Area of research excellence: History

Our small, but highly research active hub brings together historians within the School of Humanities, the History and Heritage Subject Group, which is in charge of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in History, as well as staff working in the Subject Group of Philosophy, Study of Religion and Ethics.

All researchers are brought together in the History and Heritage Research Centre with the wider History and Heritage community of doctoral and postdoctoral scholars across the University.

The Centre provides a rigorous, supportive intellectual environment, employs exceptional historical resources locally available, and interacts extensively with scholars and stakeholders nationally and internationally. Its key aim is to provide a common space for all scholars interested in understanding the past, and in developing together with external partners its cultural, social and economic importance for the present.

Our research focuses on developing a critical understanding of the modern world by looking at the interplay of people, place, belief and memory. Chronologically, we cover Early Modern, Modern and Contemporary history; geographically, we all work on the British Isles in some ways, mostly in comparative and transnational perspective in connection to Irish, European (in particular French & German), Mediterranean, South and Central Asian, Chinese, Australasian, African, Caribbean & Transatlantic history, and ‘the Muslim World’.

Perspectives are local, national and global. We are particularly interested in how these levels interrelate to understand an increasingly interconnected world.

Thematically, work clusters on Early Modern and Modern British political culture; imperialism and post-imperialism with particular emphasis on migration; global intellectual history; and the history, theory and practice of heritage and public history. Together, our research and impact activities respond to major contemporary challenges linked to the rise of populism and fake news, and the regaining of strength of nationalism, racism and islamophobia.

We have had an active research community in history for half a century and our research structure has been shaped since to encourage greater cross- and interdisciplinary working among both students and staff, facilitate internationalisation, strengthen student choice, enhance employability, and support Bath Spa’s wider ambitions to be a ‘leading university in creativity, culture and enterprise’.

Together, they form the background for the development of History and Heritage as an important cluster of excellence for learning, teaching and research. Underpinned by strategic hiring, Heritage has been closely integrated with History in terms of teaching, research and impact. To this end, we took the initiative of bringing together scholars from other disciplines with an interest in the past and its contemporary uses to form the History and Heritage Research Centre.

Research and academic outputs

Go to ResearchSPAce

The silk road and beyond: narratives of a Muslim historian
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Malik, I.H (2020) The silk road and beyond: narratives of a Muslim historian. Oxford University Press, Karachi. ISBN 9780199405961


Britain’s rural Muslims: rethinking integration
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Hackett, S (2020) Britain’s rural Muslims: rethinking integration. Manchester University Press, Manchester. ISBN 9781526110145


Pashtun identity and geopolitics in Southwest Asia: Pakistan and Afghanistan since 9/11
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Malik, I.H (2016) Pashtun identity and geopolitics in Southwest Asia: Pakistan and Afghanistan since 9/11. Anthem, London. ISBN 9781783084944


The history of Catholic intellectual life in Scotland, 1918–1965
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Williamson, C (2016) The history of Catholic intellectual life in Scotland, 1918–1965. Palgrave Macmillan, London. ISBN 9781137333469


Retrieving the radical Tillich: his legacy and contemporary importance
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Re Manning, R, ed. (2015) Retrieving the radical Tillich: his legacy and contemporary importance. Radical theologies . Palgrave Macmillan, New York. ISBN 9781137380838


News and rumour in Jacobean England: information, court politics and diplomacy, 1618-25
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Coast, D (2014) News and rumour in Jacobean England: information, court politics and diplomacy, 1618-25. Politics, culture and society in early modern Britain . Manchester University Press, Manchester. ISBN 9780719089480


Economic objects
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Newland, C (2020) 'Economic objects.' In: White, C.L, ed. A cultural history of objects: in the age of industry - volume 5. Bloomsbury, London, pp. 57-76. ISBN 9781474298797


Inside the human remains store: the impact of repatriation on museum practice in the United Kingdom
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Morton, S (2020) 'Inside the human remains store: the impact of repatriation on museum practice in the United Kingdom.' In: Fforde, C, Keeler, H and McKeown, T, eds. The Routledge companion to indigenous repatriation: return, reconcile, renew. Routledge, Abingdon, pp. 902-917. ISBN 9781138303584


Secrecy, counsel and public opinion during the Spanish and French matches
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Coast, D (2018) 'Secrecy, counsel and public opinion during the Spanish and French matches.' In: Caldari, V and Wolfson, S.J, eds. Stuart marriage diplomacy: dynastic politics in their European context, 1604-1630. Boydell & Brewer, Suffolk, pp. 189-202. ISBN 9781783271436


Faith and reason
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Re Manning, R (2017) 'Faith and reason.' In: Rasmussen, J, Wolfe, J and Zachhuber, J, eds. The Oxford handbook of nineteenth-century Christian thought. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 160-176. ISBN 9780198718406


'To every landless man, woman and child in England’: Octavia Hill and the preservation movement
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Swenson, A (2016) ''To every landless man, woman and child in England’: Octavia Hill and the preservation movement.' In: Baigent, E and Cowell, B, eds. 'Nobler imaginings and mightier struggles': Octavia Hill, social activism and the remaking of British society. Institute for Historical Research, London, pp. 187-208. ISBN 9781909646001


Cologne Cathedral as an international monument
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Swenson, A (2015) 'Cologne Cathedral as an international monument.' In: Rüger, J and Wachsmann, N, eds. Rewriting German history: new perspectives on modern Germany. Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, pp. 29-51. ISBN 9781137347787


Resisting imperial governance in Canada: from trade and religious kinship to black narrative pedagogy in Ontario
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Otele, O (2014) 'Resisting imperial governance in Canada: from trade and religious kinship to black narrative pedagogy in Ontario.' In: Reid-Maroney, N, Wright, H and Ebanda De B'béri, B, eds. The promised land : history and historiography of the Black experience in Chatham-Kent's settlements and beyond. African and diasporic studies . University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada, pp. 131-148. ISBN 9781442647176


Speaking for the people in early modern England
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Coast, D (2019) 'Speaking for the people in early modern England.' Past and Present, 244 (1). pp. 51-88. ISSN 0031-2746


Historic preservation, the state and nationalism in Britain
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Swenson, A (2018) 'Historic preservation, the state and nationalism in Britain.' Nations and Nationalism, 24 (1). pp. 43-63. ISSN 1354-5078


'Reformation’ or ‘ruin’? The impeachment of the duke of Buckingham and early Stuart politics
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Coast, D (2017) ''Reformation’ or ‘ruin’? The impeachment of the duke of Buckingham and early Stuart politics.' Historical Research, 90 (250). pp. 704-725. ISSN 1468-2281


Affirming fate and incorporating death: the role of 'amor fati' in Nishitani's 'Religion and nothingness'
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Flavel, S (2017) 'Affirming fate and incorporating death: the role of 'amor fati' in Nishitani's 'Religion and nothingness'.' Philosophy East and West, 67 (4). pp. 1248-1272. ISSN 1529-1898


‘To Avoide All Envye, Malys, Grudge and Displeasure’: sociability and social networking at the London wardmote inquest, c.1470–1540
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Berry, C (2017) '‘To Avoide All Envye, Malys, Grudge and Displeasure’: sociability and social networking at the London wardmote inquest, c.1470–1540.' The London Journal, 42 (3). pp. 201-217. ISSN 0305-8034


Natural theology reconsidered (again)
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Re Manning, R (2017) 'Natural theology reconsidered (again).' Theology and Science, 15 (3). pp. 289-301. ISSN 1474-6700


The 'local turn' in historical perspective: two city case studies in Britain & Germany
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Hackett, S (2017) 'The 'local turn' in historical perspective: two city case studies in Britain & Germany.' International Review of Administrative Sciences, 83 (2). pp. 340-357. ISSN 1461-7226


The first heritage international(s): conceptualising global networks before UNESCO
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Swenson, A (2016) 'The first heritage international(s): conceptualising global networks before UNESCO.' Future Anterior: Journal of Historic Preservation, History, Theory, and Criticism, 13 (1). pp. 1-15. ISSN 1549-9715


Rumor and "common fame": the impeachment of the Duke of Buckingham and public opinion in early Stuart England
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Coast, D (2016) 'Rumor and "common fame": the impeachment of the Duke of Buckingham and public opinion in early Stuart England.' Journal of British Studies, 55 (2). pp. 241-267. ISSN 1545-6986


The quiet time? Pay-beds and private practice in the National Health Service: 1948–1970
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Williamson, C (2015) 'The quiet time? Pay-beds and private practice in the National Health Service: 1948–1970.' Social History of Medicine, 28 (3). pp. 576-595. ISSN 1477-4666


Crusader heritages and imperial preservation
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Swenson, A (2015) 'Crusader heritages and imperial preservation.' Past and Present, 226 (Sup.10). pp. 27-56. ISSN 0031-2746


“Memorialls for Mrs Affora”: Aphra Behn and the Restoration intelligence world
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Marshall, A (2015) '“Memorialls for Mrs Affora”: Aphra Behn and the Restoration intelligence world.' Women's Writing, 22 (1). pp. 13-33. ISSN 1747-5848


From rags to restaurants: self-determination, entrepreneurship and integration amongst Muslim immigrants in Newcastle upon Tyne in comparative perspective, 1960s–1990s
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Hackett, S (2014) 'From rags to restaurants: self-determination, entrepreneurship and integration amongst Muslim immigrants in Newcastle upon Tyne in comparative perspective, 1960s–1990s.' Twentieth Century British History, 25 (1). pp. 132-154. ISSN 0955-2359


'To remove the stigma of the poor law': the 'Comprehensive' ideal and patient access to the municipal hospital service in the city of Glasgow 1918-1939
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Williamson, C (2014) ''To remove the stigma of the poor law': the 'Comprehensive' ideal and patient access to the municipal hospital service in the city of Glasgow 1918-1939.' History: the Journal of the Historical Association, 99 (334). pp. 73-99. ISSN 0018-2648


Victorians decoded: art and telegraphy (2017) [REF2021 collection]
artefact

Newland, C (2021) Victorians decoded: art and telegraphy (2017) [REF2021 collection].