Delve into history

Explore the events of the past, and how they’ve shaped the world we live in today. Immerse yourself in different eras, marvel at historic achievements, and examine how different things could have been.  

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All of our courses are designed to help develop your skills in historical research and analysis, encouraging you to look beyond the surface of key historical moments. From the history of King Arthur to World War I and II, you’ll develop a better understanding of key historic customs, beliefs, and ways of life.   

Whether you consider yourself a history buff with decades of experience, or someone just starting out that wants to learn more, you can choose from a wide selection of topics.   

Attend a WEA history course near you  

A variety of our history courses are taught in-person or are delivered online - it all depends on what suits your needs best. From the comfort of your own home to a space in your local community. Whichever option you choose, you’ll be taught by a talented tutor who is vastly experienced.   

The support you’ll receive on our history courses  

They'll help you develop an understanding that goes beyond just what's on the surface, all within a friendly and encouraging environment that ensures you attend each session with the excitement to learn.   

It’s our learning experience that sets us apart too, with many of those attending our courses going on to achieve incredible things. You’ll learn at a pace that’s comfortable for you too, with a friendly supportive tutor on hand to answer any questions you might have. 

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History: Paris 1800-1914

A look at the history of Paris in the 19th century, beginning with Napoleon's influence, and covering the various revolutions and rebellions and consequent bloodshed on the streets of the city, Haussmann's massive town-planning project that made Paris what it is today, how the bourgeoisie built on their gains from the original French Revolution, the lives of some of the notorious Courtesans, the Cancan, and works by great artists who documented the events and scenes of the time.
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Course Information

Dates:
Mon 15/01/2024 -
Mon 29/01/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Tutor:
David Price
Course code:
Q00012805
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £22.20

History: Reformation: Change and Conflict in Sixteenth Century Europe

Do you want to delve into one of the most fascinating periods of European history? This is a chance to explore how social conflict, new ideas and the invention of the printing press combined to fuel rapid religious and political change. You can learn how the Reformation took off in central Europe before travelling beyond – including to Britain. You will be able to explore writings from the time and gain new insights into how events of the 16th century influence us today. This course is open to you whatever your knowledge of history and whatever your religious or non-religious views.
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Course Information

Dates:
Mon 15/01/2024 -
Mon 26/02/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 9:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Tutor:
Symon Hill
Course code:
Q00012186
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

History: Highlights of Roman Britain

This ten-week, face- to- face course will be delivered as informal illustrated lectures, with student participation encouraged. Each topic will be introduced, described and discussed with active input from students encouraged with class discussions. Taking a fresh look at Roman Britain in the light of recent discoveries and academic developments we shall reappraise what Roman Britain means in a post-imperial world. The role of militarism, slavery and economics will be examined using the topics listed in the course description.
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Course Information

Dates:
Mon 15/01/2024 -
Mon 18/03/2024
Times:
1:45pm - 3:45pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
Grimsby Central Hall & Arts Community Ce
Duncombe Street
Grimsby
DN32 7EG
Tutor:
Simon Tomson
Course code:
Q00009381
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £84.00

History: Happy, Healthy Holidays on the Essex Coast

This course is a trip into the past thinking about the heritage of holidays on the Essex coast. Covering topics such as family trips famous names in popular entertainment, the development of seaside resorts, highlights and heydays, decline and development, the course is an opportunity to reminisce and share memories with like-minded people as well as learning more about a little-known area of Essex history. Previous participation in an Essex seaside holiday is not compulsory and all students are welcomed to come and learn more about this little-known area of Essex history.
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Course Information

Dates:
Mon 15/01/2024 -
Mon 12/02/2024
Times:
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Duration:
5 sessions
Location:
Great Maplestead Village Hall (Great Map
Lucking Street
Great Maplestead
CO9 2RE
Tutor:
Claire Parker
Course code:
Q00012247
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £31.50

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Membership Information

Duration:
12 months
Fee:
WEA Membership

History: Burying the Dead in Medieval and Early Modern London

How much can we learn about the past through the story of the dead and the rituals and practices around burials?
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Course Information

Dates:
Mon 15/01/2024 -
Mon 25/03/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
10 sessions
Location:
The Drive Methodist Church (Redbridge)
Eastern Avenue
Redbridge
IG4 5AB
Tutor:
Anna Cusack
Course code:
Q00009367
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
7 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £100.00

History: The Crusades

During the medieval period there were a number of expeditions made into the areas that we now refer to as The Middle East. These Crusades were, seemingly, motivated by a desire to bring Christianity to the heathen peoples that lived in these parts of the world. Over the course of these talks I intend to investigate these Christian invasions with a view to answering questions like: Who were the crusaders? Who were they crusading against? What was it like to go on a crusade with these armies? Along the way I hope to uncover some information about life in the medieval world.
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Course Information

Dates:
Mon 15/01/2024 -
Mon 18/03/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
9 sessions
Tutor:
Timothy Rupp
Course code:
Q00012924
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £66.60

History: History of the Post Box

Discover the history of the British Post Box, an icon of our postal system. Apart from being an icon, the Post Box is in daily operational use as an essential public service, something that we are all familiar with, but may know little about its history. Come and discover the fascinating development of the design and its manufacture, as well as its place in our social history. This course is suitable for those with both little and some knowledge of the subject. To note down key points, it is suggested that you bring a notebook.
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Course Information

Dates:
Tue 16/01/2024 -
Tue 30/01/2024
Times:
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Duration:
3 sessions
Tutor:
Michael Turner
Course code:
Q00009252
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
3 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £18.90

History: Voyages of Discovery - Britain in the Age of Enlightenment

The course will examine the enormous impact of new ideas and Enlightenment thinking on British society in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Science, human reason and ingenuity would be the path to a better world. Old customs, traditions and beliefs would be swept away and, in the words of the historian, Roy Porter, the foundations would be laid for the modern world. The new inventions and technologies of the industrial revolution would make Britain the ‘workshop of the world’, resulting in increased production and a more prosperous society. These were some of the hopes of the Enlightenment that we will examine on the course.
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Course Information

Dates:
Tue 16/01/2024 -
Tue 12/03/2024
Times:
10:00am - 11:30am
Duration:
8 sessions
Tutor:
George O'Reilly
Course code:
Q00012785
How you'll learn:
Online
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £44.40

History: Britain's Overlooked History

Do you want to discover events in British history that have been neglected or forgotten? Do you want to consider why some events are remembered and others overlooked? This course is a chance to do both these things! We will dive into incidents from British history that are rarely talked about. As we look at a range of events and themes from the last 500 years, you will learn about topics including the Great Cheese Riot (1766), changes in the law on sexuality (1885) and the trial of a peace activist accused of plotting to assassinate the Prime Minister (1917).
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Course Information

Dates:
Tue 16/01/2024 -
Tue 20/02/2024
Times:
2:00pm - 4:00pm
Duration:
6 sessions
Location:
The Christ Church Centre (Henley-on-Tham
46 Reading Road
Henley-on-Thames
RG9 1AG
Tutor:
Symon Hill
Course code:
Q00012187
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
10+ places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £60.00

History: Honest Toil in London

The course examines the social history of working class employment in London in the nineteenth century, its changing nature as new technologies emerged, and its working conditions. The course looks at a variety of jobs and makes connections to family history. The views of employers, trade unions and commentators will be discussed.
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Course Information

Dates:
Tue 16/01/2024 -
Tue 12/03/2024
Times:
7:30pm - 9:30pm
Duration:
8 sessions
Location:
Peter House Community Centre (London)
122 Forest Rise
Walthamstow
London
E17 3PW
Tutor:
George O'Reilly
Course code:
Q00012145
How you'll learn:
In venue
Availability:
8 places remaining
Status:
Available
Fee range
Free to £80.00