It has never been more relevant to understand the rich and varied history of the British Isles.  Why are we the nation we are?  And why do we have the cultural and ethnic mix we do?

The answers, of course, lie in our rich and varied past and so we are aiming to thread together many of the different strands of Britain’s story together in a series of thirty-five talks,  downloadable podcasts, and chapters, which will, in 2023, combine into a single-volume book published by Bantam Press.

One copy of the book will be donated to EVERY secondary school in the country.

An eminent body of historians has been assembled
to curate this very exciting project:

• Professor Ali Ansari – School of History, University of St. Andrews
• Chris Culpin – Historian, former Teacher, CVHT Trustee
• James Holland – Historian, Broadcaster, CVHF Chair and Programme Director
• Dr Clare Jackson – Broadcaster & Senior Tutor, Trinity Hall, Cambridge University
• Professor Margaret MacMillan – Warden of St. Antony’s College, Oxford University
• Dan Snow – Historian & Broadcaster

BRITAIN: THE THREAD OF HISTORY will continue on the opening day of this year’s festival, Monday 22 June, with the next seven talks, covering the age of Science and the Arts, the Glorious Revolution, the Agricultural Revolution, through to the end of the Seven Years’ War in 1763.

Talks at the 2020 Festival

BRITAIN: THE THREAD OF HISTORY 8
THE AGE OF SCIENCE AND THE ARTS

Patricia Fara Monday 22nd June 2020 – 14:00 – 15:00

BRITAIN: THE THREAD OF HISTORY 9
THE GLORIOUS REVOLUTION

Mark Goldie Tuesday 23rd June 2020 – 17:00 – 18:00

BRITAIN: THE THREAD OF HISTORY 10
THE UNION

Christopher Whatley Thursday 25th June 2020 – 10:00 – 11:00

BRITAIN: THE THREAD OF HISTORY 11
BRITAIN, FRANCE & THE WAR OF THE SPANISH SUCCESSION

Tony Claydon Thursday 25th June 2020 – 11:30 – 12:30

BRITAIN: THE THREAD OF HISTORY 12
THE AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION

Alex Langlands Friday 26th June 2020 – 19:30 – 20:30

BRITAIN: THE THREAD OF HISTORY 13
THE SOUTH SEA BUBBLE

John Turner Saturday 27th June 2020 – 15:00 – 16:00

BRITAIN: THE THREAD OF HISTORY 14
THE SEVEN YEARS’ WAR

Dan Snow Sunday 28th June 2020 – 18:00 – 19:00