

History Research Group
We're exploring aspects of social and cultural history in America, Asia, Britain and Europe
This History research group includes diverse scholars working on aspects of social and cultural history in America, Asia, Britain and Europe.
Key areas addressed in strategic projects are the importance of ports as sites of unique socio-cultural exchange (Port Towns and Urban Cultures), and the representation of the supernatural in urban environments (Supernatural Cities). Another major research project evaluates railway worker accidents in Britain and Ireland (Railway Work, Life and Death).
Other areas of focus in the research group include student activism and civil rights, gender history, and revolutionary political cultures. The group has strong links with external partners, including the D-Day Story, Mary Rose Museum, National Railway Museum, and Portsmouth Royal Dockyard Historical Trust, and collaborates with them to exchange knowledge. We hold regular research seminars and events to showcase our research as well as the work of invited speakers.
Research supervision is available in all these fields.
Research group leads
Research projects
Port Towns and Urban Cultures
We explore the social and cultural contexts of ports across the globe from the early modern period. Find out more.

Supernatural Cities: Narrated Geographies and Spectral Histories
Supernatural Cities is an interdisciplinary network of humanities, social science and arts scholars of urban environments and the supernatural.

Railway Work, Life and Death
Working on Britain and Ireland’s railways a century ago was incredibly dangerous, and this research project sheds light on the thousands of employees hurt or killed at work during that time.

The University of Portsmouth History blog

PhD candidates
- William Brooks
- Fabienne Chamelot
- Jayne Friend
- Carlus Hudson
- Jack Hunter
- Ivana Lam
- Adrian Parry
- Rhys Phillips
- Behice Tezçakar
- Daisy Turnbull