Monday, 10 February 2025
A brand-new book, which sheds light on the history of Nottinghamshire and reveals some of the seventeenth-century’s most explosive events, will launch on Tuesday 11 February at the University of Nottingham’s Manuscripts and Special Collections.
Dr Peter Seddon, a former university academic and the author of Change and Continuity in Seventeenth-Century Nottinghamshire, will discuss his work at the event, and attendees will have the opportunity to view some of the rare documents which formed the backbone of his research.
Through exploration of the fascinating sources held within the university’s archives, Dr Seddon was able to delve into the history of the Midlands conspirators who orchestrated the Gunpowder Plot and lit the fuse on what would prove to be a tumultuous few decades, characterised by bitter divisions over religion and politics; and culminating in the moment that Charles 1 raised his standard at Nottingham Castle on 22 August 1642, marking the start of the English Civil War.
This conflict left a legacy of animosity between the various aristocratic families who dominated the county, ultimately influencing the formation of the first modern political parties at the end of the century.
The release of the book highlights the treasure trove of original documents relating to early modern local history which are freely available for members of the public to read at Manuscripts and Special Collections.
The University has been collecting archives and rare books for nearly a century, but the collections themselves date back nearly 1,000 years and span six continents. To date, Manuscripts and Special Collections holds over 3.5 million records in over 800 archive collections as well as over 80,000 rare books and other published works.
Our collection of local history material for the seventeenth-century is particularly rich, including gems such as the oldest known printed map of Nottingham, as well as a wealth of personal letters which give us insight into what it was like to live though such a turbulent period. There’s definitely scope for future projects in this area, so we hope that there are many more to come!”
Change and Continuity in Seventeenth-Century Nottinghamshire is published by Merton Priory Press, who describe it as “the most comprehensive study yet” of any English county in the seventeenth-century. The publisher added: “This study transcends the history of Nottinghamshire and contributes different perspectives to the understanding of national developments.”
Story credits
More information is available from Kathryn Steenson, Senior Archivist (Academic and Public Engagement), via kathryn.steenson@nottingham.ac.uk; Chloe Highton, Archivist (Academic and Public Engagement), via chloe.highton@nottingham.ac.uk
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About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 24 in Europe and 15th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
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We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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