Since 2002, we have hosted a series of 5 Heritage Winter Talks each year. These are free to the public and are hugely popular. Each talk focuses on an aspect of local heritage or history.
Details of the heritage winter talks for 2019 / 20 can be found on the promotional leaflet and or alternatively please see below:
5 November 2019: Julian Harrap
Maldon's Waterfront: its culture and conservation
Julian is a distinguished conservation architect, having worked on many acclaimed projects such as Pitzhanger Manor, Sir John Soane's Museum and the Neues Museum in Berlin. He also has a passion for Maldon and sailing.
This talk will reflect upon the cultural significance of Maldon's waterfront, exploring its evolution, character and his view on the opportunities for heritage-led regeneration.
3 December 2019: Dr Johanna Dale
Hospitals and leprosy in the Middle Ages: Maldon's St Giles ruins in historical context
The caricature of the medieval leper as an outcast forced to ring a bell to warn others of his approach is deeply embedded in popular consciousness. Yet in recent decades numerous historical studies have shown that medieval attitudes to leprosy were far more compassionate than previously assumed. This talk will draw on recent research into the origins of medieval hospitals and the provision of care for those suffering from leprosy to recontextualise the St. Giles ruins, Maldon's only scheduled ancient monument and one of only a small number of leper hospitals to survive nationally.
7 January 2020: Paul Bonnici
Tilbury Fort
Tilbury Fort on the Thames estuary has protected London's seaward approach from the 16th century through to the Second World War. Henry VIII built the first fort here, and Queen Elizabeth I famously rallied her army nearby to face the threat of the Armada. The present fort is widely regarded as the best example of its type in England, with its circuit of moats and bastioned outworks. This talk, by Paul Bonnici who manages the fort on behalf of English Heritage, will explore the site's fascinating history.
4 February 2020: Rick Lewis
The construction and repair of traditional timber-framed buildings
Rick is a specialist conservation carpenter based in Suffolk. Over the last thirty years he has repaired several hundred timber-framed buildings and studied many in his spare time, acquiring a deep understanding of the craft.
In this talk, Rick will describe how timber-framed buildings were originally constructed and how they can be repaired effectively and sympathetically in the 21st century.
3 March 2020: John Smith
Maldon on the Map: sixteenth to nineteenth centuries
Maps are a paramount resource for the study of ancient towns. This talk demonstrates how manuscript and printed maps, ranging in date from the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries, can be used to investigate and illustrate Maldon's history and topography. Topics discussed include urban and rural boundaries, changing landscapes, housing developments, industrial buildings, property ownership, riparian activities and features, roads, and urban expansion. The talk also provides an opportunity to admire the draughtsmanship and skill of mapmakers long dead.
These talks will take place at the Friends Meeting House, Butt Lane, Maldon, CM9 7HD. Doors open at 7pm for a 7.30pm start.