Thesis Title: The Spiritual, Social and Emotional Significnce of Death and Dying in Yorkshire, c.1840-c.1914
About
Having started out as a theologian (BA (Hons) Durham, 2000; MA, Leeds, 2001) I seem to have morphed into a social historian these last few years. However my familiarity with Western church history (especially the English Reformation) and sacramental theology continues to be useful in my current work with Victorian folklore collections.
The interest in death and dying, and in the application of anthropological theory to funerary custom and belief, dates from my undergraduate degree, while the interest in local and regional history is I'm afraid all my mother's fault!
As you can see from the CV I keep myself busy on the conference circuit, and I also undertake speaking engagements with museums and local history groups. I'm also an active member of the Folklore Society.
Teaching-wise, I am presently a Visiting (ie hourly paid) Lecturer in History at the University of the West of England. However for research purposes I class myself as an Independent Scholar, on the basis that I'm doing this in my spare time until I find someone who's willing to pay me to do it... offers most welcome!
