Lecture Programme 2025/6

CHAS Is very pleased to announce the dates and venues of an exciting range to talks for 2025/26. Further details of each of the lectures and speakers will be provided to CHAS members later.

The first two talks (September and October 2025) & last 3 talks (March – May 2026) will be held in person at St Paul’s Church (CT1 1NH).  For additional information on this venue please click here.

Non-CHAS members are very welcome to attend any in-person talk for a one-off fee of £3.

The four meetings from November 2025 to February 2026 will be held via zoom.  All talks start at 7.05 pm (AGM at 6:30pm).

In addition there will be the Frank Jenkins Memorial lecture organised jointly with Friends of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust (CAT) where the Director of CAT) will give the annual review of the work of the Trust. The date and venue for this talk are yet to be arranged. For other talks and meetings that may be of interest but are not organised by CHAS please click here.

WEDNESDAY 10th SEPTEMBER 2025  (in person)

Monks behaving badly, the extraordinary story of Peter de Dene and St Augustine’s Abbey

Steve O’Hanlon, Local historian, volunteer St Augustine’s Abbey

WEDNESDAY 8th OCTOBER 2025 (in person)

The William Urry Memorial Lecture, Canterbury Castle: reminiscences of CAT’s first excavation and building recording

Tim Tatton-Brown, First CAT Director (1975-85), Consultant Archaeologist, highly acclaimed author.

WEDNESDAY 12th NOVEMBER 2025 via zoom

Communication, language and literacy in early medieval Britain  

Dr Robert Gallagher, Senior Lecturer in Medieval History, University of Kent. 

WEDNESDAY 10th DECEMBER 2025 via zoom

A Kent Christmas

Dr Geoff Doel, Author of several books on aspects of Kent life.

WEDNESDAY 14th JANUARY 2026 via zoom

The secret but vital port of Richborough in WW1

Dr Martin Watts, Author & Historian at Talkabouthistory.org

WEDNESDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2026 via zoom

Historic Building Mythbusting in Kent

Dr James Wright, Buildings Archaeologist, Triskele Heritage

Date, time & venue to be announced 2026

The Frank Jenkins Memorial Lecture: the Annual Review of the work of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust (CAT).

Director of CAT

WEDNESDAY 11th MARCH 2026 (in person)

Slums and Rookeries of Old Northgate, overcrowding and ill health in early nineteenth century Canterbury. 

Clive Bowley, Historic Buildings Architect, Former Conservation Officer at Canterbury City Council

WEDNESDAY 8th April 2026 (in person)

Annual General Meeting 6.30pm followed by lecture at 7pm

The Lord of the Ring-Sword: Recent discoveries at an Anglo-Saxon Cemetery in East Kent

Dr Andrew Richardson, FSA, Director of Isle Heritage CIC

WEDNESDAY 13th May 2026 (in person)

Rediscovered Joan Russell drawings of blitzed Canterbury 

Dr Hubert Pragnell, Local Historian, Author and Artist

Summer Events 2025

For CHAS summer events 2025 please click here.

Summer Events 2024

CHAS arranged two separate events during the summer of 2024. The dates were June 29th and July 8th.

Previous CHAS Meetings (2022-25)

Our meetings restarted on Wednesday 12th October 2022 and we had some great speakers and topics. All the initial lectures (except the Frank Jenkins Memorial lecture in March) took place via zoom and links were sent to members approximately one week in advance.

WEDNESDAY 12th OCTOBER 2022 7:00pm 

The life of a Town Clerk: is s/he now redundant? 

Chris Gay, MBE, Former Chief Executive Canterbury City Council

WEDNESDAY 9th NOVEMBER 2022 7:00pm 

Conflicting Convictions: The martyrs of Tudor Canterbury 

Dr Doreen Rosman (University of Kent Retired and Author)

WEDNESDAY 14th DECEMBER 2022 7:00pm 

Hopping in Kent 

Sue Duckworth, British Guild of Tourist Guides 

WEDNESDAY 11th JANUARY 2023 7:00pm

Medieval Housewives

Toni Mount, MA. Author of “Every day life in Medieval London” and “The Medieval Housewife”

WEDNESDAY 8th FEBRUARY 2023 7:00pm 

Recent Archaeological Findings in Thanington 

Dr Richard Helm, Canterbury Archaeological Trust

WEDNESDAY 8th MARCH 2023 6:30pm  

Annual General Meeting

WEDNESDAY 8th MARCH 2023 7:00pm 

Walloons and Huguenots in East Kent

Jennifer Watson-Bore. Blue badge Guide for London and South East

SATURDAY 25th MARCH 2023 6:00pm The Michael Berry Lecture Theatre in Old Sessions House, Canterbury Christchurch University

Annual Review of the work of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust (CAT)

(Frank Jenkins Memorial Lecture held jointly with CAT)

Dr Alison Hicks. Director of CAT


SATURDAY MAY 20th 2023 2:30pm

Guided Musical History Walk of Canterbury followed by Tea and Cake

To read a report on this event please click here

FRIDAY July 14th 2023 Guided walk round King’s School.

Peter Henderson (former King’s School Teacher and School Archivist) led the guided walk, which included the Mint Yard and the Memorial Court (by the Norman staircase) Palace Court (around Shirley Hall), the Green Court, and the boarding houses on the north-east of the Cathedral (accessed via the Dark Entry).   To read a report on this walk please click here.

WEDNESDAY 13th SEPTEMBER 2023  (in person)

Music-Making in Eighteenth Century Canterbury

Dr Stephen Foster, Senior Lay Clerk, Canterbury Cathedral

WEDNESDAY 11th OCTOBER 2023 via zoom

 The William Urry Memorial Lecture. Medieval Medicine

Toni Mount MA, Author

WEDNESDAY 8th NOVEMBER 2023 via zoom

Reawakening the Maison Dieu (Dover)

Martin Crowther, Community Engagement Officer

WEDNESDAY 13th DECEMBER 2023 via zoom

Smuggling in Romney Marsh

Sue Duckworth, Canterbury City and Cathedral Guide

WEDNESDAY 10th JANUARY 2024 via zoom

The Story of the St Lawrence Cricket Ground

Jonathan Rice, Author, Chairman Kent Cricket Heritage Trust

WEDNESDAY 14th FEBRUARY 2024 via zoom

Lossenham Project: Landscape & Archaeology in the Weald

Dr Andrew Richardson FSA, Director Isle Heritage CIC

WEDNESDAY 13th MARCH 2024 (in person)

Annual General Meeting 6.30pm followed by lecture at 7pm

From Canterbury to America: Mayflower Pilgrims and other 17th Century Emigrants

Dr Doreen Rosman, Lecturer, Author and Guide

SATURDAY 23rd March 2024 6pm – The Frank Jenkins Memorial Lecture: the Annual Review of the work of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust given by Dr Alison Hicks, Director in the Michael Berry Lecture Theatre (Old Sessions House)

WEDNESDAY 10th April 2024 (in person)

When Kent said NO to Napoleon, 1804 & Invasion of England

Mansell Jagger, Ex Planning Director, Canterbury City Council

WEDNESDAY 8th May 2024 (in person)

The Butcher, the Baker and the Candlestickmaker; Who lived in Canterbury in 1641?

Jackie Eales, Emeritus Professor Canterbury Christ Church University

WEDNESDAY 11th SEPTEMBER 2024  (in person)

Canterbury’s Medieval Churches: parish and people

Dr Sheila Sweetinburgh, Lecturer Canterbury Christ Church University, Centre for Kent History and Heritage

WEDNESDAY 9th OCTOBER 2024 via zoom

  The William Urry Memorial Lecture, Recent Work in Lullingstone Roman Villa

Ann Sassin, National Landscape Archaeologist, Kent Downs National Landscape Team

WEDNESDAY 13th NOVEMBER 2024 via zoom

Pilgrimage on the Old Dover Road

Jenny Watson-Bore, London Blue Badge & Canterbury Guide

WEDNESDAY 11th DECEMBER 2024 via zoom

The Canterbury Atlas Project

Jake Weekes, Research Officer, Canterbury Archaeological Trust

WEDNESDAY 8th JANUARY 2025 via zoom

Canterbury in 100 (or fewer) objects

Martin Crowther, Heritage Learning Consultant

WEDNESDAY 12th FEBRUARY 2025 via zoom

The Silk Road

Major JGH Corrigan MBE, Author, TV presenter, Research Fellow

Date, time & venue to be announced 2025

The Frank Jenkins Memorial Lecture: the Annual Review of the work of the Canterbury Archaeological Trust.

Dr Alison Hicks, Director

WEDNESDAY 12th MARCH 2025 (in person)

King Charles I’s visits to Canterbury for Love and for War (1624-42)

Jackie Eales, Emeritus Professor, Canterbury Christ Church University

WEDNESDAY 9th April 2025 (in person)

Annual General Meeting 6.30pm followed by lecture at 7pm

Crusade in the South of France: Castles and Sieges of the Albigensian Wars

Richard Eales, retired Lecturer in Medieval History, University of Kent, and FIDE Chess Master

WEDNESDAY 14th May 2025 (in person)

Sarah Baker and her Kentish Theatres 1737-1816

Dr Jean Baker, Historian and Author.