Nick Hanks is a recognised teacher at the University of Bristol, and has given talks and lectures to other universities, various societies and groups. Those currently available are listed below. These presentations are offered as either Talk (suitable for societies), Lecture (suitable for students) or Fieldtrip (suitable for either) formats.
Ritual and Space
- Doorways to the Divine - Sacred Spaces in Modern Religious Buildings. A look at the use of space in the buildings of eight different religions (Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, Ba'hai and modern Druids) and what they tell us about religious ritual requirements of space. Based on research and theoretical work for his MA dissertation. This includes a section on ritual and spatial theory. [Talk / Lecture. Also available as a five or ten week evening class.]
- Spaces for Words. Spaces for Symbols. - Non-conformist Chapels and Masonic Halls. Both were new building types built for new social groups, in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Though both new movements were similarly regarded with suspicion and targeted by legislation, their social organisation and buildings are completely different. Based on MA research. [Talk / Lecture]
- An Introduction to Modern Paganisms. This presentation looks at two aspects of Modern Paganisms. The Paganisms of the British past, and how their influences have come down to the present. Also examined are the various current practices and the beliefs of this diverse modern faith movement. Presented in associated with folklorist and author Yvonne Aburrow. Previously presented to Interfaith groups. [Talk]
Landscape Archaeology
- Getting to know MoRPHE (Managing of Research Projects in the Historic Environment). This is an introduction to the new standard of project management that all projects funded by English Heritage must now follow. It is aimed to provide familiarisation for this more flexible method of project management, which has evolved out of best practice such as MAP2 which specifically applied to excavation projects. The course will involve some explanation of project management in general, and specific examples of how MoRPHE helps in structuring the research work. Both of the Slaughterbridge Projects (STEP and TESP) are managed using MoRPHE. The MoRPHE guide is available at www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications. (Note- Nick Hanks is the only qualified MoRPHE trainer currently offering courses to those not employed directly by English Heritage.) [Lecture]
- Historic Environment Data - the Past and the Future. Who collects information on historic buildings and archaeology? What is collected? Why? How is the data useful to archaeologists? And most importantly how do you get access to it? The presentation is made on behalf of English Heritage's National Monument Record Centre, but also includes what is available from Record Offices such as maps and aerial photographs. It also covers how to make use of these sources of information in assessing landscapes. [Talk / Lecture]
- How to Assess Landscapes Archaeologically. This lectures covers briefly how to write archaeological landscape assessment reports and practical advice on how to do the fieldwork. Also how to do the desk-based assessment work; where the best sources of information are, and how to use them, in particular aerial photographs and maps. [Lecture / Fieldtrip]
- Stanton Drew - Archaeology, History and Folklore. This covers all that is currently known about this impressive stone circle, from the folklore to the geophysical survey that transformed the view of the site. This is put in the wider context of other henges, and the Neolithic / Bronze Age of North Somerset. Ideally this will consist of a lecture in the morning and a field trip in the afternoon. [Talk / Lecture / Fieldtrip]
- Brean Down - 10,000 years in 1 mile. This landscape has everything; glacial faunal deposits, field systems, a Bronze Age village, cairns, barrows, a hillfort, a Roman temple, a post-Roman cemetery, evidence of a tsunami, a failed port with the navvies' housing, a Napoleonic Coastal Fort, a World War II complex of buildings including training structures, special weapons testing equipment etc etc etc. Based on the detailed fieldwork and documentary research that he has carried out on this landscape. [Talk / Lecture / Fieldtrip]
- Tyntesfield and Failand - the lost estates. They are both in the same parish, but the rural landscape from which they were both made has become remarkably different. One landscape completely changed, and people were excluded. The other preserved what was there before, and was made openly accessible. Tracing their story from prehistory to the present, but particularly looking at the effect of the 19th century owners. Based on the detailed fieldwork that he has carried out on these two estates. [Talk / Fieldtrip]
- Ornaments and Oranges - The Ordering of the House and Garden of Dyrham Park (in 1710). Through looking at both the design of the house, its contents and the layout of the elaborate watergardens, an overall purpose can be discerned in William Blathwayt's house. His links with William of Orange, and the attitudes of later Blathwayts will also be looked at. He has based this presentation on his original fieldwork, documentary research and geophysical survey. [Talk / Fieldtrip]
- Excavations at Slaughterbridge, Cornwall. Summary of the work to date on this dual site. The earthworks of the medieval village of Old Melorn, and the remains of the early 18th century garden built by the Lady Dowager Falmouth. (For more details see the Slaughterbridge Projects part of this website.) [Talk]
General Historic Interest
- The Green Frog Service - Why Put Landscapes on Plates? Catherine the Great commissioned this 944 piece dinner service from Josiah Wedgewood, with 1,222 images of Britain upon it. It was the very first European service to have real views upon it. She started the trend that continues to this day. It also became part of building the British national myth through representations of landscape. Based on research work done during his MA. [Talk / Lecture]
- Stonehenge for Beginners. What does it all mean? This is a general introduction to this complex World Heritage Site. It is an ideal introduction for those with a general interest in history, with little or no prior knowledge of the site. The talk includes the handling of pieces of bluestone and sarsen from which Stonehenge is made. (Would be suitable as a talk prior to a special access visit to Stonehenge, which can be arranged with English Heritage.) [Talk]
