JANUARY 2026
5 THURSDAY SESSIONS starting 15/1/26; 10am - 12 noon;
DEFENDING BRITAIN
The development and changes of Britain’s fortifications in response to changes in history and weapons technology.
ROGER COOKE
FEBRUARY 2026
THURSDAY19/2/26 10am - 12 noon
THE WAY TO THE GALLOWS:
Medieval Justice in Essex and the Essex Gallows Project.
SIMON COXALL MSc
SATURDAY 28/2/26
10.30 - 12.30
TREE SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT
Charlotte Power - Writtle College
The talk will consider:
MARCH 2026
THURSDAY 5/3/26; 10am - 12 noon
Oswald Mosley & the Blackshirts;
Edward VIII & the Abdication
STEVE CLARKE - WEA lecturer
THURSDAY 12TH MARCH 10am - 12 noon
ESSEX EDUCATION FROM TUDOR TIMES
Tony Tuckwell - ex Head of KEGS
Thursday 19th March,
10am - 12 noon
A History of Place Names
Andrew Mowbray MSc
THURSDAY 26th MARCH
10am - 12 noon
THE ONLY COASTAL WAY IS ESSEX.
Tony Tuckwell
APRIL 2026
3 THURSDAYS in APRIL,
10am - 12 noon
St. George in Renaissance Art: England, Italy & Germany
Dr Alison Barker
16/4: ST. GEORGE IN ENGLAND
23/4: AN ITALIAN ST. GEORGE IN ENGLAND
30/4: KNIGHTS IN SILVER AND GOLD
This course examines how St George’s image crossed boundaries and was disseminated. It focuses on England, the German-speaking territories & the Italian peninsula, following the image of St. George, the ‘travellling’ saint. St. George’s status as chivalric hero & Christian martyr made him uniquely qualified to cross boundaries in this way, especially through the network of courts and court culture.
The image of St George meant different things to different people. Three case studies will examine how he was depicted and viewed across boundaries of space and media.The course is full of rich imagery and detail about the people and places that venerated him.
All sessions are independent. Feel free to attend some or all!
THURSDAY MAY 7th
A visit to Braintree to the
The Warner Textile Archive
Visit Outline
Max. 20 places: Please register via FelstedTalks@icloud.com
Cost: £15 payable in advance.
Transport to/from Braintree is NOT included.
Follow the Warner Archive web link above and select the CONTACT US menu for the location details and nearby parking.
Meet at Warner Archive 10.15.
10.30 Coffee / Tea
11.00 Talk: “Warner & Son”
11.15 Archive tour and talk “Silks and Velvets”, explaining the connection between Warners and the Monarchy.
We will organise a second visit if this is popular and over-subscribed.
SUMMER BREAK 2026
SEPTEMBER 2026
LONDON.
5 THURSDAYS at 10am - 12 noon
10/9 LONDON’S POOR
17/9 SUBURBIA IN LONDON
24/9 LONDON IN WW1
1/10 GREAT MANUFACTURING CENTRE
8/10 LONDON IN WW11
All sessions in this course are independent. Feel free to attend some or all the sessions!
OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2026
5 consecutive Thursdays at 10am - 12 noon
29th OCTOBER
5th, 12th, 19th and 26th NOVEMBER
MIRROR IMAGE: Elizabeth Vigee Le Brun in Paint & Prose.
Dr Alison Barker
Elizabeth Vigee Le Brun was an 18th century artist, painting the aristocracy of France during the Revolution, and in the shadow of the guillotine. She created portraits for the nobility of Europe, and travelled to England. She also paited over 25 self-portraits, and wrote her memoirs. Each week the course will focus on a different aspect of Elizabeth's life illustrating her story with her art and her own words. The search for Elizabeth will take us to France, Italy and England during the exhilarating and dangerous time of the French Revolution.
29th OCTOBER Week 1: Self-Portraitist.
5th NOVEMBER Week 2: Mother
12th NOVEMBER Week 3: Royal Artist
19th NOVEMBER Week 4: Traveller
26th NOVEMBER Week 5: Heoine
DECEMBER 2026
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