Workers’ Educational Association
The UK’s largest voluntary sector provider of adult learning
Course Outline
This course outline describes what will be covered in your course.
It also sets out what you should expect to learn. There will be an opportunity for course
members to discuss the course content with the tutor.
Course Title
Medieval History: Living and Dying in Medieval London
Course ID
Start date
No. of sessions
C2416272
Tutor
Vanessa King
Day(s)/time(s)
Wednesdays 2pm – 4pm
10
Hours per session 2 Fee
£75
Concession Free on proof of
income related
benefit
St John’s United Reform Church, Lynwood Grove, Orpington BR6 0BD
WEA Petts Wood
Penny Stewart pennystewart235@btinternet.com
9/1/2013
Venue
Branch/Partner
Branch/Partner
contact details
Publicity Description
What did London look like between 886 and 1500? Where and how did Londoners live? What
did they eat and drink? How did they enjoy themselves and where did they go shopping?
What illnesses did they suffer from, how were they treated and how did they deal with
sanitation? These and other questions will be addressed on this course.
Course Aims
 to study and interpret documents, plans, and maps relating to the physical growth of
London from c. 1000 to 1500
 to explore what documentary and archaeological evidence reveals about the domestic life
and health of Londoners
Main Topics Covered
Using contemporary sources (in translation) we will look at the social and economic life of
Londoners c.1000 to 1500 CE. Topics include crime and punishment, work and leisure,
sanitation, sickness and health. There will be two class trips – a walk around the City and a
visit to the Museum of London to view the medieval gallery and, hopefully, the opportunity to
handle artefacts of the period.
Pre-course preparation, reading, internet research etc.
No pre-reading is necessary but you might like Hanawalt’s book listed above which is very
readable. Caroline Barron’s book is excellent but very detailed. Primary sources for London
can viewed at British History Online
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/place.asp?region=1
For a more general look at urban history with some early translations of original documents
visit the Urban History site: http://www.trytel.com/~tristan/towns/towns.html. The In Our Time
radio programme online has several episodes on the London. You can also view Dan Snow’s
Filthy Cities programme on Medieval London via YouTube.
TITLE
AUTHOR
PUBLISHER
Growing up in Medieval
London
OUP
Barbara Hanawalt
London in the later Middle
Ages
Barron, C.M.
OUP
London in the Age of
Chaucer
Myers, A.R.
Essential costs/materials
Materials: note-taking materials
Various
Entry Requirements/Level
No previous knowledge is required but a good understanding of English is essential to benefit
from this course.
This course is placed at history level 3 (roughly equivalent to A’level)
This course is aimed at anyone who has an enquiring mind and an interest in all things
medieval!
Title of qualification
This is a non-accredited course. On 80% attendance learners can
to be gained (if any)
request a WEA Certificate of Achievement.
Awarding Body (if
N/A
any)
Teaching and learning methods used
Each week there will be an informative talk using PowerPoint slides, during which class
discussion will be encouraged. We shall use small group work to analyse original sources (in
translation) and there will be a range of handouts. You are encouraged to bring along/describe
items you have read in newspapers/heard on radio/ seen on TV that you think may be of
interest to the group.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course you will be able to:




Identify the physical and topographical development of London from Anglo-Saxon to
Tudor times
Assess the impact of the Guilds on employment opportunities for men and women
Know where the red light districts of medieval London were located
Explain how London coped with the effects of the Black Death
How will you know you are learning?
This is a non-accredited course and so there are no formal tests to complete. There will,
however, be a range of informal quizzes and crosswords offered which are intended to
reinforce your learning in a fun way. Individual research on topics within the period covered
will be actively encouraged. At the end of the course your Learning Record will ask you to
comment on how far you feel you have progressed.
Suggested Further Study and Progression Routes
You should feel more confident to undertake further study, either with the WEA or with another
provider. You might consider enrolling on other medieval courses offered by Vanessa. Details
of further opportunities will be discussed in class.
Brief tutor profile
You can now enrol and pay online. Go to: www.wea.org.uk
WEA London and Southern Regions' Support Centre
57 Riverside 2, Sir Thomas Longley Road, Rochester, Kent ME2 4DP
Tel: 01634 298600 Fax: 01634 298601 email: london&southernrsc@wea.org.uk
The Workers' Educational Association (WEA) is a charity registered in England and Wales (number 1112775) and in
Scotland (number SC039239) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 2806910).
Registered address: 4 Luke Street, London, EC2A 4XW. www.wea.org.uk
Vanessa has taught on all aspects of medieval history for the University of London since 1999.
She has taught history and PTLLS training courses for the WEA since 2005 and published
several articles relating to the church in the tenth and eleventh centuries - Vanessa is
committed to teaching history with humour and vivacity.
If you would like more information about other WEA activities and courses please contact WEA
London and Southern Regions’ Support Centre.
The WEA is committed to equality of opportunity and inclusive learning.
Services for Learners contains information about support and progression opportunities for
learners and will be made available to you when you start your course. However, if you would
like to receive a copy before the start of your course, please telephone the learner enquiry,
freephone line on 0800 328 1060.
S:\WEAMISdata\LN\Outlines\C2416272_outline.doc
You can now enrol and pay online. Go to: www.wea.org.uk
WEA London and Southern Regions' Support Centre
57 Riverside 2, Sir Thomas Longley Road, Rochester, Kent ME2 4DP
Tel: 01634 298600 Fax: 01634 298601 email: london&southernrsc@wea.org.uk
The Workers' Educational Association (WEA) is a charity registered in England and Wales (number 1112775) and in
Scotland (number SC039239) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 2806910).
Registered address: 4 Luke Street, London, EC2A 4XW. www.wea.org.uk