All of Ian’s Talks are based on scholarly research, but are aimed at general audiences. He has given hundreds of talks over the years, to groups ranging from international academic conferences to local societies and schools, and to people of all ages (click here for a list of examples). Each of the talks is fully illustrated with slides and lasts for about an hour. Ian can talk on other historical subjects, besides those listed. If you’re looking for a specific area not covered in the list, Ian may be able to help, or at least suggest an alternative speaker.

Guided Walks

Ian has devised and led many guided history and archaeology walks and tours, in places such as Chichester and the Cinque Ports. If you would like Ian to act as a guide/lecturer for a walk, please contact him.

Costs

Please contact Ian for information regarding costs. Special rates apply to local societies and other non-profit-making organisations.

Equipment

Ian will bring a projector for illustrated talks, and can bring a screen, but if you have a large screen available, plus a projector stand, lectern and lectern light, that would be very helpful!

Maritime History & Archaeology

Multi-Period

  • A Sea Story: a short maritime history of Britain & Ireland 500-2000
  • The Sea in our Blood?  The British and the Sea
  • Sailors at war from the Hundred Years War to the Falklands
  • Lost Ships Found: case-studies of shipwrecks
  • Anchor of Hope: the story of shipwrecks from the Middle Ages to the 17th century
  • An impossible place to build a ship: naval shipbuilding in Chichester Harbour, 18th-19th centuries

Medieval and Tudor

  • 1295 – the Year of the Galleys: a window on England in the 1290s
  • Longship to Caravel: the development of the European ship 500-1500
  • Getting to Windward: war at sea in the Middle Ages
  • The King’s Ships: Henry V’s navy 1413-1422
  • The Army-by-Sea: Henry VIII’s navy
  • Navy Royall: Elizabeth I’s navy
  • God, Gales or Guns?: the defeat of the Spanish Armada
  • Francis Drake: Hero or Pirate?

Local and National History

  • Chichester 900-1500
  • Medieval Sussex – from settlement to Dissolution
  • More than bricks and mortar: researching the history of a house

Ian has given papers at the following events and venues:

  • Maritime archaeology and history conference, Bournemouth University, 2018
  • Road to Agincourt Medieval Weekend, Bursledon, Hants, 2016
  • Thames Shipbuilding Conference, London 2015
  • Oceanides Conference, Paris 2014
  • Newport Ship Conference, University of Bristol 2014
  • Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes 2012
  • IMEHA, Ghent, Belgium 2012
  • Gresham College, London 2009
  • ‘Medieval Seas’ conference, Rye 2008
  • Mary Rose Trust 25 Anniversary Conference 2007
  • Mary Rose Trust Anniversary Lectures 2006
  • ‘War at Sea in the Middle Ages and Renaissance’ Symposium, Arrabida, Portugal 2000
  • The Meta Incognita Symposium, Trent University, Peterborough, Canada 1997
  • Columbus: 500th Anniversary Conference, Savona, Italy 1992
  • ‘Medieval Ships and the Birth of Technological Societies’ Symposium, Rostock, E Germany 1987
  • North American Society for Oceanic History, Galveston, Texas, USA 1986
  • ‘Raleigh in Exeter’ conference, Exeter 1985
  • ‘The Shipowner in History’, National Maritime Museum 1984
  • International Congress of Maritime Museums, Paris 1981

Museums, universities and other venues

  • Weald and Downland Living Museum, West Sussex
  • National Maritime Museum – Greenwich, Mary Rose Trust – Portsmouth, Museum of London
  • Universities of Bristol, Chichester, Cleveland (Ohio, USA), Exeter, Lancaster, London, Oxford and Trent (Nottingham)
  • Chichester Festival Theatre
  • Dartington Hall, Devon

… and hundreds of talks to schools, societies and other groups in various places, including London, West and East Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Devon.