended the IHR's Dissolutions workshop, and discussed the work of the project and its research to the attendees in a roundtable discussion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Dramaturgy (Berkeley Castle) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The project team (with Ensemble Pro Victoria) provided musical accompaniment for a dramatising of Henry VIII's marriages which included interaction with the audience as well as community engagement in dancing. Following discussions with the Henry VIII impersonator and other members of the cast after the morning rehearsal, they included various nuggets of new information from the project's research in the script (or ad libbed it) and corrected some previously held views. Both members of the cast and audience reported their views had been changed when talking with them afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | English Heritage (online meeting) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with EH curators about potential site selection and collaborative work for the Bloomberg Connect application/online platform. Agreed strategy for partnership working, informed design of the itinerary tool, and the Bloomberg Connect app. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Festival of Ideas (York) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Members of the York contingent of the project team gave tours of the King's Manor/St Mary's Abbey site and updates on our research on Henry VIII's progress to York in 1541 and the visualisations of 'The King's Manor of York' being produced. Both talks and tours sparked discussions amongst attendees and helped to emphasise our theme of 'Pride of Place'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Fulford LHS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Keely Hayes-Davies (Impact and Outreach Co-ordinator) gave a talk to the Fulford and Heslington Local History Society on the 1541 progress to York and its impact on the local area (Fulford). It particularly sparked amusement about the Fulford Cross where the city met the king which is now dwarfed by an Aldi Superstore. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | HATF (Online Course) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Project Team contributed course content about Henry VIII's progresses and examples of the primary sources used for researching Henry on Tour. The course is online aimed at participants on the Historical Association Teacher Fellowship Programme (a professional development course for teachers) in this specialised area of the curriculum. It has prompted much interest in both the project and the creation of new curriculum content (which is an output intended from the course) as well as discussions on the possibilities of using new pedagogical methods (e.g. greater use of original sources, handling material objects, incorporating visits to heritage sites). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | HATF (Residential) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Project Team gave Lectures about Henry VIII's progresses and the scope and sources used for Henry on Tour. There were Q&A sessions/discussions with participants on the Historical Association Teacher Fellowship Programme. The event was held at Hampton Court Palace and included a tour of behind-the-scenes areas and collections stores as well as an opportunity to visit the new Tudor Worlds exhibition. The event was professional development for teachers in this specialised area of the curriculum and so prompted much interest in both the project and new curriculum content and the possibilities of using new pedagogical methods. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | HoT (Historic Houses) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This was an article in the Historic Houses annual magazine discussing the Henry on Tour project and featuring some of the houses that we are collaborating with in the project. It has generated considerable interest in the project from owners/members, including some who have asked for more information about their property's historical relevance to Henry VIII's Progresses. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | http://historichouses.org |
| Description | HoT Project Launch (York) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Launch of the Henry on Tour project in February 2023 at the King's Manor (University of York) which involved a presentation about the aims and objectives of the project and an opportunity for networking amongst the invited guests. It was attended by a mixture of academics, heritage professionals, archaeologists, musicians, local historians and members of the local press. It generated considerable interest in the future engagement activities in the project and offers of assistance and collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | http://henryontour.uk |
| Description | Hosting Henry (West Horsley Place) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Living History exhibition for Hosting Henry celebrations at West Horsley Place (Surrey), included explanation of clothing reconstructed from Courtenay archives made by degree students and opportunities to taste historically-informed food from 1533 menu and sit down at table in appropriately dressed hall to meet Henry and Gertrude Courtenay the hostess and chat with them both about the historical event and context. Evaluation of the event indicated that the opportunity for personal interaction and not purely static exhibition was enjoyed and changed views. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://westhorsleyplace.org |
| Description | Lady Mass (Berkeley Castle) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A filmed historically- informed enactment of Lady Mass undertaken by MW and Ensemble Pro Victoria in the Old Chapel (now Morning Room) at Berkeley Castle (Gloucs) in liturgical conditions. The clergy and singer participants and few audience members including the owner of the castle (out of camera) had interesting discussions about the event both after rehearsal and the event itself. The film is still being edited and has not yet been released for display on the Berkeley Castle website. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Layer Marney 500 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk given as part of History Festival weekend celebrating 500th anniversary of the death of Lord Henry Marney held at Layer Marney Tower (Essex). It highlighted the visit of Henry VIII on royal progress to Layer Marney in 1522, the building of the house and the arrangements made for Marney's funeral. Interest in the Henry on Tour project was stimulated and requests for further information both on substantive knowledge and especially related to future engagement activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | http://henryontour.uk |
| Description | Le Studium Talk (France) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A talk by JC on findings from the research on Kingship undertaken as part of the project and comparing Henry VIII's progresses with those of Francis I. It sparked questions about the nature of progresses and the differences in genre as well as providing an opportunity to make a French audience aware of the Henry on Tour project, its scope and bearing on the wider European political scene. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Local History Fete (Lyddinton) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We held a stall at the Lyddington Fete which enabled us to display and explain findings from our recent geophysical survey at the English Heritage property, Lyddington Bede. There were a number of questions posed about the archaeological work and Henry VIII's visits there. It also prompted suggestions from locals and experts as to where the gatehouse might be and increased interest in our future engagement with the site. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Luxury Banquets (Paris) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a presentation entitled 'The Diplomacy of Feasting at the Court of Henry VIII' held in Le Tour Jean Sans Peur (Paris, France) in February 2024 as part of a series of workshops on the history and material culture of luxury banquets organised jointly by the Universities of Prague, CNRS Paris and Tours. Discussion was prompted on the national and cultural differences, similarities in contexts and the broader implications across medieval and early modern periods. The organisers would like to arrange some online sessions for the Society of Court Studies and consider further funding/workshops. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Luxury Banquets (Prague) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a presentation entitled 'A Feast for a King? Preparing Banquets for Henry VIII' held in Karlstejn Castle, near Prague (Czech Republic) in January 2024 as part of a series of workshops on the history and material culture of luxury banquets organised jointly by the Universities of Prague, CNRS Paris and Tours. Discussion was prompted on the national and cultural differences, similarities in contexts and the broader implications across medieval and early modern periods. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Lyddington (LMHS) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Series of talks for the LMHS on the history of Henry VIII's relationship with Lyddington, Tudor liturgy and the Bede House, the 1541 progress and the visualisations and the legacy strand. Questions and discussion about nature of the progresses and the significance of some of the other local venues. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Lyddington (site visit) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Initial site visit at the Lyddington Bede House with attendees from English Heritage, the Lyddington Manor History Society to discuss the individual wants and needs of these stakeholders to inform our activity planning and impact benchmarking. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Music & Ceremony (Malaga) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a presentation entitled 'Music and Ceremony during the Progresses of Henry VIII' arising from research on the project to an audience of predominantly musicologists and music historians as well as social and urban historians (particularly those specialising in civic ceremony). My paper sparked wide ranging questions (including on the nature of links with Continental courts and musicians) and discussion relating to sources. I also received a request from the organiser to come to Malaga to hold a follow-up session and speak to her students. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | PTI (Programme) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A talk given to PTI participants to assist with teacher training and curriculum development. Prompted questions and acknowledgment that will held in curriculum enhancement. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | PTI Residential |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Members of the team gave lectures and held Q&A sessions with attendees on the PTI Residential Course. The discussions afterwards indicate it provided an opportunity to enhance their understanding of the Tudor period and inform them of curriculum content. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Performance (Christchurch) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Members of the project team (with early music group Ensemble Pro Victoria) gave a recital of music from the time of Henry VIII that may have been heard on progress and an historically informed liturgical enactment of a pre-Reformation Lady Mass (Saturday) and Vespers with Antiphon (Sunday) with appropriate plainsong and polyphonic settings by Taverner, Fayrfax and Cornysh. The dramaturgies involved the mixed choir (children and adults) of Christchurch Priory and the Christchurch Chamber Choir. The lay choral participants (especially the children) enjoyed the challenges of the unusual and taxing music and expressed great interest in doing it all again next year. Those who attended the service events discussed their experience and perceptions afterwards and also filled in brief questionnaires. Some who are not Christians said found it spiritually uplifting and many were interested in the difference between Church of England services now and also the notion of Henry VIII on progress and his connection with the Priory. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Petworth (site visit) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Site visit and workshop with the National Trust team at Petworth and regional partners. A series of planning meetings with senior curators and estate managers to plan for the dig and associated activities for July 2024. 12 curators, volunteers, property and estates managers attended the initial meeting to co-design project activities, engagement strategies and archaeological activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | http://digventures.com |
| Description | Petworth Dig (Activities) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Members of the project team (with Digventures) undertook an a community archaeological investigation at the National Trust side, Petworth House to ascertain the dimensions of the North Wing of the medieval house and Henry's banqueting house. Outside the dig area we set up in the 'Battery House' an area for people to participate in washing and cleaning 'finds' from the site and a display area for them. We also had activities for young children who could not take part in the dig (sandpit archaeology, drawing, calligraphy, ink stamps) as well as a display of boards with information relating to Henry VIII's progresses (especially those to Petworth and the region) and the Henry on Tour project. There was incredible interest from both dig participants and members of the public just visiting the House, most of whom didn't realise Henry VIII had any connection with the site, let alone had previously owned the manor. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Research Seminar (HRP) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was a presentation on the scope and nature of the project and how the research is intended to provide a broader reach to HRP's research and public engagement. It has subsequently sparked discussion about how our communications and marketing teams can ensure this and aim to extend the project to schools and break down barriers with other heritage organisations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Royal Studies Podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This podcast was a roundtable discussion for the Royal Studies Network held online with the convenor and four members of the Henry on Tour team. Focussing on Henry VIII's progresses and the key themes of our project, the audience were taken through with detailed questions on the Logistics, Queenship, Performance and Legacy aspects. There was lively discussion within the group and some feedback received afterwards suggests it was highly informative. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://royalstudies.buzzsprout.com/ |
| Description | SAL (York) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk by Keely Hayes-Davies for the Society of Antiquaries York branch on the 1541 progress and the project's research plans. Kindled interest in its further research and engagement activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | School Visit (Newhall) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Members of the project team (with Digventures) spent a whole day at the School. We gave brief presentations and worked on identifying the geophysics results from our recent survey there, on reading Tudor handwriting and contextualising various primary sources relevant to Newhall/Beaulieu Palace with Year 7 (x4) and Year 12 groups (x2). Since Beaulieu Palace was formerly on the site of their school this was extremely interesting and revelatory to them as well as the survey and sources provoking much discussion and debate. The school reported how much the pupils had benefitted (and the teachers had learnt things too) and talked about further follow up events and possibly an achaeological dig there. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Sources Session (Tormead) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | AM led a study session for Upper Sixth Form students at Tormead School by special request on approaching primary sources, using some relating to Henry VIII's progresses and enabling the students to gain practice in the discipline with someone from outside the normal teaching cohort prior to their A level exams. This was a curriculum and skills enhancing activity as well as an opportunity to assist them in better contextualising the material, which the students (and several teachers who attended) said they benefitted from enormously. It is understood that all those present achieved good A level grades in History with 2 going on to Oxbridge. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Sovereign (YTR Performance) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Kate Giles attended the York Theatre Royal "Sovereign" Press Night Performance, promoting the work of the project on the production and our work more broadly (which was also showcased in the programme notes). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Sovereign (YorkTheatreRoyal) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Tours of King's Manor and talks on the 1541 progress to York to the cast and crew of YTR's Sovereign. Over 70 cast and crew attended talks over two days, informing their decisions for staging and performance with historical knowledge. Talks from HoT team on Tudor York, the 1541 progress and the history of King's Manor to the Friends of York Theatre Royal, donors to YTR's community theatre projects. Sovereign Press Night Performance was attended by members of HoT team, promoting the work of the project on the production and our work more broadly. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | http://henryontour.uk |
| Description | Talk (Lyddington) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Members of the project team gave presentations to update members of the Lyddington Manor History Society about research findings so far relating to both the logistics of the progresses, the geophysical survey carried out there and the visualisation research and plans. It prompted interesting questions and provision of useful local information from members of the Society. They reported learning new things about their area and gaining an enhanced sense of Pride of Place. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Talk (Powderham) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk by AM for Heritage Open Day held at Powderham Castle (Devon) on Henry VIII's Progresses with specific connections made with Marquess of Exeter, Henry Courtenay (ancestor of present Earl of Devon who was in the audience) and renovations/building works done during Henry VIII's ownership of West Horsley Place and Powderham. It prompted interesting questions and provided new understanding of nature and range of royal progresses. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Talk (Slingsby) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A talk by KG to Slingsby History Society to engage them in the research into Henry VIII's progress to York in 1541, the legacy findings of the project and the visualisations of The King's Manor of York and elsewhere being created. The attendees reported an enhanced sense of Pride of Place. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Talk (St Nicholas Priory) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A talk given by AM at St Nicholas Priory, Exeter on Feasting with a Tudor King as part of the Hosting Henry VIII activities concentrating on sources for the logistics of providing food and the menus served on Henry VIII's progresses. The audience were prompted to ask questions as there were a number of issues people were not aware of. There was also some Tudor food prepared to historic recipes which altered attitudes towards the taste and texture of Tudor food. The event was even attended by a Henry VIII impersonator, who wished to incorporate some details into his 'act'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://nicholaspriory.com/events/feasting_with_a_king/ |
| Description | Talk (Tormead) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | A talk by AM at Tormead School, Guildford on Henry VIII's Progresses as part of the school's Beacon Lecture series (an enrichment programme), which was intended for scholarship holders and potential university entrants as well as teachers. There was an opportunity for Q&A and discussion afterwards with informed input. The school via the Principal reported there was considerable fresh interest in the Tudor period and new awareness of Henry VIII's presence in Guildford. As a result of this AM received a request to do a special session for Upper Sixth students on approaching primary sources before their A level exams. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.tormeadschool.org.uk/beacon-lecture-2/ |
| Description | Talk (Washburn) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A talk by KG to the Washburn Local Heritage Group about legacy-related outputs and findings from the project. Helped to enhance sense of Pride of Place. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Talk (West Horsley Place) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Talk by AM as part of "Hosting Henry" celebrations at West Horsley Place on Henry VIII's progresses and specifically the visit to WHP by Henry VIII and renovations/building works done to property during his ownership. Interesting questions including from some young people attending whose interest in Tudors piqued. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.westhorsleyplace.org |
| Description | Workshop (Christchurch) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Project Workshop held at Christchurch Priory with tours of the Priory building and valuable discussions with the range of participants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |