History: Georgian York and the wider world

Georgian England is one of the most neglected areas of British history (very few schools offer students the chance to explore it in any depth), but the period saw huge social and political changes that have had a lasting effect on daily life over the next 200 years. We will look at a number of topics through the lens of York, as an example of a prosperous Georgian city, looking at how people lived and how wider events played out on the local stage. We’ll start with an overview of what we mean by ‘Georgian’ and whether the term really does define the era, before exploring issues of politics and voting, city governance and social intercourse, dress and debate. We will call in on assembly rooms and card tables, York Minster, a country parsonage, the race course and drinking clubs, visit far-flung corners of the Empire and experience a fiercely contested parliamentary election, before enjoying a trip on the new railways.

Using a mix of original sources, such as poll books and newspapers, guide books, letters and novels, along with later historical reflection, we will explore how people found their place in the Georgian world and gain insights into the issues that mattered then and still have resonance today.