LECTURES AND TOURS
Explore History offers a wide range of lectures and classes in history and archaeology for all age groups. From one hour specialist lectures to general overviews and day long classes, Explore History will create an experience that will be tailored to the audience in question. Topics covered include different aspects of Prehistoric, Roman, Medieval, Tudor, Victorian and 20th century British history. Select topics in Modern European history, from the Scientific Revolution to the Cold War, are also offered, with particular focus on: the Age of Revolution (1789-1848), WWI and WWII, and the development of the Printing Press and its impact. We have a special interest in the relationship between Canada and Britain, with emphasis upon WWII. ‘Hands on’ classes on how to conduct historical research and use primary source materials have been designed specifically for GCSE and A level students preparing to enter university.
Explore History Ltd. also provides tutoring services if help is needed with GCSE, A Level or University History. Learn more about the subject, how to prepare for exams and develop writing skills. For more information on how to set up a consultation contact Explore History. Details can be found on the contact page. Tutoring services are limited to within a 30 mile radius of Worthing in West Sussex.
Lectures
World War II
Explore History offers a variety of lectures and classes on WWII, including: “The Phoney War: Britain at War but Where is all the Fighting?” “The Battle of Britain and the Blitz” “‘I Think they are Quite Unbeatable’: the Canadian Soldier in Britain “The Dieppe Raid” “Making D-Day a Success” “Churchill and the Second World War”.
The Great War
Lectures on offer cover everything from the build up and causes of the First World War to commemoration and the post-war world it created. Specific lectures include, but are not limited to: “Europe on the Eve of War”, “A Mobile War? The War no one Anticipated”, “Life in the Trenches” “The War and Technology” and “Commemorating the War to End All Wars”.
The Age of Industry
Lectures covering the “Age of Industry”, the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, cover a variety of different topics including, but not limited to: “The Industrial Revolution: Technology and Conflict”, “Coal Mining and Reform”, “The Agricultural Revolution”, “The Rise of a Class Society”, and “The Industrial Revolution and the British Empire”.
The Tudors
The Tudor dynasty, which was established by Henry VII after his victory over Richard the III (of Parking lot fame) at the Battle of Bosworth Field, has long fascinated historians and the general public. With such larger than life figures as Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, this is no surprise, and in itself makes this an interesting period to study. However, it is the great changes taking place during the period which make it so interesting: changes in how monarchs ruled, in the expansion of government, the growth of urban centres, English empire building, the discovery of the Americas and the Age of Exploration, the Reformation, witch hunts, the rise of science and so much more. Explore history offers lectures/classes on a wide range of topics including: Henry VII and the establishment of the Tudor dynasty, Henry VIII and the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the Elizabethan Court, The Tudors and Ireland and more.
Medieval Britain
Lectures on medieval Britain cover a wide range of topics, including: the Norman Conquest and its impact, the medieval knight and the concept of chivalry, the growth of monastic communities and their impact on medieval life, and the evolution of the medieval castle. Day long classes on the Normans and on knights and the concept of chivalry may be arranged.
Roman Britain
Combining history and archaeology, lectures on Roman Britain cover a wide range of topics from the pre-Roman Iron Age culture of Britain to the eventual Roman withdrawal in the 5th century. Lectures include: “The Invasions of Caesar and Claudius”, “Roman and Briton: A Clash of Cultures?”, “Life in Roman Britain” and “The Three Pillars of Roman Domination: Militarisation, Urbanisation, and Assimilation”. All lectures are illustrated and interactive.
Tours
WWII Battlefield Tour
For the past 15 years Scott has been taking students to sites related to WWII. Guided tours of Dieppe, the site of the ill-fated Raid on August 19th, 1942, make an excellent day trip with a walking tour of the city, exploring how the battle unfolded, the role landscape and geology played in shaping the conflict, the battle and its objectives, and the many memorials that now line the seafront. A visit to the Canadian Cemetery on the outskirts of town is always a very moving experience. Guide services for the battlefields of Normandy are also on offer, including: Juno Beach, Omaha Beach and the American Cemetery, Pegasus Bridge, Pointe du Hoc and Arromanche. Explore History is happy to help with the organisation of trips, helping to ensure that things run as smoothly as possible and the learning experience is maximised.
WWI Battlefields
For years Scott has been taking students to Belgium and France to explore the battlefields and memorials of WWI. Explore History can help with the planning of day and over-night trips, working with teachers to put together an effective learning experience. Scott will accompany school groups on coach trips, assisting teachers and providing specialist knowledge on such sites as: Ypres and the Menin Gate, Hill 60 Trench Museum, Tyne Cot cemetery, Beaumont Hamel and Vimy Ridge.
Explore 1066
If there is one date in British History that most everyone remembers it is 1066. In October of that year William of Normandy landed on the Sussex coast and began his quest for the Kingdom of England. The forces of King Harold Godwinson were defeated after a hard days fighting, and the Anglo-Saxon Age came to an end. 2016 is the 950th anniversary of this great battle which changed the course of English, and European, history, making it the perfect time to explore the significance of William the Conqueror’s victory and what it meant to the history of the British Isles.
Groups will begin by visiting Pevensey Castle, the landing place of William of Normandy. They will then make their way to Battle Abbey, the site of the historic Battle of Hastings. The tour will include a walk on the battlefield and a tour of the ruins of Battle Abbey, constructed as a memorial to William’s great victory and one of the most important monastic centres in all of England.
Guide: Dr. Scott McLean
Includes entrance fees to Pevensey Castle and Battle Abbey
Explore Cuckmere: Rocks, Chalk, and the Battle of Britain
“Rocks, Chalk, and the Battle of Britain” explores the geology and history of Cuckmere Haven, an area of great natural beauty and environmental significance. Tour groups will explore the formation of the river Cuckmere and the chalk cliffs it cuts through, and the historic role the area played in the Battle of Britain, the signs of which are still visible today.
Duration: 2 Hours
Guides: Dr. Scott McLean (History) and Dr. Charu Sharma (Geology)
Note: The tour involves a significant amount of walking, including on uneven ground.
Explore Pevensey
The town of Pevensey traces its origins back to the 290s A.D. when the Romans constructed the Saxon Shore fort of Anderida, a fort which still dominates the town. In 1066 William the Conqueror land here to begin his quest to become king of England, using the Roman fort as a base. From here the town would grow in importance, becoming one of the Cinque Ports which lined the south coast and growing into an important centre of trade in the Middle Ages. Groups will visit the Roman fort, the Norman Castle, St. Mary’s Church, the first Norman church in England (1080), and St. Nicolas Church, completed during the reign of King John in 1216. The tour finishes at the historic Priory Court Hotel where the group will enjoy a Sussex Cream Tea.
Guide: Dr. Scott McLean, Prof. of History
Included: All entrance fees
Sussex Cream Tea (or equivalent)