Academics and students shared research at public event at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard
Portsmouth's long and storied history, including the role of women in Tudor times, was shared by researchers at a major festival. Academics and students from the University of Portsmouth's Centre for Port Cities and Maritime Cultures joined other experts and discussed their specialist topics at the Portsmouth 100: Our Naval City Festival.
Dr Maria Cannon and her undergraduate History students Mel Slama-Hardy, Serena Ablett, and Evelyn Blackmore-Tagg (pictured above) presented their research on how women were connected to the Mary Rose in the sixteenth century. Although no women were onboard Henry VIII's flagship when it sank in 1545, they were heavily involved in economic, social and diplomatic life in Tudor Portsmouth, supplying the ship with food and ale, and providing military intelligence to the government. Women also appear in the Cowdray Engraving, which commemorated the sinking of the Mary Rose during the Battle of the Solent.
Anne Murphy, Professor of History and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), chaired the session focusing on the women of the dockyard. She said: 'One of the wonderful things about studying history in the 21st century is that it involves thinking about the voices that were not heard in the past. History is about being a detective. We are thinking about the voices that were not written down. Women's voices are worth listening to and understanding'.
Other researchers spoke about many subjects, all related to following themes:
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The women of the dockyard: The role of women over 500 years of naval history
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Conserving the dockyard: Preserving 500 years of maritime history for future generations
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The city and the dockyard: How Portsmouth develops because of the naval presence
Dr Karl Bell, Co-director of the Centre for Port Cities and Maritime Cultures, chaired the session focusing on the city and the dockyard. He said: 'I hope you have reconnected with the history around here - from the industrial and technological innovation to the street culture. It's easy to forget how important Portsmouth is, and how lucky we are to live in this city'.
The Portsmouth 100: Our Naval City Festival attracted 11,000 visitors to Portsmouth Historic Dockyard on 3 October. The attractions included live music and performances, historic vessels, tours, charity stands and market traders. The organisations involved included the Mary Rose Trust, Portsmouth Historic Quarter, Royal Navy and the University of Portsmouth.