Talk: Death and Dying in Medieval England
Winterbourne Medieval Barn
Winterbourne Medieval Barn, Church Lane, Winterbourne BS36 1SE
For our medieval ancestors, death was a normal part of everyday life. In this talk historian Dr Helen Frisby, author of the Shire book Traditions of Death and Burial, will draw upon a wide range of artistic, liturgical, material culture and antiquarian evidence in order to explore the fascinating œconomia of relationships between the living and the dead which developed in England during the period between approx. 500 and 1500AD.
Some of our medieval forebears’ ways of making sense of mortality might seem strange, even somewhat unsettling, to our own modern sensibilities! Yet, in there are also some threads of continuity which bind us together with the past, some of these leading right down into the present day and on into the future of death, dying and funerals. In unpacking and tracing these threads over the centuries, we’ll get right to the heart of why funerals really matter at all – an important question for any place or time.
We are always honoured when people choose the Medieval Barn as a venue for signifcant events in their lives including weddings, celebrations of life and funerals, and this talk will no doubt draw some really interesting parallels between the medieval and modern traditions for this important rite of passage.
About your speaker: Helen Frisby has taught history at the University of the West of England, Bristol, and funeral directing at the University of Bath where she’s also a Visiting Research Fellow. Helen is a Council Member and Trustee of The Folklore Society. She’s appeared on BBC and ABC radio and on The History Channel, and continues to research, speak and publish on topics relating to death, funerals and bereavement past, present and future.
Tickets £7.50. Book online at Ticketsource or via the Barn website. Doors and Bar open at 6.30pm. Seating is unreserved. Free parking on site.
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