This course delves into the historical events you've likely heard of but are eager to explore in greater detail. It's a joy to teach—we uncover the quirky, fascinating, and unsavoury aspects (and there are plenty!) alongside the key moments like invasions, battles, laws, and the never-ending line of monarchs (everyone seemed to want control over Britain, and the power struggles were fierce—it makes you wonder why anyone would want to be king or queen!).

We start with the earliest inhabitants of the British Isles and journey through major historical milestones up to 1800. Since this is an ongoing class, you can join at any time.

The class is engaging and interactive—questions, discussions, and problem-solving keep the history alive and relevant. I aim to keep class sizes small for maximum interaction, and I love when learners share their thoughts and knowledge. However, it's also perfectly fine if some prefer to simply listen. I use a PowerPoint presentation filled with maps and images to guide the lesson, but it’s far from a traditional lecture. My enthusiasm for history tends to be contagious, and I'm fortunate that many learners follow the entire series and attend other classes I offer.

### 2024 Schedule

**Week of August 5 - Early History**  
We’ll explore the first settlers of the British Isles and how Britain was once connected to Europe by Doggerland, allowing travel from the mainland without crossing water. We'll cover the Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages and discuss life in Celtic Britain.

**Week of August 12 - The Roman Invasions (55 BC–410 AD)**  
The Romans attempted to invade Britain three times. We’ll explore the culture and language they brought and how they interacted with the native Britons.

**Week of August 19 - The Anglo-Saxons Arrive (450 AD)**  
The Anglo-Saxons, along with the Jutes, divided Britain into seven kingdoms. We’ll discuss their impact, from place names to the days of the week, and explore the famous Sutton Hoo ship burial.

**Week of September 2 - The Viking Invasions (800 AD)**  
The Vikings arrived in longships, later settling and ruling much of Britain. We’ll look at why they invaded and stayed, as well as their contributions to the English language.

**Week of September 9 - The Norman Conquest (1066)**  
William the Conqueror's victory at the Battle of Hastings changed the course of British history. We’ll delve into this battle, the Stamford Bridge battle that preceded it, and examine the Bayeux Tapestry and Domesday Book.

**Week of September 16 - The Crusades (1095–1291)**  
We’ll explore the Crusades and their impact, including what was happening back in Britain, such as the signing of the Magna Carta during King John’s reign.

**Week of September 23 - William Wallace (1270–1305)**  
We’ll discuss the legendary Scottish hero William Wallace and his fight for independence against England, culminating in the Battle of Stirling Bridge.

**Week of September 30 - Robert the Bruce (1274–1329)**  
Inspired by a spider, Robert the Bruce led Scotland to independence and became its king.

**Week of October 7 - Owain Glendower (1359–1415)**  
The last Welsh-born Prince of Wales, Glendower led a major rebellion against English rule.

**Week of October 14 - The War of the Roses (1455)**  
We’ll cover the civil war between the Houses of Lancaster and York, ending with the rise of the Tudor dynasty. We’ll also explore the mystery of the Princes in the Tower.

**Week of October 21 - Henry VIII**  
Famous for his six wives and extravagant lifestyle, we’ll explore the reign of this notorious king.

**Week of October 28 - Lady Jane Grey (1537–1554)**  
Queen for only nine days, we’ll discuss Lady Jane Grey’s short reign and whether she was a victim of circumstance.

**Week of November 4 - Mary, Queen of Scots (1542–1587)**  
Mary’s tumultuous life included three marriages, imprisonment, battles, and political intrigue. We’ll dive into her fascinating story.

**Week of November 11 - Queen Elizabeth I (1533–1603)**  
Elizabeth ruled for 45 years during a golden age of exploration. We’ll also discuss Francis Drake’s defeat of the Spanish Armada and Sir Walter Raleigh’s expeditions.

**Week of November 18 - King James VI of Scotland & I of England (1566–1625)**  
James’s lavish spending led to financial troubles and conflict with Parliament. We’ll explore the Gunpowder Plot and the tensions of his reign.

**Week of November 25 - The English Civil War**  
This conflict between Parliament and the monarchy led to the execution of Charles I. We’ll explore the Cavaliers, Roundheads, and the temporary abolition of the monarchy.

**Week of December 2 - The Great Plague & The Great Fire of London (1656–1666)**  
Two major disasters struck London: the Great Plague and the Great Fire. We’ll explore how London was rebuilt and the lasting effects of these events.

**Week of December 9 - Bonnie Prince Charlie (1720–1788)**  
We’ll discuss the Jacobite Rebellion led by Bonnie Prince Charlie and his dramatic escape to the Isle of Skye.

**Week of December 16 - The British Empire**  
We’ll explore how Britain’s empire expanded, and the wealth—and shame—built on enslaved labour. The class will cover the empire’s growth up to 1800.

**Week of December 30 - The Industrial Revolution**  
We’ll cover the profound changes brought by the Industrial Revolution, including the rise of factories, child labour, and dangerous working conditions.

### 2025 Schedule 

**Week of January 6 - The Battle of Trafalgar (1805) & The Battle of Waterloo (1815)**
The Battle of Trafalgar was between Britain (led by Nelson) and France/Spain.  The British troops at the Battle of Waterloo were led by Wellington against the French Napoleon.  Both were important victories for Britain. 

- **Week of January 13 - Ireland’s History up to 1800**
Ireland often suffered badly at the hands of the English; this class will look into this troubled history up to 1800. 

- **Week of January 20 - A History of the British Parliament**
Over centuries, the British Parliament limited the rule of the King or Queen.  This class will look at the way Parliament developed from Anglo-Saxon times to what we know today. 

_ **Week of 27th January - Very Early History**  
We will look at the early people who lived in the British Isles, and how Britain was joined to Europe by Doggerland, so they could travel from mainland Europe without getting their feet wet! This lesson will cover the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age—and talk about what Celtic life was like.

- **Week of 3rd February - The Romans Are Coming! 55 BC-410 AD**  
Well, they actually came three times to invade England and Wales. We will look at the culture and language they brought with them, and how they interacted with the people living in Britain at the time.

- **Week of 10th February - The Anglo-Saxons (and the Jutes) Are Coming! 450 AD (They Never Left)**  
The Anglo-Saxons divided Britain up into seven different kingdoms and have great names like King Ethelbert and Ethelwulf. They gave us the names for the days of the week and lots of place names too. We will also look at the famous Sutton Hoo ship burial.

- **Week of 17th February - The Vikings Are Coming! 800 AD (They Never Left Either)**  
Viking raiding parties arrived in their longships, and later on, they brought an army. Vikings ruled over most of the British Isles, except for Wessex, which was held by King Alfred the Great. We will look at why the Vikings invaded, why they decided to stay, and also what words they gave to the English language.

- **Week of 24th February - The Norman Conquest 1066**  
The Normans, led by William the Conqueror, arrived from France and defeated the English at the Battle of Hastings. They built castles everywhere! The Norman invasion also had an effect on Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. We will look at the battle in detail (as well as the earlier Battle of Stamford Bridge which saw the demise of the Vikings and certainly helped William's victory) and learn about the famous Bayeux Tapestry and the Domesday Book.

- **Week of 3rd March - The Crusades 1095-1291**  
When Richard the Lionheart was fighting in the Crusades in the Holy Lands, his brother, John, took charge. We will look at why the Crusades took place, what we learned from them, and what was happening in the British Isles at that time too, including the writing of the Magna Carta.

- **Week of 10th March - William Wallace (1270-1305)**  
A Scottish hero who fought for Scotland against the English in the First War of Scottish Independence. William Wallace (Braveheart) famously took on the English army at the Battle of Stirling Bridge.

- **Week of 17th March - Robert the Bruce (1274-1329)**  
Robert the Bruce was also part of the Scottish War of Independence. He was inspired by a spider to keep fighting the English and was crowned King of Scotland.

- **Week of 24th March - Owain Glendower 1359-1415**  
A Welsh national hero; he led a major rebellion against the English and was the last Welsh-born and bred Prince of Wales.

- **Week of 7th April - War of the Roses 1455**  
This was a civil war between the House of Lancaster and the House of York, both wanting the throne. It ended with the Battle of Bosworth and led to the Tudors (all the Henrys!) being monarchs. We will also look at the story of the Princes in the Tower—whatever happened to them?

- **Week of 14th April - Henry 8th**  
This famous king had six wives. He was an extravagant spender and really liked the good life.

- **Week of 21st April - Lady Jane Grey (1537-54)**  
Lady Jane Grey was queen of England and Ireland for just 9 days—was she a victim of circumstance?

- **Week of 28th April - Mary Queen of Scots (1542-87)**  
Mary Queen of Scots became queen as a baby, but spent the last 19 years of her life in prison. Before that, she grew up in France, was married three times, escaped from an island, engaged in battles, murdered one of her husbands (or did she?)—and lots more!

- **Week of 5th May - Queen Elizabeth 1st (1533-1603)**  
Good Queen Bess ruled for 45 years. It was a great seafaring time for Britain, so we will also look at Francis Drake defeating the Spanish Armada and Sir Walter Raleigh’s expeditions.

- **Week of 12th May - King James 6th of Scotland and 1st of England (1566-1625)**  
James expected Parliament to obey him without question; he entertained so lavishly that he ran out of money and wasn't pleased when Parliament refused to give him any more. You may have heard of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot... well, King James was the one they were after!

- **Week of 19th May - The English Civil War**  
Parliament versus the monarchy; Charles 1st's Cavaliers versus Oliver Cromwell's Roundheads. Charles was executed and football, dancing, and Christmas dinner were banned. But that wasn't the end of the monarchy!

- **Week of 26th May - The Great Plague and the Great Fire of London 1656-1666**  
Two disasters that befell London (and the rest of the country). The plague was the time of the shouts of "Bring out your dead!" and red crosses painted on doors. The Great Fire of London was said to have begun in an oven in Pudding Lane; instructions were given that London should be rebuilt in stone and brick.

- **Week of 2nd June - Bonnie Prince Charlie (1720-1788)**  
This was a turbulent time in British history, and Charles Edward Stuart (aka Bonnie Prince Charlie) believed he was the rightful king of England, Ireland, and Scotland. He led the Jacobite Rebellion but was defeated at the Battle of Culloden, and fled to the Isle of Skye with the help of Flora MacDonald.

- **Week of 9th June - The British Empire**  
Britain had a wide empire throughout the world and became wealthy as a result of trade and colonization. Sadly and shamefully, this wealth was also built on enslaved labour. This class will look at the growth of the British Empire until 1800.

- **Week of 16th June - The Industrial Revolution**  
This marked a huge change in the way people lived in Britain as many people moved from the countryside to work in factories that were powered by steam and water, making mass-produced goods, especially textiles. There was child labour and dangerous working conditions in mines and factories, where people worked 14 hours a day six days a week. However, as time went on, conditions did improve for workers.

- **Week of 23rd June - The Battle of Trafalgar 1805 and the Battle of Waterloo 1815**  
The Battle of Trafalgar was between Britain (led by Nelson) and France/Spain. The British troops at the Battle of Waterloo were led by Wellington against the French Napoleon. Both were important victories for Britain.

- **Week of 30th June - Ireland**  
Ireland often suffered badly at the hands of the English; this class will look into this troubled history up to 1800.

- **Week of 7th July - A History of the British Parliament**  
Over centuries, the British Parliament limited the rule of the King or Queen. This class will look at the way Parliament developed from Anglo-Saxon times to what we know today.  


Each week, learners receive a fact sheet and map to complete during or after class. The atmosphere is relaxed and supportive, with plenty of opportunities to engage or simply listen. 

My classes are flexible and welcoming, and I do my best to accommodate additional needs - let me know if there are any changes your learner may need.

If your learner has specific topics they’re interested in, they are welcome to join individual sessions or stay with us throughout the course.