Dr Carenza Lewis, well known from television in programmes such as Time Team and more recently Michael Woods’ series on Kidworth, has agreed to give the keynote presentation at a joint meeting of the Medieval Studies Forum and the Villages Study Group on Saturday 12th March 2011.

A day conference on topics related to the development of medieval communication routes within the County of Surrey, focusing on roads, bridges, causeways etc.

The day will start with a general introduction by Prof John Blair, illustrated by his ongoing research along the valley of the Upper Thames. This will be followed by shorter presentations on specific examples within Surrey. The afternoon will conclude with an informal open session where indivdual research can be presented and discussed.

Following last year’s very successful meeting on Surrey’s Medieval Towns, the next meeting of the Forum will focus again on the factors that influenced the development of medieval towns in the County featuring Croydon, Kingston, Lingfield and Haslemere.

A series of 5 lectures to be held at the Letherhead Institute Leatherhead on Monday evenings 20 April - 1 June 2009 (excl. bank holidays).

Did you know that there were more than 20 royal residences in the counties of Surrey and Middlesex?  This lecture series will cover five of the most important and interesting sites:

1000  Tea and coffee available

1030  Welcome and introduction

1035  The development of maps and estate plans  Carole Garrard, Local Studies Librarian, Surrey History Centre

Carole will talk on the historical development of mapping, illustrated by examples from Surrey; she will also demonstrate the use of the Centre's search facilities for maps and plans

1130  Rectifying and Manipulating Maps of Different Periods