History, Art History and Culture

Monday

The scope of the subject - changes and challenges:

(1) English agriculture, 1815-1914

(2) The English landowner, tenantry and agricultural labour force, 1815-1914

Tuesday

The country house and estate

Agricultural labour and the farming year; the harvest and related celebrations;rural unrest: the Swing Riots, the Tolpuddle Martyrs, trade unionism and the Revolt of the Field

Wednesday

Keeping control and offering hope: policing, welfare, education and religion in rural England

Cottage life and work; non agricultural use of the countryside

Thursday

Countryside communities on the move: Travellers and migrant workers

The market town in the 19^th century

Friday

'Back to the land': the significance of rural life for the visual arts, crafts, literature and song, 1850s-1914

BOOKS

It is not necessary to be familiar with the subject but should you wish to read ahead/subsequently, you might find (the relevant chapters/sections of) one or more of the following helpful:

D Chambers &

G Mingay The agricultural revolution, 1750-1880

P Horn Labouring life in the Victorian countryside

G Mingay Rural life in Victorian England

G Mingay (ed) The Victorian countryside [2 volumes of essays]

H Newby Country life: a social history of rural England

FML Thompson English landed society in the 19^thcentury

Additional suggested reading and places to visit will feature during the course.

Peter Street

About Peter

Peter has contributed to the Marlborough College Summer School since 1992. He is an Oxford University graduate in Modern History, a qualified teacher and has taught history in higher and adult education for over forty years. Most of Peter's teaching was for Birkbeck College (University of London) and the Open University. Peter has also  lectured for NADFAS, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Trust, the Historical Association and history societies generally.