YorkTalks
YorkTalks celebrates the University of York’s research at its best. For this edition, we are stepping out of the lecture theatre and into the historic surroundings of Heslington Hall. From a celebration of York-born painter and printmaker John Langton (1932-2025), to our pioneering work in digital heritage and heritage science, discover how University of York research and community partnerships are breathing new life into the past.
10am
Garden Village Ideals in an Age of Change: New Earswick, 1951 to 1980
Historian Siân Broadhurst discusses the mid-20th century challenge of the pioneering York garden village, New Earswick, to protect and sustain community in a rapidly changing world.
Heslington Hall in the 18th Century
Step inside the history of Heslington Hall in the 18th century, to learn about the Hesketh and Yarburgh families, their 18th-century gardens and life in 18th-century York.
York Conservation Trust at 50: Curating unique spaces
York Conservation Trust's Heritage Manager Dav Smith explores the development of the Trust and outlines its ambitious ten-year plan to revitalise York’s heritage buildings in its care.
10.50am
Jane Austen, Her Writing and Her Craft
Discover how and why Britain's best-loved writer styled herself as the consummate craftswoman through a wide-ranging, illustrated talk on Jane Austen's novels and needlework.
The Changing Faces of the Manuscript Facsimile
Join Kenneth Clarke and Jane Raisch of the University of York as they examine examples of facsimiles of manuscripts of the work of Virgil and Dante and consider how the facsimile itself has changed over time.
Ukrainian as a Heritage Language Among Ukrainian Refugee Children in the UK
Discover how the war in Ukraine is potentially depriving refugee children in the UK of not only their home and loved ones, but also their native language.
11.40am
The 18th-Century Discovery of Britain
Explore how 18th-century domestic travel rose to rival the famous European Grand Tour with Jim Watt and Alison O’Byrne of the University of York.
Gardens and Grottos: Fashions and landscapes in 18th-century Britain
Join Emma Major of the University of York as she discusses some key examples of 18th-century gardening trends, including the fashion for grottoes and Chinese gardens.
'Wicked for Good': Creating heritage solutions for the world's greatest challenges
Discover how heritage can help resolve some of the world's most urgent and complex problems with archaeologist John Schofield of the University of York.
12.30pm
Henry on Tour: The summer progresses of Henry VIII
Discover the 'real' story of what happened when Henry VIII and Katherine Howard visited York in 1541 with building historian and archaeologist Kate Giles.
What Natural Heritage Should We Save?
Colin Beale of the University of York explores how protected areas safeguard our future, why every natural ‘church’ and ‘cathedral’ matters, and how we can collectively decide what to pass on to the next generation.
1.20pm
Gaming the Past: Videogame technology and archaeology
Join digital artist and researcher Guy Schofield of the University of York to discover how videogame technologies are revolutionising the world of heritage.
Heritage Beneath Your Feet: Uncovering historic architecture with virtual technology
Explore how virtual tech reconstructs historic sites like Egypt’s Hawara Pyramid and Nottingham Castle. Join our talk and demo to tour hidden chambers and underground caves that are otherwise invisible to the eye.
2.10pm
Crafting Wellbeing: Place, space and heritage
Discover how combining heritage crafting and outdoor natural spaces can offer a powerful way to boost our mental health and resilience.
The History of Smells: Nostalgia and the scent of the past
Join historian Will Tullett as he explores the smells that 20th-century British people valued, sought to preserve and which helped them to make sense of their worlds.
3pm
John Langton: York and beyond
Join Michael White, Head of History of Art at the University of York, for a talk accompanying an inspiring exhibition in the Heslington Hall gallery dedicated to the artist John Langton (1932-2025).
'Softly gentleman-like': Music, identity, and courtship in the diaries and music books of Anne Lister
Although she is known the world over for her words, Anne Lister, the lesbian diarist of Halifax, was also a committed musician. Join us to learn about the importance of music-making in her life.
Workshop
Crafting the 18th Century
1pm to 2.30pm
Gain insight into the range of crafts practiced and designed by women and girls in the 18th century at our hands-on workshop presented by the University of York’s Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies.
Exhibition
Heritage360: Revealing the past
10am to 4pm
From the secrets of the dead to reconstructing lost landscapes and buildings, discover how digital heritage technologies from the Heritage360 team at York are revealing new insights about the past.
Interactive Activities
Skills of the Past, Skills for Tomorrow
10am to 4pm
Step into the world of traditional craftsmanship and discover the skills that have shaped our built heritage for centuries through demonstrations, hands-on activities and conservation talks with Pinnacle Conservation.
