AW History Webinars

AW History holds seminars, webinars, workshops and other events related to medieval history. Details will be posted on this page about forthcoming events.

Future Webinars

The Changing Role of the Monasteries in Medieval Great Britain

Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire.

This webinar will chart the changing role of the Monasteries in England, Scotland and Wales from the fifth century to the sixteenth. It will look at how monastic traditions survived the fall of the Roman Empire in the west of Britain; the development of monasticism following the conversion of the English and the Scots; the impact of the Viking and Norman invasions; the flowering of Monasticism in the Middle Ages; and the impact of the monasteries on the economy and wider society. The presenter will be Adrian Waite.

The webinar will be held at 7pm on Tuesday 30th May and will last about an hour. It is FREE to attend.

To register, please click here.

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Recorded Webinars

Stirling and the Scottish Wars of Independence

 Robert the Bruce

Stirling with its castle atop a large volcanic mound is considered to be the key to Scotland. During the Scottish Wars of Independence it saw two battles and two sieges. In 1297, the Castle was held by the English but they were defeated by the Scots under William Wallace at the Battle of Stirling Bridge. In 1304, the Scots held the castle but it fell to a siege conducted by King Edward I of England. In 1314, the Scots laid siege to the castle and then defeated the English army sent to relieve it at the Battle of Bannockburn.

This webinar considered the causes and course of the Scottish Wars of Independence and the pivotal role that was played by these engagements at Stirling.

Following the webinar, we received feedback from attendees including:

• Many thanks Adrian, very good.
• Excellent, thank you Adrian.
• Thank you, very interesting as ever.
• Brilliant, thanks.
• Thank you for a brilliant talk on a topic very close to me. Looking forward to the next talk.

To view the recording of the webinar, please click here.

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The Peasants' Revolt 1381

 John Ball addresses the peasants during the revolt

In 1381 a peasants' revolt almost brought down the regime of King Richard II. Initially the peasants met with success and persuaded the King to make concessions but they were later betrayed and those who persisted in the cause were massacred at the Battle of Billericay. 

The traditional view is that this was a spontaneous uprising of the poorest in society triggered by the imposition on them of a poll tax that they could not afford and that the revolt lacked clear objectives and resulted in failure.

But I am not convinced. This webinar asked: Who were these peasants, why did they revolt and what did they want? The answers reveal a more complex situation.

Following the webinar, we received feedback from attendees including:

• Thank you, it was very interesting.
• Thank you Adrian, very interesting talk.
• Your talks are always very interesting.
• You always make history interesting.
• Thanks for a fascinating talk on the peasants' revolt. Very enjoyable!
• Thank you very much. it was an interesting talk. I learnt a lot of new details.

To view the recording of the webinar, please click here.

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The Battles of Fulford and Stamford Bridge 1066

 Re-enactment of a battle of the Viking age.

The year 1066 is often considered to be one of the most significant in English history with the death of King Edward the Confessor leading to three battles involving three contenders for the English throne. This webinar will focus on the first two of these battles, both of which were fought in Yorkshire and both of which involved King Harald Hardrada of Norway. At Fulford, Harald Hardrada defeated Earl Morcar of Northumbria and Earl Edwin of Mercia; only to be defeated five days later at Stamford Bridge by King Harold Godwinson of England. The consequences for England, Norway and Europe as a whole were even more significant than those of the Battle of Hastings that followed.

Following the webinar, we received feedback from attendees including:

• Thank you, very interesting.
• Many thanks, a very interesting presentation.
• Thanks very much, good talk.
• Interesting, I shall be reading up this period now.
• Thanks for the webinar on Fulford and Stamford Bridge.
• I thoroughly enjoyed it, Adrian. Learnt a lot too, as it's not my period really. I have lots of lovely reading to do now.
• I much enjoyed your talk on Tuesday. The background on the dramatis personae was an excellent feature enabling everyone to appreciate a clear understanding of the various political aspirations in play. As always with medievel battles the vexed question of how far an army could march in a day raised its head - a fascinating subject in itself. The army of Harold Godwinson marching north to face the Vikings seems a case in point since a claim of travelling forty miles in one day seems unsustainable... It was very helpful of you to include comment on this as the factor was key to appreciating the impact on the three major battles of 1066... The subject is fascinating.
• We didn't get home in time to catch your live presentation on 'the other 1066 battles' but enjoyed the recoridng soon after. We went on a guided walk of the Fulford site on a freezing cold February morning about ten years ago. A memorable experience.

The webinar was held on the anniversary of the Battle of Fulford and considered the causes, courses and consequences of the battles. It lasted about an hour. The presenter is Adrian Waite. There is no charge for viewing the recording of the webinar.

To view the recording, please click here.

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The Black Death - How well was it managed by the medieval authorities?

 Medieval Picture of burials during the Black Death

The Black Death, that arrived in Europe in 1347 and reached Britain in 1348, was probably the worst crisis that Europe has ever faced, a pandemic that killed at least 30% of the population. Traditionally, historians have recorded that medieval society was unprepared for the pandemic and reacted to it irrationally and even stupidly; while the church and governments responded in a way that was inadequate and unconstructive; with disastrous results. But is this traditional analysis correct? Was it really the case that the medieval authorities responded to the pandemic remarkably well, given the extent of medical knowledge and technology at the time, and were as successful as they could have been in managing the crisis? This webinar considers these questions.

Following the webinar, we received feedback from attendees including:

• Your format is really interesting: Neither a podcast nor a youtube channel. I need to tell you I receive your very pedagogic content as if I was reading a storyboard and that's truly "amazing" (the most under-rated British word in history).
• Thank you Adrian. This has been a really fascinating talk - one of the best - and I have learned a lot.
• Excellent talk, thank you Adrian.
• Fascinating talk, Adrian, thank you.
• Thanks for a very informative webinar.
• Thanks for the presentation, we both found it very interesting.
• I really enjoyed your webinar which was interesting and informative. I like the medieval pictures and they enhanced your talk too. It was good that you also included the words on the slides since I have hearing problems... though you are a very clear speaker (unlike some webinars I have joined).

The webinar was held on Tuesday 26th July 2022, and lasted about an hour. The presenter is Adrian Waite. There is no charge for viewing the recording of the webinar.

To view the recording, please click here.

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The Siege of Caerlaverock 1300

 The Castle at Caerlaverock

In the summer of 1300, King Edward I of England invaded Scotland at the head of an army of 3,000 men including 87 knights and taking with them the latest siege weapons. Their first objective was to take the castle at Caerlaverock on the Solway coast of Dumfriesshire that was defended by no more than 75 men led by the constable, Walter Benechafe.

However, as was reported in the 'Roll of Caerlaverock' - a chronicle written by an English herald - "Mighty was Caerlaverock Castle. Siege it feared not". 

Find out what happened at the siege of Caerlaverock and why at this webinar.

Following the webinar, we received feedback from attendees including:

• An absolutely fascinating talk. Thank you very much.
• Many thanks, most interesting as always.
• Many thanks, Adrian, for a fascinating presentation.
• Great, thanks Adrian.
• Very well done, thank you.
• I'd never heard of the use of pigs in undermining before, fascinatingly horrible!
• I just finished watching this video... It's brilliant, really interesting. Thank you and I am looking forward to your next webinars.
• Thanks for your excellent talk on Caerlaverock.
• I just caught up with your talk, for which many thanks. Informative!

The webinar was held on Monday 30th May 2022, and lasted about an hour. The presenter was Adrian Waite. There is no charge for viewing the recording of the webinar.

To view the recording, please click here.

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Andrew Harclay and the Battle of Boroughbridge 1322

 The River Ure at Boroughbridge

The Battle of Boroughbridge was fought in Yorkshire on 16th March 1322. Andrew Harclay, a knight from Kirkby Stephen in Cumbria, who was loyal to King Edward II, defeated a rebel army led by Thomas, Earl of Lancaster and Humphry de Bohun, Earl of Hereford. After the battle, Thomas of Lancaster was beheaded and Andrew Harclay was created Earl of Carlisle. However. Harclay's triumph didn't last long and neither did Edward's reign. In 1323 Edward II had Harclay executed. Then, in 1327, Edward II himself was deposed and murdered.

So who was Andrew Harclay? Why and how did he find himself fighting a battle in Yorkshire? And why did the King whose throne he had saved have him executed a year later?

Following the webinar, we received feedback from attendees including:

• Thank you, it was very interesting.
• That was awesome, thank you.
• Thank you for a very interesting talk.
• Really enjoyed it. Thank you, Adrian.
• Thanks very much Adrian, very useful.
• How much I enjoyed it - my first. I had my doubts about such presentations, as well as about zoom meetings but, to quote a much used expression: 'Good Stuff'.
• Enjoyed your talk, filling in details of Andrew Harclay, thank you.
• Thanks for another excellent presentation. Especially as I am interested in the border wars / rebellions and battles that took place in the North of England, Scotland and Wales. I look forward to the next one.
• Thank you very much for the webinar on Andrew Harclay. I had not even heard of him before, but your talk was very interesting and well presented and we both enjoyed it. Thank you again.
• Thank you Adrian. It was fascinating as we live in Kirkby Stephen, went to school here and one of our school houses was Harcla!
• Thank you for the excellent talk on Sir Andrew Harclay and the Battle of Boroughbridge!

The webinar was held on Wednesday 16th March 2022 (the 700th anniversary of the battle) and lasted for about an hour. The presenter was Adrian Waite. There is no charge for viewing the recording of the webinar.

To view the recording, please click here.

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Henry V and the Battle of Agincourt

Medieval Depiction of the Battle of Agincourt

Henry V is often seen as one of England's greatest medieval Kings and his victory at Agincourt is often seen as his greatest triumph. This webinar covered Henry's campaigns in France including Harfleur and Agincourt, and considered both the legends and the facts including the role of the archers.

Following the webinar, we received feedback from attendees including:

• Very interesting, thank you.
• Many thanks, most interesting.
• Very good, thank you.
• Thank you, fascinating.
• A very interesting and informative talk, thank you.
• Thank you, very interesting and informative.
• Thanks for the excellent webinar, looking forward to the next one.
• Thank you so much, it was a jolly good talk which I really enjoyed.
• Greatly enjoyed your talk. I am surprised there is not more evidence for the numbers who died from sickness during the Agincourt campaign. Perhaps a cemetery will be found one day.
• It was great to see and hear your very interesting talk on the battle itself and the wider campaign by Henry in France.

The webinar was held on Wednesday 26th January 2022 and lasted for about an hour. The presenter was Adrian Waite. There is no charge for viewing the recording of the webinar.

To view the recording, please click here.

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Why the Dark Ages should be renamed the Golden Age

The Sutton Hoo Helmet

The period between the fifth and eleventh centuries in Britain is often called the Dark Ages. This webinar will demonstrate that it was really a Golden Age that surpassed both the Roman period that preceded it and the Norman period that followed.

Following the webinar we received feedback from attendees including:

• I enjoyed the webinar and you gave me quite a few things to think about and maybe use myself. I must replay some of your other webinars.
• Really interested to learn about Penda, who I had never heard of before.
• I very much enjoyed your presentation on the Dark Ages. You had a good presentation style. I would certainly be interested in hearing others.
• Enjoyed your talk on the Dark Ages and plan to view some of the other talks that have been recorded. Thank you.
• Well presented and excellent slides.
• Many thanks for a fantastic talk, enjoyed.
• Thank you!!!! Awesome.
• Brilliant talk, thank you.
• Thank you for another excellent talk.
• Thank you, very interesting.
• I thoroughly enjoyed it.
• Thanks for the Loki Stone mention.

The webinar was held on Tuesday 31st August 2021 and lasts for about an hour. The presenter is Adrian Waite. There is no charge for viewing the recording.

To view the recording, please click here.

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The Real Richard III

Richard III is one of England's most controversial monarchs. Shakespeare depicted him as a villain while others see him as a hero. This webinar was held on 27th May 2021 and tried to identify the real Richard III in the context of the fifteenth century. It was presented by Adrian Waite who considers that Richard was chivalrous, pious and a traditionalist and that this was probably what caused his downfall. The webinar lasted about an hour.

Following the webinar, we received feedback from attendees including:

• I am a historian by education, if not by trade, and I am a Ricardian. I thought your picture of the man was spot on. I have always loved Richard III for the endless speculation the man brings to history. I do not share the need to sanctify the man. I thought your depiction of a pious, chivalric yet ruthless man was refreshing. You can be all three. I share your belief that he was.
• Very many thanks for the excellent informative presentation this evening. It was greatly appreciated.
• We very much enjoyed your lecture last night.
• I enjoyed the talk especially the ideas about how people thought differently at that time.
• This is the second of your talks I have attended and I enjoyed the presentations. What I found was new information to me was the description of Richard III as a pious and chivalric man where, perhaps, Edward IV had failed in those areas. This gives me a new perspective to explore.
• I found your webinar very informative as usual and had a really interesting discussion about Richard III with my friend from Leicester.
• Thank you for another fascinating talk. I am sorry I can't watch live as it is the middle of the night here in Australia.
• Thanks for an interesting talk on an enigmatic King.
• Thank you very much for an interesting take on the real Richard III.
• Thanks for a very informative and very interesting lecture. Excellent presentation.
• Thank you for a very interesting and well balanced talk.
• Thank you Adrian, good presentation and excellent analysis.
• Thank you, a very interesting background to this fascinating King.
• Very informative talk. Very interesting to see Richard taking a different stance to the chivalric code, arguably a more idealised view of it considering how a lot of it pertains to treatment of equal or greater rank prisoners.
• Excellent analysis, thank you very much.
• Enjoyed this very much, nicely presented, thank you.
• I found your Richard III discussion has given me food for thought, especially how to put yourself into the mind of the time you are looking at.

To view a recording of the webinar, please click here.

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The Battle of Towton 1461

The Battle of Towton was the bloodiest ever fought on British soil. Fought on Palm Sunday 29th March 1461 in a snow storm it left 28,000 dead and brought the reign of King Henry VI to an end. This webinar was held on the anniversary of the battle. It considered the causes and the course of the battle and challenged some of the traditional assumptions. It was presented by Adrian Waite and lasted about an hour.

Following the webinar, we received feedback from attendees including:

• Excellent presentation with lots of questions raised which merit further investigation.
• Thank you for an excellent and thought provoking talk.
• Thank you very much for another excellent talk.
• Thoughtful and well presented.
• Thank you, Adrian, it was very interesting.
• Excellent, very informative, many thanks.
• Thanks so much Adrian, stay safe and well everyone.
• Many thanks, look forward to revisiting Towton some day.
• Thank you very much. Looking forward to the next one.
• Really interesting, thank you very much.
• Most interesting lecture. Thank you.
• Really enjoyed tonight's talk.

To view a recording of the webinar, please click here.

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Arms and Armour in the Medieval Period

We held a webinar on 'Arms and Armour in the Medieval Period' on Monday 25th January 2021. The webinar described the arms and armour that were used in the medieval period, from the seventh century onward but focusing on the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. It covered swords, polearms, crossbows, long bows, siege engines, helmets, chainmail, plate armour and much more. The presenter was Adrian Waite. The webinar lasted about an hour. There were opportunities to ask questions and make comments.

Following the webinar, we received feedback from attendees including:

• Thanks Adrian, interesting talk.
• Thank you, Adrian, very illuminating! I learnt how to operate different kinds of siege engines at Caerphilly Castle a few years ago. They are big at Caerphilly, made from trees from the locality. They must have been very fit!
• I have ten halbards from Appleby Castle, one of five Clifford castles. An expert told me that many were from different arms workshops around Europe. None appear to have the Wyvern.
• Thank you very much for an interesing and informative talk. We had seen a talk about armour sometime last year, but it didn't really explain things as clearly as you have. Now have a much clearer idea of the development of armour and weapons.
• Many thanks for the replay which I enjoyed watching. I am not an expert on weapons but find the issue of how they were actually used interesting... Best wishes and I look forward to future talks.
• Just finished this most recent webinar. It was an excellent overview. Love your galleries also.
• Huge shout out to AW History for his tremendous webinar on medieval arms and armour. If anybody is interested in medieval history I highly recommend giving him a follow on Twitter at @aw_history
• I found your webinar very interesting and have registered for the next one.
• Thank you for your presentation which I enjoyed very much and also for making the recording available so that we could revisit it again at a later date.

To view a recording of the webinar, please click here.

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Northumberland during the Medieval Period

We held a webinar 'Northumberland during the Medieval Period' at 7pm on Wednesday 26th November 2020. It outlined the history of Northumberland, England's northernmost county, from the fifth century to the sixteenth and described some of the events, surviving artefacts and sites including Lindisfarne Priory; the Viking raids; castles including Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh & Warkworth; the border wars and the medieval sites of Newcastle on Tyne. The presenter was Adrian Waite. The webinar lasted about an hour. There were opportunities to ask questions and make comments.

Following the webinar, we received feedback from attendees including:

• Thank you very much for a very interesting talk. Northumberland is a particular favourite of ours and it was good to learn more about places that we have visited.
• Thanks for the webinar last night. It was a useful run through the medieval history of our region and left me with a couple of things to follow up.
• Thanks Adrian, an interesting tour through the period. Looking forward to the next one.

To view a recording of the webinar, please click here

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Gotland during the Medieval Period

The Medieval Walls of Visby

We held a webinar 'Gotland during the Medieval Period' at 7pm on Wednesday 23rd September 2020. It outlined the history of Gotland, a large island in the Baltic, from the fifth century to the sixteenth and described some of the surviving artefacts and sites including the Gotlandic Picture Stones, the Boat Burials, the Walls of Visby, the Battle of Visby and the numerous medieval churches in Visby and around the island. The presenter was Adrian Waite. The webinar lasted about an hour.

Following the webinar we received feedback from attendees including:

"Thank you very much for letting us attend your webinar. We found it extremely interesting."

"Thanks for the presentation... I missed it live as it was on at 4am here in Australia and I slept through my alarm. Have just watched it and enjoyed it very much."

"I went to Sweden in December last year but did not get to Gotland. Will definately go there when we are able to travel again."

"When researching climate... I discovered there was... a cold snap and some very wet years starting in 1315... This must have had some effect on... Visby's commercial activities. Perhaps its very success... made it a soft target for more agressive groups unleashed... by a climatically driven breakdown in social order."

"The other week we watched a repeat of the Vikings series with Neil Oliver. In the first episode he spends a lot of time in Gotland, which wouldn't have meant anything the first time we watched it. We have your talk to thank for our additional knowledge."

To view a recording of the webinar, please click here.

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The Eden Valley during the Medieval Period

Brough Castle

We held a webinar 'The Eden Valley during the Medieval Period' at 7pm on Wednesday 15th July 2020. It outlined the history of the Eden Valley from the fifth century to the fifteenth and described some of the surviving sites including Appleby, Brough, Brougham, Carlisle, Kirkby Stephen, Pendragon and Penrith. The presenter was Adrian Waite. The webinar lasted about an hour.

Following the webinar we received feedback from attendees including:

"Great talks, Adrian! I would love to hear about any other such events."

"TYVM Adrian, keep it up, cheers!"

"Thank you for your fascinating talk on the Eden valley. As I live in Australia it was too early for me to watch it live but I have just watched it and enjoyed it very much."

"I have just watched your 'Eden Valley during the Medieval Period' Excellent, thank you."

"It was most interesting, thank you."

"Thanks for the replay. Picked up a few more points I'd missed the first time round. And thank you again for your original presentation."

To view a recording of the webinar, please click here.

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The Clifford Household during the Wars of the Roses 1455 to 1487

Lord John Clifford

We held a webinar on: "The Clifford Household during the Wars of the Roses 1450-87" at 7pm on Tuesday 12th May 2020. This webinar lasted about an hour and covered the history of the Clifford family from 1455 to 1487 and their involvement in the Wars of the Roses. First, Lord Thomas Clifford, a veteran of the wars in France who was murdered at the first Battle of St Albans in 1455. Second, Lord John Clifford, who became Lord at the age of twenty, avenged his father but was killed in an ambush in Dintingdale on the eve of the Battle of Towton. Third, Lord Henry Clifford, often called the 'Shepherd Lord' because as a child he had been a fugitive in the home of a shepherd, but who was restored to his estates in 1485 following the Battle of Bosworth. This webinar drew on various sources to explain their lives and times and there were opportunities to ask questions and make comments. It was attended by people from places including Britain, Ireland, the United States and Australia.

Following the webinar we received feedback from attendees including:

"Was good to hear you yesterday during your talk. Seems I learn something new about the Cliffords each time."

"Thanks Adrian. I enjoyed it and learnt a few things about the Lancastrians. I'm a Yorkist and Ricardian myself!"

"Just to say that I enjoyed your webinar yesterday evening."

"Enjoyed your lecture."

To view a recording of the webinar, please click here.

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Other Events

Other events which you may be interested in include:

Appleby Archaeology

An excavation at Castle Bank, Appleby.

Appleby Archaeology is a local archaeological society that holds meetings in the Appleby Market Hall. Adrian Waite is one of their committee members.

Their next meeting will be held in Appleby on 13th April 2023 and is on 'Walls in the Westmorland Landscape - Russendal'. The speaker will be David Johnson. For further information, please click here.

On 3rd June 2023 there will be a 'Dig Appleby Day' in the cloisters in Boroughgate, Appleby that will include:

• Demonstrations of medieval Life
• Find out about local Archaeology
• Appleby Archaeology Book Promotion
• Finds Display and Information
• Medieval armour and armoury displays featuring Adrian Waite!

For further information, please click here.

For more information about Appleby Archaeology, please click here.

Upper Eden History Society

 The Loki Stone in Kirkby Stephen.

The Upper Eden History Society is a local history society that is based in Kirkby Stephen. Adrian Waite is one of their members.

For more information about the Upper Eden History Society, please click here.

The Battlefields Trust

The Battlefields Trust is dedicated to the protection, promotion and interpretation of Britain's battlefields. I am a member. The Trust has a resource centre on British battlefields on its website and also a programme of battlefield walks and other events across the country.

For information on the work of the Trust and full details of walks and events, visit their website at: http://www.battlefieldstrust.com

Red Wyvern Society

The Red Wyvern Society is a fifteenth century re-enactment society that depicts as many aspects of life in that period as possible including arms and armour, archery, siege warfare, cooking and crafts.

The Towton Battlefield Society

The Towton Battlefield Society organises various events including a commemoration of the Battle of Towton each year on Palm Sunday, the anniversary of the Battle.

For further information, please click here.

Battle of Towton Commemoration

Looking for a Historical Presentation?

Adrian Waite is also prepared to make presentations to Historical Societies, Museums, Colleges and others for an appropriate fee. For more information please contact Adrian.

Donations

If you appreciate and value AW-History events and would like to make a donation, please click here.