Women in Anglo-Saxon Society
The second joint KAS and Canterbury Christ Church University College one-day conference, ‘Women in Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Society’ will be held on Saturday 4th May 2002.
The Speakers:
Barbara Yorke is a Professor of Early Medieval History at King Alfred's College, Winchester. She will be speaking on The Royal Nunneries of Anglo-Saxon Kent: Anglo-Saxon Kent included amongst its major religious communities five nunneries that were founded by its royal family. These establishments were led by women of the royal house who were able to exercise public power as well as providing for the spiritual well-being of their families.
Caroline Barron is a Professor of History at Royal Holloway, University of London and will be speaking on Women in Medieval London: As for many themes in medieval history, London provides our main source of information on women from merchant and artisan backgrounds. This subject forms Professor Behr’s current research study.
Sheila Sweetinburgh works as a freelance historian and part-time teacher and has carried out historical assessments for the Canterbury Archaeological Trust. The title of her lecture is Joining the sisters: female inmates in Kent’s late medieval hospitals: By the late medieval ages hospitals in Kent were housing both the poor and not so poor. The sisters were expected to take an active part in the life of the community. This might mean caring for the pilgrim’s, poor or sick, or praying for the soul of the benefactor and labouring on the hospital farm, in the brewhouse, bake house or kitchen.
Toni Mount will be known to many of you from her WEA courses on Social History; her lecture is entitled What of the Medieval Housewife? This lecture looks at the everyday life of the medieval housewife. Extensive use is made of original source material for dress, etiquette and recipes. Some Kentish examples will be used.
Charlotte Behr is a senior lecturer in Roman and Early Medieval History at the University of Surrey Roehampton and will be speaking on High Status Women and Pagan Images: Golden amulets with pagan images have been found in wealthy early Anglo-Saxon female graves in eastern Kent. The amulets identify high status women, who adhered to the cult of Odin and claimed Scandinavian origins. These women may have possessed political influence.
KAS members £8 Non-members £10
Tickets available from Sean Greenwood, History Department (Conference tickets), Canterbury Christ Church University College, North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1QU