Speaker: Mike Kingman

Nowadays brick is an unexciting and mundane material. This talk demonstrates that before mass production it was a source of great prestige and considerable social value – an obvious external expression of wealth and status. In 1705 Mrs Brayne of Beaumanor reported that her daughters had built ‘a brick house and had a new carriage, they refused all offers of marriage as they were able to support themselves’! When brick was introduced in the C15th, it’s acceptance was a slow and hesitant process, hindered by legislation, poor transport, the fuels available and its cost. The speaker particularly emphasises the colour which red brick brought to the landscape and in this context examines the impact of brick on Derby. Dr Mike Kingman is a local historian and the author of many articles on the Midland landscape.

Organised by the Industrial Archaeology Section

Speakers: Christopher Kennedy and Aidan Ridyard

Richard Twentyman (1903-1979), the brother of the sculptor Anthony Twentyman, was a successful West Midlands architect based in Wolverhampton, known particularly for the thirteen churches and chapels he designed between 1937 and 1973. In this talk based on their research into Twentyman’s life and career, the speakers select a sample of his churches and the art within them to illustrate his distinctive architectural evolution from an early monumental phase, to more modernistic approaches and later innovative design. They suggest the British and European influences on Twentyman’s work and locate his architecture in the changing social, economic, and religious contexts of this period.

Chris Kennedy, a former Birmingham University professor in applied linguistics, subsequently developed his interests in design and architecture by gaining postgraduate qualifications in Design and Architectural History from Oxford University. He stumbled across a church designed by Twentyman and set out to find more about him. Aidan Ridyard is Managing Partner at Burrell Foley Fischer Ridyard Architects, a member of RIBA with Conservation Accreditation, with several notable public buildings to his name in the UK and overseas. A chance meeting between Chris and Aidan at a meeting of the Twentieth Century Society revealed their shared interest in Twentyman (Aidan’s father was vicar at Twentyman’s All Saints, Darlaston), resulting in a self-published book on Twentyman and his churches.

Their book is available for purchase at richardtwentyman.com and at the talk at the reduced rate of £20. If you don’t have cash on the evening, you can still take a copy away with you, and send payment by bank transfer.

Organised by the Architecture Section

Library open upstairs on the 1st floor.

Speaker: David Rudling

The Ouse valley is a key communication route from the Channel coast, via the Downs to the wide expanse of the Weald. It traverses and encompasses landscapes and archaeological sites of both local and regional importance – all connected by the river Ouse and its valley. David will review the archaeological fieldwork that has been undertaken in the valley to investigate and record Roman-period settlements and land-use. He will look at the emergence and fates of sites such as the native settlement at Bishopstone, the villas at Newhaven, Beddingham, Barcombe and Plumpton, and the nucleated settlement at Bridge Farm, Barcombe Mills. He will also consider the main Roman roads in the valley, and the iron working sites north of Barcombe.

Dr David Rutling is the Academic Director at the Sussex School of Archaeology, having previously been Senior Lecturer in Archaeology at the Centre for Continuing Education at the University of Sussex, and Director of Archaeology South-East which is part of University College London. He has directed a wide range of fieldwork on sites of various periods throughout Sussex, notable sites including Roman villas and tile kilns, Romano-Celtic temples, a Middle Bronze Age settlement site and various medieval urban sites in Hastings, Lewes and Winchelsea. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, a Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, a trustee of the Council for British Archaeology South-East, and Chairman of the Brighton and Hove Archaeological Society.

Image above – Barcombe villa c AD 150 (drawing by Andy Gammon)

Speaker on Zoom

Speaker: Dr Jane Ainsworth

Two flimsy pieces of lead can provide insights into a world we thought was familiar. This talk will discuss the context and content of Roman-period curse tablets found in Leicester, as well as similar discoveries at the Trent/ Soar confluence. The tablets show us everyday life in Roman Britain, while also offering tantalising glimpses of the imperial centre of Rome itself.

Dr Jane Ainsworth works in the School of Archaeology & Ancient History at the University of Leicester, where she is the Classics for All Regional Co-ordinator for the East Midlands. Her recent work has included the study of Roman curse tablets to create the Life in the Roman World and Roman Inscriptions of Britain Online teaching resources for schools.

Organised by the Archaeological Research Group