Strutts Centre

Library open upstairs on the 1st floor.

Library open upstairs on the 1st floor.

Library open upstairs on the 1st floor.

Library open upstairs on the 1st floor.

Library open upstairs on the 1st floor.

Speaker: David Mercer

Mrs Armitage (1841-1931) was a pioneer archaeologist and historian in the field of castle studies. Her book The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (1912) is credited with establishing the principle that the motte-and-bailey castle was an early Norman innovation; rejecting the idea that mottes were of Anglo-Saxon date. With over a century of research into castles following this seminal thesis it is time to reassess Armitage's legacy and provide context for the earliest castles in England.

David Mercer read archaeology at St John's College, Cambridge. His doctoral thesis looked at the historical development of ideas in castle studies. Since then, he has been an active member of the Castle Studies Group.

Speaker: Jane Hawkes

Speaker: Michael Fulford

Silchester is one of a handful of the major Roman towns of Britain which did not re-emerge as towns in the Middle Ages. It was subjected to extensive excavation in the late 19^th and early 20^th century to give us a so-called complete plan of the town. The talk will show how modern archaeology has further illuminated its history, including its origins in the late iron age and the changing life and occupations of its inhabitants.

Michael Fulford CBE FBA is Professor of Archaeology at the University of Reading. A major theme of his research has been Roman Britain, with a particular focus on Iron Age and Roman Silchester which he has been working on for over 50 years.