Contesting Revolution
Marking the Tercentenary of the Trial of Dr Henry Sacheverell in
1710 and Assessing the Impact of the Revolution of 1688
A day conference at the Palace of Westminster on Tuesday 23rd March
Organised by the University of Warwick in association with the History of
Parliament Trust
The day conference marks the tercentenary of the impeachment of Dr Henry
Sacheverell in March 1710. The parliamentary trial was a sensation in its day. It
provoked serious rioting in London; prompted a huge flood of print; and the political
fall-out led to a change of government and shook the Bank of England. The trial and
the public debate it sparked turned on a number of issues that have enduring
importance: the notion and limits of free speech; the grounds on which freedom of
religion can be granted by the state; and the legitimacy of a right of resistance.
Through the Sacheverell trial it is also possible to analyse how far Britain had been
transformed by the Revolution of 1688 - a revolution that Sacheverell had attacked in
the inflammatory sermon for which he was prosecuted. Thus the conference will
explore the trial, its context and significance and will also allow us to review the
extent of revolutionary change more broadly.
Speakers, ranging from early career scholars to emeritus professors, include Alex
Barber, Justin Champion, Tony Claydon, Brian Cowan, Jeremy Gregory, Geoff
Kemp, Mark Knights, David Hayton, Eirwen Nicholson, Penny Pitchard, Hannah
Smith, Bill Speck, Stephen Taylor.
The conference will be held in the Jubilee room of the Palace of Westminster, close
to Westminster Hall where the trial took place. Due to pressure on space, places are
limited, although a dozen have been reserved for postgraduate students who will
also be entitled to a reduced fee.
It is hoped that the conference will be supported by the British Academy and until we
know the outcome of a funding application it is difficult to be precise about the cost of
registration. We hope this will be in the region of £25-£30, with a fee of £5 for
postgraduates; but at the moment we are compiling a register of interest and will
invoice delegates once the finances become clearer! The conference will start at
9.30 and end at 6.30.
Registration Information
To register please complete the remainder of this form and return it, via post or
email, to
Ms Jayne Brown, Centre for the Study of the Renaissance
Humanities Building, Room H448b
University of Warwick
Coventry CV4 7AL Tel: (0)24 7657 3963
renaissance@warwick.ac.uk
Name:
Affiliation:
Are you a postgraduate?
Contact address, e-mail and telephone number: