Delve into history

Explore the events of the past, and how they鈥檝e shaped the world we live in today. Immerse yourself in different eras, marvel at historic achievements, and examine how different things could have been.  

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All of our courses are designed to help develop your 台湾swag in historical research and analysis, encouraging you to look beyond the surface of key historical moments. From the history of King Arthur to World War I and II, you鈥檒l develop a better understanding of key historic customs, beliefs, and ways of life.   

Whether you consider yourself a history buff with decades of experience, or someone just starting out that wants to learn more, you can choose from a wide selection of topics.   

Attend a WEA history course near you  

A variety of our history courses are taught in-person or are delivered online - it all depends on what suits your needs best. From the comfort of your own home to a space in your local community. Whichever option you choose, you鈥檒l be taught by a talented tutor who is vastly experienced.   

The support you鈥檒l receive on our history courses  

They'll help you develop an understanding that goes beyond just what's on the surface, all within a friendly and encouraging environment that ensures you attend each session with the excitement to learn.   

It鈥檚 our learning experience that sets us apart too, with many of those attending our courses going on to achieve incredible things. You鈥檒l learn at a pace that鈥檚 comfortable for you too, with a friendly supportive tutor on hand to answer any questions you might have. 

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History: A Social History of Christmas Food in Britain: Its Significance & Meaning

This four week course will explore the history of Christmas food and feasting from the Mediaeval Era to the High Victorian Age. We will examine the foodstuffs associated with the Christmas Festival throughout these centuries, and descriptions and recipes of various Christmas staples and delicacies will be provided on Canvas, accompanied by illustrations and other forms of mixed media. As far as possible we will refer to contemporary documents from each period to support our conjectures and conclusions regarding the British Christmas, discussing how there isn鈥檛 a single Christmas, but instead many Christmases depending on social position throughout the span of centuries addressed.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 25/11/2024 -
Mon 16/12/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
4 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00019623
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to 拢29.60

Humanities: Christmas dinner 鈥 what, where and why

We generally think of a 鈥渢raditional鈥 Christmas dinner as being 鈥渢urkey and all the trimmings鈥, but what are they, why are they traditional, and where do all of them come from, historically and today? Perhaps not surprisingly, some traditions go far further back than others. What do those sprouts have to do with Brussels, and why are they compulsory? My explanations will be based on my interest in historical cookery, but the recipes (available to download after the talk) will be on a purely practical and modern basis.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 26/11/2024 -
Tue 26/11/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jane Williams
Course code:
Q00019856
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to 拢7.40

History: 鈥楬appy Christmas鈥 鈥 celebrating the big day through the ages

Join us to find out more about how people celebrated the 鈥榖ig day鈥 in the past. This course will explore the history of Christmas celebrations, focusing on three distinct periods: Medieval and Tudor Christmases, Victorian Christmases, and Christmas in the last 50 years. Learners will find out more about the cultural, social, and religious influences that have shaped Christmas traditions over the centuries. We will have a comprehensive look using documents, films and contemporary sources at how Christmas traditions have evolved over time, influenced by religious, cultural, social, and economic changes.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 28/11/2024 -
Thu 12/12/2024
Times:
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Kate Antoniou
Course code:
Q00017452
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
0 places remaining
Status:
Waiting list
Fee range
Free to 拢22.20

Humanities: St Nicholas 鈥 who was he?

We all know that St Nicholas is the 鈥渞eal name鈥 for Santa, but who was he, and how did he get associated with Christmas? We鈥檒l take a look at the history of the Saint (and what else he was the saint of!), what other places he appears other than down your chimney, and various other characters who have been known to turn up and interact with small children in winter.

Course Information

Dates:
Tue 03/12/2024 -
Tue 03/12/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jane Williams
Course code:
Q00019854
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to 拢7.40

WEA Membership

WEA membership is changing: more information is coming soon!

Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
拢15

History: Rediscovering the Great War鈥檚 Christmas Truce

The Christmas Truce is one of the most mythologised and celebrated events of the First World War, which has featured in film, song and fiction. In this one-off session, we will attempt to uncover the actual story behind the event, exploring the truce or truces through letters, reports, photographs and retrospective accounts. The course will be interesting to those with an interest in the Great War, and the manner in which that conflict has been interpreted in the century since its ending, but the course will also appeal to those with an interest in how societies shape and define themselves by their myths.

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 07/12/2024 -
Sat 07/12/2024
Times:
10:00am - 1:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Stephen Smith
Course code:
Q00019614
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to 拢11.10

Humanities: Christmas for Curmudgeons? Why gift-giving is wasteful (if you鈥檙e an economist)

Christmas is a time for giving: but is it really a good idea? Wouldn鈥檛 it be better if you just bought something for yourself that would bring you joy, and didn鈥檛 have to worry about getting presents for other people, which they might just regift anyway? Why do economists act like Grinches? How can we save Christmas from the Bah!Humbug! Brigade?

Course Information

Dates:
Sat 07/12/2024 -
Sat 07/12/2024
Times:
4:00pm - 6:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jonathan Warner
Course code:
Q00019895
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to 拢7.40

Humanities: The 12 lunches of Christmas

If you find the Festive season challenging or lonely, or you just need to have a break from all the chaos and the bad TV, join tutor Jane Williams, who will break up Christmas Day with this fun and interesting look at the 12 days of Christmas Carol. She will go through each of the gifts given on each of the Twelve Days, according to the carol, and see how one might celebrate them in food. So join Jane on the 25th of December for this one off online session.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 12/12/2024 -
Thu 12/12/2024
Times:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jane Williams
Course code:
Q00019851
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to 拢7.40

Humanities: Christmas food around the world

Here in England we traditionally eat roast turkey for Christmas dinner, but what do other countries do? Is it fun? Is it a tradition you might like to borrow? Some of them do the main celebration on Christmas Eve, or on other dates, so you can do multiple Christmas traditional meals! Some of these have come to common attention when groups of immigrants bring their customs from home, some haven鈥檛, but variety is the spice of life, either way. (Yes, curry is an option.)

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 19/12/2024 -
Thu 19/12/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jane Williams
Course code:
Q00019857
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to 拢7.40

Humanities: On the Feast of Stephen

The 26th of December, Boxing Day, is also St Stephen鈥檚 Day. So, quite apart from wondering about 鈥淏oxing鈥, who was Stephen? And since we know him mainly because 鈥渢he Feast of Stephen鈥 is when Good King Wenceslas looked out, who was Wenceslas? What other myths and legends are associated with this day: in particular, what does the Wren have to do with it? A light-hearted look at the traditions of the day, suitable for relaxing with a mince pie and a turkey sandwich.

Course Information

Dates:
Thu 26/12/2024 -
Thu 26/12/2024
Times:
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Duration:
1 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Jane Williams
Course code:
Q00019855
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to 拢7.40

Archaeology: Archaeology of Monasteries in Northern England

Uncover the history and significance of medieval monasteries in Northern England with this archaeological course. Ideal for history buffs and archaeology enthusiasts alike.

Course Information

Dates:
Mon 06/01/2025 -
Mon 03/02/2025
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Online
Tutor:
Michael Nevell
Course code:
Q00016679
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to 拢37.00