From Rivers… to Rebels

IHR London Summer School

Here in the IHR, we’re in the thick of preparations for our 2025 IHR London Summer School – this time, on the theme of ‘Rebels’.  From medieval uprisings to religious dissent and political subversion, from radicals and visionaries to punk, placards and protests… We’ll be hearing from expert speakers, enjoying special visits (including walking tours, Bishopsgate Institute, Goldsmiths’ Hall and other archives), and a fun social programme.  

As we invite you to come and join is in 2025, we’re taking a moment to look back on the IHR London Summer School 2024, on the theme of ‘Rivers’.  During our packed week in July, we explored London’s histories from the Thames to London’s lost rivers, from docks and trade to mudlarks and foreshore stories. Arrivals and departures, bridges and crossing places, and the human experiences of the natural environments of waterways and estuary.   

Like every year, our 2024 programme covered a broad range of periods. We started with a lecture from Dr Justin Colson on London Bridge, looking in detail at this fascinating site, from its incredible architecture, to shooting the rapids beneath, to the relationships between neighbours which we can reconstruct from the archive. Taking us back even further, Dr Simon Trafford introduced us to the world of early medieval Lundenwic—a pre-Viking ‘boom town’. 

Other lectures included an exploration of Windrush stories and the place of the Thames in London’s migration histories, from Professor Philip Murphy, an analysis of the Thames in historical poetry (particularly John Dryden and Derek Walcott) from Professor Catherine Clarke, and a special guest lecture from Dr Vaness Taylor (University of Greenwich) on ‘Nature, Power and History: The River Thames in the Anthropocene’. 

The Thames and environmental history was a key theme of the week, surfacing also in the workshop session on the Victoria County History ‘Natural Histories’, led by Dr Ruth Slatter and Dr Adam Chapman. There was also plenty of mud—in the shape of our prestigious annual Derek Keene London Lecture, given by poet, researcher and mudlark Tom Chivers—who also brought in a collection of his mudlarking finds for us to handle the next day. 

Other hands-on workshops included a session from Professor Claire Langhamer on ‘Dramatising the Thames’—from the 1940s to The Long Good Friday and beyond—and mapping the 1843 Rotherhithe valuation plans on Layers of London with Dr Justin Colson. 

Our trips took us out and about across London. A walking and photography tour through the City, led by Dr Charlotte Rudman, invited us to glimpse fragments of the medieval, as well as ‘time’ and ‘absence’. Our trip to Museum of London Docklands began with a special curator talk. Closer to home visits took us ‘behind the scenes’ in Senate House itself and into the University’s special collections. Our Monday evening themed ‘pub quiz’, with pizza and drinks, was a highlight as always. 

For the first time, in 2024, some of our Summer School participants were taking the option to complete a credit-bearing University of London module—an option which will be available again in 2025. 

What did our participants think? This word cloud captures some of their ‘three words’ feedback. We’re also delighted to share here a short report by one of our attendees (and a 2024 bursary holder), Carrie M. Hammond, Chief Museum Interprete at the Missouri State Museum & Jefferson Landing State Historic Site. We’re also very grateful to share a short film created by Summer School participant Natalie Sloan of Little Red Hen Films, during the medieval London walking and photography tour, led by Dr Charlotte Rudman. Many thanks to Natalie for permission to use this video (copyright Natalie Sloan). 

Video: copyright Natalie Sloan, used by kind permission

My Time at the Institute of Historical Research  Summer School 2024

“While pursing educational experiences to help strengthen my knowledge and skills, in early 2024 I was informed about the summer school opportunity through the IHR. After signing up for the course ‘Rivers’ I was fortunate enough to receive a bursary to assist in this endeavour. My goal in attending Rivers was to enhance my teachings of riverboat landings and the people whose stories took place there. Being able to immerse myself in the history of the Thames and learn about those who worked, toiled, and triumphed at one of the most historically significant ports in the world was an experience that left me absolutely awestruck.

“One of the most significant experiences I had during the summer school was while looking through the London Museum Docklands. An information panel, which reflected on the significant shift in language and inclusive storytelling that has taken place globally in recent years, became a point of conversation between students and faculty. As a historian, this conversation offered me a great deal of self-reflection, and in some ways a re-evaluation, of how we can help share the stories of the past and bring them to light in today’s world.

“From the Docklands museum, the Senate House Library, and through interacting with real life Thames mudlarkers, I not only increased my knowledge of this historical river port and its people, but also gained a wonderfully diverse group of new friends and historical research colleagues.”

Carrie M. Hammond

The IHR London Summer School 2025: Rebels

You can register your interest in the 2025 IHR London Summer School now, which takes Rebels as its theme!

From medieval uprisings to religious dissent and political subversion, from radicals and visionaries to punk, placards and protests… Discover London’s rebellious histories through lectures, workshops, trips and visits.   

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