University Blog: The Inside Story

To celebrate Christmas, our historians at the University of Chester held a virtual History Christmas Spectacular to get everyone in the festive spirit.

Dr Hannah Ewence, Senior Lecturer in the Department of History and Archaeology, brings to light the dark past of a historical figure whose statue stands in Chester.

Ahead of Remembrance Sunday, Prof Tim Grady from the Department of History and Archaeology , explains the difficulty in remembering all who died here as a result of WW1.

In collaboration with the Universities of York and Newcastle, the University of Chester recently undertook an excavation of the internationally-renowned Star Carr site.

Study is an essential part of the university experience, but, let’s be honest, so is socialising. Students at the University of Chester can make friends and relax in some of the most historic and storied buildings in the country.

It is a common myth that Cromwell abolished Christmas, but it is based on a misunderstanding. It was the devoutly religious and parliamentarian party, working through the elected parliament, which during the 1640s clamped down on the celebration of Christmas and other saints' days.

Archaeology is such a diverse discipline (it’s not all about digging!), and it combines a variety of practical and theoretical elements, allowing you to explore a number of career options.

As far as the British government was concerned, the answer to this question was simple: men of military age should volunteer for the army and then fight – normally in the trenches of the Western Front – to defend their homes, family and country. As this well-known poster implied, the First World War was certainly not the time for a healthy young man to be sitting at home in a comfortable armchair; his place was instead at the front.

As a student studying Archaeology at the University of Chester, you’ll have many opportunities to put theory in to practice to prepare yourself for your future career. To give you an idea of what you can expect, we spoke to Professor of Archaeology, Howard Williams, who discussed the fantastic opportunities available for students at the University of Chester.

With a rich historical past extending back nearly two millennia, there’s no better place to study History than the historical city of Chester.