University Experts will Bring Lincoln’s History to Life during Festival

Heritage and history academics from the University of Lincoln, UK, will unlock the secrets of the city’s past in celebration of the first-ever Lincoln Festival of History, taking place city-wide initially between 4 – 6 May with additional events running until June.

This unique festival aims to capture the public’s imagination by sharing unique insights into Lincoln’s rich and deep history, with a range of immersive activities for all ages including a series of talks delivered by members of the University’s academic community.

One of the events will reveal the origins of one of history’s most important and influential documents, the Magna Carta, explained by world-renowned scholar of medieval history at the University of Lincoln, Professor Stephen Church, in a public lecture, “Uncovering Lincoln’s Magna Carta – exploring the wider context surrounding the great charter.” The event takes place at the Guildhall in Lincoln at 12pm on Saturday 4 May, you can find out more via the link here.

In addition, the University of Lincoln will extend the festivities into May and June, with additional talks from some of its leading historians and experts in heritage, with a seminar from British archaeologist Professor Carenza Lewis, well-known for her time as a presenter for 13 years on Channel 4’s groundbreaking Time Team series.

During her talk, Carenza will unearth a selection of the iconic moments from the programme before sharing the inside story of Time Team’s return by popular demand and in a new digital format. Carenza’s talk is available to book online here.

Speaking about the upcoming festival, Carenza Lewis, Professor for the Public Understanding of Research at the University of Lincoln, said: “Lincoln has such a rich and well-known history, but its fascination goes beyond the great and the good and includes amazing but less familiar stories of resilience, rebellion and doing things differently. We hope it will open people’s eyes to new stories and new perspectives.”

Coming in June 2024 will be a unique public lecture delivered by a trio of the University’s experts in history, Janina Ramirez – Visiting Professor in Medieval Studies, Professor Amy Livingstone – Head of School of Humanities and Heritage, and Associate Professor in Medieval History – Antonella Liuzzo Scorpo. The group will uncover the details of notable women, perhaps unknown to many, who have shaped Lincolnshire’s story – details for this talk will be available shortly on the University of Lincoln website.

Cllr Naomi Tweddle, Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economic Growth at City of Lincoln Council said: “We hope Lincoln Festival of History will become a key event in the city’s yearly calendar, celebrating the city’s rich history. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a curious explorer or simply seeking a memorable day out, this multi-day experience is for you.”

You can find out more information about the range of events online: www.visitlincoln.com/whats-on/lincoln-festival-of-history.